Steve Frey
“Slainte!”
You might be hearing this around town today. This term, which is pronounced, SLAHN-cha, means “health” in Irish Gaelic.
“Erin go Bragh,” another common Irish saying, is roughly translated, “Ireland Forever.” These are phrases sometimes included in Irish toasts, and since today is St. Patrick’s Day, they may be used…repeatedly.
Are you wearing your green? Americans love St. Patrick’s Day, and it has become a major holiday where everyone is Irish for a day. Parades, parties and green beer have all become a part of the celebration.
St. Patrick, who is the patron saint of Ireland, is credited with converting thousands of people in Ireland to Christianity. Patrick was a Roman-Britain who was taken to Ireland as a slave in the 5th century.
After about six years of working as a shepherd, he escaped and studied in France to become a priest. Later, he returned to Ireland, and, based on a vision, made his life mission the conversion of the Irish to Christianity.
He is renowned for using the shamrock, or the three-leaf clover, as a visual illustration to teach about the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Spirit).
He is also credited with driving the snakes out of Ireland, although experts assert that there probably never were any snakes in Ireland in the first place.
Soldiers of Irish descent during the Revolutionary War began the tradition of parades on St. Patrick’s Day to express their pride in their Irish ancestry. Of course today festive St. Patrick’s Day parades are held throughout the world.
This holiday has become a source of pride for everyone of Irish descent. It is estimated that there are almost 35 million Americans with Irish heritage, and between 1820 and 1930, nearly 4.5 million people immigrated from Ireland to America. In Virginia, it is estimated that 5-10 percent of the population is of Irish descent.
Most of those immigrants came to escape extreme poverty and starvation due to the potato famine or to attain the American Dream. When they came to America, they faced severe discrimination based on religion, since many were Roman Catholic in a largely Protestant America in those days.
They also faced prejudice because of their initially poor socio-economic level. Many came as indentured servants for several years to pay back the cost of their passage to the United States.
The Irish, just like the Germans (There are 95 million Americans of German descent, by the way, making them the largest ancestry group in America.), Italians and other immigrants, have become an integral part of America.
At the same time, they celebrate their heritage and all they have brought to America.
Famous Irish-Americans such as John F. Kennedy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Grace Kelly, Jack Dempsey, Richard Montgomery and thousands more have been leaders in every occupation in America. It is the American success story, and it has happened over and over again, making this country the great one that it is.
We all know the Horatio Alger-like tales that have made America the hope of the world. If you have a strong work ethic and good character, you can find a way to be successful.
It wasn’t the “Luck of the Irish” that created opportunity; it was hard work. That opportunity still exists today.
Our newest immigrants are running the Mexican restaurant, managing the convenience store, teaching, working on the farm, helping others as doctors and any other kind of occupation you can imagine.
They are sending their children to public schools where they are getting the education they need to be successful themselves. They scrimp and save and buy a house, their children go to college, and they work their way to becoming a contributing member of American society.
We need more immigrants from around the globe like James Audubon, Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Elon Musk, Andy Grove, Enrico Fermi, Mario Molina and so many others who have changed the world with their scientific discoveries.
We also need those shopkeepers, farm workers, and restauranteurs who add their own talents to our country and help create the wonderful fabric of our society.
That’s what those Scotch-Irish, German, Irish, and English immigrants brought to our area hundreds of years ago.
That is what immigrants new to our country bring to us today, regardless of race, religion, or national origin. They just want a chance to live the American Dream. Just like the Irish.
So enjoy that corned beef and cabbage today. Try not to bop anyone with your shillelagh, and if you catch a leprechaun, be sure to find out where he keeps his pot of gold (Rumor has it that it’s somewhere near Wadsworth, but that could be leprechaun blarney.), but be careful because they say those leprechauns can be real rascals!
Let’s lift a glass in a toast to the Irish today. Let’s remember how they have overcome the prejudice and ignorance of their time to become successful and contributing members of American society.
We all celebrate because most all of us are the progeny of immigrant ancestors who have done the same thing. Their pride is our pride. It is as much the pride of being an American as it is to be Irish.
Yes, we may be Scottish-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Scotch-Irish-Americans, Irish-Americans, German-Americans, African-Americans, or even Native Americans, but, basically, we are all proudest to just be—Americans.
Some of us will be celebrating quietly at home, maybe by watching the classic, beautiful movie about Ireland called, “The Quiet Man,” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Others will be dyeing their hair green, putting on their shamrock sunglasses, green clothes and leprechaun hat for a night on the town.
Some like to watch traditional, “River Dance” style Irish dancing, and some will create their own little “Irish jigs” with their friends at the pub. Almost all of us, however, will celebrate being Irish for a day.
Just a wee bit of advice as you celebrate—don’t be a hooligan and let your gob spouting malarkey land you in a donnybrook, screaming like a banshee—or some other equally distressful shenanigans!
It seems fitting on St. Patrick’s Day to close with an old Irish blessing. Here’s one that many people enjoy: May you always have work for your hands to do. May your pockets hold always a coin or two. May the sun shine bright on your windowpane. May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Steve Frey is a writer and CEO of Ascendant Educational Services.
