The Irish Tricolour flag represents the country of the Republic of Ireland, 26 counties of the island, which in fact doesn’t include the 6 counties that St Patrick mainly operated in. In fact, it can be quite offensive to many people living in the place St Patrick mainly operated in, due to a civil conflict.
St Patrick also has his own flag - a red saltire on a white background - which deliberately represents him.
Making St Patrick’s day a festival of Irish Nationalism specific to the Republic of Ireland makes zero sense, and using a flag which only represents part of the island, especially since many Americans are also descended from Ulster Scots in Northern Ireland.
In America it’s just a day for people to get drunk and talk about their Irish heritage when they don’t really have any knowledge of.
My family came from Ireland. We have no clue what part of Ireland. We don’t speak the language or know the history but doesn’t stop us from celebrating st Patrick’s day.
I find it such a strange holiday.
Same with Cinco De Mayo or really any of the holidays we’ve appropriated from different cultures. It’s just a day to get drunk and vaguely celebrate something