The US is gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day – Sunday March 17th.

According to Wikipedia a total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in 2008.

And a census conducted by the US Census Bureau revealed some 3.5 million (or about another 1.2% of Americans) identified more specifically Scottish or Irish ancestory.

It’s believed those with Irish connections in the US is some six times the current population of Ireland.

Of course, much of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations will take place in New York City.

And then Graeme McDowell has timed the official opening of his Nona Blue Bistro in Lake Nona to coincide with the celebration, and www.golfbytourmiss will be at the opening on Sunday.

However just walking through a local Tampa Bay shopping centre yesterday it was hard not to notice how Americans seem to get more wrapped-up in St. Patricks Day and more than the Irish.

An example was during our two-hour stopover in Philidelphia on route here to Florida.  We popped into Jack Dugan’s Bar and there behind the bar was a countdown down to St. Patrick’s Day.

* Click on photographs to enlarge.