The Saw Doctors help Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Rather cleverly, Irish rock vets The Saw Doctors start their winter tour in Florida. Could it be the allure of winter sun?

“We haven’t gotten to Florida very often,” says guitarist Leo Moran, “but, yes, it’ll be nice to get a bit of sunshine at this time of year.”

He considers his statement.

“Actually, when you’re from over here,” he says, speaking from Ireland, “that helps any time of the year.”

The tour isn’t timed just to sneak in some sunbathing though. The Saw Doctors hope to catch some St. Patrick’s Day action.

“St. Patrick’s Day is a license for an Irish man to go anywhere, you know,” laughs Moran. “But we’re always the most sober people in the building on St. Patrick’s Day. That’s the way it works for us.”
Moran agrees with the (unproven, but almost certain) theory that Americans will whoop it up whatever the occasion.

“They’re real celebrators. They’re great party throwers. When you’re invited to a party in the States, you’re really invited to a party. You can be sure it’s going to be a proper shindig and no messing.”
Credit indeed given to the Irish propensity for gaiety, whether it’s a wedding or a wake.

“That’s the thing here, you celebrate the person’s life and you enjoy yourself. A cousin of mine said he’d rather go to a wake than a wedding. It’s more fun and you don’t have to take a present.”

Who gets wilder on St. Paddy’s Day, Irish or Americans?

“Irish America is a nation of its own,”?says Moran. “It’s neither Irish nor American. It’s its own thing and it’s their big day. It’s amazing what they make of it, really. It’s hardly that big of a thing in Ireland. A bit of a parade down the town and then everybody goes to the pub afterwards. It’s become a bit more [of a thing in] the last few years. But even so, it’s nothing like the States.”