St. Patrick’s Day

First, Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2016, Erin go Bragh (Ireland Forever). According to Savannah, it has the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the United States and this year is their 192nd one. As you read this, everyone is wearing green hoping to get kissed.

Why celebrate March 17th as St. Patrick’s Day? It’s actually supposed to be the day that St. Patrick died unlike the holidays we usually celebrate for the famous when they were born. The myths about St. Patrick are numerous, the wearing of the green, the meaning of the clover, no snakes in Ireland thanks to St. Patrick. Believe what you want to believe, but one thing for sure, St. Patrick is celebrated by the millions.

According to the 2010 United States census, 34.5 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s about 12 percent of the population, talk about your immigration. Nearly a million Irish fled to the United States during the great potato famine when millions of Irish died from starvation in Ireland. From the start, their work ethic, gift of gab, and talents gave them advantages as they climbed the ladder of success.

The Monticello phone book has many an Irish name among ‘em, O’Bryon, Patrick, O’Neal, McMichael, McGeorge, Allen, Carey, Carroll, Collins, Farley, Fitzpatrick, Ford, Nolan, Power, Rice, Rogers, Ward, Walsh, Carr, Carroll, Cowan, Reese, Jennings, King, Smith, Brown, Gorman, Lynch, Kelly, West, Williams, Johnston, and enough people named Molly, Tara, Joseph, Ryan, James, William, Michael, George, Frank, Daniel, Cathy, Cathie, Kathy, Mary, and even Janet to fill up a “pot o’ gold”.

Irish quotes and sayings are favorites on plaques and greeting cards. “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough,” “Ask an Irishman for directions and he’ll just go with you,” “Irish I was Irish,” “As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.”

Hey, Monticello, Have a craic of a good St. Patrick’s Day!