"Well it's so Irish-like."

Feeling... festive?

I sure am. 

I love St. Patrick's Day. 

Not that I do anything particularly fabulous.

I just spend the day feeling like I have a secret. 

My family is from Ireland and I've been to the "homeland" three times. 

So at the prompting of my friend Jesse...

here's a little collection of Irish phrases, food, lore and photos. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Some of my favorite Irish-isms:

1. “I’m absolutely wrecked!” (meaning exhausted)

2. “Ah, that’s just grand.” (anything can be grand. Potatoes, your new job, the evening's plans)

3. “Tis lovely.” (also a use-all adjective)

4.     “Oh it’s gorgeous!” (surprisingly often said around the presence of steak)

5.     “No worries." (instead of "your welcome")

6.     “Ah go on! Did he really? Yer johking me!” (when someone is telling a particularly exciting or unbelievable story)

7. "Thanks a million." (Also: "Thanks a thousand")

8.     “We’re off to the P-U-B” (spelled out, like it's a secret or something.)

9.     “I’ll come and collect them.” (used for people, not things)

10.  “He's called Riley." (Not "his name is Riley.")

11. “I’m absolutely roasting.” (even though it's never too warm in Ireland)

12. "He rang me this morning about it." (Not a violent gesture - just a phone call)

13. "Oh sugar!" (said in exasperation, followed by "I forgot!" or "That hurt!")

14. "Top of the marnin' to ye!" (feel free to respond with "and the rest of the day to yerself!")

Care for a self-test?

Do you know the American words for these Irish/English phrases?

Quiz: car park, mobile, boot, bonnet, jumper, jersey, half seven, lie-in, runners

Answers: garage, cell phone, trunk, car hood, sweater, tshirt, 7:30, sleeping in, tennis shoes.

 Irish Grub!

Pretty much Guiness. 

Or Cidona, if you're me. 

(Just like Apple Beer!)

But really, what do you think of when you think of Irish food?

Potatoes?

Here's a simple list of pub grub.

1. Fish 'n' Chips
2. Bangers and Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes)
3. Shephard's Pie (lamb)
4. Cottage Pie (beef)
5. Corned beef and cabbage
6. Irish stew
7. Boxty (potato pancakes)
8. The Full Irish Breakfast
1. sausages, bacon "rashings", fried egg, toasted brown soda bread, black and white pudding(blood sausage), lamb's kidney, fried tomato, sauteed mushrooms, beans and o'course, strong (herbal) tea. 

Folklore

Oh my there's so much.

Here's one good example.

This is Loftus  Hall- one of the most haunted buildings in Ireland.

It's actually really chilling. Read about it here.

Castles

And other exceptionally old buildings.

Ormonde Castle

My brother Gabe at Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Castle

The Mansion at Faithlegg

Another shot of Kilkenny

Trinity College in Dublin

Believe it or not - that's a bank.

Blarney Castle, home of the famous Blarney Stone

St. Coleman's Cathedral, in the town where the Titanic set sail for the last time.

Rock of Cashel. Pardon the scaffolding.

Bunratty Castle

  At last, some parting bits...

The wolly sheep! More of an icon in Ireland than leprechauns or shamrocks. They all have hilariously painted rumps.

Marie and I made a friend at the statue of Molly Malone. What a gas! 

The doors  -in all colors- everywhere.

Have a great St. Patrick's Day - 

and don't forget to try out an Irish phrase or make some Irish food!

Slán agaibh!