bring out those green shirts

[moonwise]

Lá fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh!

Here's a couple of excellent MP3s from Ashley MacIsaac, in the spirit of the day. It's like power Celtic.

Ashley MacIsaac - Brenda Stubbert

(I think I want that one to be my theme song or something. XD)

Ashley MacIsaac - Sophia's Pipes

Comments

[arafel.livejournal.com]

Well. I'm of Irish descent, and one of my more academic hobbies is/was the study of Celtdom and the Irish language. That's why I like the holiday. However.

Many Irish who immigrated the Northeast, esp. New York and Boston and Chicago, felt very alienated by their new home (you would too with "NO IRISH NEED APPLY" signs in the windows) and St. Patrick's Day became a way for them to express their identity and national pride (plus the vast majority of emigrant Irish were Catholic and were snubbed by the Protestant majority.) As the Irish moved up in American society, the holiday got bigger. Now it's an excuse to drink green beer, or something.

[uiggu.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry, no offence meant.

I can understand the reasons for recently emigrated Irish celebrating it way back in the day, of course, but now? Seems a little odd. A real pet hate of mine and many people I know is those who say 'Oh yeah, I'm Scottish/Irish/whatever' when it's about six generations back! It just doesn't count, kthx.

[arafel.livejournal.com]

No worries. :)

Mind you, "back in the day" wasn't all that long ago! It was a big deal when Kennedy got elected for Irish-Americans - not only was he a *gasp* Catholic, but it showed how far they'd risen. Remember, the great waves of immigration into America lasted into the first part of the 1900's, and the Irish worked the shit jobs. As to why St. Paddy's day is still such a big deal, it's fun to have a parade and drink a lot. It's quite simple. *grin*