‘Paddy’s Day Unlocked’ provides oasis of calm amid Temple Bar beerfest

“Is there an alcohol-free event around here?” we asked a Garda who was struggling to stay upright as the crowd pushed and surged in Temple Bar. She burst into a laugh but whatever she said was lost as a a party of dark-skinned, black-eyed young men in tall, green leprechaun hats pushed towards Crown Alley in Dublin’s tourist quarter.

A 10-minute battle through the throng later and there was Meeting House Square with its €5 admission to the “Paddy’s Day Unlocked” event, another world from the seething masses outside.

It was the driest – and best fun a child of any age could have in Temple Bar as mindfulness practitioner Mari Kennedy had families “jumping like jack” hands flying, eyes closed.

About 400 or 500 people were in Meeting House Square at any one time, most of them families looking for an alternative to the teenage beerfest outside, explained Peter O’Brien, a director of happenings.ie, which organised Paddy’s Day Unlocked in association with Dublin City Council.

As children fished from a cardboard, Viking longboat or screenprinted their own T-shirts, Mr O’Brien said he takes a drink himself, on occasion. “But this is a seed in Temple Bar that might flourish, an alternative to what the teenagers are doing outside. That’s fine if you are a teenager, but this is an alternative space for families where they can feel safe.”

Even the food was healthy with the Greystones-based Happy Pear providing their vegetarian fare alongside the Authentic Street Food stall.

As women in multicoloured outfits including gold lamé trousers climbed and twirled on ropes in front of the the stage, Ms Kennedy summed up the scene: “We change things by being a bit radical, get out of our heads all right – but in a different way to what is happening [in the streets] around us”.

Among the entertainers were singer Sinead White, psychologist Tony Bates and Tonnta street theatre and community arts group.

“It is lovely. It is absolutely lovely,” said Mary Tobin from Dún Laoghaire, who said the man and boy jumping up and down with their hands out and eyes closed were her husband Brian and son Eanna.

“We were worried about the crowds, to be honest, and will be worried about getting out later, but this is an oasis,” she added.

Outside, the streets around Crown Alley, Temple Bar Lane and Temple Bar Square were thick with young people good-naturedly if increasingly drunkenly having a good time. But as the high-pitched screams of the woman rose over the intoxicated-sounding chants of the men, the alcohol-free event didn’t appear at all dry.