St Patrick’s has always been celebrated around the world with elaborate parades in many major cities. A century ago, St Patrick’s Day was also celebrated annually in Floriana, with Irish troops joining the people, mainly of the Balzunetta district, which actually had a statue of St Patrick in the street.
However, more recently, this practice has fallen off somewhat and it has been left to Irish residents to celebrate the national day with dinner dances.
Floriana council is reinstating this event and, on March 17, the parade will leave from Gunlayer Street at noon, followed by music, singing and dancing in Conservatory Street.
Ever wondered why people from Floriana are called ‘Tal-Irish’?
It all began with a brief visit to Malta in 1895 by the then Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Michael Logue, a Donegal man.
The reason for his visit is not clear but it seems that the Irish cardinal and the Florianites hit it off big, with the cardinal receiving a resounding céad míle fáilte (Irish for 100,000 welcomes).
On his departure, he was accompanied to the quayside by many cheering Florianites plus the town’s Vilhena Band. Arriving in Rome, the cardinal’s happy memories moved him to ask the Vatican authorities to elevate St Publius, Floriana’s patron saint, to ‘First Class’ – a hierarchy of Catholic remembrance of saints’ feast days (meaning the feast had to be celebrated in all the diocese, not just in the patron saint’s locality).
No doubt, had he dropped by again on his way back to Ireland, he would have received dhá chéad míle fáilte (200,000 welcomes) but, as it was, the Florianites had to settle for commissioning a portrait of their distant champion and this still hangs in the sacristy of St Publius parish church.
Presumably, His Eminence visited other parts of Malta on this trip which makes you wonder at the special bond that developed between him and Floriana. The Florianites were soon being referred to as Tal-Irish.
The year before the cardinal’s visit saw the founding of Floriana football club and, 10 years after his visit (1905), Floriana (in red and green) played a team from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (in green and white hoops).
Floriana won 2-1 and, after the match, the Irish soldiers presented their jerseys to the winners. Floriana have worn these colours proudly ever since. This, of course, has cemented the Tal-Irish name.
In fact, other sporting clubs in the town used variations on the Tal-Irish theme – Floriana Irish Born, Floriana Shamrocks, Floriana Small Irish (a youth team), Floriana St Patrick’s. There is also The Irish Born Ironmongery and The Shamrock Bar & Restaurant.
The Emerald Society’s traditional dinner dance will be held at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on March 16. Tickets at €35 are available from emeraldmalta@gmail.com.