March Is Irish American Heritage Month

With St. Patrick's Day taking place on March 17th, March was first designated as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1991 by Congress. And the President of The United States has continued to recognize the proclamation each year since 1991. While many Irish are a bit puzzled as to the USA's fascination with Ireland come St. Patrick's Day every year, it is a holiday that was first recognized early on in American history by none other than General George Washington in 1780. As The Continental Army was facing a freezing winter that year in Morristown, New Jersey. And sympathizing with the Irish and their struggles at the hands of the British, George Washington penned an order on March 16th, 1780 giving the army St. Patrick's Day off to show solidarity with the Irish as a "brave and generous people" with "their ancient rights and freedom".

Wary lest the army take the Irish celebration too much to heart, General Washington simultaneously cautioned that "celebration of the day will not be attended with the least rioting or disorder". And, indeed, his order was heeded as there are no known records of Guiness-induced raucous behavior on that day. However, Americans have continued to celebrate St. Patrick's Day since that time with about 10% of the population of the United States claiming Irish ancestry according to statistics collected by the U.S. Census in 2023. And 7.8% of Alabamians claiming Irish ancestry.

The only other ethnic group to claim a higher percentage of ancestry on U.S. Census records are the Germans. With 12% of Americans claiming German heritage according to statistics gathered by the U.S. Census. And German-Americans reporting to be slightly older and better educated than the general population according to the U.S. Census as of 2013. Nonetheless, on St. Patrick's Day, everybody in America is Irish. And throughout Alabama there are several Irish themed concerts and celebrations planned.

The Celtic music powerhouse, "Celtic woman", is planning their "A New Era" concert at the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama on Tuesday, March 31st.

The Birmingham Irish Cultural Society is hosting their 46th Annual St. Patrick's Dinner Celebration on behalf of Kid One Transport on Friday, March 13th. With the dinner to be held at the Stadium Club in the Protective Stadium.

In Prattville, the DriveSouth Golf Course and Country Club is inviting people to come to the club all decked out in green on St. Patrick's Day and play their usual round on the simulators. With green attired attendees then being automatically entered to win a "My Heart Belongs on the Green" DriveSouth hat.

Downtown Gadsden is hosting a St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day, March 14th. People are invited to wear green and celebrate in local eateries from 3 in the afternoon until 10 in the evening.

In Anniston, Alabama, The Anniston Museums and Gardens is inviting people to come on March 17th & 24th, 2026 from one in the afternoon until three in the afternoon and try their hand at "shamrock splatter painting" and meet a live snake while learning about why there are no snakes in Ireland. Lucky attendees might even find gold coins hidden throughout the exhibit halls at the Anniston Museum of Natural History. Rumor has it that on St. Patrick's Day, itself, there might be a leprechaun lurking about in the museum, as well.

In Huntsville, Alabama their Annual Ellen McAnelly Memorial St. Patrick's Day parade will take place on Saturday, March 14th, beginning at 11AM in downtown Huntsville.

In Enterprise, Alabama, Luke Stewart, an army veteran and proud Irish descendant, has been named the Grand Marshal of their 33rd annual "World's Smallest" St. Patrick's Day Parade. A parade which will take place on Saturday, March 14th, 2026, beginning at 12PM in downtown Enterprise.

In Hanceville, their annual Irish Festival will take place on Saturday, March 14th, 2026, from 9AM until 5PM. They are boasting street vendors, crafts, food trucks, live music, bouncy house, and kid and dog friendly activities for the festival.

While in Tuscaloosa, The University of Alabama is on spring break the week of St. Patrick's Day, Innisfree Irish Pub will still be having their St. Patrick's Day celebration starting at 11AM. Although, it usually features nothing significantly Irish.

Luisa Reyes us a Tuscaloosa attorney, piano instructor, vocalist, reporter, poet, and a columnist.