St. Patrick’s Day, Dublin, 1841 A poster advertising a ‘Great Temperance Procession’ held in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day in 1841. Teetotalism or the practice of a complete personal abstinence from alcoholic beverages took on the form of a national movement in many European countries (including Ireland) in the mid-nineteenth century. Public processions were important features of these movements with thousands of teetotallers from many different societies marching with military precision to a central point (in this case the Phoenix Park) to listen to speeches. The wearing of a ribbon or a rosette was used to symbolize those who had taken a pledge of abstinence from alcohol consumption. With thanks to theCapuchin Archives, Ireland.