Sláinte! Susan here, writing this on St. Patrick's Day (or just after St. Paddy's Day, if it's the 18th where you are) - and wearin' the green and some Connemara marble for good luck. Being at least half Irish, according to DNA and family, I love this holiday. Most of the Wenches have a dab to a dominance of Irish genes, too, so Éirinn go Brách from all of us. In honor of Ireland and the good St. Patrick, we've chosen some of our favorite Irish things - places, books, and more - to share with you. And we hope you'll share your Irish favorites with us!
Mary Jo's Irish favorites:
Place to stay: Ashford Castle!
Fish and chips: Crackpots in Kinsale (cracking, cracking good time, and similar usages seem to be related to the Irish Gaelic word "craic," pronounced krak, which means something wonderful, entertaining, a great time - "craic" is still commonly used in Ireland.)
Location: The Cliffs of Moher - Stunning, magnificent po int on the far west coast of Ireland. See photo above.
Irish Actor: Pierce Brosnan
Traditional Irish song: The Minstrel Boy, set to Londonderry Air
Irish Musical: Riverdance (check out Reel Around the Sun)
Andrea's Irish favorites:
Golf course: Waterville Golf Links (and an Irish rainbow!)
Place to stay: Sheen Falls Lodge
Walking trails: Killarney National Park
Anne's Irish favorite:
An Irish whiskey called Writers Tears
Said to be soft and sweet with notes of honey, citrus, vanilla, apple, caramel, and oak. (I have to try a sip - or, as Mary Jo remarked, at least keep a bottle on the shelf!)
And my own favorites:
Favorite Irish books:
The Book of Kells, Trinity College Library, Dublin - Created in the late 8th century by Irish monks, the Book of Kells presents the Gospels in four incredible volumes of illumination and handscript on vellum. One of the true treasures of ancient Ireland, it very recently became available to view online!
Favorite Irish pub (this side of the pond): An Poitin Stil in Baltimore!
Favorite Irish music: anything on an Irish harp, including tunes by Turlough O'Carolan (played by Derek Bell, Patrick Ball, and others) - also The Cranberries, and The Commitments ,,,,
Favorite Irish actors: Colin Farrell, Saoirse Ronan, Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Aiden Gillan, Evanna Lynch ....
And lastly, my favorite Irish proverbs:
May those who love us, love us -- And for those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts, and if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles -- so we will know them by their limping!
Saint Patrick's Day may be over, and it's just one day a year -- but the wonderful, irrepressible Irish spirit is forever. Do you have some Irish favorites too? Please share!