The role of St. Patrick in Downpatrick: from traditional pilgrimage to contemporary parade

The thesis draws together concepts of pilgrimage, parade, place, community, identity, ritual, symbol and consumerism and recognises that these are part of a broader global trend. Against the background of a worldwide trend to shift from a religious feast day to a globalised event that focuses on national identity and consumerist values, the thesis examines the history of St. Patrick as a symbol and how that symbol has been used by different groups at different times to tell a particular story.<br><br>Utilizing a variety of social research methods, both ethnographic and archival, it analyses how St.

Patrick’s Day celebrations have become detached from their religious origin and considers the various elements that draw upon the Saint for legitimacy of a historical, nationalist, religious narrative. Using ethnographic narratives, this thesis allows the creators and the participants in the celebrations to speak for themselves and reflect a twenty first century vision of what St. Patrick means to them.

As such the thesis is a snapshot of a particular time and a specific place and of a very relevant Saint.<br><br>It concludes by arguing that the annual feast day has become a blend of nationalism, tourism and commodification. In other words, the religious feast day has at different times been used to accommodate Christian Triumphalism, Irishness, commodification and tourism. It concludes that there is more attention paid to the pub than to the pulpit.<br>