This was the first time we had celebrated St Patrick’s Day since 2016, and this celebration was inspired by our tamariki’s fascination with leprachauns which was initiated by one of our tamariki mid-last year.

We have all learnt two verses of “Ireland’s Call,” which we all performed along with “St Patrick’s Day Chicka Boom” and “Shamrock Beat” and our tamariki performed with great gusto and enthusiasm.

We cooked Irish stew and champ (mashed potato) which was shared with all our whānau and tamariki along with kai our whānau brought to share.

Many of our whānau had never celebrated St Patrick’s day before and thoroughly enjoyed it and have requested that we have this event again next year.

We initially thought only one of our tamariki and two of our kaiako had Irish heritage. We’ve now come to learn that quite a number of our parents and whānau also have Irish heritage.

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide, after a huge number of Irish immigrated overseas during the potato famine, they spread their love far and wide.