Trivia and tidbits in honor of Ireland

  • Friday, March 15, 2013 6:54pm
  • Life

Consider this

  • “Erin go bragh!” essentially means “Ireland forever.”
  • Make green beer: Add 5 to 6 drops of green food color to 12 ounces of beer.
  • Make an emerald milkshake: Add peppermint extract to taste and green food coloring to a classic vanilla milkshake for a kid-friendly treat.
  • Did you know there is a Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread? www.sodabread.info.
  • Read “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss.
  • Why we wear green, and pinch those who don’t: Leprechauns, who have a mean streak, pinch, but, as everyone knows, wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns.

St. Patrick

March 17 marks the death of the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick, who lived at the end of the fifth century, brought Christianity to Ireland and legend says he drove the snakes out of Ireland.

He’s credited with using the shamrock to teach the Christian doctrine of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a solemn occasion; in other parts of the world, it’s a festive celebration of all things Irish. As the saying goes, on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish.

Leprechaun visit

Have leprechauns make mischief by leaving green footprints on washable surfaces.

Make a fist with the right hand and dip the bottom of the fist in washable green paint. Stamp the paint on paper, the fridge or the floor and add toes.

Repeat with the left hand. Repeat as necessary.

Add to the magic by leaving a trail of gold glitter, and make little messes around the room.

Leave a pot o’ chocolate gold coins at the end of the trail.

The Modesto (Calif.) Bee

Rent a movie

You’ve cooked your corned beef, tinted your beer and baked your soda bread. Settle in with a good flick set in Ireland or about the Irish.

“Waking Ned Devine”: The winner of the National Lottery dies of shock, so the villagers of Tully More try to claim the prize (1998).

“The Commitments”: Jimmy Rabbitte tries to form a band to bring soul music to working class Dublin (1991).

“In America”: An Irish family immigrates to modern-day Manhattan (2002).

“The Secret of Roan Inish”: A 10-year-old is sent to live with her grandparents in Donegal, where she investigates a secret (1994).

“Ryan’s Daughter”: A young bride (Sarah Miles) in a small Irish village has an affair with a British officer in 1916. With Robert Mitchum (1970).

“Going My Way”: Father O’Malley (Bing Crosby) sings “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral” to Father Fitzgerald (Barry Fitzgerald) at St. Dominick’s church (1944).

“My Left Foot”: Daniel Day Lewis won an Oscar as Christy Brown, a quadriplegic writer (1989).

“The Dead”: Based on the book by James Joyce, a couple spends Christmas dinner with a spinster aunt in turn-the-century Ireland; with Anjelica Huston in the last film by her father, John Huston (1987).

“Finian’s Rainbow”: In this musical, a mysterious Irishman (Fred Astaire) and his daughter (Petula Clark) arrive in America with a pot of stolen leprechaun gold (1968).

“Ulysses”: Stephen Dedalus wanders through Dublin on June 16, 1904, based on the seminal book by James Joyce (1967).

“The Snapper”: Sharon Curly, 20 and living at home with a load of siblings, turns up pregnant. When she won’t name the father, she’s the talk of the town. With Colm Meaney as her da (1993).

“The Quiet Man”: American boxer Sean Thornton (John Wayne) returns to the Irish village where he was born. Sparks fly when he encounters the fiery Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara) (1952).

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