May you live to be a hundred with one extra year to repent! I've seen many a March in my life time and have celebrated many St. Patricks Days. It is always the high light of the month. It always comes during Lent, so it is a day of dispensation from all of the rigors of the Lenten season. Many a penitent of Lent looks forward to the day, not for the love of St. Pat, but for the hiatus from suffering'. (Real or imagined)
In 1845, 1846, 1848 the failure of the Irish potato crop due to potato blight, had disastrous consequences for the people of Ireland. Millions of people died of starvation and millions more decided to emigrate. Many areas of Ireland were decimated. Even today there are more sheep in Ireland than people. My Great Grandfather, Patrick Charters, born in County Cork, in the village of Buttvant County Ireland and my great Grandmother Catherine Ryan Charters born in County Limerick, Ireland left Ireland and came to America in 1854.
The railroads were just being built in America. at that time and the Irish emigrants were available for jobs. London, Ohio was the place they chose to join many other Irishmen. My mother's family also, came from Ireland and they settled in the farm lands surrounding London, Ohio. Most of the residents of London and the surrounding area were from Ireland. That is where I spent a great portion of my young life. I actually resided in Springfield but London was just 24 miles away.
The people in London were mostly first generation Irish and still used many of the expressions and voice inflections of our ancestors. My mother used words that were unfamiliar to most of my classmates in Springfield. She would accuse of of 'foostering' around instead of doing our chores. She would insist that we pick up the clothes or whatever that were 'strewn' around. The habit of ending most sentences with the phrase, 'don't ya know, and beginning sentences with, 'Sure and..." For example: Sure and begorrah, its going to be a hot one, don't ya know? My mother also used some of the Biblical pronouns; "Ye" was used instead of "you".
I hope all of you have a great St. Patricks Day. Maybe a little Irish Soda Bread, some colcannon or some boxty pancakes with some Yellow Man for dessert! ( I realize there are some among you who will insist on a Guinness or two. Ireland stout and whiskey are frequently used to enhance everything that is cooked. Ireland boasts the world's oldest licensed distillery. Bushmills in County Antrim was started in 1494 and became licenced in1608.
My St. Patrick's wish for you: Wishing you always:
Walls for the wind
And a roof for the rain
And tea beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you.
And those you love, near you,
and all that your heart might desire.
"Slainthe is Saul Agat" Health and life to you !! Ciao
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