Dubai: If you’re lucky enough to be Irish on St Patrick’s Day, the celebrations will follow you Tuesday to all corners of the globe, especially here in Dubai.

With more than 6,000 Irish expatriates in the UAE and the numbers growing, the display of shamrocks, tri-coloured flags and leprechauns give Irish expats a chance to reflect on what it means to be Irish.

Sinead El Sibai attributes being Irish as a strong national identity and awareness for a rich heritage that has seen its fair share of hardship and struggle. The struggles, as a result, means most Irish people at home or overseas take an active interest in politics.

“There is a strong Irish community in the UAE and having an embassy in Abu Dhabi was a great move,” El Sibai, the vice-president of marketing for Dubai Duty Free, said. “Ambassador [Patrick] Hennessy is extremely active within the community.”

El Sibai also attributes the 40-year success of the Dubai Irish Society as a key source for putting Irish people together along with the Irish Business Network, created in 2011, as great networking bases for newcomers as they try to navigate their way around the city.

“Between all of the entities here in the UAE, there is a very strong link to Ireland, which I think is a good thing,” El Sibai said.

For Irish expatriate Paddy Darcy, being Irish brings with it a long tradition of music, poetry, literature and sport that is unrivalled for a country its size.

“Irish people abroad are very social and travel with a fantastic reputation,” Darcy said. “For one day a year, everyone claims to be Irish. For the rest of the year, I’m happy I am.”

St Patrick’s Day is named after the Irish patron saint.

Ironically, he was actually from Wales in the United Kingdom, but was taken to Ireland as a slave around 420AD.

Irish people have an unique bond, finding a home away from home, explained Irish expatriate Kate Hamilton.

“Made up of people from all corners of Ireland who are only a phone call away from helping you out, no matter that it is.”

Trips to any Irish watering hole will surely make you a dozen new friends.

“Having an Irish society in Dubai is a great way to stay connected to the things we miss about being home,” Hamilton said.

Being Irish, for dance teacher Siobhan Kilalea, means a hectic week with a performance by all 120 of her students for a family day last Saturday, and today for the day itself, a show by the senior dancers.

“Five shows,” said Kilalea, “So, as you can imagine, it’s a busy time but always great ‘craic’.” Irish people refer to fun as craic, and today, millions of Irish and their descendents pay homage to the island nation with a larger than life party presence around the world.

The writer is an intern at Gulf News.