In Northern Ireland , the celebration of St Patrick 's Day was affected by sectarian divisions . A majority of the population were Protestant Ulster unionists who saw themselves as British , while a substantial minority were Catholic Irish nationalists who saw themselves as Irish . Although it was a public holiday , Northern Ireland 's unionist government did not officially observe St Patrick 's Day . During the conflict known as the Troubles ( late 1960s – late 1990s ) , public St Patrick 's Day celebrations were rare and tended to be associated with the Catholic community . In 1976 , loyalists detonated a car bomb outside a pub crowded with Catholics celebrating St Patrick 's Day in Dungannon ; four civilians were killed and many injured . However , some Protestant unionists attempted to 're - claim ' the festival , and in 1985 the Orange Order held its own St Patrick 's Day parade . Since the end of the conflict in 1998 there have been cross-community St Patrick 's Day parades in towns throughout Northern Ireland , which have attracted thousands of spectators
detonated a car bomb
Hillcrest Bar bombing
Saint Patrick's Day