Editorial

St. Patrick's Day Will Cost a Little More Green This Year

Costs for the Perfect St. Pat's Up 4% in 2008. Family fun free activities become more important than ever! Check out these free St. Patrick's Day crafts and money saving tips.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 34.7 million U.S. residents claim Irish Ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (4.2 million). No one celebrates like Americans who have a way of putting their own stamp on even those holidays that originated in other countries. This is never more true than on March 17 when we give our own peculiar salute to Saint Patrick.

From parades -- Boston's is the oldest, New York's the biggest, and Hot Springs, Arkansas' the shortest -- to the green rivers in Chicago and San Antonio, green beer in every pub and green hair on the truly enthusiastic, it's always a day to remember.

Working on the assumption that everyone's a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day, Tullamore Dew(R), the quintessential Irish whiskey that's known for its distinctive taste and smooth palate, tracks the cost of a truly fine St. Patrick's Day for all to enjoy. This year, the list of key items for a top-notch celebration shows that the party will cost a little more in 2008, with prices up 4%, more than a point over the national CPI for 2007 of 2.85%. (Costs were calculated for a day in New York City. Feel free to make your own hometown substitutions.)

2007 2008

Lucky Charms Cereal http://www.freshdirect.com/ 3.92 4.99

Classic Irish Fry Up Breakfast 15.00 15.00
(Fitzpatrick Hotel) to start the day

Kiss Me, I'm Irish Button from 1.99 1.99
http://www.cafepress.com/

Green Dura Felt Derby on 5.98 5.98
http://www.centurynovelty.com/

St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue Free Free

U-2's Greatest Hits -- Collector Box on 24.98 24.98
http://www.amazon.com/

Irish Coffee Glasses, each at 1.95 1.95
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/

Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner -- average 11.70 13.50
price from ten Irish pubs in New York

Green M&M's imprinted with "Erin Go Bragh" 11.50 11.50
(Per 7 oz. bag, minimum four bags per order) on
http://www.mymms.com/

"Slainte" T-Shirt (Gaelic for "Cheers") 17.99 17.99
from http://www.cafepress.com/

Taxi home from the pub 6.00 6.12
(Base Fare: $2.50+ .40 per mile)

Bottle of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey -- 20.00 21.99
suggested retail price

Celebrating with all the trimmings in New York will set you back almost $126.00, up 4.11% over last year's $121.00. Wherever the celebration -- at home, by the side of a Kelly green river or in a local pub -- a mellow glass of Irish whiskey or an authentic Irish Coffee is certain to make the day complete. To wit, a final recipe suggestion:

Source: Tullamore Dew