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St. Patrick’s Day Memories: Joe Byrne

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

My favorite memory is marching at the head of the Co. Carlow delegation in New York’s St Patrick’s Day Parade in 2000. Five essential Irish albums that should be part of everyone’s music library: Anyone claiming to be Irish or to love things Irish should include something from Clannad, U2, Van Morrison, the Chieftains, Frank Patterson, Sinead O’Connor and the Cranberries in their collection. How much green do you wear on March 17th? I take pride in sporting some real Shamrock attached to my coat with a Tourism Ireland logo pin.Do you eat corned beef & cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day? How about soda bread? Yup – I succumb to the temptation to sample the fare at some of the functions I attend on St Patrick’s Day, which invariably includes both corned beef and cabbage and soda bread. My favorite dishes however would include Wild Irish Atlantic Salmon, Wicklow Lamb and Oysters from Galway Bay.Favorite Irish film? “Once” is a wonderful feel-good Irish movie which surprises you the way it captivates and entertains. It is a wonderful example of how great movies do not depend on huge production budgets. Favorite Irish book? I honestly can’t decide between John McGahern’s “That They May Face the Rising Sun” and Colum McCann’s “Let the Great World Spin,” which I have just finished reading and is truly deserving of the acclaim it has received.Favorite Irish song? Luke Kelly singing “Raglan Road.” Complete this sentence: The most Irish thing about me is . . . not taking myself too seriously.

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