When I was in high school I was on the school paper, we'd always go to a HS paper conference in NYC in March at Columbia University.  Always seemed to be around St Paddy's Day.  Always seemed to be around the NCAA tournament. 

Anyway, my high school was up in the sticks and I was a "city kid" (having moved to upstate when I was 7 years old).

Successfully getting our chaperone to fall off the wagon -- with a couple of scotches during our first dinner -- meant the next couple of days were a free-for-all. 

1.  I knew a guy who owned a small Italian restaurant in the village.  Mr Manfreidi always  liked to see me stop in with friends.  Big points with girls...

2.  My sister's husband's brother was a senior NCO in the 69th.  For two weeks before and two weeks after, the St Paddy's Day celebration went on at the Armory.  I'd just mention the name McGann and we'd be escorted in to whatever party was going on...  Never brought a girl there that didn't have a good time....

3.  NCAA games -- the brother -in-law mentioned above worked for a news service and he introduced me to the NYC sports guy who was always happy to see me (he had a son the same age as me, we were good friends).  He'd always have a few tickets in his pocket...

Yeah, it wasn't an official school holiday, but St Paddy's Day remains in my memory.