Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!

It's St Patrick's day today. It doesn't mean much to me despite the ex-pat parade that we have on the Sunday before it. I know a few Irishmen who have Christened it their day of 'shame' because it does tend to progress into a drunken bash as tourists invade the Emerald Isle and behave badly. Although I hear there are family activities and parades and a general feeling of what it is to be Irish. I wouldn't know, because I'm not. The Irish are fiercely protective of their heritage and to my mind, unless you're born there . . .you can lay no claim.

I do owe many Irish people a debt of gratitude though and although I've only met two of my Irish bloggers, it was an Irishman in New Zealand who introduced me to the wonderful world of blogging and one thing led to another and lo and behold, I have a lot of Irish blogs on the roll and visit many more on the sly.

I've come to know them quite well through the phone line, Facebook, email and Skype. So thank you very much, I value you all . . to New Zealand Pubcast (who sadly are no more) English Mum, Grow Up, Maxi Cane, Jack McMad, Quickroute, Nickhereandnow, South Belfast Diary, Paddy Bloggit, Conortje, Jelly Monster, Grandad, For the Feinthearted, K8 the GR8, Stoney River Farm, Moo Dog, GrannyMar and The Biopsy Report . . . and my lovely little Nonny who no longer blogs but stays in touch and of course my fabulous Paduan who is no longer my virtual son but actually stayed with us this year and has become flesh . . Happy St Patrick's Day!

And in the spirit of good cross-cultural and international relations, I promise I won't ever impersonate an Irish Accent, tell an Irish joke (unless it's really funny) or disrespect Father Ted!

I may however steal your eupamisms because I'm particularly fond of 'boghopper' and 'knobgobbler' among many and of course I like the principle of good crack! (not craic!)

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl
Go dtaitní an ghrian ar d'aghaidh
Agus go dtite an bháisteach go bog mín ar do ghoirt
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís
Go gcoinní Dia i mbos a láimhe thú

Alright, I managed to find an authentic translation of this Irish blessing - just don't ask me to say it . . .for the anglos among us, literally translated, it means:

May the road succeed with you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.