Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to you!
Susan here – it's a great day for celebrating the Irish and Ireland, which I’m celebrating too—one of my grandfathers was Irish, the son of an Irish minister from County Cork who came over with his family; and I have Irish on both maternal and paternal sides. According to my DNA tests and under-construction genealogy tree, I’m about 40% Irish, the rest Scottish, English, French, Italian and a smidge of Jewish way, way back. (If you haven’t done DNA testing, the results are fascinating and full of surprises.)
Today is a day for the Irish, a day for luck and pride and wearin’ o’ the green as we celebrate whatever percentage of Irish we have—and if it’s not in your blood, perhaps it’s in your heart and in your fondness for the incomparable, the irrepressible, the charming, the feisty, the poetic, the profound and unforgettable Irish and their beautiful land.
Beginning as a celebration of St. Patrick’s life, St. Patrick's Day has come a long way. Patrick was a 5th century British son of a noble house, enslaved and brought to Ireland; he escaped, yet returned once he became a priest, bringing Christianity to the pagan Celtic Irish. From that humble start grew the myth of clearing the snakes (pagan beliefs?) out of Ireland, and from there to wearing green, displaying shamrocks, drinking green beer, singing Irish songs in pubs, eating Irish fare, dyeing an entire river green (Chicago) and generally loving all things Irish or even remotely Irish for one fine day. And it has become, it seems, even a bigger deal here in America than in Ireland, with the Irish prime minister visiting the U.S. this week and talking about the importance of America to Irish immigrants–and the importance of Irish immigrants to America.
So today I’m wearing my green—including a favorite good-luck bracelet of Connemara marble and Irish silver—and it’s a perfect day for the Wenches to show our love of all things Irish, shared below.
And we hope you all will share your Irish favorites with us!
Pat Rice
I've always assumed I was part Irish. My mother was left in an orphanage as an infant, but her birth certificate listed a McDonald as the father and the part of New York City used as an address was predominantly Irish immigrants at the time. The mother's family name was traditionally English, but the census bureau listed her home country as Ireland, so the chances were pretty high. But the real tell-tale signs were my mother's gorgeous red hair and freckles. I unfortunately did not get the red, although my children did. I recently had a DNA analysis done and lo and behold, I'm 48% Irish. I know my father's family, and they're definitely not from Ye Olde Sod, so my grandmother's traditional English name is meaningless. I am the direct descendant of Irish immigrants–which has to be my favorite Irish thing.
Mary Jo Putney
Several months ago I had my DNA analysis done and was told I'm 8% Irish. I have no knowledge of where those ancestors hang on the family tree, but I'm mostly all British Isles, which means Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and a dash of Scandinavian. Not that it matters–there is so much to love about Ireland even without Irish DNA!
Several years ago, we were lucky enough to spend a week touring Ireland with a driver/guide, and we loved the scenery, the history, the friendly people. The food was also very good–fresh and locavore.
Most of all, I loved the fish and chips. Crispy, fresh, and delicious. I ate them several times that week, but my favorite version was at a charming restaurant called Crackpots in Kinsale, a beautiful little town in the southeast. (I was doing some research for my book Sometimes a Rogue, which spends a fair amount of time in Ireland.)
The fish and chips were wonderful, the ambiance welcoming, and when we were checking into our B&B up the street, I met a single American traveler also checking in, so I invited her to join us for dinner. Maureen was a family practice lawyer fromCalifornia, and the three of us had a wonderful time.
Favorite things aren't always big and splashy–sometimes they are small and just right.
Joanne Bourne
I'm about a quarter Irish and I simply and truly love Ireland. Shannon Airport was the very first place I set down in Europe on my very first trip there. I was seventeen. The favorite object I brought back from that long-ago trip was a hand-woven wool blanket.
We stopped in a little town and were talking to people at the pub. They told us about a place that made blankets — from soup to nuts as it were – by hand. So, off we go driving through the countryside (in the rain) and find it. Turns out it's a nunnery and they open up even though it's not one of the days they're open and the nice nun takes us all through the place. There were sheep. And,like, looms. For people to sit at. Man, they had a lotta blankets.
I bought one that looks like it might be a clan tartan. Tonight, fifty years later, I'll sleep with that same blanket on my bed.
Andrea Penrose/Cara Elliott
I have a great fondness of Ireland and all things Irish, especially the hauntingly beautiful southwestern part of the country. Great golf, spectacular scenery, wonderful food . . . along with peat fires, whiskey and Guinness to warm the cockles after a rain. The town of Kenmare, renowned for its healing waters, is a particularly favorite spot, and I’ve been lucky enough to stay at Sheen Falls Lodge several times. It’s set on a small waterfall spilling into the bay and there is nothing more perfect than to sit back with a glass of local malt and savor the sight and sounds of a magical place. My family also has a strong connection to the country—my sister-in-law did her PhD (on Joyce!) in Dublin and my niece spent her junior year of college at University of Cork. At Christmas, my Guinness chocolate cake is in much demand!
Susan King
Even with the Irish genes, I’ve not yet visited Ireland, though I will do that someday soon. I long to go there. My soul must be a Celtic one, as I’m so drawn to the cultures and history of Ireland, Scotland, and all places in the wide Celtic basket. And though I write books set in Scotland, I’ve always had a deep love and fascination for Ireland and Irishness. Here’s a list of a few of my favorite Irish things, in no particular order—and there are many more!
–
– The Turret Stair, Frederic William Burton, National Gallery of Ireland—voted Ireland’s favorite painting, 2012. Mine too!
—The Book of Kells, ca. 800, Trinity College Library – a stunning illuminated book. Here’s what Thomas Cahill has to say about the Irish and books, in How the Irish Saved Civilization: (one of my personal favorite books, btw) –
Wherever they went the Irish brought with them their books, many unseen in Europe for centuries and tied to their waists as signs of triumph, just as Irish 
heroes had once tied to their waists their enemies' heads. Where they went they brought their love of learning and their skills in bookmaking. In the bays and valleys of their exile, they reestablished literacy and breathed new life into the exhausted literary culture of Europe. And that is how the Irish saved civilization.
—Irish pubs and fish and chips, including local lovely Irish places such as An Poitin Stil near Baltimore, where I sometimes meet Mary Jo to nosh on fish and chips and soda bread and more. While I’m not a fan of beer (sorry, ecchh), I do love the atmosphere of a good pub! See fish and chips from our beloved Stil above. 
–A new favorite, the inflatable Irish pub – I’d love to have one of these in my backyard! https://inflatable.pub/
—Celtic jewelry – I have many pieces and love each one, silver spirals, knotwork designs, much of it Irish made and as lovely as it gets.
—TV and movies about Ireland — so many favorites! Here are just a few that capture a sense of Ireland and Irish: The Quiet Man, Waking Ned Devine, The Commitments, and a wonderful TV series, Moone Boy, starring the irrepressible Irish charmer, Chris O’Dowd.
—Riverdance! I have seen it three times onstage, and for years could not get enough of this phenomenal show and its extraordinary music and energy. Good news, it’s coming back for its 20th anniversary! http://riverdance.com/usa/
— And with the mention of Riverdance – my favorite music is surely Irish harp. I can listen to it endlessly, and even have a harp of my own, and have taken lessons to pluck away at a few tunes, and to better understand the harpists in some of my books.
—Trinity College Library, Dublin – I’ve never seen it, but must step inside one day. Its vast shelves and tiers are breathtaking.
This list could be endless, but I’ll end here – I know you all have your own favorite 
Irish things to add. What do you love best about Ireland—have you visited there or lived there? Are you of Irish descent, or a fan o’ the Irish?
Sláinte!
Susan
“Riverdance! I have seen it three times onstage, and for years could not get enough of this phenomenal show and its extraordinary music and energy.”
Irish dance is a nightmare on the body. It’s a very unforgiving style on the lower legs. My eighteen-year-old Irish-dancer cousin has already had an ankle reconstruction!
Show dancing is gorgeous, but these days competitive Irish dance is all spray tans and crystals and big wigs.
I have a relative born on the 17th of March. The middle name his parents gave him: Patrick. I guess at least they didn’t give it as his first name – that’s a little TOO obvious!
I’m currently planning a return trip to Ireland. I lived and worked there *briefly* before moving on to London.
“If you haven’t done DNA testing, the results are fascinating and full of surprises.”
Unfortunately I can’t do that. The Russians and the Germans took care of (read: burnt to the ground!) ALL records from where most of my family is from, and sites like ancestry.com don’t even include Eastern Europe in their ads…
“Riverdance! I have seen it three times onstage, and for years could not get enough of this phenomenal show and its extraordinary music and energy.”
Irish dance is a nightmare on the body. It’s a very unforgiving style on the lower legs. My eighteen-year-old Irish-dancer cousin has already had an ankle reconstruction!
Show dancing is gorgeous, but these days competitive Irish dance is all spray tans and crystals and big wigs.
I have a relative born on the 17th of March. The middle name his parents gave him: Patrick. I guess at least they didn’t give it as his first name – that’s a little TOO obvious!
I’m currently planning a return trip to Ireland. I lived and worked there *briefly* before moving on to London.
“If you haven’t done DNA testing, the results are fascinating and full of surprises.”
Unfortunately I can’t do that. The Russians and the Germans took care of (read: burnt to the ground!) ALL records from where most of my family is from, and sites like ancestry.com don’t even include Eastern Europe in their ads…
“Riverdance! I have seen it three times onstage, and for years could not get enough of this phenomenal show and its extraordinary music and energy.”
Irish dance is a nightmare on the body. It’s a very unforgiving style on the lower legs. My eighteen-year-old Irish-dancer cousin has already had an ankle reconstruction!
Show dancing is gorgeous, but these days competitive Irish dance is all spray tans and crystals and big wigs.
I have a relative born on the 17th of March. The middle name his parents gave him: Patrick. I guess at least they didn’t give it as his first name – that’s a little TOO obvious!
I’m currently planning a return trip to Ireland. I lived and worked there *briefly* before moving on to London.
“If you haven’t done DNA testing, the results are fascinating and full of surprises.”
Unfortunately I can’t do that. The Russians and the Germans took care of (read: burnt to the ground!) ALL records from where most of my family is from, and sites like ancestry.com don’t even include Eastern Europe in their ads…
“Riverdance! I have seen it three times onstage, and for years could not get enough of this phenomenal show and its extraordinary music and energy.”
Irish dance is a nightmare on the body. It’s a very unforgiving style on the lower legs. My eighteen-year-old Irish-dancer cousin has already had an ankle reconstruction!
Show dancing is gorgeous, but these days competitive Irish dance is all spray tans and crystals and big wigs.
I have a relative born on the 17th of March. The middle name his parents gave him: Patrick. I guess at least they didn’t give it as his first name – that’s a little TOO obvious!
I’m currently planning a return trip to Ireland. I lived and worked there *briefly* before moving on to London.
“If you haven’t done DNA testing, the results are fascinating and full of surprises.”
Unfortunately I can’t do that. The Russians and the Germans took care of (read: burnt to the ground!) ALL records from where most of my family is from, and sites like ancestry.com don’t even include Eastern Europe in their ads…
“Riverdance! I have seen it three times onstage, and for years could not get enough of this phenomenal show and its extraordinary music and energy.”
Irish dance is a nightmare on the body. It’s a very unforgiving style on the lower legs. My eighteen-year-old Irish-dancer cousin has already had an ankle reconstruction!
Show dancing is gorgeous, but these days competitive Irish dance is all spray tans and crystals and big wigs.
I have a relative born on the 17th of March. The middle name his parents gave him: Patrick. I guess at least they didn’t give it as his first name – that’s a little TOO obvious!
I’m currently planning a return trip to Ireland. I lived and worked there *briefly* before moving on to London.
“If you haven’t done DNA testing, the results are fascinating and full of surprises.”
Unfortunately I can’t do that. The Russians and the Germans took care of (read: burnt to the ground!) ALL records from where most of my family is from, and sites like ancestry.com don’t even include Eastern Europe in their ads…
Hi Sonya ~ Irish dance is tough on the body, but an exhilarating and amazing thing to see, and we are grateful to them for learning the skill! Like athletes and others, dancers of all sorts know the risks and do it for the love of it and the love of making art in the moment. Best wishes to your cousin!
The DNA results don’t require records, just some saliva and its mitochondria and chromosomes and so on. The global database is growing exponentially as people contribute DNA samples that expand the info base. If you get a kit, you might be surprised at how much your report contains! And we would love to hear about it if you do. My DNA contains Eastern European, just a smidge in my case, but there are now zillions of DNA matches in the databases to detail those origins too.
Hi Sonya ~ Irish dance is tough on the body, but an exhilarating and amazing thing to see, and we are grateful to them for learning the skill! Like athletes and others, dancers of all sorts know the risks and do it for the love of it and the love of making art in the moment. Best wishes to your cousin!
The DNA results don’t require records, just some saliva and its mitochondria and chromosomes and so on. The global database is growing exponentially as people contribute DNA samples that expand the info base. If you get a kit, you might be surprised at how much your report contains! And we would love to hear about it if you do. My DNA contains Eastern European, just a smidge in my case, but there are now zillions of DNA matches in the databases to detail those origins too.
Hi Sonya ~ Irish dance is tough on the body, but an exhilarating and amazing thing to see, and we are grateful to them for learning the skill! Like athletes and others, dancers of all sorts know the risks and do it for the love of it and the love of making art in the moment. Best wishes to your cousin!
The DNA results don’t require records, just some saliva and its mitochondria and chromosomes and so on. The global database is growing exponentially as people contribute DNA samples that expand the info base. If you get a kit, you might be surprised at how much your report contains! And we would love to hear about it if you do. My DNA contains Eastern European, just a smidge in my case, but there are now zillions of DNA matches in the databases to detail those origins too.
Hi Sonya ~ Irish dance is tough on the body, but an exhilarating and amazing thing to see, and we are grateful to them for learning the skill! Like athletes and others, dancers of all sorts know the risks and do it for the love of it and the love of making art in the moment. Best wishes to your cousin!
The DNA results don’t require records, just some saliva and its mitochondria and chromosomes and so on. The global database is growing exponentially as people contribute DNA samples that expand the info base. If you get a kit, you might be surprised at how much your report contains! And we would love to hear about it if you do. My DNA contains Eastern European, just a smidge in my case, but there are now zillions of DNA matches in the databases to detail those origins too.
Hi Sonya ~ Irish dance is tough on the body, but an exhilarating and amazing thing to see, and we are grateful to them for learning the skill! Like athletes and others, dancers of all sorts know the risks and do it for the love of it and the love of making art in the moment. Best wishes to your cousin!
The DNA results don’t require records, just some saliva and its mitochondria and chromosomes and so on. The global database is growing exponentially as people contribute DNA samples that expand the info base. If you get a kit, you might be surprised at how much your report contains! And we would love to hear about it if you do. My DNA contains Eastern European, just a smidge in my case, but there are now zillions of DNA matches in the databases to detail those origins too.
Absent DNA evidence, I’m half Irish and my husband is all Irish, by descent anyway. What I love about Ireland is the writers, from Sheridan and Goldsmith through Yeats and Joyce and Heaney.
(What I don’t love is cutesy leprechauns, green bagels, and using the day as an excuse to get wasted.)
Absent DNA evidence, I’m half Irish and my husband is all Irish, by descent anyway. What I love about Ireland is the writers, from Sheridan and Goldsmith through Yeats and Joyce and Heaney.
(What I don’t love is cutesy leprechauns, green bagels, and using the day as an excuse to get wasted.)
Absent DNA evidence, I’m half Irish and my husband is all Irish, by descent anyway. What I love about Ireland is the writers, from Sheridan and Goldsmith through Yeats and Joyce and Heaney.
(What I don’t love is cutesy leprechauns, green bagels, and using the day as an excuse to get wasted.)
Absent DNA evidence, I’m half Irish and my husband is all Irish, by descent anyway. What I love about Ireland is the writers, from Sheridan and Goldsmith through Yeats and Joyce and Heaney.
(What I don’t love is cutesy leprechauns, green bagels, and using the day as an excuse to get wasted.)
Absent DNA evidence, I’m half Irish and my husband is all Irish, by descent anyway. What I love about Ireland is the writers, from Sheridan and Goldsmith through Yeats and Joyce and Heaney.
(What I don’t love is cutesy leprechauns, green bagels, and using the day as an excuse to get wasted.)
Hi Lillian – yes, the writers and the writing!! You’ve named some of my favorites too. And I’d add ancient Irish poetry to the writing list – like the Tain Bo Cuailnge. Fascinating.
Totally agree on the green bagels and the rest of the cutesy stuff! Give me real Ireland, not the Lucky Charms version, and I’m happy.
Hi Lillian – yes, the writers and the writing!! You’ve named some of my favorites too. And I’d add ancient Irish poetry to the writing list – like the Tain Bo Cuailnge. Fascinating.
Totally agree on the green bagels and the rest of the cutesy stuff! Give me real Ireland, not the Lucky Charms version, and I’m happy.
Hi Lillian – yes, the writers and the writing!! You’ve named some of my favorites too. And I’d add ancient Irish poetry to the writing list – like the Tain Bo Cuailnge. Fascinating.
Totally agree on the green bagels and the rest of the cutesy stuff! Give me real Ireland, not the Lucky Charms version, and I’m happy.
Hi Lillian – yes, the writers and the writing!! You’ve named some of my favorites too. And I’d add ancient Irish poetry to the writing list – like the Tain Bo Cuailnge. Fascinating.
Totally agree on the green bagels and the rest of the cutesy stuff! Give me real Ireland, not the Lucky Charms version, and I’m happy.
Hi Lillian – yes, the writers and the writing!! You’ve named some of my favorites too. And I’d add ancient Irish poetry to the writing list – like the Tain Bo Cuailnge. Fascinating.
Totally agree on the green bagels and the rest of the cutesy stuff! Give me real Ireland, not the Lucky Charms version, and I’m happy.
My DNA suggests Irish. Family stories say I have a great grandmother who emigrated from there. My husband’s family also appear to have Irish roots.
Some of my family have visited Ireland and enjoyed it greatly. I only seem to visit it in books.
My DNA suggests Irish. Family stories say I have a great grandmother who emigrated from there. My husband’s family also appear to have Irish roots.
Some of my family have visited Ireland and enjoyed it greatly. I only seem to visit it in books.
My DNA suggests Irish. Family stories say I have a great grandmother who emigrated from there. My husband’s family also appear to have Irish roots.
Some of my family have visited Ireland and enjoyed it greatly. I only seem to visit it in books.
My DNA suggests Irish. Family stories say I have a great grandmother who emigrated from there. My husband’s family also appear to have Irish roots.
Some of my family have visited Ireland and enjoyed it greatly. I only seem to visit it in books.
My DNA suggests Irish. Family stories say I have a great grandmother who emigrated from there. My husband’s family also appear to have Irish roots.
Some of my family have visited Ireland and enjoyed it greatly. I only seem to visit it in books.
Green bagels and green beer–can one imagine a grimmer meal? *G* I’ll go for the fish and chips. Corned beef and cabbage is good, too, but I believe that corned beef is New York Jewish invention, and a very fine one, too. Let’s hear it for the American melting pot!
Green bagels and green beer–can one imagine a grimmer meal? *G* I’ll go for the fish and chips. Corned beef and cabbage is good, too, but I believe that corned beef is New York Jewish invention, and a very fine one, too. Let’s hear it for the American melting pot!
Green bagels and green beer–can one imagine a grimmer meal? *G* I’ll go for the fish and chips. Corned beef and cabbage is good, too, but I believe that corned beef is New York Jewish invention, and a very fine one, too. Let’s hear it for the American melting pot!
Green bagels and green beer–can one imagine a grimmer meal? *G* I’ll go for the fish and chips. Corned beef and cabbage is good, too, but I believe that corned beef is New York Jewish invention, and a very fine one, too. Let’s hear it for the American melting pot!
Green bagels and green beer–can one imagine a grimmer meal? *G* I’ll go for the fish and chips. Corned beef and cabbage is good, too, but I believe that corned beef is New York Jewish invention, and a very fine one, too. Let’s hear it for the American melting pot!
It’s great to read about how much you all enjoy this lovely country of ours. It has some fabulous scenery and yes some really old tales and legends.
Susan, my daughter attended Trinity College in Dublin and while she was there she brought me into the library to see the book of Kells and so forth. It’s an amazing place. The feeling of peace and sense of homecoming you feel is wonderful. Well worth a visit.
It’s great to read about how much you all enjoy this lovely country of ours. It has some fabulous scenery and yes some really old tales and legends.
Susan, my daughter attended Trinity College in Dublin and while she was there she brought me into the library to see the book of Kells and so forth. It’s an amazing place. The feeling of peace and sense of homecoming you feel is wonderful. Well worth a visit.
It’s great to read about how much you all enjoy this lovely country of ours. It has some fabulous scenery and yes some really old tales and legends.
Susan, my daughter attended Trinity College in Dublin and while she was there she brought me into the library to see the book of Kells and so forth. It’s an amazing place. The feeling of peace and sense of homecoming you feel is wonderful. Well worth a visit.
It’s great to read about how much you all enjoy this lovely country of ours. It has some fabulous scenery and yes some really old tales and legends.
Susan, my daughter attended Trinity College in Dublin and while she was there she brought me into the library to see the book of Kells and so forth. It’s an amazing place. The feeling of peace and sense of homecoming you feel is wonderful. Well worth a visit.
It’s great to read about how much you all enjoy this lovely country of ours. It has some fabulous scenery and yes some really old tales and legends.
Susan, my daughter attended Trinity College in Dublin and while she was there she brought me into the library to see the book of Kells and so forth. It’s an amazing place. The feeling of peace and sense of homecoming you feel is wonderful. Well worth a visit.
Welsh, Scottish, French, Dutch and German- to my knowledge no Irish. But, that’s OK, I love the people, the music, the brogue, the beautiful scenery and wonderful green. I think that if one is some part Celtic, then everything Celtic is a blessing. God did great work when He was working on the British Isles. Thank you for this lovely post.
Welsh, Scottish, French, Dutch and German- to my knowledge no Irish. But, that’s OK, I love the people, the music, the brogue, the beautiful scenery and wonderful green. I think that if one is some part Celtic, then everything Celtic is a blessing. God did great work when He was working on the British Isles. Thank you for this lovely post.
Welsh, Scottish, French, Dutch and German- to my knowledge no Irish. But, that’s OK, I love the people, the music, the brogue, the beautiful scenery and wonderful green. I think that if one is some part Celtic, then everything Celtic is a blessing. God did great work when He was working on the British Isles. Thank you for this lovely post.
Welsh, Scottish, French, Dutch and German- to my knowledge no Irish. But, that’s OK, I love the people, the music, the brogue, the beautiful scenery and wonderful green. I think that if one is some part Celtic, then everything Celtic is a blessing. God did great work when He was working on the British Isles. Thank you for this lovely post.
Welsh, Scottish, French, Dutch and German- to my knowledge no Irish. But, that’s OK, I love the people, the music, the brogue, the beautiful scenery and wonderful green. I think that if one is some part Celtic, then everything Celtic is a blessing. God did great work when He was working on the British Isles. Thank you for this lovely post.
Thanks to all of you for the lovely memories of a beautiful country — and to Susan for mentioning Moone Boy, which makes me laugh out loud! While I am no fan of Riverdance, Celtic music of all kinds is balm for the soul – from the Clancy Brothers toe-tapping pub-style to Enya’s new age-y take on the music her Brennan family grew up singing, and all the truly beautiful traditional songs and singers in between. And in reference to a recent post, when I am in a major cleaning mode (spring or otherwise), Irish music keeps me going!
I think I have to go rent The Commitments to watch again….
Thanks to all of you for the lovely memories of a beautiful country — and to Susan for mentioning Moone Boy, which makes me laugh out loud! While I am no fan of Riverdance, Celtic music of all kinds is balm for the soul – from the Clancy Brothers toe-tapping pub-style to Enya’s new age-y take on the music her Brennan family grew up singing, and all the truly beautiful traditional songs and singers in between. And in reference to a recent post, when I am in a major cleaning mode (spring or otherwise), Irish music keeps me going!
I think I have to go rent The Commitments to watch again….
Thanks to all of you for the lovely memories of a beautiful country — and to Susan for mentioning Moone Boy, which makes me laugh out loud! While I am no fan of Riverdance, Celtic music of all kinds is balm for the soul – from the Clancy Brothers toe-tapping pub-style to Enya’s new age-y take on the music her Brennan family grew up singing, and all the truly beautiful traditional songs and singers in between. And in reference to a recent post, when I am in a major cleaning mode (spring or otherwise), Irish music keeps me going!
I think I have to go rent The Commitments to watch again….
Thanks to all of you for the lovely memories of a beautiful country — and to Susan for mentioning Moone Boy, which makes me laugh out loud! While I am no fan of Riverdance, Celtic music of all kinds is balm for the soul – from the Clancy Brothers toe-tapping pub-style to Enya’s new age-y take on the music her Brennan family grew up singing, and all the truly beautiful traditional songs and singers in between. And in reference to a recent post, when I am in a major cleaning mode (spring or otherwise), Irish music keeps me going!
I think I have to go rent The Commitments to watch again….
Thanks to all of you for the lovely memories of a beautiful country — and to Susan for mentioning Moone Boy, which makes me laugh out loud! While I am no fan of Riverdance, Celtic music of all kinds is balm for the soul – from the Clancy Brothers toe-tapping pub-style to Enya’s new age-y take on the music her Brennan family grew up singing, and all the truly beautiful traditional songs and singers in between. And in reference to a recent post, when I am in a major cleaning mode (spring or otherwise), Irish music keeps me going!
I think I have to go rent The Commitments to watch again….
Don’t worry, I know all about professional dance. I performed professionally from when I was eight. I’ve been in ambulances to the hospital with horrific ballet injuries… many times. Ballet takes about four times more hours a week dedication than Irish dance, and a dozen dislocated knees later…
I don’t actually trust this ‘DNA’ fad very much. It’s all over the TV here, but that sounds a bit ridiculous.
I know Irish people who have had random tourists from North America knock on their doors and say: ‘the internet told me we’re relatives. We want to stay at your house!’.
Weird. Trust paper records ahead of the ‘DNA’ fad.
As I said: if you’re from America, or Western Europe, actual records are easy to access. Learn real family records, and real family history, and take advantage of something I will never have thanks to Germany and Russia burning Ukraine to the ground.
Don’t worry, I know all about professional dance. I performed professionally from when I was eight. I’ve been in ambulances to the hospital with horrific ballet injuries… many times. Ballet takes about four times more hours a week dedication than Irish dance, and a dozen dislocated knees later…
I don’t actually trust this ‘DNA’ fad very much. It’s all over the TV here, but that sounds a bit ridiculous.
I know Irish people who have had random tourists from North America knock on their doors and say: ‘the internet told me we’re relatives. We want to stay at your house!’.
Weird. Trust paper records ahead of the ‘DNA’ fad.
As I said: if you’re from America, or Western Europe, actual records are easy to access. Learn real family records, and real family history, and take advantage of something I will never have thanks to Germany and Russia burning Ukraine to the ground.
Don’t worry, I know all about professional dance. I performed professionally from when I was eight. I’ve been in ambulances to the hospital with horrific ballet injuries… many times. Ballet takes about four times more hours a week dedication than Irish dance, and a dozen dislocated knees later…
I don’t actually trust this ‘DNA’ fad very much. It’s all over the TV here, but that sounds a bit ridiculous.
I know Irish people who have had random tourists from North America knock on their doors and say: ‘the internet told me we’re relatives. We want to stay at your house!’.
Weird. Trust paper records ahead of the ‘DNA’ fad.
As I said: if you’re from America, or Western Europe, actual records are easy to access. Learn real family records, and real family history, and take advantage of something I will never have thanks to Germany and Russia burning Ukraine to the ground.
Don’t worry, I know all about professional dance. I performed professionally from when I was eight. I’ve been in ambulances to the hospital with horrific ballet injuries… many times. Ballet takes about four times more hours a week dedication than Irish dance, and a dozen dislocated knees later…
I don’t actually trust this ‘DNA’ fad very much. It’s all over the TV here, but that sounds a bit ridiculous.
I know Irish people who have had random tourists from North America knock on their doors and say: ‘the internet told me we’re relatives. We want to stay at your house!’.
Weird. Trust paper records ahead of the ‘DNA’ fad.
As I said: if you’re from America, or Western Europe, actual records are easy to access. Learn real family records, and real family history, and take advantage of something I will never have thanks to Germany and Russia burning Ukraine to the ground.
Don’t worry, I know all about professional dance. I performed professionally from when I was eight. I’ve been in ambulances to the hospital with horrific ballet injuries… many times. Ballet takes about four times more hours a week dedication than Irish dance, and a dozen dislocated knees later…
I don’t actually trust this ‘DNA’ fad very much. It’s all over the TV here, but that sounds a bit ridiculous.
I know Irish people who have had random tourists from North America knock on their doors and say: ‘the internet told me we’re relatives. We want to stay at your house!’.
Weird. Trust paper records ahead of the ‘DNA’ fad.
As I said: if you’re from America, or Western Europe, actual records are easy to access. Learn real family records, and real family history, and take advantage of something I will never have thanks to Germany and Russia burning Ukraine to the ground.
I have to admit I’m totally shocked that – in the place of learning real family history and culture, people are relying on mouth swabs…
I love learning my family’s culture, etc. I take huge pride in being Ukrainian. You can’t get that in a science lab.
I have to admit I’m totally shocked that – in the place of learning real family history and culture, people are relying on mouth swabs…
I love learning my family’s culture, etc. I take huge pride in being Ukrainian. You can’t get that in a science lab.
I have to admit I’m totally shocked that – in the place of learning real family history and culture, people are relying on mouth swabs…
I love learning my family’s culture, etc. I take huge pride in being Ukrainian. You can’t get that in a science lab.
I have to admit I’m totally shocked that – in the place of learning real family history and culture, people are relying on mouth swabs…
I love learning my family’s culture, etc. I take huge pride in being Ukrainian. You can’t get that in a science lab.
I have to admit I’m totally shocked that – in the place of learning real family history and culture, people are relying on mouth swabs…
I love learning my family’s culture, etc. I take huge pride in being Ukrainian. You can’t get that in a science lab.
Sonya, LOL at people showing up on the doorstep saying “we’re related, we want to stay in your house!” If that happens to me, I shall politely refer them to the nearest hotel. If they look amiable, I might meet them at a Starbuck’s for coffee later.
As anecdotal evidence, when I had DNA testing done, it tracked very closely with what I know of my ancestry from more traditional studies, so I think it can be reasonable accurate, and perhaps useful for those whose ancestral records have been incinerated.
Sonya, LOL at people showing up on the doorstep saying “we’re related, we want to stay in your house!” If that happens to me, I shall politely refer them to the nearest hotel. If they look amiable, I might meet them at a Starbuck’s for coffee later.
As anecdotal evidence, when I had DNA testing done, it tracked very closely with what I know of my ancestry from more traditional studies, so I think it can be reasonable accurate, and perhaps useful for those whose ancestral records have been incinerated.
Sonya, LOL at people showing up on the doorstep saying “we’re related, we want to stay in your house!” If that happens to me, I shall politely refer them to the nearest hotel. If they look amiable, I might meet them at a Starbuck’s for coffee later.
As anecdotal evidence, when I had DNA testing done, it tracked very closely with what I know of my ancestry from more traditional studies, so I think it can be reasonable accurate, and perhaps useful for those whose ancestral records have been incinerated.
Sonya, LOL at people showing up on the doorstep saying “we’re related, we want to stay in your house!” If that happens to me, I shall politely refer them to the nearest hotel. If they look amiable, I might meet them at a Starbuck’s for coffee later.
As anecdotal evidence, when I had DNA testing done, it tracked very closely with what I know of my ancestry from more traditional studies, so I think it can be reasonable accurate, and perhaps useful for those whose ancestral records have been incinerated.
Sonya, LOL at people showing up on the doorstep saying “we’re related, we want to stay in your house!” If that happens to me, I shall politely refer them to the nearest hotel. If they look amiable, I might meet them at a Starbuck’s for coffee later.
As anecdotal evidence, when I had DNA testing done, it tracked very closely with what I know of my ancestry from more traditional studies, so I think it can be reasonable accurate, and perhaps useful for those whose ancestral records have been incinerated.