Top 15 Facts for the Irish curious

March 17, 2015: St. Patrick's Day

3/17/2015

Elisa's Daily Blog

Erin Go Bragh!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

This special holiday, which began as a way for Irish Catholic Americans to band together politically against discrimination in the mid-19th Century, has grown to be one of the most festive and celebrated holidays today!

St. Patrick's Day a day of pride for Irish people, that has become associated with the color green, shamrocks and festivities!

Ireland is one of my favorite countries hands-down! I believe it is home to some of the warmest and most friendly people in the world and the landscape is both scenic and spectacular, comprised of lush green countrysides and fun-filled cities.

Dromoland Castle, Clare, Ireland (click image for Website)

Falconry with "TJ"

Kelsey & Gianna on the grounds of Dromoland

Keley loving falconry

The first European trip I took my girls on was to Ireland. It would be an understatement to say they loved this country and our visit back in August 2012.

Taking their ages at the time into consideration (Kelsey, 5 and Gianna, 8), I opted to visit two cities - Clare (near Shannon) and Killarney. It truly was the trip of a lifetime. One of the most memorable experiences we all shared was Falconry. Click here to read about Falconry, Archery and More at Dromoland Castle!

(courtesy of stpatswitchita.org)

Onward to the day at hand - St. Pat's Day! I hope you have some fun plans!

Both Tanya and I decided to do a "15 for 2015" today. Mine is ABOUT the man we honor today - St. Patrick:

15 Facts about St. Patrick
1. March 17th is the day that St. Patrick died 461ADUT
2. St. Patrick was NOT Irish - he was born of Roman Citizens living in modern day Scotland.
3. He was captured by Irish raiders at the age of 16 and sold as a slave.
4. St. Patrick escaped at age 22 to a monastery where he studied for twelve years
5. He used the Shamrock to teach about the Holy Trinity.
6. The Shamrock is the official symbol of Ireland
7. The original color associated with St. Patrick is the color blue as he was depicted in blue vestments.
8. Green is the color associated with Ireland.
9. St. Patrick's Day was started by the American Irish as a way to organize themselves politically against the discrimination against Irish Catholics.
10. 1970 marks the first year that St. Patrick's Day was no longer a dry holiday in Ireland.
11. Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland in 40 years.
12. St. Patrick is one of the most popular saints.
13. There are more Irish in America than in Ireland.
14. St. Patrick was knows as the "Apostle of Ireland"
15. The reputed burial place of St. Patrick is Downpatrick, Ireland, about 21 miles south of Belfast.

My dear cuz, Tanya was lucky enough to visit Ireland on St. Patricks Day! She's got a super fun 15 for 2015 for you --->>>--->>>

Well, my peeps, Erin Go Bragh and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

(Don't forget to click your vote today!!)

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Blog

Happy St. Paddy's Day!!!

Top O' the Mornin' to Ya!

Are you donning green today?

Although I don't have a milligram of Irish blood running through my veins - it seems that almost everyone else in my family and that almost all of my friends DO!
Them Irish sure do get around!
*Dave B, Dave C, Dominic, Cosette, Brigitte, Michael, Mika, Chaplin, and Andrew all are part Irish!

So from an early age St. Patrick's Day was always a day to recognize and to celebrate.
Now I don't mean going out getting drunk on green beer and showing off your stupid side! LOL

What I do mean is enjoying the holiday with family, filling your bellies with some warming Irish grub (because all wonderful things revolve around the kitchen, food and the dinner table!)
And if you are able perhaps even catching a festive parade...
Which I was lucky enough to do a few years ago in none other than DUBLIN!
Let me tell you, that I'm a parade/festival type of gal and that this was the BEST parade I've ever seen anywhere in the world (hands down)!

Now have you know that I just adore and love Ireland!
It was a country that prior to going there, I had always been very eager to visit:

A. Because of all the IRISH that had always surrounded me.
AND
B. Because my Travel Agent Beloved Grandmother fell in love with the country upon her first visit!

I totally agree with Elisa who states in her column that Ireland is "home to some of the warmest and most friendly people in the world".

I think I've talked Ireland up enough to where Dominic and Cosette are also both very eager to visit (as they have never been).
While I did give them the choice of us going there last year instead of going to Iceland, however they both chose for us to visit Iceland.
READ MORE HERE

Well, a couple of weeks ago Dominic mentioned wanting to plan a trip for us to go to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day!
(Warms my heart when these kiddos come up with planning trips all on their own!)

Both kids are totally into it, and they both understand that it won't fit into our calendar for a couple of years.
So we'll be heading to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day in 2018!!

Note: 2016 we will be doing more ski trips than this season, and be going back to the Quebec Winter Carnaval, as well as spending time in Beautiful Banff. And in 2017 we will be going on a European Ski Circuit Trip and to watch the FIS Championships in St. Moritz, CH

While I mentioned to you yesterday that I was going to post a Top 15 Facts about St. Patrick's Day, Elisa and I hadn't consulted with one another and since great minds think alike...
She went ahead and posted:
15 Facts about St. Patrick!
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So what I'm going to do instead is give you a little St. Patrick's Day and Travelin' Tuesday combo with my Top 15 Places to Visit in Ireland!