Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughterLullabies, dreams and love ever after.Poems and songs with pipes and drumsA thousand welcomes when anyone comes...That's the Irish for you!A Irish Blessing
The Legend of the Shamrock
It was on the lush hillsides of Co. Armagh that Patrick, as a young Bishop in the year 432 AD plucked the tiny shamrock from anonymity and used it to illustrate the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity to the Ancient High Kings of Ireland, thus elevating the Shamrock to its present status of Ireland's National Emblem. The plant has been grown close to the Ancient Monastic Settlement of the Sceillig Rock in Co. Kerry where Irish still thrives as the National Living Language.
Story of the Shamrock
A little bit of shamrockIs a little bit of homeSo wear it on St. Patrick's dayNo matter where you roamIn New York or Boston cityThe meanin's just the sameShamrock stands for IrelandWear it in St. Patrick's name
The Meaning of the Claddagh
The Claddagh is a visual portrayal of the
eternal bond of friendship, loyalty,
and love.
The HEART symbolizes love,
life's finest impulse. From it, generosity
and compassions flow.
The HANDS of friendship are clasped
around the heart in a
gesture of giving.
As they cradle the heart gently,
the hands are both protective and strong,
like true friendship.
The CROWN is symbolic of loyalty.
It represents the reward of love,
the hightest achievemnet the
human spirit has yet accomplished.
To give the Claddagh is to forge
the hands of love,
friendship,
and loyalty forever.
The Leprechaun
The story behind the leprechaun is that he is a tiny elf-like creature living in the forest of Ireland. With him is a pot of gold, often seen at the end of the rainbow. Should you encounter this tiny elf, run quickly and try to catch him, and the pot of gold will be yours. Careful though, because he's a tricky fellow, and will easily slip through your fingers. His shenanigans and playfulness are known to be the curse of the gold hunters!
This is a great page with links to anything and everything that has to do with Ireland and St. Patricks Day. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
The Blarney Stone
The world famous Blarney Stone is situated high up in the battlements of the Blarney Castle. You can follow one of the several long, stone spiral staircases up to the top and enjoy the spectacular views of the lush green Irish countryside, Blarney House, and the Village of Blarney.
The stone is believed to be half of the Stone of Scone, the other part of which is in Westminster Abbey in London. The stone originally belonged to Scotland. Scottish Kings were crowned over the stone, because it was believed to have special powers.
The Blarney Stone is on the inside of an outside wall of the Castle. To kiss the Blarney Stone you must lie on your back and bend your head backwards over a huge gap, and look backwards over the ground below. Even though the castle is in partially ruins the Blarney Stone remains.
They say that kissing the Blarney Stone will give you the gift of eloquence...or Blarney as some might put it!
Here is the path up to Blarney Castle.
A closer view of Blarney Castle.
Starting the climb up the stairs to the Blarney Stone.
The top of the castle. A tourist starts to get in position to kiss the Blarney Stone.
What better way to end this page...
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