Colin Farrell on St. Patrick’s Day: I never saw green beer until I came to America

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I could lie back, close my eyes and listen to Colin Farrell all day long but why would I want to close my eyes if I could look at him? Colin’s out promoting Dumbo so he stopped by Ellen DeGeneres’ show. And, since St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, Ellen asked Colin if he goes full green or not. The answer, no – because he’s Irish so why would he?

Is St. Patrick’s Day a big occasion for you? Do you celebrate?

No, not at all. I’m Irish and I know a little bit about the story of St. Patrick who brought Christianity to the great island of Ireland but, there’s no green beer. I never saw a green beer until came to America. Never heard of such a ridiculous as a green beer. It’s nothing to do with the luck of a beer, it’s all about the taste and the effect, of course. But anyway, green beer, I’m not against it. We don’t dye the rivers green.

So it’s not as big a deal as it is here

It’s not as big a deal as it is here. I mean, it is a big deal, but we don’t need an excuse to get pissed. That’s a Tuesday, you know.

I’m the Irish descendant on the CB crew. My husband and my ancestors both hail from County Limerick, him: Adare, me: Hospital. So St. Patrick’s Day is a Big. Deal. at Hecate Temple. Primarily it’s an excuse for us to play our Irish Rovers CDs and eat Corned Beef (which I know is also an American thing but OMG do I love it). The number one reason we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is Irish Soda Bread. I make my mother’s recipe that omits the sugar and serve it hot from the oven with mounds of fresh butter. My children lie in wait and the minute it’s placed on the carving board, they pounce. St. Paddy’s is, in fact, one of the only days I actually drink beer, but I don’t dye anything green. Like Colin said, I don’t need an excuse to get my Irish on. However, the fact that there is an excuse, I’ll take it. As Ellen mentioned, it’s on Sunday so I won’t be imbibing much but expect me to have a food hangover next Monday. Sláinte!

Colin started the interview talking about his sons, James, 15 and Henry, 9. Ellen asked if James was driving and Colin said he didn’t know if James would ever drive due to his Angelman syndrome but added, “I’m not one to limit the potential of what he’ll experience in his life.” There are 100 ways I could list why Colin is sexy as all get out but his openness and admiration for his boys has risen to the number one spot.

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53 Responses to “Colin Farrell on St. Patrick’s Day: I never saw green beer until I came to America”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    Colin is so sexy. I have had a thing for him since college (yikes, over 15 years ago!) I cant believe his son is 15….eesh. Now I’m torn between feeling old and just enjoying the pictures of CF lol.

  2. Bryn says:

    I’m surprised Ellen didn’t know his son is disabled. His oldest son will never drive, Angelmans syndrome means his son at 15 is most likely non verbal and has the mind of a young child. My husband has an older cousin with angelmans, he’s such a sweetheart, always smiling, but has a lot of other health problems as he gets older

    • SJR says:

      As the Mom of a child w/CP, I wish more celebs would speak openly about their special needs kids. I really love Colin for being open about his child. Many people with special needs are also medically fragile and complex, and because of ongoing health issues sometimes even more troubles come as the age.

      And shame on Ellen and her team for being so uninformed.
      We all are aware that most talk shows Duda pre-interview before going on air.

      Special needs citizens have a stigma still. Open your minds and hearts.
      We are all equal, step up your game Ellen.

      • Molly says:

        Yes, shame on them for not knowing. She has an entire research team to properly prep for guests.

        ETA: that man is sexy AF.

      • paddingtonjr says:

        Colin has spoken about his sons on previous Ellen appearances and even received a donation by Ellen from one of her sponsors for James’s school. So, for her to ask about James driving makes no sense. Colin is very open about his sons’ lives and the struggles/joys of having a special needs child and tries to educate the public about Angelman’s during interviews. Come on, Ellen, you can do better!

  3. Zapp Brannigan says:

    Really admire Colin, he visits a children’s hospital here in Dublin every Christmas Day, just spending time with the families and staff, low key no media in attendance. Apparently very nice to all.

    • Becks says:

      Yes. My brother met him while working the Special Olympics here in LA a couple of years ago. He said Colin was super nice and down to earth.

    • Pamspam says:

      I actually met him recently – we have physical therapy at the same place (they also do training so he may have been there for that) and he was really lovely. I’d heard he was obnoxious, but he was very pleasant.

  4. Lightpurple says:

    So nice to start the morning with Colin.

    My grandfather believed American St Patrick Day celebrations fed into the stereotype of the drunken Irishman and discouraged celebrations.

    • Babadook says:

      I agree with that tbh. I hate the American representation of the Irish as drunken lepruchans but to be fair some of us do play into it – like look at Colin’s ‘we don’t need an excuse to get pissed on a Tuesday’ thing. My theory is that we’re insecure in our culture due to post colonial oppression – because to be Irish was to be a second class citizen for so long – so we found the most accessible part of us and play that up when we’re abroad. That and I guess that version of our culture sells and we do like tourism *shrug*

    • Lindy79 says:

      As an Irish person who spent St. Patricks in NY a few years ago I saw this. It was all American students getting drunk and fighting, while wearing Irish paraphernalia. It made me really sad actually.
      Im not saying no drinking happens here (especially if it falls on a weekend, its just like any other city on a weekend night) but it’s definitely not like it’s made out. The Irish tourism board has spent great lengths trying to improve the holiday, it’s a 2-3 festival event with a range of cultural, historical and family friendly stuff put on and the difference in the parade in recent years is impressive.

      • Babadook says:

        I haven’t been to the parade since I was a teenager and then town was full of drunken tourists wearing leprechaun hats but I’ve heard good things the last few years as you’ve said. I’m definitely going to give it a look this year!

    • Janie says:

      It’s always seemed a little gross to me when put alongside the treatment of Irish people in American history.

  5. James says:

    Green beer is an American bastardization of another country’s culture, just like garlic bread with pasta and ‘chai tea’…

  6. Meganbot2000 says:

    Yeah, St Patrick’s Day is much bigger in America than it is in Ireland or Britain.

  7. Lulu says:

    Oh, Adare is gorgeous, Hecate! Adare Manor is ridiculously expensive but one of the best hotels in the world

  8. M says:

    That first sentence is amazing – he is so yummy and love how he has matured.

  9. Latoya says:

    Colin Farrell is that guy that makes you sweat just by looking at you. He just has that twinkle in his eye. I’ve even seen Ellen get a bit flustered around him LOL

  10. Miss M says:

    I almost forgot Saint Patrick’s day is in the corner… wow
    Colin is so much better in motion. The still photo at the Dumbo premiere he looked tired.
    I have fond memories of my Ireland trip.
    Celebrate away, Hecate!

  11. Long-time Irish reader says:

    Girl, I’m from Limerick! From a parish
    neighbouring Hospital :)) and about 10 miles from Adare. So we are probably related in some convoluted Irish cousin way 😁

  12. Peanutbuttr says:

    There’s an Irish Gastropub near where I live and which I love going to for brunch. The Irish breakfast (eggs, beans, sausages) with Irish soda bread is the best hangover cure ever.

  13. Laly says:

    So sexy i loved him since The recruit.

  14. Lakota says:

    What the hell is going on with the green river? I’ve never heard of anything like it. It can’t be enviromentally sound, surely?

    • Becks1 says:

      That’s Chicago I think. They always dye it green.

    • Valiantly Varnished says:

      Chicagoan here. That is our river. It’s dyed with a powdered vegetable-based dye and therefore non-toxic. It’s done every year and has been a tradition for nearly 60 years. And people travel from all over to see it. Chicago has one of the largest Irish-American communities in the US. #Chicagoproud

      • Ange says:

        To be fair from what I’ve seen of most Americans its usually people who have Irish descendants several generations back but somehow think that means they are as Irish as a native.

  15. Lizzie says:

    i am here for the Colin Ferrell posts this week. thank you.

  16. Julie says:

    Hecate—would love your Irish soda bread recipe if you’re willing to share!

  17. EscapedConvent says:

    Hmmm…..let’s start the day with Colin. I could listen to him for hours. He has a way of leaving one spellbound.

    Thank you, Hecate!

  18. Charfromdarock says:

    *honks for Colin*

    It is a statutory holiday here in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
    It was always a religious holiday for us and we usually had a concert with music and skits in the evening performed by people on the community.

    Now it’s gone the way of Xmas and become very commercialized.

    • Bryn says:

      I’m from Newfoundland too! Very proud of my Irish heritage, but I hate that it’s been commercialized. My daughter got a book about catchi a leprechaun recently and there was St Patrick day cards in it, done to look like valentines, ridiculous.
      BTW…St Patrick’s Day is not a stat holiday here in Newfoundland

  19. Valiantly Varnished says:

    Ive been a Colin Farrell lover dating back to right after Tigerland when he blew up. Even through all his troubles he has always struck me as a genuinely decent human being. And hot. And he just gets hotter the older he gets.

  20. dumbledork says:

    That’s the Chicago River. They’ve been dying it since the 1960s. Supposedly it’s an environmentally sound powder that they dump into the river. Motorboats churn up the water which turns it bright green when it hits. Cool to see I guess, but I highly doubt the claim that’s it’s all safe. But it’s Chicago, so lies abound from our leaders on a daily basis.

  21. adastraperaspera says:

    Great time to watch reruns of the show Ballykissangel! Young Colin was so lovely in that.

    • BeanieBean says:

      I was just thinking about Ballykissangel. That’s when I first noticed Colin Farrell. Sigh.

  22. Christy J says:

    My husband is from Ireland and he’s always said what Colin says here about St. Patrick’s Day. He actually finds the way Americans celebrate sort of offensive, especially all the leprechaun nonsense. But my husband always eats cornbeef and cabbage so that’s not just an American thing. He eats it year round though.

  23. Andrea says:

    My friends who live in Ireland said the same thing when they lived in Canada..they never saw green beer before. They thought Canadians and Americans basically created their own holiday that has little to do with how the Irish people are.

  24. paranormalgirl says:

    Never had corned beef and cabbage until I came to the States (from I’m a Mayo girl). I do like it though. Green anything (bagels, butter, beer, etc) is revolting, but I’m not offended by it.

  25. Incredulous says:

    Thanks for referring to it as Paddy’s not Patty’s!

  26. Seria says:

    I’m glad I decided to watch the video rather than just read the transcript, he has such a great laugh!

  27. Digital Unicorn says:

    I love Colin, he was a messy guy but seems to have gotten his sh!t together. I really wish he had been cast as Grindlewald 🙁

    He’s a bit too hairy for me but I still would.

  28. Lucky says:

    God I love him. He’s got the best Irish brogue ever!

  29. Pandy says:

    God, he’s a sexy beast.

  30. Lea says:

    I am French but I have lived in Northern Ireland in the past. Apart from a parade they didn’t go crazy for St Patrick’s day the way Americans do. In France it’s usually the occasion to go to an Irish bar and get drunk.
    This day has a personal significance for me though because my son was born on that day. We definitely don’t binge drink on that day, it’s mostly birthday cakes and songs 🙂

  31. DS9 says:

    I’m sure it’s rather weird bordering on the offensive to modern Irish but they have to remember the history of the Irish diaspora combined with how far removed we are from it.

    At the time St Patrick’s Day celebrations really took root here Irishness was essentially a crime. Faith, culture, language, etc all suppressed. They are deliberately kept poor, were starved, and often barely survived for journey here. And when they did get here, they found land and a living and a country where they could call themselves Irish without risking suspicion or extra scrutiny.

    So to be here, with a full belly, observing Irishness and celebrating a Catholic saint without risk of losing land, position, inheritance or being suspected of plotting an uprising was a marvel.

    And of course it’s the melting pot so the celebration spread and was watered down. Like Halloween or Christmas

    • Gretchen says:

      I’m not sure I’m reading you correctly here, but if you are saying that Irish immigrants were welcomed to the US and they found a life here without restriction or discrimination, that’s not really accurate. Not only were there tensions between assimilated immigrant populations but also between Catholic and Protestant Irish immigrants. Some even pretended they were Scottish because being Irish, particularly Catholic, did raise scrutiny and a sleu of negative stereotypes in the US.

    • Tina says:

      I don’t really think actual Irish people “have to remember” anything. They’re Irish, they get to define what being Irish is. Irish-American culture is different and that’s fine, but it’s not Irish.

      • DS9 says:

        Right, that’s actually my point, that Irish Americans are a distinct and separate culture from Irish people and should be treated accordingly. Much like Italians and Italian Americans or anyone from an African nation with their various and distinct cultures and African Americans.

        And to the other poster, no, I’m not saying Irish Americans found no discrimination here. We know that’s not the case even without proof of the “Irish need not apply” myth the Irish Americans have historically used to position themselves as worse off than blacks.

        Irish immigrants who came to America did find themselves facing more social discrimination than the same sort of economic and almost genocidal discrimination that dogged the Irish people as far back as the Tudor dynasty.

  32. Alyse says:

    I like St Patrick’s Day… because it’s my parents anniversary 🙂

  33. laura-j says:

    He’s just so beautiful.