Rosemary Purdy - Tis a Blessing to Be Irish

Tis a Blessing to Be Irish

Rosemary Purdy

Illustrated by R. W. Alley

Abbey Press

Foreword

Being Irish isnt something you do. Its something you are.

Being Irish means that your heart swells like a sheet on a clothesline at the sound of your ancestral brogue, that the thought of your da and sainted mother makes you weep a wee bit even now, that the devil himself, try as he does, will never dim your devotion to the Trinity.

Being Irish means youre possessed of a joy of spirit and a depth of soul. You carry a smile for a stranger and coins aplenty for the poor. Aye, theres a feistiness about you as well, but only in protecting all that you hold dear: family and friends, faith and land, your heritage.

For if you can see a masterpiece in a sunset and a promise of harvest in a clump of dirt, if you can claim friends wholl buoy you up as well as cheer you when you sail, if you can feel the loving grip of God whatever your lot in life, then saints be praised youre Irish.

May this book and the wee folk herein help you to celebrate your Irish heritage with pride!

Victoria Ryan

1.

You can tell youre Irish, not by your looks or the county you hail from, but by your character. If you have a twinkle in your eye, a song upon your lips, a kind word on your tongue, and two feet planted solidly on the good earththen, saints be praised, youre Irish!

2.

Research your family tree. Your Irish ancestors are part of younot only through the color of your eyes or the cast of your complexion, but also through your Irish spunk and spirit. Tracing the roots of your family tree will help you bring the past to life and nurture your sense of self.

3.

Explore Irish culture. Ask your relatives to tell you all they know about your familys Irish backgroundand life in the old country. Learn some Irish traditions, practices, and recipes, and adapt them for your own household.

4.

Cherish your kith and kin. Consider their happiness as your joy, their misfortune as your woe, twice over. An Irish family is an unbroken circle of strength and support, entwined with love. Keep your loved ones ever close at hearth and heart.

5.

Two shorten the road, the Irish say, and a friend for the journey of life is a priceless treasure. A friend will walk the uphill road with you, in the face of a biting wind. A friend will bask with you in the contentment of cloudless skies. Be loyal to friendship.

6.

Remembering the trials and triumphs in their pursuit of freedom, Irish hearts are forever faithful to their country. Love your own country; be thankful for its beauty and bounty, its peace and privileges. Honor the sacrifices of your nations patriots by never taking freedom for granted.

7.

The Irish love for land is legendary. Their land is their lot in life, their source of life and livelihood, their own piece of Paradise. Be close to the earth. Walk on it, dig in it, grow in it. Stay grounded.

8.

To be Irish is to be in love with nature. A mornings mist gilded with sunshine, the springtime emerald of the hills, the shimmer of a sapphire lakeall will turn an Irish heart to rapture. Take time to appreciate the wonders of nature.

9.

There is no day so dull or dismal that it is not an occasion for rejoicing. Eat, drink, laugh, and be Irish. Celebrate today!

10.

Whether its the trill of a tin whistle, the twang of the fiddle, or the fluid melody of the harp, music never fails to move the Irish heart. Music is a proper accompaniment for every kind of celebration or any time at all. Sing, hum, play, or listen to some music today. It does a soul good.

11.

The Irish boast a proud tradition of dance, celebrated the world over, especially in recent years. Treat yourself to a live performance of Irish dancing. Consider every day wasted on which you do not dance at least once.

12.

In Ireland, the folks are so witty,
Each word that they utter is pretty.
Theres no other folks
So quick with the jokes
Or with poetry named for their city!

Indulge in some word play or riddles. Try writing a limerick in honor of a friend. Make someones dayIrish!

13.

The Irish joke about the serious and are serious about joking. Lighten up! Poke some fun at yourself, or share a rib-tickling joke. Tis a worthy deed to set others hearts to gladness.

14.

Ever since St. Patrick used a shamrock to explain the Trinity, the Irish have lovingly kept and tended the Christian faith. Their faith is a bridge of trust connecting them with God, a promise of hope in hard times, a treasure at the rainbows end. Keep the faith and pass it on.

15.

To the Irish, prayer is as natural and familiar as chatting with a neighbor over the stile. They pray about everythingtheir mortal soul (and that of their gossipy neighbor), rain for the crops, sunshine for the parade. Do likewisehave a good gab with God today.

16.

The lucky coincidences of our lives are really miracles for which God chooses to remain anonymous. And the luck of the Irish is actually the grace of God, acknowledged and appreciated. Look for the hand of God in the providential happenings in your own life.