“Some people say I look like me Da.”—Lyrics by B*Witched, The Irish Pop-Dance Girl Group,
from their hit song, “C’est la Vie.”
“TRIGGER= regarding an emotional State of Mind, a Trigger is a specific event that causes a
particular outcome; A Trigger is a stimulus that causes OR INTENSIFIES a reaction.”
FOREWARNING: St. Patrick’s Day is indeed MY TRIGGER DAY. My INNATE Irish PRIDE and
childhood NOSTALGIA are on full display, come each St. Patrick’s Day. My WISTFULNESS
regarding days of yore full of Leprechaun Hunts and Family Dinners, and a SENTIMENTAL
YEARNING along with the greatest affection for days gone by culminate on St. Patrick’s Day.
Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, AKA “La Fheile Padraig,” is both a religious and
cultural holiday held on March 17 th , honoring St. Patrick, the foremost Patron Saint of Ireland.
Observed by Irish people, people of Irish descent, and the Catholic Church, the Feast Day of St.
Patrick commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Traditionally, celebrations include:
Attending parades, Attending a “CEILI”= an Irish social gathering, a social visit involving IRISH
DANCING and Gaelic music, as well as Irish festivals, the wearing of green attire or shamrocks,
eating Irish food, drinking Irish Beer and Irish Whiskey, Attending Mass and Christian
Processions, and lauding Irish Culture and Irish Heritage. Historically, the Lenten restrictions
regarding eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged and
propagated the holiday’s tradition of MASS ALCOHOL COMSUMPTION! Every March 17 th , I
cannot help but especially think of My Dear Departed Irish “Dadai”= Peter James Murray, The
Master of Shenanigans himself. Merriam-Webster defines “SHENANIGANS= Noun, as in
mischief; playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm.” Both My Irish
Daddy and My Irish Son possess that INFAMOUS Irish rascality, penchant for devilment,
impishness, and knavery. The mischievousness has been passed down from one generation to
another, as aptly depicted in the wicked gleam of espieglerie in our Irish eyes in the photo
collage below of My Daddy= “Da,” or “Dadai,” Myself= “Me Fein,” and My Son= “Mo Mhac.”
JOIN ME in perusing this ABBREVIATED IRISH CATALOG…There are NOT enough hours in the
day to PASSIONATELY delve further into: Irish History, Irish Symbolism, Chronicling Irish Music, The Archives and Traditions Regarding Irish Spirit Making, Irish Menus, Exploring Irish Folklore and Legends, The Antecedent of The Irish Trinity– that in and of itself could be an entire thesis!
To FURTHER DIGRESS: This singular day evokes in me a profound nuance of complex emotion,
akin to the other-worldly, hair-standing-on-end, spine-tingling response I had upon reaching
out and touching the bullet-ridden marble walls and façade of the General Post Office -GPO- in
Dublin, Ireland …momentarily transporting me, in my mind’s eye, back in time to the aftermath
of the scene of the 1916 Easter Rising armed rebellion…Hallowed ground of my Irish ancestors…
It was WYNORRIFIC= “Something being both beautiful and horrific at the same time, simply due
to its characteristics.” Perfectly eerie… OK, BACK TO UNFETTERED FRIVLOLITY! There is NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO COMMENCE HIJINKS AND CAPERS! Come along with me, as I rollick,
cavort, and delight in observing St. Patrick’s Day with ZEST AND GUSTO! Let us take part in
jubilation and MERRYMAKING to honor St. Patrick’s Day FESTIVITIES! In that same SPIRIT OF
REVELRY, I invite you participate in any the of rich cultural offerings listed below celebrating St. Patrick’s Day so that you may ALSO be a roisterer of jollification and conviviality!
For local TOMFOOLERY, www.ribbqnews.com readers may lark about and frolic in a number of
splendid events sure to have plenty of Irish eyes a-smiling!
- Newport, RI’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off on March 15 th , at 11 AM from Newport City Hall. The parade proceeds through Washington Square, down Thames Street, and ends at St. Augustin Church.
- The 64 th Annual West Warwick St. Patrick’s Day Parade sponsored by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Pawtuxet Valley takes place on Sunday, March 16 th at 1 PM, starting at the West Warwick/Coventry Town Line and continuing down Maun Street to Columbus Circle.
- On March 11 th at Noon, The Providence Performing Arts Center www.ppacri.org presents, “The Pipes Are Calling: Step into the Irish Parlor,” a FREE event, this program transports you back to the days when musicians gathered in homes for song and dance! The Mighty Wurlitzer and Celtic musicians on pipes, fiddle and flute will play, as Kevin Doyle’s Roscommon Soles performs an array of Irish jigs, reels, and tap dances!
- On March 14 th at 6 PM, the Jane Pickens Event Center www.janepickens.com located at 49 Touro Street, in Newport, RI presents a traditional Irish concert and step-dancing occasion; Turas, a 5-man Irish ensemble shares the stage with 13-year-old Irish-Step-Dancing Prodigy, Keira Nagle. The ticket price is $24.
- On March 14 th at 10 AM, “Shamrocks, Leprechauns, and More!” will be presented for children ages 3-6, at Casey Farm, 2325 Boston Neck Road, in Saunderstown, RI. This hour-long event offers crafts, snacks, stories and A GOLD COIN TRAIL LEFT BY LEPRECHAUNS! The cost is $10 for South Kingstown residents and $15 for non-residents, and registration is required: www.tinyurl.com/yc73mhtn
- On March 17 th at 7 PM, at The Blackstone River Theatre www.brtri.org at 549 Broad Street, located in Cumberland, RI, you may purchase tickets to the “Open the Door for Three” performance. Fiddler Liz Knowles- who earned the Irish Artist in America Achievement Award, Uilleann Piper- Kieran O’Hare and Dublin-born Bouzouki player- Pat Broaders shall play a range of old and new tunes. Tickets are $28 in advance and $32 day of the show.
OBVIOUSLY- RI is CHOCK-FULL of Irish PUBS and Restaurants serving delectable Irish Spirits and fare! Here are some “Tried-and-True, Old Faithful” FAVORITE ESTABLISHMENTS to visit for St. Patrick’s Day:
- McBride’s Pub: 161 Wayland Avenue, Providence, RI. www.mcbrides-pub.com Reservations for St. Patrick’s Day are limited to a 2-hour block, by phone only, starting on March 10 th at Noon: 401-751-3000. McBride’s is open during construction, use the rear entrance!
*McBride’s has been voted “BEST IRISH PUB IN RI” by “RI Monthly,” for 2023 AND 2024 !!
Check McBride’s Website for listings of Irish Music, Trivia Nights, and Entertainment schedules.
- Busker’s Pub: 178 Thames Street, Newport, RI www.buskerspub.com is home to Award-Winning Irish Coffee and more than 40 Irish whiskeys as well as Irish sausage rolls, BOXTY= potato cakes, Shepherd’s Pie, and The Ploughman’s Sandwich.
- Arigna Irish Pub and Coal Fire Kitchens: with 2 RI locations- 1058 Charles Street, in North Providence and 507 Armistice Blvd, in Pawtucket, Arigna welcomes you to, “Grab your best green garb and join us for St. Patrick’s Day from 11 AM-11:30 PM on Monday, March 17 th !” Reservations are available, and there is also a Bellingham, MA location of Arigna www.arignairishpub.com
- The Carriage Inn: Located at 1065 Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown, RI www.carriageinndining.com the kitchen shall be serving all day on March 17 th , starting with an Irish Breakfast at 9 AM, along with Guinness or Irish -Themed Cocktails, and Live Music. Reservations are encouraged.
- Aidan’s Pub: 5 John Street, Bristol, RI www.aidanspub.com serves authentic Irish fare such as “Bangers and Mash,” as well as corned beef, including “Irish Nachos- piled with corned beef and horseradish cream sauce!”
In point of fact, my Irish fiancé and I have partook in some of the above mentioned celebratory
maneuvers in years prior and we wholeheartedly give our Irish Blessing to the aforementioned
suggestions!
If you are wondering where to find that ever-elusive “POT ‘O GOLD,” consider hosting your own
“PUB CRAWL!” Setting up a variety of Irish Cocktails and Treats at home is a sure-fire way to
entertain yourself, your family and friends! There are an UNTOLD NUMBER of Irish Cocktail
Recipes that you can easily prepare at home; www.jamesonwhiskey.com has a variety of Irish
Whiskey Drink Recipes available, www.delish.com has a list of “Best 38 St. Patrick’s Day
Cocktails,” www.townandcountrymag.com provides you with the “Top Irish Cocktails-Best Irish
Cocktails 2025,” notations, and www.countryliving.com has a “20 St. Patrick’s Day Drinks to
Celebrate the Luck of the Irish!” repertoire! From Spiked Hot Chocolates, Espresso Mocha
Crunch Irish Cream Martinis, a slew of cocktails named “Finnegan’s Wake!” Hot Toddies,
Traditional and NON-Traditional Adaptations of The Irish Coffee, Rainbow Sangrias, Irish
Mojitos, Green Apple Moscato Sangrias, The Nutty Irishmen, Shamrock Smashes, Green
Mimosas, and to Sour Patch Jell-O Shots—there are CERTAINLY AN ABUDANCE of scrumptious
options to imbibe and savor!
www.guinness.com is a wealth of Irish Stout Knowledge, complete with special recipes on the
Guinness website, describing how cooking with “Guinness can unlock unique flavors,” including
recipes for: Baltimore Blonde Fried Chicken, Irish Mashed Potato Croquettes with Guinness
Draught Cheese Sauce, Apple and Pear Tart Dessert featuring Guinness Draught, Caribbean Ice-
Cream Float made with Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Cranberry Walnut Irish Soda Bread
Muffins with Whopped Maple Butter, Guinness Beef Stew, Guinness Chocolate Stout Beer Cake,
Bangers and Mash with Stout Gravy, Beef and Beer Chili, Guinness Slow Cooker Corned Beef,
Red Mole Chicken, Guinness Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Guinness Shepherd’s Pie, Guinness Mint
Strawberry Posset, Guinness Mushroom Chicken Breasts, Dark Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
with Toasted Guinness Meringue Frosting and Guinness Stout Braised Beef Short Ribs with Leek
and Kale Colcannon…JUST TO NAME A FEW SUGGESTIONS!
Below, please find an ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING Recipe for you to try on a multitude of your
most delicious BBQ Fare: this GUINNESS GLAZE is terrific for gravies, BBQ Sauces, and as a meat
marinade for smoked corned beef, ham, brisket, glazed BBQ chicken and wings, and is the
perfect accoutrement for your BBQ Ribs…. This sensational sauce-marinade-Guinness-glaze
GOES WITH EVERYTHING!
GUINNESS GLAZE:
Ingredients:
–1 Cup Guinness Extra Stout
–4 cloves minced fresh garlic
–2 Tablespoons brown sugar
–2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
–1 Tablespoon honey
–Salt and Pepper
Directions:
–In a small sauce pot, combine minced garlic, Worcestershire Sauce, and honey and bring
mixture to a light simmer, softening the garlic
–Add in brown sugar and stir to dissolve
–Add in Guinness and a dash of salt and pepper and let simmer for 30 minutes; watching and
stirring occasionally, until mixture reduces by half
–When glaze is ready, brush onto BBQ of your choice and re-fire your BBQ-ed or smoked
meats, AND/OR use as a dipping sauce!
If ever in Ireland, we recommend that you visit the HISTORIC “Heart and Soul” of Ireland’s most
iconic beer- The Guinness Storehouse: St. James Gate, Dublin 8, DO8 VF8H, Ireland. The
Guinness Storehouse has been brewing beer here for OVER 250 years! On December 31 st , 1759,
Arthur Guinness signed a NINE THOUSAND YEAR LEASE on The St. James’s Gate Brewery in
Dublin! Arthur Guinness was a philanthropist, a pragmatist, an innovator, a family man….and A
FIGHTER! The terms of the 9 Thousand Year Lease “granted him use of a limited supply of
water, and when Dublin Corporation tried to cut off the supply due to overuse, it is written that
Mr. Guinness violently rushed upon them wrenching a pickaxe from one, and declaring with
VERY MUCH IMPROPER LANGUAGE, that they should not proceed!” My Irish fiancé and I
visited The Guinness Storehouse in 2008, where we did indeed “embark upon an unforgettable
journey through the working brewery that has stood there for the past 3 centuries,” and we can
unequivocally state that the views from atop The Guinness Storehouse overlooking the City of
Dublin were fantastically phenomenal, and that we irrefutably did enjoy a magically delicious
“perfectly served pint of Guinness Stout.”
As you prepare to make your PERFECT PLAN to salute St. Patrick’s Day, I leave you with the
following THREE VITAL ELEMENTS to include amongst and amidst your St. Patrick’s Day
HOOPLA:
1) MY EXPERTLY CURATED ST. PATRICK’S DAY PLAYLIST: 1 Hour and 27 Minutes of PURE
IRISH ENTERTAINMENT; For Maximum IRISH Sentimentality, play songs in this precise
order, using these specific renditions!
- The Gaa, the Ska, the Ra; The 2 Johnnies
- C’est la Vie; B*Witched
- What Can I Do (Tin Tin Out Remix); The Corrs
- Galway Girl; Ed Sheeran
- Whiskey In the Jar; The Dubliners
- Molly Malone; The Dubliners
- Drunken Lullabies; Flogging Molly
- Finnegan’s Wake; Dropkick Murphys
- All for Me Grog; The Clancy Brothers
- Irish Rover; The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
- ’m Shipping up to Boston; Dropkick Murphys
- The Parting Glass; The Wailin’ Jennys
- Tell Me Ma; Gaelic Storm
- The Wild Rover (Live); Luke Kelly
- The Fields of Athenry; The High Kings
- Only Time; Enya
- Wildflowers; The Wailin’ Jennys
- Seven Drunken Nights; The Dubliners
- When Irish Eyes Are Smiling; Brigham Phillips
- My Wild Irish Rose; The Ink Spots
- Mother Machree; Josef Locke
- Beer, Beer, Beer; The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
- Galway Bay (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra); Johnny Cash & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Rai (That’s an Irish Lullaby 1945 Single); Bing Crosby & John Scott
Trotter & His Orchestra - MacNamara’s Band; The Hit Crew
- The Orange and the Green; The Irish Rovers
- Rose Tattoo; Dropkick Murphys
- Danny Boy; Elvis Presley from Elvis Presly Boulevard, Memphis, TN May 16 th , 1976
2) AN ABUNDANCE OF IRISH BLESSINGS:
“May Your Home Be Filled With Laughter,
May Your Pocket Be Filled With Gold,
And May You Have All The Happiness Your Irish Heart Can Hold.”
3) WHO ARE/WHERE TO FIND/THE SOCIAL MEDIA TAGS FOR MY SELECTIONS OF THE MOST
WITTY, HILARIOUS, WILDLY FUNNY AND ENTERTAINING IRISH COMEDIANS:
Garron Noone = IG and TikTok @garron_music
Jarlath Regan = IG @jarlathregan_irishmanabroad and TikTok @jarlathregan
And, Rhode Island’s own Hometown Comedic Hero, my Moses Brown ’82 Classmate, TOM
COTTER and his Wife/Partner In All Things Humorous, KERRI LOUISE
IG @tomcottercomic and IG @kerrilouisecomedy and TikTok @tom_cotter and TikTok
@kerrilouisecomedy
WARNING: HILARITY SHALL ENSUE! Click, Watch, Chuckle, Guffaw and SNORT-LAUGH at Your
Own Risk!
AND AS WE IRISH SAY “SLAINTE!”
Slainte means “Health” in Gaelic- it is most commonly used as a drinking “Toast” in Ireland as
an expression of Honor and Goodwill.
