Photos from Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day

Other posts by MudslideMama

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! This is one of those few days in the year where every American seems to discover their Irish roots, even if they don’t literally have any. Myself included. It’s morning as I type; in just a few hours, we’ll be hearing about the parades and (drunken) revelry across the nation.

Blarney Castle, Ireland
Blarney Castle, Ireland

But let’s step back for a moment, and remember that St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just about green beer in the Chicago River, and calls of “Erin go Bragh” across the land. We’re celebrating, of course, the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, who rid the island of snakes. Well, when I went to Ireland, I didn’t see a single snake – although the serpents may have been taking refuge from all the rain. St. Patrick didn’t do anything about the weather!

It’s hard to say for sure whether St. Patrick really rid all of Ireland of every single snake, but the famous Irish ability to spin a great yarn about…well, anything, is also said to be traced to the Blarney Castle. Here’s a photo of the Blarney Castle (see the line of tourists at the top? We’re all waiting to do the same thing). Below it, you’ll see a photo of me, right after kissing the Blarney Stone. Ew, mossy and wet (the stone, that is)! It was well worth the 15-minute wait on line; I spent more time on line at Disney, for a ride that lasted around the same amount of time. And I wasn’t blessed with the gift of gab at Disney!

Saint Patrick’s Day parades have been annual events in the U.S. since around 1772. That’s a long time, relative to our nation’s independence and subsequent history. I know a lot of us will be out today, enjoying the parades. Celebrate safely, and perhaps you’ll have a story to tell the next day as well!

Kissing the Blarney Stone, Ireland
Kissing the Blarney Stone, Ireland
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March 17, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations, Eco Travel, Family Travel, Luxury Travel, Travel News 

Comments

4 Responses to “Photos from Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day”

  1. Maximosis says:
    March 17, 2009 at

    Great Read, cant wait to get hammered

  2. A most Lijit St. Patrick’s Day says:
    March 17, 2009 at

    [...] course, there are the blog publishers who share their favorite Irish jokes, their favorite pictures from Ireland or the real story behind St. Patrick’s [...]

  3. Hot News » Saint Patrick says:
    March 21, 2009 at

    [...] Cheats…Our St. Patrick’s Day in Playa del Carmen « Luna Blue’s PlayaZone…Photos Ireland St. Patrick’s Day | Traveling Mamas…Organic and Green Mom Blog | 10 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Saint Patrick’s Day at Organic [...]

  4. Lucretia Pruitt says:
    March 23, 2009 at

    Aren’t you glad you didn’t have to do it the “old fashioned” way? Back before liability lawsuits, you had to be lowered down the outside by your ankles! (I did it the safer way like you did! Still didn’t feel safe!)

    That said, I suppose this isn’t the time to point out that the “ridding Ireland of snakes” was metaphoric for getting the pagans out of Ireland, hence his sainthood? Nah, didn’t think so. Patrick wasn’t exactly um, a pacifist by American standards!

    Still, awesome post! :)

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