The spread of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the U.S. was a way for Irish immigrant communities, who in the 19th century faced discrimination and opposition, to stake that ground, he says: “It’s a kind of immigrant Irish way of combating nativist antagonism against them.”

Thousands of people are expected to gather in towns and cities across Northern Ireland to celebrate St Patrick's Day on Monday. Belfast promises to be a multicultural celebration of music, culture, the Irish language and community.

Located off the coast of West Cork on the southwestern-most coast of Ireland, between Schull Harbour, Roaringwater Bay and the Celtic Sea, Ireland's Long Island is the third-largest of what are known as Carberry's Hundred Isles.