Irish Stew and Candlelight Mass for a Cool St. Patrick’s Day

Our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations took an unexpected turn this year. A short but powerful storm moved through Monday evening. Though it lasted less than 30 minutes, it was intense enough to knock out the power. Fortunately, our generator kicked on, keeping the inconvenience to a minimum. By morning, however, the outage persisted, with no estimated restoration time from the power company.

We learned that power was also out at our church — but of course, Mass was still being said. We headed over to celebrate our parish’s patronal feast. Mass by candlelight proved a quiet delight, though the after-Mass festivities were sadly canceled. Back at home, we made the most of it, enjoying Colleen’s homemade Irish soda bread with our morning coffee.

Thanks to the hardworking utility crews, power was restored by early afternoon — about 16 hours after it went out. After spending some time clearing storm debris around the house, I decided the weather wasn’t exactly inviting for a visit to the local brewery. That Red Ale can wait for another day.

Instead, we sat down early for our traditional Irish beef stew dinner, accompanied by more soda bread. The hearty mix of beef, potatoes, and carrots — made with Guinness Stout — was served with an extra scoop of mashed potatoes, a custom we happily adopted after our travels to the Emerald Isle.

I did manage a wee pour of Redbreast Irish Whiskey after dinner — a proper digestif ahead of the planned indulgence of bread and butter pudding with hot whiskey sauce.

Alas, no cigar this day. By late afternoon, the forecasted overnight snow had faded from the weather app, but I opted to enjoy my drink in the warmth of the living room instead of the cool porch.

Despite the rough start, the day unfolded much as it should — filled with good food, good drink, and proper observance of our saint.

The blustery weather also brought to mind past St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the long-gone Blue & Gray Brewing. Fredericksburg’s St. Patrick’s — and Oktoberfest — haven’t quite been the same since those days when the festivities stretched across the entire weekend. More often than not, the weather was just as cold and damp then, though I suspect I was made of slightly hardier stock in those years.

Sláinte!

Mass, Music, and a Wee Dram: St. Patrick’s Day

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh!

It’s that time of year when a saint revered by many — especially in the Irish Catholic community — is embraced by people of all backgrounds. As a Catholic of Irish descent, I can find little fault with people bettering themselves. :-)

This year, the feast day falls on a weekday — as odds usually have it. Another blessing of retirement is that doesn't much matter. 

I’m writing this before we begin our celebration — for good reason, probably. But I can confidently predict the schedule of events. For us, the day will begin with Mass, as it’s our parish’s patronal feast day. I’m told Mass will be followed by Irish music and treats in the parish hall. We typically avoid the pubs on this day. However, if the weather cooperates later in the afternoon, perhaps we'll head off to a local brewery for some Red Ale and more music.

I don't doubt I'll enjoy a wee pour or three of Irish Whiskey in the evening. In our house, there’s always homemade Irish Soda Bread and Irish Beef Stew (made with potatoes and served over mashed potatoes.) 

While you’re in the midst of your celebrations, I hope you’ll take a moment to think about the man behind the Feast Day. Whether you accept the traditions associated with St. Patrick’s life or not, there’s no denying the good he did. Some of the stories can’t be proven — but they can’t be disproven either.

Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery in Ireland, Patrick grew to love the Irish people. Later in life — around the age of 60 — Saint Patrick returned to Ireland to teach and convert the people he had come to see as his own. Certainly that is worthy of our respect.

Our family has long had a devotion to St. Patrick. That admiration was made all the more tangible when we were blessed to make two pilgrimages to the Emerald Isle, in 2012 and again in 2019. During those visits I was reminded just how much the Irish love Patrick. Over there, he’s far more than just a marketing gimmick.

Each year it seems necessary to remind some people (and the marketing dweebs) that St. Patrick was a man — not a woman. His name is Patrick, which comes from the Irish, Pádraig. Shorten his name to Paddy if you truly must. But we do not, under any circumstances, celebrate “St. Patty’s Day.” Patty is short for Patricia — a lovely name, for  a woman, but not his.

Let’s all celebrate the memory of St. Patrick. Enjoy a toast or two and some good food. There’s nothing wrong with bringing a little revelry into the world; God knows we need it. I enjoy a good party as much as anyone and I can appreciate a good Irish drinking joke. Drink your green beer if you must. Dress up in silly clothes if it suits you. (But remember: St. Patrick was a man, not a leprechaun.)

Still, remember the reason for the feast. Take a moment to honor the man and all the good he did. In our house we'll raise a drink of uisce beatha — the water of life — and say a prayer in honor of St. Patrick and his beloved Ireland. These days, as Ireland navigates profound cultural shifts — from the rapid secularization of a once deeply Catholic nation, to the challenges brought by immigration and an evolving national identity — the people of Ireland could use St. Patrick’s courage and clarity more than ever.

All the children of Ireland cry out to thee:

Come, O Holy Patrick, and save us!

Irish Cheer at Home: Cocktails, Comfort Food, and Classic Cinema

As I continue to recover from back surgery, the days have started blending together. But the Feast of St. Patrick provided a welcome break from the routine. Even the simple act of getting a ride to the barbershop in the morning felt like a treat! However, the highlight of the day was undoubtedly the food and drink enjoyed in celebration of the Feast Day.

To kick things off, I prepared a pre-dinner cocktail — a twist on a bourbon classic called the Revolver. This variation, the "Irish Revolver," features Irish Whiskey instead of bourbon. I used 2 ounces of Jameson Black Barrel, half an ounce of Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, and a few dashes of orange bitters. The ingredients were combined in a rocks glass over a single cube of ice. To finish, I expressed and garnished with an orange peel. The result was a sweet, coffee-forward drink that was quite enjoyable.

Next came our traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner of Irish Beef Stew, served alongside Irish Soda Bread. The brown stew, made with Guinness Stout, was hearty with tender potatoes and carrots. True to tradition, we enjoyed it with an extra scoop of mashed potatoes, a custom we picked up during our travels to the Emerald Isle. Colleen had actually baked the Soda Bread over the weekend, and we had already been savoring it with our morning coffee for a couple of days. Thankfully, the stew promises to be just as delightful in the form of leftovers over the next few meals.

And what’s a feast without dessert? Colleen prepared a decadent Chocolate Whiskey Cake to round out the evening. This dark chocolate indulgence, made with both coffee and whiskey, was a perfect ending to our meal. I was pleasantly surprised that the Irish Whiskey's flavor remained distinct and enjoyable. Despite its rich appearance, the cake was wonderfully light and moist.

We concluded the evening by watching The Quiet Man, starring Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne. In just a couple of days, we’ll be celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph, when our culinary traditions will shift toward Italian fare.

Coincidentally, my birthday soon follows these Feasts each year. While that personal celebration will certainly be enjoyable, it will remain subdued compared to the grandeur of the Saints' Feasts—it’s not quite deserving of a break from Lenten sacrifices.

Cheers!

Sláinte to St. Patrick (and No, It’s Not ‘St. Patty’)

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh!

It's that time of the year when a Saint revered by many, especially in the Irish-Catholic community, is embraced by people of all backgrounds. As a Catholic of Irish decent, I can find little fault with people bettering themselves. :-)

This year, the feast day falls on a Monday — I suspect many restaurants and pubs that typically close on Mondays will stay open. As we typically do, we’ll avoid the local pubs on the 17th. I don’t drink green beer — and I’m fairly confident St. Patrick wouldn’t have either. But do as you wish. For my celebration, I’ll stick with a dark Stout or an Irish Red Ale. And surely a wee pour or three of Irish Whiskey will be enjoyed. In our house, there’s always homemade Irish Soda Bread and Irish Beef Stew served as well.

While you’re in the midst of your celebrations, I hope you’ll take a moment to think about the man behind the Feast Day. Whether you accept the traditions associated with St. Patrick’s life or not, there’s no denying the good he did. Some of the stories can’t be proven — but they can’t be disproven either.

Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery in Ireland, Patrick grew to love the Irish people. Later in life — around the age of 60 — Saint Patrick returned to Ireland to teach and convert the people had come to see as his own. Certainly that is worthy of our respect.

Our family has long had a devotion to St. Patrick. That admiration was made all the more tangible when we were blessed to make two pilgrimages to the Emerald Isle, in 2012 and again in 2019. During those visits I was reminded just how much the Irish love Patrick. Over there, he’s far more than just a marketing gimmick.

Each year, leading up to the holiday, I feel compelled to remind people (and pubs) that St. Patrick was a man — not a woman. His name is Patrick, which comes from the Irish, Pádraig. Shorten his name to Paddy if you must. But we do not, under any circumstances, celebrate “St. Patty’s Day.” Patty is short for Patricia — a lovely name, but not his.

Feast-related debauchery is one thing, but turning our Saint into “St. Patty” is a step too far. As much as it pains me, I refuse every year to take advantage of “holiday discounts” from businesses using discount codes like “STPATTY.” I take it as a sign that there are probably no real Irish folks running the event. I’ve also enjoyed the small satisfaction of seeing a local establishment correct their marketing after a gentle reminder.

Let’s all celebrate the memory of St. Patrick. Enjoy a drink or two and some good food. There’s nothing wrong with bringing a little revelry into the world; God knows we need it. I enjoy a good party as much as anyone and I can appreciate a good Irish drinking joke. Drink your green beer if you must. Dress up in silly clothes. (But remember: St. Patrick was a man, not a leprechaun.)

Remember the reason for this feast. Take a moment to honor the man and all the good he did. In our house we'll raise a drink of uisce beatha — the water of life — and say a prayer in honor of St. Patrick and his beloved Ireland. These days, as Ireland navigates profound cultural shifts — from the rapid secularization of a once deeply Catholic nation, to the challenges brought by immigration and an evolving national identity — the people of Ireland could use St. Patrick’s courage and clarity more than ever.

All the children of Ireland cry out to thee:

Come, O Holy Patrick, and save us!

Sláinte!

Celebrating the Feast of Saint Patrick

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh!

It's that time of the year when a Saint revered by many, especially in the Irish-Catholic community, is adopted by people of all descent. As a Catholic of Irish decent, I can find little fault with people bettering themselves. :-)

In 2024, the feast day falls on a Sunday. Therefore, throughout much of the Church the Saint's day loses out to the liturgy for the 5th Sunday in Lent. Since St. Patrick is our parish's patron saint, it's traditionally a "day off" from Lenten obligations, but this year Sunday already grants that option. 

As we typically do, we'll avoid the local pubs on the 17th. I don't drink green beer, and remain confident that neither did St. Patrick. But do as you wish. For my celebration I will stick with a dark Stout or an Irish Red Ale. And surely a wee pour or three of Irish Whiskey will be enjoyed. In our house there is always homemade Irish Soda Bread and Irish Stew served as well. 

While in the midst of your celebrations, try to give thought to the man behind the Feast Day. Whether you accept the traditions associated with St. Patrick's life or not, there can be no denying the good he did. (As much as some of these stories cannot be proven, they cannot be disproven either.) Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery in Ireland, he grew to love the Irish people. Late in his life, he was around 60 at the time, Saint Patrick returned to the Ireland to teach and convert the people he had adopted as his own. Certainly that is worthy of our respect.

Our family has long had a devotion to St. Patrick. That admiration was made all the more tangible when we were blessed to make two pilgrimages to the Emerald Isle, in 2012 and again in 2019. During those visits I was reminded just how much the Irish love Patrick. He's more than just a marketing ploy there.

Odd as it may seem, we actually have to remind people, and pubs, that St. Patrick was a man, not a woman. His name is Patrick, which comes from the Irish, Pádraig. Shorten his name to Paddy if you must. However, we do not celebrate "St. Patty's Day." Patty is a shortened version of Patricia, a girl's name. Feast-related debauchery is one thing, but transgendering our Saint is unacceptable. As much as it pains me, I refuse each year to take advantage of any "holiday discount" from businesses who attempt to lure me with discount codes of "STPATTY" and the like. It's a feeling of satisfaction when I see a local establishment has corrected their marketing after being reminded of this error.

Let's all celebrate the memory of St. Patrick. Enjoy a drink or two and some good food, hopefully with friends. There's nothing wrong with bringing a little revelry into the world, we certainly need it. I like a good party as much as the next guy. And I certainly appreciate a good Irish drinking joke. Drink your green beer if you must. Dress up in silly clothes. (But, remember St. Patrick was a man, not a leprechaun.) Then remember the reason for this feast. Take a moment to honor the man and all the good he did. In our house we'll raise a drink of uisce beatha, "the water of life," and a prayer, to St. Patrick in honor of his deeds and his country.

All the children of Ireland cry out to thee:

Come, O Holy Patrick, and save us!

Sláinte!

It's the Feast of St. Patrick

Sláinte!

It's that time of the year when a Saint revered by many, especially in the Irish-Catholic community, is adopted by people of all descent. As a Catholic of Irish decent, I can find little fault with people bettering themselves. :-)

I don't drink green beer, and am very confident that neither did St. Patrick. But do as you wish. For my celebration I will stick with a dark Stout or a good Irish Red Ale. And surely a wee pour or two of Irish Whiskey will be enjoyed.

However, in the midst of your celebrations, try to give thought to the man behind the Feast Day. Whether you accept the traditions associated with St. Patrick's life or not, there can be no denying the good he did. (As much as some of these stories cannot be proven, they cannot be disproven either.) Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery in Ireland, he grew to love the Irish people. Late in his life, he was around 60 at the time, Saint Patrick returned to the Emerald Isle to teach and convert the people he had grown to love so much. Certainly that is worthy of our respect.

Our family has long had a devotion to St. Patrick. Our admiration was made all the more tangible when we were blessed to make two pilgrimages to the Emerald Isle, in 2012 and again in 2019. During those visits I was reminded just how much the Irish love Patrick. He's more than just a marketing ploy there.

Odd is it may seem, we actually have to remind people, and pubs, that St. Patrick was a man, not a woman. His name is Patrick, which comes from the Irish, Pádraig. Shorten his name to Paddy if you must. However, we do not celebrate "St. Patty's Day." Patty is a shortened version of Patricia, a girl's name. Feast-related debauchery is one thing, but transgendering our Saint is unacceptable. As much as it pained me, I refused this year to take advantage of more than one "holiday discount" from businesses who tried to lure me with discount codes of "STPATTY" and the like. 

So, celebrate the memory of St. Patrick. Enjoy a drink or two and some good food, hopefully with friends. There's nothing wrong with bringing a little revelry into the world, we certainly need it. I like a good party as much as the next guy. And I certainly appreciate a good Irish drinking joke. Drink your green beer if you must. Dress up in silly clothes. (But, remember St. Patrick was a man, not a leprechaun.) Then remember the reason for this feast. Take a moment to honor the man and all the good he did. In our house we'll raise a drink of uisce beatha, "the water of life," and a prayer, to St. Patrick in honor of his deeds and his country.

All the children of Ireland cry out to thee:

Come, O Holy Patrick, and save us!

St. Patrick's Day Lesson

No matter how you celebrate tomorrow, please remember. . .

Note to marketing folks, St. Patrick was a man, not a leprechaun.

St. Patrick's Day

"May St. Patrick guard you wherever you go, and guide you in whatever you do – and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always."

-- Traditional Irish Blessing

Ah, Saint Patrick's Day. Such a confusing day. For the Irish, the day honors a beloved Saint. For many others, it's a day dedicated simply to green beer and other debauchery. St. Patrick is our parish's patron Saint, so we're granted a reprieve from our Lenten penances. As such, we'll be enjoying a quiet evening at home with some "traditional" Irish-American food and drink. There will be no green beer.

Our family has long had a devotion to St. Patrick. Our admiration was made all the more tangible when we were blessed to take a pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle in 2012. During that visit I was reminded just how much the Irish love Patrick. To honor this day, and St. Patrick's memory, I'll share a few depictions of St. Patrick seen during that trip.

The Black Abbey, Kilkenny

Tapestry, Knock Shrine

Ballintubber Abby

Croagh Patrick, County Mayo

St. Patrick Cathedral, Dublin

And finally, since St. Patrick is also our parish patron, one of our church window.

Bishop Patrick

All photos taken by Colleen.

Five O'Clock (AM) Friday: St. Patrick's Day

For those starting early.

St. Patrick's Festival To Honor Jeff Fitzpatrick

The annual St. Patrick's Day parade and festival at Adventure Brewing South (formerly Blue & Gray Brewing) has been renamed to honor the late Jeff Fitzpatrick. The Free Lance-Star reports...

Adventure Brewing Co. is raising a pint to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in memory of the late Jeff Fitzpatrick, the area’s first local brewer.

Adventure bought Blue & Gray Brewing Co. in Spotsylvania County and are continuing his tradition of holding a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Adventure’s owners have renamed the event in his honor.

“We’re excited to host the parade this year,” said Stan Johnson, one of Adventure’s owners, in a news release. “The parade is a tradition for the families of Fredericksburg, so we’re glad to have the opportunity to continue that, and to honor Jeff’s legacy in the craft beer scene.”

This is a fitting tribute to this pioneer who brought craft beer to the Fredericksburg area. This quote from Jeff, a faithful Irish Catholic, fits his humor perfectly, and I can imagine the smile and laughter on his face when he said it. "We said ‘Kids eat free,’ and I ought to have known better than to invite a bunch of Irish Catholics to have their kids eat free."

See "Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade renamed in memory of Fredericksburg area's first brewer" for the full story.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

"May St. Patrick guard you wherever you go, and guide you in whatever you do – and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always."

-- Traditional Irish Blessing

St. Patrick is our parish's patron Saint, so w'll take a bit of a reprieve from our Lenten penances. We'll be enjoying some "traditional" Irish-American food and drink with other Catholic friends this evening. There will be no green beer (that would be a sin, not a penance), but we'll surely see this delicious Bread and Butter Pudding with Hot Whiskey Sauce among other treats.

Bishop Patrick in our parish window

However you mark the day, be safe, be joyful, be Irish.

Croagh Patrick, County Mayo, Ireland

My Kind of Parade

Short, with beer at the end.

On Saturday morning I joined up with a few other men from the Ancient Order of Hibernians to take part in the 14th annual St. Patrick's Parade and Festival at the Blue & Gray Brewery, now Adventure Brewing. In all honesty, the main motivation was to enjoy some good beer at the end of the parade. From my conversations with the other Irish men, I wasn't the only one looking forward to that treat.

This may well be the shortest St. Patrick's parade in existence, so 15 minutes after kickoff, I was in line to buy tickets for beer. Being the organized person I am, I purchased enough tickets for more than one beer. No use standing in line again!

The new owners from Adventure Brewing did an excellent job putting on this annual event. They even got the weather to cooperate; more often then not, it's cool and rainy for the festival. It turned out to be a very pleasant afternoon to enjoy some good beer and conversation with friends.

Blue & Gray St. Patrick's Day Festival

The 14th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival will take place this Saturday, March 12 at Blue & Gray Brewery, now Adventure Brewing South. The parade starts at noon and ends at the brewery. Food and beer services will be available outside under tents and inside the brewpub as well. Entertainment will include Irish music and dancers.

I'm looking forward to enjoying a fresh pint or two of Stonewall Stout myself.

After Adventure Brewing purchased the Blue & Gray Brewery, there were questions about the future of the annual St. Patrick's Day and Octoberfest events at Blue & Gray. I was told recently by a staff member at Adventure that the plan is to continue both festivals as annual events.

I hope to see you there!

Round Up Your Mates for St. Patrick's Day

A humorous Guinness ad from a few years ago.

Have a Happy and Safe St. Patrick's Day celebration, however you choose to mark the feast day. Sláinte!!

This Day in History

On March 16, 1780 George Washington issued a General Order granting St. Patrick's Day as a holiday for the Continental Army.

George Washington's General Order of March 16, 1780,
granting Saint Patrick's Day as a holiday to the troops

Document from the National Archives.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[Originally posted March 17, 2013]

Ah, St. Patricks Day. Such a confusing day. To the Irish, the day honors a great Saint. For too many others, it's a day dedicated simply to green beer and debauchery. Our family has long had a devotion to St. Patrick. Our admiration was made all the more tangible when we were blessed to take a pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle last year. During that visit I was reminded just how much the Irish love Patrick. To honor this day, and St. Patrick's memory, I'll share these depictions of St. Patrick from our trip.

The Black Abbey, Kilkenny, Ireland

Tapestry, Knock Shrine

Ballintubber Abby

Croagh Patrick, County Mayo

St. Patrick Cathedral, Dublin

And finally, since St. Patrick is also our parish patron, one of our church window.

Bishop Patrick

All photos taken by Colleen T.

An Early St. Patrick's Day Celebration

Saturday afternoon Colleen and I headed over to Blue & Gray Brewing for their 13th Annual St. Patrick's Day parade and celebration. We arrived after the parade, so headed immediately to the beer line for a couple pints of Stonewall Stout. As I've noted often, this is a well-done English Stout and perhaps my favorite Blue & Gray libation. Nicely balanced with roasted malts and a mild sweetness, it goes down easily. And at just 5% ABV, it's fit for an afternoon of festivity.

We ran into some friends and enjoyed good conversation, along with Irish music and dancing. As so often happens during this festival, a steady rain soon began to fall — Irish Sunshine I dubbed it. We crowded under the tents and managed to keep our fronts dry, though the backs of my pants and jacket got quite wet. But there's nothing like another glass of Stonewall Stout to ward off the chill. 

Not an actual picture from the festival

Eventually the weather won out and we headed into the Lee's Retreat brewpub to dry out and enjoy some tasty Rueben sandwiches, made with corned beef brisket cooked in, naturally, Stonewall Stout. And of course, another pint of the Stout to wash it all down. 

After that fitting lunch, we joined a friend and his daughter for dessert at Carl's Frozen Custard, then Colleen and I headed up to Adventure Brewing to continue honoring our patron Saint. In addition to live Irish music, Adventure had three new beers on tap to celebrate St. Patrick's Day; Scotch Ale, Red IPA, and Invasion ESB. Given they were covering some of my favorite styles, I was itching to try them out. Colleen ordered the Scotch Ale while I started with Invasion ESB. The ESB had a toasted malt flavor, but for my preferences was a little too mildly flavored. The Scotch Ale was very nicely done. Slightly sweet, it had a dark malt and roasted nuttiness that Colleen enjoyed very much.

Soon we found ourselves in need of food once again. The food truck on hand was Martina's Cantina, a somewhat juxtaposed option given the celebration. Colleen selected a burger, topped with carnitas and spicy Mexican "fixin's." My choice was a chicharons and porkito sandwich. Honestly, I didn't ask exactly what it was, but only know it was extremely tasty, and spicy. To accompany this meal I ordered a pint of the Red IPA. I had a preview of this ale a few weeks back and was glad to get a chance to enjoy it again. Full of citrus hop freshness, I'd have to rank it as my favorite Adventure Brewing beer, at this time anyway. 

The final treat of the afternoon was a tiny taste of the upcoming barrel-aged version of Wicked Nymph Imperial Stout. The Stout has been aged in barrels from the Bowman Distillery and will be available in corked and caged bottles. This, the first bottled beer from Adventure, should be out in about two weeks. I intend to get some to enjoy right away, and also some to put away in the cellar for aging.

After a long day of celebration, we headed home. My shoes were still a bit wet from earlier and it felt good to get into dry clothes. Although the Feast of St. Patrick is still a few days away, our Saturday celebration was a fun and fitting way to spend the day.

Reilly's Red Ale

When we stopped by the local beer store this weekend, I was happy to see cans of Devils Backbone Reilly's Red Ale. I always like drinking a new Virginia-brewed beer, and this review would be timed just right. I eagerly awaited the end of my work day on the Feast of St. Patrick so I could lift that pull tab.

Reilly's Irish Style Red Ale pours a very attractive, bright copper color. The thin beige head is short-lived. The aroma is the classic Red Ale blend of bready, caramel malt. A slightly sweet malt flavor comes first, followed by toasted, grainy notes, along with a hint of hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is slightly creamy with a very clean finish.

Reilly's Red is a classic "American Style" Red Ale. Easily drinkable with a mild flavor and a mild 5.5% ABV to match. The beer paired well with our "American Style" St. Patrick's Day dinner of corned beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and homemade Soda Bread.

The mild ale and traditional dinner was a fitting repast which was followed a wee bit o' Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey. It was indeed a happy St. Patrick's Feast Day.

Five O'Clock: St. Patrick's Day Gathering

Getting your friends to the pub can be a challenge without a proper technique.

Have a Happy and Safe St. Patrick's Day celebration, however you manage it.

St. Patrick's Day Whiteout

Wait? White? Yep, it's St. Patrick's Day and the world outside is clothed in white. Even though it's not quite Spring officially, and tend to think of this celebration as a foretelling of a warmer season. This year it's a good morning for warming up with Irish Coffee it would seem. Despite the snow, it's still a work day thanks to the wonders of the internet.

Later today we'll celebrate by trying out some Irish Ales we picked up over the weekend, or perhaps a wee bit o' Whiskey. St. Patrick is our parish Patron Saint, so we're obligated to some extra celebration. But first I'll need to clear away some of this white stuff.

Meanwhile, here's a memory of greener pastures from our trip to Ireland a couple years ago.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!