Yes, I say St. Patrick Week rather than day because when the 17th of March comes mid-week, it invites celebrations to start early and go through the following weekend. And, of course, it is not only about parades and green beer. Many places and events have Irish themes throughout the month. I know I am quite busy with Celtic presentations throughout March.
Read MoreI came across a post card of these six famous Irish writers many years ago and held on to for years. During my sorting and rearranging Covid period, I found it and had it framed for my wall of Irish inspirational mementos. While I have a long list of favorite Irish writers, I refer to this as The Mount Rushmore.
Read MoreCities throughout the world have come to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with great fanfare huge parades, and lots of green beer. And, although the St. Patrick’s Day parades in Dublin, Kilkenny and Killarney are now major tourist attractions, there was a time when parades in NYC, Boston and Chicago were much larger. St. Patrick’s Day for the Irishman who had left his beloved Ireland for America or Australia or some other part of the world became a day celebrating his Irishness and mourning his loss of home.
Read MoreDid you ever find that a place or thing you passed by with little notice suddenly became highlighted in the news? That’s my relationship with Ballina, the Irish town in County Mayo. Joe Biden’s people came from Ballina. As I saw pictures of celebrations in its streets when he was named winner of the presidential election, I was reminded of the week I spent in Ballycastle, with a view of Down Patrick and a chance to tour Mayo.
Read MorePositive change comes when individuals, groups or countries open to possibility and let go of blind resistance and of resentment of “the other”. As Joe said “the opposition” is not the enemy. I would add from years of facilitating change and resolving conflict, two other aspects: Assume positive intent and drop the self-righteous anger. If you find yourself preferring to be right than preferring to have conditions improve, then guess what? You are perpetuating the problem.
Read MoreOver recent years, the grand Céad míle fáilte was extended to not only Kennedy, but Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, both of Irish descent.
Read MoreHaving just celebrated Independence Day here in the U.S., I have been thinking about the number of Celtic peoples who helped form our early republic.
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