St. Patrick's Day Advantage Realty, San Francisco East Bay, Hayward real estate, Union City real estate, Castro Valley real estate

Life's too short not to be Irish!
Even if it's just one day a year!

At our house a Leprechaun flag greets visitors at the front door. Soon the aroma of Irish Colcannon and Barm Brack will permeate the air inside. We can hardly wait for our annual corned beef and cabbage feast.

If you're not feeling irish yet, just hang around here and at Our St. Patrick's Day Recipe page and you'll soon be in the mood to dig out something green to wear on St. Patrick's day . . . Friday, March 17th.

The first American celebration of Saint Patrick's Day was in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737 and the first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in New York in 1779. As the saying goes, on this day "everybody is Irish!" Over 100 U.S. cities now hold Saint Patrick's Day parades, the largest held in New York City. Take a look at the 2003 schedule of St. Patrick's Day Parades across America - click here.

Nine of the people who signed our Declaration of Independence were of Irish origin, and nineteen Presidents of the United States proudly claim Irish heritage . . . including our first President, George Washington.

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st irishhatsm.gif The Irish attempt on Mount Everest was a valiant effort, but it failed: They ran out of scaffolding.

Ireland in American? You bet!

If a trip to Ireland is not possible, then discover Lake Michighan's Beaver Island, also known as American's Emerald Isle. History of Beaver Island.

The most remote inhabited island in the Great Lakes, with a year-round population of 550 - a large percentage, of Irish descent. The residents' isolation, independence and respect for nature and traditions of the Island have made time slow down. More pictures and info.

Photos: Above photo is aerial view of Beaver Island.
Below photo is of one of the two light houses on the island.

Because Beaver Island offers a serene, relaxed life-style, many visitors have become regular vacationers, property owners and permanent residents. The residents welcome visitors to discover Beaver Island and decide where it may fit into your life.

Take a virtual tour of Beaver Island. Click here.

"The hospitality of an Irishman is not the running account of posted and ledgered courtesies, as in other countries; it springs, like all his other qualities, his faults, his virtues, directly from his heart." ~ Daniel O' Connell

About the Island . . .

Beaver Island covers an area of 6 x 13 miles. It has Seven Inland Lakes, Hiking Trails, Campgrounds, Seven Nearby Islands, General Stores, Motels, B & B´s, cabins, vacation homes, Restaurants, Car, bike, & boat rentals. Bank, Medical center, Library, Taxi service, Laundromat, Car wash, Gift shops, Art gallery, Churches, a Beautiful harbor, two airports, two marinas, and two lighthouses.

Map at right is of Beaver Island.

Beaver Island is in the upper part of Lake Michigan, about 30 miles due north of Charlevoix.

Distances to other major cities:
Chicago - 300 miles
Detroit - 267 miles
Lansing - 200 miles
Sault Ste. Marie - 110 miles

One resident on Beaver Island is a gentleman whose humorous sayings appear on this page. He is Richard Gillespie, a fifth generation Beaver Islander, real estate broker with a web site worth visiting, especially his St. Patrick's Day page and his Irish Humor pages.

Rich is also one of the organizers for the group trip to Ireland. Check out his photos from last trips, it's like a mini vacation. Ireland Trip.

Photo at right is the Donegal Castle in Ireland.

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Irish Humor

Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, "Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey".

Miraculously, a parking place appeared.

Paddy looked up again and said, "Never mind, I found one."

Irish Humor

An Irishman arrived at Kennedy Airport and wandered around the terminal with tears streaming down his cheeks. An airline employee asked him if he was already homesick.

"No," replied the Irishman. "I've lost all me luggage!"

"How'd that happen?"

"The cork fell out!" said the Irishman.

st patrick.gif
Besides the beloved St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland for whom we celebrate on March 17th every year, Ireland boasts ten other major Saints worthy of your attention. Click here for their names and links to brief bios.

If you've wondered which Paton Saint to call upon, then check out the Paton Saint Index - a compilation of 4,307 saints.

"A silent mouth never did any harm."

Test your luck with an Irish-English quiz: What's A Taoiseach?

Enjoy the wisdom of Irish Proverbs

On St. Patrick's Day everyone's Irish, shades of green are considered stylish, so wearing black gear earns you a pinch on the rear, conform or you'll be considered standoffish."

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Did you hear about the Irishman who was tap dancing? He broke his ankle when he fell into the sink.

At "How Stuff Works" you will learn about Saint Patrick, the history and lore surrounding him, the day that honors his life and accomplishments, the legend of the shamrock and the Blarney Stone and, yes, green beer.

Watch the video of The History of St. Patrick's Day at the History Channel.com and explore the legends and lore of the Emerald Isle! Click here.

Turn on your TV to watch the Premiere of PADDY WHACKED: THE IRISH MOB, Fri., March 17 @ 8pm/7c

Here are photos of The Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle in Cork, Ireland.

The term "Blarney" was introduced into the English language by Elizabeth 1 of England and is defined as "pleasant talk, intending to deceive without offending."

Tradition has it that once one kisses the stone it bestows the gift of eloquence.

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Q: What are the best ten years of an Irishman's life?

A: Third grade.

History of Shamrocks

Shamrock is the English form of the Irish word seamrog which literally translated means 'little clover' or 'young clover' (the Irish word is a compound formed from seamair (= clover) and og (= young or small). Shamrock was first clearly used as a plant name by the English herbalist, John Gerard, in 1596 when he wrote that meadow trefoils are called Shamrockes.

There are many misconceptions and myths about shamrock. At its simplest a shamrock is exactly what the original Irish word indicates, and John Gerard stated - clover.

It must be stressed that there is no one plant, unique to Ireland, which alone bears the name shamrock. In 1988 a survey conducted at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin, during which wild-collected samples of shamrock from all over Ireland were scientifically studied, revealed that when Irish folk wear shamrock it can be one of four common clovers or trefoils. These are

lesser trefoil, seamair bhui - Trifolium dubium 46%

white clover, seamair bhan - Trifolium repens 35%

black medick, dumheidic - Medicago lupulina 7%

red clover, seamair dhearg - Trifolium pratense 4%

Occasionally nowadays wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella, in Irish seamsog) may be considered as shamrock but its claim to be the true shamrock was rejected as long ago as 1830!

Fun Stuff for Leprechauns and Other Little People

st patrick mickminstpats.gif Free Celtic Clipart. For crafts, games, cards and more fun stuff at Kids Domain plus their online games - click here. And, tons more St. Patrick's Day crafts at making friends - click here. Free St. Patrick's Day electronic greeting cards - click here. Free animated St. Patrick's Day cards - click here. And, some awesome animated e-cards with music of your choice.

Enjoy the music while you check out these nifty St. Patty's Day games and projects at Alphabet Soup. Green and White art at the activity place is full of fun - click here. Download games and party projects - click here. A Wee Bit About Leprechauns - click here. And, read the cute Leprechaun Story. St. Patrick's Day fun for kids of all ages - click here.

Play an interactive word search game. Do an online interactive St. Patrick's Day crossword puzzle - click here. Here's an interactive online "Green Quiz." Can you figure out the Hidden Ireland: A Guide to Irish Fairies.

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Irish Humor

Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and says to the first man he meets, "Do you want to go to heaven?"

The man said, "I do Father."

The priest said, "Then stand over there against the wall." Then the priest asked the second man, "Do you want to go to heaven?"

"Certainly, Father," was the man's reply. "Then stand over there against the wall," said the priest. Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and said, "Do you want to go to heaven?

O'Toole said, "No, I don't Father.

The priest said, "I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?"

O'Toole said, "Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now."

Learn to draw Celtic Knots

Celtic knots are a variety of (endless) knots and stylized graphical representations of knots used for decoration, first known to have been used by the Celts. Though Celtic knots were being created in pre-Christian times, these knots are most known for their use in the ornamentation of Christian monuments and manuscripts like the 8th century Book of Kells.

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Absolutely Irish

Read The Irish Times, an online newspaper at Ireland.com. Irish Abroad is an extensive resource for Irish all over the world - click here. And, learn Irish slang, get travel tips, learn Irish traditions on their Irish page - click here.

At the Bushmills Heritage Web Site you will find Genealogy Tips, Genealogy Resources, Irish County Search, Bushmills History. Take a virtual tour of the Bushmills Distillery.

Ancestry.com is another good source for searching out your Irish roots. Traditional Irish Names for Boys and Girls.

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Irish Humor

Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, "Pour me a stiff one - just had another fight with the little woman."

Oh yeah?"said Charlie "And how did this one end?"

"When it was over," Mike replied, "she came to me on her hands and knees.

"Really," said Charles, "now that's a switch! What did she say?"

She said, "Come out from under the bed, you big chicken!"

History of the Claddagh ring

Claddagh refers to a tiny village of fishermen near Galway city. The Claddagh ring originated there and is said to be the oldest Irish fishing village. According to the legend, the town designed a sigil to place on the sails of ships, and worn by the Sailors of Claddagh. When these sailors ran into other fishermen on their waters, they would look for a Claddagh sigil and if they did not find it, they would kill them.

The Claddagh is a heart being held by a pair of hands with a crown above, a symbol of love and friendship. The hands are friendship, the crown is loyalty, and the heart is love.

Today, the ring is worn extensively in Ireland, either upon the right hand with the heart pointed outwards showing that the wearer is "free" or with the heart turned inwards to denote that he or she is "married". The best of place is on the left hand, with the heart, showing that the wearer is married happily.

The Claddagh ring was developed by Richard Joyce, native of Galway. While being transported to the plantations of the Moorish West Indies as a slave, he was captured by pirates in the Mediterranean and trained in his craft by a goldsmith who bought him. He was set free in 1689 and he returned to Galway to set up shop in the Claddagh to make Claddagh rings

The ring became popular around Connamera since the mid last century its popularity being helped by the big exodus out of the West during the big 1847-49 Famine. These rings are kept as heirlooms with pride and passed from mother down to daughter.

A Dublin version of the Claggadh Ring appeared about 100 years ago with two Hearts and two hands and No Crown. This is the Fenian Claddagh ring.

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Irish Humor

An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut. The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car. He says, "Sir, have you been drinking?"

"Just water," says the priest.

The trooper says, "Then why do I smell wine?"

The priest looks at the bottle and says, "Good Lord! He's done it again!"

Claire de Lune
by: Achille-Claude Debussy
August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918

One of the most original musical voices of the 20th century. With a revolutionary sense of instrumental colour and a fleeting, atmospheric sound world, he is often described, rightly or wrongly, as an "Impressionist" composer.

Debussy was born in a bourgeois family. His father owned a china shop and was also working as a travelling salesman, a printer's assistant, and a clerk. His mother was a seamstress. Debussy's musical talent was discovered by his first piano teacher Mme. Mauté de Fleurville who claimed to have studied piano with Chopin. He went to the Conservatory in Paris, where he studied for ten years, from 1872 to 1884

Debussy's piano music is the most important creation by a French composer since that of Chopin. He created a subtle pianistic style that made new demands on performing technique, and the shifting, blurred sonorities of the style were achieved by a new use of the damper pedal. His best-known composition in any medium is most likely the famous Claire de Lune (Moonlight) from Suite Bergamasque (1890-1905) for solo piano.

GrowingShamrocks

History of the Claddagh ring

The Claddagh is a heart being held by a pair of hands with a crown above, a symbol of love and friendship. The hands are friendship, the crown is loyalty, and the heart is love.

The ring became popular around Connamera since the mid last century its popularity being helped by the big exodus out of the West during the big 1847-49 Famine. These rings are kept as heirlooms with pride and passed from mother down to daughter.

A Dublin version of the Claggadh Ring appeared about 100 years ago with two Hearts and two hands and No Crown. This is the Fenian Claddagh ring.

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Growing
Shamrocks