In contrast to the rest of the world — when “Kiss me, I’m Irish” hats are worn by Plastic Paddies drinking Guinness dyed green from Boston to Baghdad — the rituals attached to St Patrick seem to become a greater source of embarrassment in his own land with every passing year.

Trevor Sergeant, the leader of the Green Party, is exasperated that the Dail, the Irish parliament, has gone into recess for almost a week because of the absence of so many of its members. “The scale of it means we are left with a Defence Minister and Trade Minister — the only two ministers left in the country,” he said. Common wisdom has it that half Ireland’s great and good will be in New York today and the rest at Cheltenham for the racing.

The Government gave a more detailed breakdown, revealing that 29 of its members were travelling to 22 countries across 5 continents for St Patrick’s Day. Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach, is in Washington with four Cabinet colleagues to mark the daywith President Bush.

Meanwhile, back home, where the forecast is for snow flurries, the start of five days of St Patrick’s Day festivities in Dublin was marked by high security levels, calls for bans on selling alcohol and warnings of trouble on the streets.

Earlier this month the capital’s centre was rocked by riots when thugs attacked police as republicans prevented a loyalist parade. The rioters were assisted by large quantities of building material in O’Connell Street, thanks to the refurbishment of the main thoroughfare.

Aebhric McGibney, the policy director of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said that he feared trouble caused by drunkenness more than a repeat of the riots.

Organisers of the Dublin St Patrick’s Day parade estimate that 700,000 may turn out to watch. The Irish Times said this week that the afternoon of March 17 — when the parade has finished — is “the most depressing and dangerous” day of the year in Ireland.

More than 700 people were arrested across the country for public order offences on St Patrick’s Day last year, more than double the 2004 number.

In the US, dozens of Roman Catholic bishops have granted dispensations to bypass Lent rules forbidding the eating of meat on Friday, so Irish Americans may eat a traditional meal of corned beef. But meat must be off the menu tomorrow.