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Well, let me tell you...
The Heart of St. Patrick's Day
Mar 07, 2001 --
Don't get me wrong, I love holidays. I'm the first person to light Hanukah candles, still hide Easter eggs, always have a Christmas tree, can't resist having Fourth of July parties, and perpetually cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. But I have an aversion to holidays that are a thinly veiled excuse to get trashed, though I like my scotch as much as the next guy. Mardi Gras is a great example and so, it seemed to me, is St. Patrick's Day. It was with this premise, that I began musing. Just what does St. Pat's Day celebrate? St. Patrick, of course. His history is a little fact, a lotta legend. Though he is the patron saint of Ireland, he was actually born in Scotland. As a teen, he was kidnapped by pirates, taken to Ireland and forced into slavery. After years of servitude, he escaped and went back to Scotland. But was our future saint finished with the Emerald Isle? Not a chance. He began having visions of God's salvation, and at age 40 or so, returned to Ireland to save the pagans. He converted multitudes of druids to Christianity, and in the process he drove all the snakes from the island--how we're not exactly sure.
But St. Pat's is also about heritage. So very many people have left the Emerald Isle, it's their way of celebrating and commemorating home. The longing for Ireland somehow seems bigger and more passionate than for other countries of origin. After all, does anyone celebrate Spain?
I decided to continue my research at The Irish Emigrant, a pub up on the north forty of the U District, 5260 University Way NE to be exact. I'm sure you remember the spot, it was the old Century, then the New Century, and after that, the University Sports Bar. There are two floors of fun-filled cocktail lounge; cozy booths, a nice sized stage, pool tables upstairs alongside a kitchen. They serve traditional Irish pub food as well as authentic Irish breakfasts on weekends. I spoke with owner, Patrick Coyne, who moved to Boston in 1984 from Galway. What brought him here? Work. What made him stay? He smiled and said, "I fell in love with the United States." He still has family in Galway and St. Patrick's Day for him is, aside from a very busy work day, very much about his own yearning for home. He's worked in several pubs throughout the years, and when this space came available, he decided to make a go on his own. The clientele on the day I stopped in was predominately Irish with a nice mix of ages, not just the expected student types. They do live music six nights a week, mostly Irish, but Pat, who does all the booking, tries to add a little variety in now and then, too. He charges cover only on weekends, so it's a great deal, too.
Should you be yearning for a coupla pints, stop in. Maybe even on St. Pat's. Raise your pint of Guinness and have a ball. Just don't get sloppy.
Reader Comments
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Cat
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Jul 25, 2003
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Kansas City, MO
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secretary
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I would like to help your confusion about how St Pat drove the snakes away from Ireland.
Yes he converted the pagans, but the snake is also a pagan symbol, so thus when he converted all the pagans the snakes disappeared. Snakes = pagans. Pagans = snakes.
Personally, I have nothing to do with St. Pats day, cause I am a pagan and proud to be a snake.
Blessed Be!
CatMagick
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bia
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Feb 16, 2004
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canada
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i was just curious if when converting pagans to christians, if st patrick harmed or killed anyone? could ya send me a note? |
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Maeve
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Mar 17, 2004
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MI
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Student
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Hello, I too am a pagan, as well as half Irish, I'm very proud of my Irish roots, though not of St Patrick, to me St Patricks day is just another reason to celebrate being Irish. although more things should be made known about the man. I enjoyed your atricle. |
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louise Healy
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Mar 17, 2005
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UK
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who cares!!!!!!!!!! |
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