THE NATIONAL DAY OF IRELAND

17th of March 17th of March Saint Patrick’s Day Saint Patrick’s Day

IRELAND

THE MAPTHE COAT OF ARMS

THE FLAG

HISTORYHISTORYSt. Patrick's Day honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. We celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17. In Ireland and all over the world people march in parades, dance the Irish jig and gather to sing Irish songs. People wear green in memory of Ireland, the Emerald Isle and wear shamrocks, clover with three leaves.

March 17 was not the day St. Patrick was born but the day he died. Even though we don't know the date of his birth, most scholars believe the year was 385 AD and the year of his death was 461 AD.St. Patrick was born in Wales, but at the age of 16 he was captured by some Irish raiders and taken to Ireland. While in prison he taught people about God. He is said to have made Irish people Christians. There are many wonderful stories about St. Patrick, some true and some not true. The most famous legend is that he drove the snakes out of Ireland. This did not happen but the Irish will tell you that you cannot find a snake throughout the whole country of Ireland.

The Leprechaun is an Irish fairy. He looks like a small, old man (about 2 feet tall), often dressed like a shoemaker, with a cocked hat and a leather apron. According to legend, leprechauns are aloof and unfriendly, live alone, and pass the time making shoes. They also possess a hidden pot of gold.  Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If caught, he can be forced (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal the whereabouts of his treasure, but the captor must keep their eyes on him every second. If the captor's eyes leave the leprechaun (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost.

Near a misty stream in Ireland in the hollow of a treeLive mystical, magical leprechaunswho are clever as can be With their pointed ears, and turned up toes and little coats of greenThe leprechauns busily make their shoes and try hard not to be seen. Only those who really believe have seen these little elves And if we are all believersWe can surely see for ourselves.(Irish Blessing)

THE LEPRECHAUN

The Blarney StoneThe Blarney Stone

Legend says that anyone who kisses the Blarney Stone of Ireland will be blessed with eloquence. It can be found in a wall of Blarney Castle.

Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland, housing the Stone of Eloquence.

               The Blarney Stone is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney about 8 km from Cork ,Ireland. According to legends, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. The castle is a popular tourist site in Ireland, attracting visitors from all over the world to kiss the Stone and tour the castle and its gardens.

 

Three is Ireland's magic number. Hence the Shamrock: Love, Valour and Wit; Faith, Hope and Charity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Numbers played an important role in Celtic symbolism. Three was the most sacred and magical number. It multiplies to nine, which is sacred to Brigit. Three may have signified totality: past, present and future OR behind, before and here OR sky, earth and underworld.  Everything good in Ireland comes in threes. The rhythm of story telling in the Irish tradition is based on threefold repetition.

THE MAGIC SHAMROCK 

 

Lord of the Dance is an Irish musical and dance production that was created, choreographed and produced by Irish-American dancer, Michael Flatley. Flatley found his first fame starring in Riverdance, but he left the show in 1995 as he dreamed of putting together a dance show capable of playing in arenas instead of traditional theaters. He soon began thinking of rhythm patterns and steps for an a capella number. This number would later become "Planet Ireland," the show's finale. The show took six months to bring it from conception to the stage.

TRINITY COLLEGE- DUBLIN

THE ROUTE OF THE PARADE

DUBLIN BY NIGHT ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL

PARNELL SQUARE

ST PATRICK’S DAY ALL OVER THE WORLDST PATRICK’S DAY ALL OVER THE WORLD

CHICAGO ON

ST PATRICK’S DAY

We wish you a happy Saint Patrick’ s Day !We wish you a happy Saint Patrick’ s Day ! Erin Go Braugh ! Erin Go Braugh ! Ireland forever !Ireland forever ! The year of 2010 A. D. The year of 2010 A. D.