St Patrick's Day to charm Malta

While Maltese feasts may have a reputation for being raucous, nothing quite compares to the global festivities which mark St Patrick's Day on March 17.

St Patrick's Day has been adopted around the world as the day to celebrate Irish heritage and culture.

Lavish parades take place in cities as far apart as Munich, Tokyo and New York, while 'honorary Irishmen' everywhere flock to their local Irish pubs to drink Guinness and listen to traditional Irish music.

Various pubs in Malta are marking the occasion this year. Special branded gifts will be given out to Guinness drinkers in participating pubs until Thursday, and gifts are also attached to special four-packs available in local supermarkets.

The Dubliner pub in Spinola Bay has organised live Irish music to entertain patrons in the evening. There will be an Irish buffet upstairs and promotions on various Irish brands.

Ryan's pub in St Julian's has hired two local bands to help celebrate the evening and will be giving out free hats with every two pints of Guinness purchased.

O'Casey's Irish Pub in Paceville will be providing finger food, traditional Irish music and karaoke. Competitions will be held throughout the day with Guinness prizes on offer.

There will be a large invitation-only corporate party taking place in the Ballroom of the Irish-owned Phoenicia Hotel in Valletta, while Irish Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Gerald O'Connor will be hosting a reception in the Phoenicia's Palm Court Lounge.