St Patrick’s Day is also called St Paddy’s day by the Irish, because Patrick in Irish is Padraig, and Paddy is short for that. The development of it being called St Patty’s Day seems to an American habit, through shortening the name Patrick.
I am half-Irish and an Irish citizen. My dad was really good at telling me about Ireland and being Irish. My driver’s licence and teaching qualifications are both Irish. I have lived in Ireland. I always think of my Irish heritage on this day, but – unlike the Irish diaspora in America – I will always identify as South African.
