I was 12 years old. My mother performed an impromptu duet with her friend Betty Kash and sang "Danny Boy" at the Three Jolly Pigeons bar in Brooklyn. The place was packed and they were still cheering and whistling when we left the bar. It doesn't get any better than that. Have you ever marched in the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade? Yes, in high school. We crashed the parade and we marched with County Mayo Association (that's where my family is from). Up Mayo! I love the parade but there is still too much politics around it. Five essential Irish albums that should be part of everyone's music library: Best of the Pogues (or any Shane McGowan album); Any Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem album (best served after the parade with a pint); The Commitments soundtrack; Seize the Day by Damien Dempsey; Fine Malt lyrics (I start every St. Patrick's Day with this. Gets the blood flowing.) How much green do you wear on March 17th? I don't! No shamrocks for me. That's paddy whackery. The only green is in my pocket. Do you eat corned beef & cabbage on St. Patrick's Day? How about soda bread? Soda bread, yes. I do a steak dinner now with a few friends on the 17th. Favorite Irish film? "The Commitments." ("Roide Sally Roide" . . .!) Favorite Irish book? "The Westies" by TJ English. Favorite Irish song? "Fairytale of New York" (Shane McGowan & Kirsty McColl) Complete this sentence: The most Irish thing about me is . . . my name: Terence Patrick Mulligan.
