There are some big dates in the calendar coming up this month
Goodbye February, hello March! While we enjoyed the extra Bank Holiday and had fun with Pancake Tuesday, let’s face it, there was still a feeling of winter about the second month of the year that we’re happy to see the back of now.
The daffodils are out, the lambs are frolicking in the fields and we’re ready to embrace this new month and everything it has to offer – which is quite a lot, actually.
With that in mind, here are some dates that you should add to your diary for maximum March appreciation:
2 March – World Book Day
Who doesn’t love a good story? World Book Day Ireland takes place on Thursday, 2 March. It’s a registered charity whose mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. However, we think it’s the perfect excuse for ANYONE to curl up with their favourite book or try out a new genre they’ve heard about. And now, thanks to proliferation of audiobooks, library apps and #BookTok, there are so many ways to learn about and enjoy everything from classic literature to celebrity memoirs.
8 March – International Women’s Day
Every day is a day to celebrate who you are but on 8 March, we get to recognise the incredible work and remarkable lives of women all around the world. The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is #EmbraceEquity and highlights the need to differentiate between equality and equity. It encourages all of us to embrace diversity and inclusivity within our own lives and reflect on how we can be part of the solution rather than the problem.
17 March – St Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day doesn’t require an explanation but we are very excited for this year as former Dallas star Patrick Duffy is set to lead our national parade in Dublin. Duffy aka. Bobby Ewing revealed in 2022 that he had Irish roots in Kilmovee, Co. Mayo, after discovering that his grandfather emigrated from Ireland to America in the 1920s.
Of course, there will be plenty of other celebrations and events happening around the country (and the world) that weekend to mark the biggest event in the Irish calendar. We can’t wait!
17 March – World Sleep Day
If you’ve never had a sleepless night, you are one of the lucky few. Anyone who has experienced insomnia or has regularly disturbed sleep will know just how vital it is to every aspect of your wellbeing. World Sleep Day usually falls on the Friday before the Spring Equinox and this year that happens to be March 17. However, if you’re celebrating St Patrick’s Day, we think it’s fine for you to dwell on the importance of sleep the following day. In fact, it’ll probably make you appreciate it all the more!
19 March – Mother’s Day
Our Mammies deserve the world and it’s always nice to have an excuse to treat them – not that we need one. However, there is so much talk in the lead-up to Mother’s Day every year that it’s quite understandable to not know when the actual date is! Well, now you know. Mark March 19 in your diary and make sure you have your present/bouquet/lunch reservation sorted in plenty of time.
25 March – Earth Hour
We’re cheating slightly with the last one because Earth Hour isn’t a day necessarily, but hopefully it will be in the future. When it began in 2007, it became famous for it’s ‘lights off’ moment – one hour where everyone turned off the electricity in their homes as a show of support for the planet. This year, the movement is asking people to give one hour to the earth in whatever form they can. It could be picking up litter, cooking with sustainable products, hosting an Earth Hour event or even planting a tree in your garden. It takes place on March 25 at 8.30pm.
