On St. Patrick's Day, everybody is Irish, but the other 364 days a year, only 17.9 percent of Rhode Islanders claim Irish ancestry, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

That makes the sons and daughters of Erin the second most numerous ethnic group following Italians, who count 18.4 percent of the Rhode Island population among their extended family. And, conveniently enough, Rhode Island Italians observe a major holiday two days after St. Patrick's Day when they honor St. Joseph.

Read more

Source: http://www.providencejournal.com/