If he’d been at Mercy Place yesterday, he’d have seen a fine young pair of colleens dancing in traditional Irish style.

But it was the old ’uns at the nursing home who really got into the spirit of St Patrick’s Day.

Bless my soul, they were clapping and singing, laughing and crying, getting up to dance and tapping walking sticks, to be sure.

And didn’t those with Irish blood get all nostalgic over the Emerald Isle?

Staff member Mel Shipard and Lauri Quinn, of Saoirse Celtic Dancers, treated residents to a dance performance followed by a singalong of Irish songs by the piano that would have done old John McCormack proud.

“Some were really touched by the music,” Ms Shipard said.