iMommies St. Patrick’s Day Contest
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th,
iMommies is giving away two green 1GB iPod Shuffles!
Entries will be reviewed in two categories, and one winner selected from each. You may enter one, or both, of the categories below.
Category 1 (Website/Blog Post)
To enter the Category 1 giveaway, write a post about the iMommies St. iPodtrick’s Day giveaway and link back to this post. The article should include an Irish fact from history, Irish tradition, Irish limerick, or anything else related to St. Patrick’s Day!
Category 2 (iMommies Comment)
To enter the Category 2 giveaway, leave a comment to this post. The comment should again include an Irish fact from history, Irish tradition, Irish limerick, or anything else related to St. Patrick’s Day!
To help out with this St. Patrick’s Day giveaway, I’ve sought the guidance of St. Rebecca, my very best friend from Seattle. Rebecca is fabulously witty, candid, creative, unique, the best listener in the world…she’s fair, intelligent, honest, open-minded…AND…she’s Irish!
Rebecca will review all of the entries posted, and will select one winner from each category, based on creativity, originality, Irish authenticity, and overall appeal.
The final day to enter is March 14th, and winning entries will be announced on March 17th.
To get started, here’s my Irish limerick…
There once were two iPods o’green,
They sat lifeless, still, and serene.
In not too many moons
They’ll find their iTunes,
But we must wait ‘til March 17
Best o’ the Irish luck to ye all!
When I was pregnant with my child, my husband and I were trying to decide on a name that would reflect my Irish heritage. Certain, I was having a boy we decided on the name Rowan Micah. We decided this early on because the pregnancy was a rough one and there were several times we were told we were losing the baby. When all was said and done, the baby ended being born – but came 10 weeks early and via emergency C-section. Because the baby was born “under duress”, I was heavily sedated and not thinking clearly. After being told it was a girl (not a boy as planned) I, in my sedated state of mind, summoned my Irish “will” and decided that if we named the baby she could go home and everything would be fine. So, as I was lying on the operating table I looked at my husband and told him the baby would be named “Brenna Rain” (at that point he probably would have agreed to anything)…. So once I had his support, I looked at the doctor and said, “Wrap her up. We’ll be going home soon.” I don’t remember saying this (remember – heavy sedation) but apparently the doctor looked at my husband for and explanation – he looked at the doctor and said “It’s best just to agree with her – Irish temper you know.” The doctor just smiled and nodded at me and I calmed down.
To make this long story a bit longer – Everything worked out well. I am now the proud mother of a 5 and ¾ year old daughter who is more stubborn and has more of an Irish temper than I do! Brenna is smart, funny, caring and very much my heart. She loves hearing the story of her birth and how her Irish stubbornness got her through a month in the neo-natal intensive care unit.
And as I write this, I realize my original intent was to submit this to try to win an i-pod, but that no longer matters. I am reminded again – that I “won” the greatest gift of all the day my daughter was born – and how lucky I am to be able to tell you all about it!
My mom’s family is Irish – Abby’s middle name is Kelly, after my grandmother’s maiden name.
Here’s my feeble attempt at a Limerick…
There once was a mommy who had
no green shirt to wear – she was sad.
So she hit the mall and the ‘net
to see what she could get
and found the perfect tee – it was rad!
A poet, I am not!
Face the sun, but turn your back to the storm.
Though I married a German my Irish heritage is near and dear to my heart. I’m green through and through. Forty years ago this coming St. Patricks day my mother found herself in labor with her first child. She could not have imagined the popularity of her newborn daughter, B. Eileen Kelly. A newspaper article announced the birth of my big sister as the first Irish baby born that year on this ever popular Irish holiday. In addition to our Irish heritage, my sister was also the fourth generation California native born into our family.
St. Patricks day has been special for many years. This year we will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. It is nice having people always partying and enjoying our special day.
St. Patrick’s Day is my birthday!!!! Yay me
And my teen daughter just broke her MP3 player, so you know, her life is now over OHMIGAWD. So a new MP3 player would be the perfect birthday present for me…because I could give it to her 
I give you, a little clean St Patty’s Day humor:
What does a leprechaun have in the baqckyard?
Patty O’Furniture!!!!
: )
And Tribute to My Husband – A European Mutt
(AKA my first attempts at poetry since high school…this is the reason I majored in science!)
My hubby has England to thank for blonde hair,
And the Scots in his line passed on skin so fair.
Blue eyes from the French.
But if asked, in a pinch
I’d say it’s his spirited Irish roots that give him his flair!
On an actually talented Irish note has anyone seen the Veggie Tales segment on St. Patrick?
ah ha! I found the link for the veggie tales St. Patrick skit and posted it on my blog along with the info about this awesome contest. http://domesticcliffsnotes.blogspot.com/2008/03/green-ipod-give-away.html
We NEVER eat corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s day, and though the kids all love it, we have to stock up on the sale priced corned beef and necessary ingredients. We might have it the 16th or the 18th, or any point before or after. But on the 17th? Not a chance!
Why the silly tradition? Superstition? Luck? Nah! Hubby’s birthday is the 17th, and tacos are his favorite food! Tacos, as in fry the tortillas, chop the onions, tomato, cilantro, lettuce, shred the cheese. Tacos, as in make enough for two or three days of leftovers for him! Come the 18th, we may smell that glorious aroma of cabbage, potatoes, and corned beef as it permeates the house, though hubby may be re-heating birthday vittles. But on the 17th? We celebrate Mexican style. Viva Irlandia? Luck of the Mexican? How about, “Happy Birthday, Honey!” Wouldn’t that cute green “Shuffle” make a great birthday gift?
Some Fun Facts:
- St. Patrick was born in in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. When he was 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped at the age of 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.
- Nine of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence were of Irish origin, and nineteen Presidents of the United States proudly claim Irish heritage — including our first President, George Washington.
—-
Some limericks:
iMommies is a site that is awed,
By everyone near, far and abroad,
They’re holding a contest,
I hope to be the best,
So I may win the cute, green iPod.
—-
There lived a little Bunny abroad,
Who knew her chances were very odd,
She made up a limerick,
Tried to make it rhythmic,
In hopes of winning the green iPod.
—-
Thanks!!
Also blogged about the contest and posted some other fun facts as well, HERE.
My two kids heard it from me.
I forgot green, they got me.
I felt like a grinch,
They both loved the pinch
To hear me roar, I-mommy.
Hi, are you looking for St. Patrick’s Day gifts? Here’s a great place for flowers, cookies, and treats, http://www.1800flowers.com/occasions/st-patricks-day-flowers and here’s a 10 dollar off coupon code: Mar26
Hi, are you looking for St. Patrick’s Day gifts? Here’s a great place for flowers, cookies, and treats, 1-800-flowers. Also here’s a 10 dollar off coupon code: Mar26
My last name is Higgins. It sound like I am Irish.
Did you know the Irish song “Danny Boy” was composed by an English lawyer Frederick Edward Weatherly, who never set foot on Irish soil? Some Irish folks don’t like the song to be sung during St Patrick’s Day because it’s actually a pretty sad song. It’s not much of a happy go luck drinking song. That’s one of the reasons why a Manhattan pub owner is banning the song “Danny Boy” for the entire month of March.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/06/danny.boy.ap/index.html
Q: What’s Irish and stays out all night?
A: Patty O’Furniture
Q: How can you tell if an Irishman is having a good time?
A: He’s Dublin over with laughter.
Every year the night before St. Patty’s Day I put gold coins (and this year I found pink ones too) around my daughter’s rooms. When they wake up they love to search for what the Lephracans left them.
info at littlepiddles dot com
I like to learn about hymn writers/composers, and I take great pleasure in having learned that an Irish woman, Cecil Frances Alexander, wrote the words to the hymn “There is a Green Hill Far Away,” the words to an Easter hymn, “He is Risen,” as well as to a Christmas hymn, “Once in Royal David’s City.” What a fun contest!!
Kiss me I’m Irish!
And my son’s favorite color is green! He would love this!
An Old Irish Curse;
“may those that love us love us;
and those that don’tlove us,
may God turn their hearts; if he
can’t turn their hearts, may he
turn their ankles, so we’ll
know them by their limping.”
Something Irish hmmmm……
Here is a fact I pulled from the internet:
St. Patrick’s Day is the Roman Catholic day of feasting for Ireland’s patron saint – Saint Patrick. St. Patrick was actually born in Britain.
An Irish fact from the internet about character traits.
As the old cock crows the young cock learns.
I thought this was cute.
Debbie
A man stumbles up to the only other patron in a bar and asks if he could buy him a drink.
“Why of course,” comes the reply.
The first man then asks: “Where are you from?”
“I’m from Ireland,” replies the second man.
The first man responds: “You don’t say, I’m from Ireland too! Let’s have another round to Ireland.”
“Of Course,” replies the second man.
Curious, the first man then asks: “Where in Ireland are you from?”
“Dublin,” comes the reply.
“I can’t believe it,” says the first man.
“I’m from Dublin too! Let’s have another drink to Dublin.”
“Of course,” replies the second man.
Curiosity again strikes and the first man asks:
“What school did you go to?”
“Saint Mary’s,” replies the second man.
“I graduated in ‘62.”
“This is unbelievable!” the first man says.
“I went to Saint Mary’s and I graduated in ‘62, too!”
About that time in comes one of the regulars and sits down at the bar.
“What’s been going on?” he asks the bartender.
“Nothing much,” replies the bartender. “The O’Malley twins are drunk again.”
FUNNY! LoL
Well I liked it! Btw I seen this kids show one time. And it was a bunch of animals from Ireland! It was super cute.
I think it’s called Jakers…
My family has a really proud Irish tradition. Most of the grandchildren have Irish names. Megan, Bryna, Aisling, Seamus, Kelly, Brendan, Colin, Sean, and James. My mom used to always make me green milk on St. Patrick’s day. Our favorite Irish recipe is Irish Potatoes.
Lordy, Please Don’t Ye Smite ‘em
‘Cause I Smiles When I Sight ‘em
I Laugh At The Gimerick
When I Reads A Limerick
I Only Cuss Because I Knows I Cain’t Write ‘em
Author Unknown…….but funny!
A chance to listen to GROWN UP MUSIC??? COUNT ME IN!
An Irish toast: “May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.”
My favorite Irish Poem:
May those who love us, love us
And those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts
And if he can’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping!
;-
Erin Go Bragh!!!!!
One day overdue
For twins, that was new
On St. Patty’s Day
There wasn’t a way
All to my mother’s rue.
My mum she did party
But O we were hearty!
We just wouldn’t budge
Not even a nudge
Eternally bound to be tardy.
St. Patty’s day after
Her screams reached the rafters
With one push, then two
One pink, then one blue
And we all lived happily after!
My birthday is St. Patrick’s Day. Hence, I am a stickler for wearing green and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. what a great birthday present this would be!!! please??
I posted about this contest here:
http://ourreviewblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/st-patricks-day-activities-for-kidsand.html
Great contest, good luck picking a winner, it’s going to be hard!
The Wish
I caught a little leprechaun,
quite wise and very old and he said to me,
“You have one wish,
would you like my pot of gold?”
“No thank you,” was my quick reply,
“But how about another…
A gift that’s truly precious
and esteemed above all others?”
He offered then some emeralds,
rubies, sapphires, pearls
and a host of other treasures
that would make your senses whirl!
As I rejected all his list
his bright eyes flashed with fire
and, angrily, he said to me:
“What is it you desire?”
I said:
“A rainbow’s far more beautiful
than its’ supposed treasure
and the ‘rainbow’ that I’m wishing for
is priceless beyond measure.
“I’d like to have the dearest friends
a person ever had
to share in all the good times
and help me through the bad…
“To laugh and sing and joke with,
love and appreciate
as we live life’s greatest adventure
that would certainly be great!”
“Oh, now I know you’re daft!” he said
as he ran off with his pot…
“to waste your wish on something
you have already got!”
~Author Unknown~
With Easter quickly approaching, I thought these Irish facts were quite interesting:
According to Irish custom, cold and wet weather was welcomed on Good Friday? It was interpreted as a sign of nature in mourning for the death of Christ.
If a boy was born on Easter Sunday, he was destined for high office in the Church
It was on Easter Monday, April 18, 1949, that Éire became officially known as the the Republic of Ireland
I found these on http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com – and for an FYI – they have a monthly Trivia Question that I stumbled upon while searching for something interesting to post here *smile*!
Blessings!
PS – I’m also linking to this page at my blog http://www.thereisaseason.blogspot.com
My son was born in 2000 on March 17,
The day was memorable, see what I mean.
He came into this world full of sound,
He was tall and naked with a head so round.
For now, it’s green milk we drink around here.
At age 21, my son may want a green beer.
The whole world celebrates his birthday,
Win me an iPod and these limericks will go away.
Wow, those Ipod’s are soo cute! I would love to win one!
My post is going to be on Leap Castle, because I love castles and history, and this one has quite the character associated with it!
Leap Castle was built in 1250 by the O’Bannons, lived in by the O’Carrolls for centuries. The term Bloody Chapel refers to a result of the family rivalries for the leadership which turned brother against brother literally. One brother murdered his brother (a priest) while he was performing Holy rites in the chapel. In 1659, the castle passed by marriage to the Darby family. Disregarding the castle’s history, one of the Mrs Darby dabbled in the occult, which some say is what has brought out the spirit of the “elemental.” (evil spirit) Also, an oubliette has been found in the castle. An Oubliette is basically a hole in the wall with spikes at the bottom where people are shoved and forgotten about. When it was found, there were piles of skeletons at the bottom.
I know this isn’t the most cheerful St Patricks Day post, but I find history and culture fascinating, and I thought Leap castle definitely had some of both! I hope you enjoyed my little research project!
Thanks,
Denaye
I didn’t go through all 137 comments so this might be a duplicate…
(this poor man didn’t know about imommies)
There was an Old Man of Kilkenny,
Who never had more than a penny;
He spent all that money,
In onions and honey,
That wayward Old Man of Kilkenny.
~Edward Lear
Ireland enjoys a mild atmosphere due to the Northern Atlantic current. Therefore, Ireland doesn’t have either very hot summers of very cold winters. The temperature during summer rises generally till thirty degrees celcius, while freezes occur only very rarely during winter. Boy, I wish it didn’t having the freezing cold here in Upper Michigan!!
A Pot of Gold!
I will start off with a recipe–Simple Shepard’s Pie: http://www.landolakes.com/mealIdeas/ViewRecipe.cfm?RecipeID=8233
Then, a history lesson:
St. Patrick’s Day honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Americans march in parades, dance the Irish jig and gather to sing Irish songs. People wear green in memory of Ireland, the Emerald Isle and wear shamrocks, clover with three leaves.
March 17 was not the day St. Patrick was born but the day he died. Even though we don’t know the date of his birth, most scholars believe the year was 385 AD and the year of his death was 461 AD.
Free St. Patrick’s Day-themed paper to print: http://www.alphabet-soup.net/ttools/specialpaper/sp1.html
Some crafts for kids to make: http://www.makingfriends.com/stpats.htm
And something for adults to craft–Irish Creme liqueur: http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/beverages/cocktails/liqueur/irishcream.html
And end with an Irish toast:
May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
I thought it was very interesting all the legends around St. Patrick and heard the story of the fire he started in opposition to the pagan gods that were there and pray that i would have boldness in the face of danger like St Patrick did.
My daughter was terrified of leprechauns for some reason until we told her they were in cahoots with the easter bunny. Probably not a legitimate Irish legend, but it worked for us…
The Claddagh ring is traditionally known as a symbol of Ireland. It consists of two hands upholding a heart which wears a crown. These three symbols convey friendship, love, and loyalty, respectively, to the Irish. Rebecca, I’m sure one would look exquisite on your ring finger. Just make sure you know which hand it belongs on.
I sure miss my Daddy singing this!
When Irish Eyes are Smiling
Music by Ernest R. Ball
Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr.
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure it’s like a morning spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter,
You can hear the angels sing. When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.
There’s a tear in your eye,
and I’m wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such power in your smile,
sure a stone you’d beguile,
So there’s never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter’s like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be,
You should laugh all the while and all other times smile,
And now smile a smile for me.
Chorus:
When Irish eyes are smiling Sure it’s like a morning spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter,
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.
Two Irishmen, Patrick Murphy and Shawn O’Brian grew up together and were lifelong friends. But alas, Patrick developed cancer, and was dying. While on his deathbed, Patrick called to his buddy, Shawn, “O’Brian, come ‘ere. I ‘ave a request for ye.” Shawn walked to his friend’s bedside and kneels.
“Shawny ole boy, we’ve been friends all our lives, and now I’m leaving ‘ere. I ‘ave one last request fir ye to do.”
O’Brian burst into tears, “Anything Patrick, anything ye wish. It’s done.”
“Well, under me bed is a box containing a bottle of the finest whiskey in all of Ireland. Bottled the year I was born it was. After I die, and they plant me in the ground, I want you to pour that fine whiskey over me grave so it might soak into me bones and I’ll be able to enjoy it for all eternity.”
O’Brian was overcome by the beauty and in the true Irish spirit of his friend’s request, he asked, “Aye, tis a fine thing you ask of me, and I will pour the whiskey. But, might I strain it through me kidneys first?”
–PS: Shouldn’t the winners be picked rather randomly?–
ST. PATRICK”S DAY BLOOPER
I have the proverbial red hair, green eyes, and fair skin and I am a teacher, so for St Patty’s Day I decided to throw a party for my 4th grade students. I tried to find as many green things as possible. We had green soda, green-dyed milk, green Doritos, green cupcakes, celery, green cookies. It was all very deliciousand the children loved it. The only problem was all that green dye really did a number on the children’s “bowels” and I had parents asking me what we had to eat at school the day before. OOPS! :} So lesson learned, and in the future I decided to balance the green with a little gold.
St. Patrick’s Day and the memories I hold as an elementary school student: green bagels, green punch and trying desperately to find someone in class that didn’t wear green so you could pinch them. Who would be so crazy as to not wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?
The memories of long ago-
Green bagels that you ate so slow,
Green punch to wash it all down,
and the frown on the face of the class clown
when everyone remembered the color to wear
to celebrate the day of Irish everywhere!
St. Patrick’s favorite color was blue, not green, and the people of Ireland too weren’t exactly fond of green – according to them it was the color of the Fairies and Leprechauns and, unless you wanted to forcibly join the ranks of these Wee Folks, you would refrain from sporting that color too often. It wasn’t until the 19th Century that Green became the official color of Ireland.
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/3-17-2005-67214.asp
But i dont mind green….as in a green ipod shuffle!!!
I am not sure if this was a good idea or a bad one…But I know for sure that the Divorce Lawyers in Ireland probably went hungry….Now that was a good idea….lol
Couples in Ireland could marry legally on St. Brigid’s Day (February 1st) in Teltown, County Meath, as recently as the 1920’s by simply walking towards each other. If the marriage failed, they could “divorce’” by walking away from each other at the same spot, on St. Brigid’s day the following year. The custom was a holdover from old Irish Brehon laws, which allowed temporary marriage contracts.
Lordy, Lordy
Help me please
Make some sense
Of this
Irish Limerick
There once was a website for Mamas,
a balm for those everyday dramas….
with lots of great offers
to fill up the coffers
iMommies….you are da bomba!