“My people” will be celebrating on March 17. If you are Irish — or even Iowaish — you can relate. And you can, and should, celebrate, too.
I say “my people” in a loving way, as I am reasonably confident that I am Irish. I am told that I am also German. And French. And even some Native American. But, I am mostly Irish, thanks to my mother.
Mom and her siblings fit the stereotypes. Short in stature. Red hair. Light skinned. Catholic. And full of vinegar and something else. Opinions were never in short supply when they gathered together.
My grandmother’s maiden name was Leonard, and her father, Patrick Leonard, was born near Carlow, Ireland, in 1866. My grandson, appropriately named Callahan, was born in 2025 and has carried on that head of red hair. That’s all the proof I need.
As for those Irish stereotypes, I found some more that made me chuckle at irelandtravelguides.com, including that all Irish have a thing for potatoes, have the name “Mary,” are obsessed with the weather, love fighting yet are a friendly bunch, and use the word “wee” a lot.
But what about the “luck of the Irish?” With all the leprechaun pot-of-gold imagery, there is a perception that the Irish are luckier than others. According to Edward T. O’Donnell, author of “1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish American History,” the luck of the Irish was a sarcastic phrase adopted during the 19th century to refer to successful Irish miners, intended to deride their accomplishments as mere luck.
In this month’s cover story, we feature two of my favorite Irish people — Patrick and Deb Moylan — and the various excursions they have made to the homeland. It is a fitting story for this time of year that gives all of us a reason to celebrate, at least a wee bit.
Have a great St. Patrick’s Day, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Lake Panorama Times
641-332-2707
shane@gctimesnews.com