Good Ol’ Irish Craic: A Few St. Patrick’s Day Toasts

Happy St.  Patrick’s Day!  The city of Chicago has already been going strong for days or even weeks for some. Besides isn’t everyone Irish today?

The Somber Truth

There are plenty of great things to celebrate out Ireland from Yeats to Bono.  But like many countries, Ireland has struggled as of late. Along with Greece, it be out of the EU at the end of 2010 because of it’s severe financial hardships, as reported by Bloomberg. Just this past week,  I was  interviewing an Irish engineer who now works in California.  He’d recently received an email from the Irish government asking all ex-pats to think of ideas to help bring business back to Ireland.  While, it may only amount to a small share, Chicago is doing its fair share to put Ireland in the black with its large Celtic buying power, according to Deb Cohen’s story in Reuters today.

Celtic Singing

Chicago’s historic ties to Ireland helped to bring  Grammy-award winning Moya Brennan of Ireland’s Clannad for a late February performance at the Chicago History Museum. Her singing was awe-inspiring. Not a sound could be heard in the room other than her soprano melodies and the strumming of instruments.  I was beholden to her voice, mesmerized by its beautiful clarity.  Even more dumb-founding, when I spoke to Moya after her performance, she suggested the I look her up if I go to Ireland and promptly gave me her contact information and introduced me to her manager. Certainly not the typical M.O. for most Grammy-award winners.

Irish Ties

I recently discovered that my great-great-grandfather James Connor was born in 1846 in Wexford, Ireland.  After Moya’s invitation, whatever may truly come of it, I am more intrigued by Ireland, a country that I’m ashamed to say, I know very little about.

Irish Craic and St. Patrick’s Day Toasts

What I do know, is that Ireland is really known for is it’s craic. The crackle of laughter in a pub, the  ability to get up and tell a story or a joke or converse as a large group, instead of groping your beer mug by some lonely sloth off in a corner like some Americans do.

In the spirit of Ireland here are a few Irish toasts to lift your spirits and hopefully bring a laugh or two at a pub tonight:

In heaven there is no beer ‘tis why we must drink it all here.

Here’s to you and here’s to me.
May we never disagree.
But should we start to fight and ‘cuss,
Here’s to me.

May the flower of love never be nipped by the frost of disappointment, nor shadow of grief fall among your family and friends.

May the roof over your heads be as well thatched, as those inside are well matched.

May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!

May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

May neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.

My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.
Now let’s get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!

Here’s to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here’s to each lad and his darlin colleen,
Here’s to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that’s this Irishman’s toast!

I drink to your health when I’m with you,
I drink to your health when I’m alone,
I drink to your health so often,
I’m starting to worry about my own!

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm 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.

Here’s to women’s kisses,
and to whiskey, amber clear;
Not as sweet as a woman’s kiss,
but a darn sight more sincere!

Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A cold pint– and another one!