February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Waking up on St. Patrick’s morning when I was in grade school to the smell of my Nana’s (from Cobh, County Cork) Irish soda bread. She would then let us miss school to see the parade and march with Cork.
Have you ever marched in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade? If so, what group did you march with? These days, I join Sean and Philomena Mackin and their family and march with County Antrim, where we proudly hold the new county banner, bearing the image of murdered civil rights lawyers Pat Finucane and Bobby Sands, and the “England Out of Ireland” banner. Five essential Irish albums that should be part of everyone’s music library: Mary Courtney: Sceil Eile – Another Story; Any Wolfe Tones album; Ronan Tynan: The Impossible Dream; Flogging Molly: Within A Mile of Home; Chieftans: The Long Black Veil. How much green do you wear on March 17th? My tie. Do you eat corned beef & cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day? I haven’t eaten meat since 1978, however I love cabbage with Coleman’s mustard. How about soda bread? I miss my Nana’s. However, Eileen’s Country Kitchen in Woodlawn makes a close second. And yes, I eat it. Favorite Irish film? “Into the West,” written by Jim Sheridan and starring Gabriel Byrne. It’s more than a children’s movie. It captures the Irish soul. Favorite Irish book? Short Stories by Liam O’Flaherty. Favorite Irish song? “Only Our Rivers Run Free.” Complete this sentence: The most Irish thing about me is . . . my “patience” and my pro-bono legal clients.