🍀Sláinte!🍀

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, Friends! St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, March 17, and yes, I celebrate that, too, because I celebrate all things! By the way, I know that “top o’ the morning to ya” is a cliche thing to say, but I’m corny and I think Irish dialects are fun (ask me in person, and I’ll demonstrate mine), so I can’t help myself! Please forgive me. 

All kidding aside, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in my household as an acknowledgement of my heritage. I am, indeed, an Irish lass, my favorite color happens to be green, and I love Irish culture, so I’m ready! We make our favorite Irish foods each year, like our version of Shepherd’s Pie and classic Irish soda bread. We always listen to Irish music and musicians, like traditional jigs and reels, the Pogues, U2, Van Morrison, Sinéad O’Connor, and a little Cranberries. Have you ever seen any animated features by Cartoon Saloon, based out of Kilkenny, Ireland? Their films are beautifully rendered, and are a visual treat for the whole family. Check out The Secret of the Kells, first, but they’re all lovely.

Our leprechaun home, St. Patrick’s Day 2020, complete with a green light inside the door

When my son was younger, he told me he built a “leprechaun trap” at school with his teacher and class to catch the leprechaun that invariably visits your home on the evening of St. Patrick’s Day to steal coins and snacks (I had not heard of this, either.) I didn’t like the idea of trapping one, so we made it into a welcoming “home,” a place where a tired leprechaun could rest his wee head for the night and take a coin for luck. That lasted a couple years before my son got too old to enjoy it, but it was fun those two years, and it makes a great craft project to do with kids. It felt like something that might invoke good luck, and we could all use a wee bit o’ luck!

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

More St. Patrick’s Day Fun

March 14- St. Patrick’s Day at Lost Marble Brewing Company in Manchester

March 14- Shires Young Professionals St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl in Bennington

March 15- Ukulele String Ensemble & Woodwind Trio at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in North Bennington at 2pm

March 16- "Celtic Christianity," a conversation with Wayne Bell and Bill Borror at the First Congregational Church in Manchester at 7pm

March 17- St. Patty’s Day Buffet at The Dorset Inn starting at 5pm with live music by the Lilting Banshees 

March 17- Build Quest Challenge: Leprechaun Trap (this is the opposite of what I made with my son, but apparently, it’s a thing!) at the Manchester Community Library at 3:30pm