Just because we’re on the other side of the world from Ireland doesn’t mean that there won’t be plenty going on for St Paddy’s Day over here in Shanghai. This year, March 17th — the date when all of us are a little bit Irish — inconveniently falls on a Monday but fear not, the Emerald Isle’s Shanghai contingent are celebrating early with a bunch of events this weekend. Ireland Week 2008 has been going......

It may come as a surprise to some people to learn that the national sport of Ireland is not, as is generally supposed, drinking. Nor is, it would be appear, soccer, given the country's 5-2 drumming at the hands of lowly Cyprus last week. No, the passion of the Emerald Isle forever lies in the great game of Gaelic football, an exciting, high speed ball game that is usually described as a cross between rugby......