Irish Blessings May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine upon your face The rains fall soft upon your fields And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. May there always be work for your hands to do May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane. May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. May those who love us love us. And those that don't love us, May God turn their hearts. And if He doesn't turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles, So we'll know them by their limping! The History of St. Patrick The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn.Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity. He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity. Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity. His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day. The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston. The Blarney Stone Just how long kissing the Blarney Stone has been practiced or how it originated is not known. One local legend claims that an old women, saved from drowning by a king of Munster, rewarded him with a spell, that if he would kiss a stone on the castle's top, he would gain a speech that would win all to him. It is known however, when and how the word Blarney entered the English language and the dictionary. During the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Dermot McCarthy, the ruler of the castle, was required to surrender his fortress to the Queen as proof of his loyalty. He said he would be delighted to do so, but something always happened at the last moment to prevent his surrender. His excuses became so frequent and indeed so plausible that the official who had been demanding the castle in the name of the Queen became a joke at the Court. Once, when the eloquent excuses of McCarthy were repeated to the Queen, she said "Odds bodikins, more Blarney talk!" The term Blarney has thus come to mean 'the ability to influence and coax with fair words and soft speech without giving offense'. An Irish Lullaby Over in Killarney, many years ago, Me Mother sang a song to me in tones so sweet and low. Just a simple little ditty, in her good old Irish way. And I'd give the world if she could sing that song to me this day. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush now don't you cry! Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lullaby. I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover I'm looking over a four leaf clover That I over-looked before. One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain, Third is the roses that grows in the lane. No need explaining the one remaining Is somebody I adore. I'm looking over a four leaf clover That I over-looked before! Irish Stew 1 1/2lbs Lamb Turnip -- diced 2 lg Onions -- cut in chunks Salt and pepper 5 md Potatoes -- quartered 1 1/2 cups Chicken broth Celery stalks -- sliced Bay leaf Cut lamb into 1" cubes, removing pieces of fat. Wipe meat with damp cloth. Layer vegetables and meat in a 3 qt. lightly greased casserole, beginning and ending with vegetables. Salt and pepper each layer lightly. Add chicken broth and bay leaf; cover tightly. Bake at 325 for 2 hours.