Dia duit,

On this day of celebration of Irish heritage, as an Irish-American I always feel a sense of pride a bit greater than every other day of the year. With that said, I don't usually celebrate with most people because they seem to make a mockery of it all. To them, it's a day to take off work and get drunk from sunrise to sunset while wearing green and orange and elaborate cheap attire that attempts to mimic that of Irish culture.

With that said, I celebrate my heritage regardless and pay homage to many things of my ancestors. First, I remember the stories that have been passed down from the generations, either told or researched, of how my family came to this country. Immigrants that were looking for a new home with the chance for prosperity and happiness. Through the years they were ridiculed, scorned, and looked down upon. Turned away from even the lowest paying of jobs and often shunned by fellow Americans who even just a generation or two before them were immigrants themselves. They survived and setup the foundations for their descendants to also prosper and seek happiness.

Secondly, I remember my ancestors before my family came over here. My family hails from the County Cork, where a few known pubs still bear the family name as well as hang the coat of arms that I also hang on my walls at home. I remember back in 1997, I went to the National Boy Scout Jamboree which was a tremendous experience, and while there I met some scouts from Ireland and two of them knew of my family, one of which actually shared the last name as me. We exchanged stories as well as memorabilia for us to take home and share with our family. To this day, I still write to the young man I met and when my parents and some other family took a trip to Ireland a couple years ago they met up with him and exchanged pleasantries once again.

I love my Irish heritage, and today is a day that some like to mock while others genuinely celebrate. For me though? It's mostly just another day because while some celebrate Irish heritage on the 17th of March every year, I celebrate mine everyday because it is a part of who I am, and it makes me proud to say so.

So for those that want to celebrate with me, for those that love to keep the traditions alive, and those whom like me keep it going 365 days a year...I say to you:

Sl谩inte

Can't say I care personally. I'm half Irish on my mother's side of the family, but that means about as much to me as the Hungarian on my father's side. I don't really use nationality/heritage as an identifier for me. Just a white guy. If anything, you'd think today would be an insult to the Irish really since it's basically 'Let's celebrate the Irish by getting drunk!'. That's like saying 'Italian day, let's binge on pasta!'

To me, this is where the Irish pretenders celebrate their "heritage". I don't celebrate it any more than I do Kwaanza. But there are people out there who have legitimate means to celebrate, so more power to you, DarkSunTheFirst. Have a happy Irish Day thingy.

Personally, I don't take any joy from any heritage. I only consider myself Canadian, everything about my ancestors is irrelevant to me. I just wish that more people would celebrate their place of origin half as much as they do of the fact they are 1/16th of whatever.

Come the time for me to move on from this place, I'll gladly identify and call myself "British" or "American".

https://www.youtube....?v=_hZnf-_XNiU?/a>

Happy Paddy's to you; I'm Brit-Irish (half and half).. having never lived in Ireland though (UK born, lived in continental Europe for many years too) I don't celebrate it to its full extent, nor have I adopted it as an excuse to go heavy drinking (I don't drink anyway), so I just send Paddy's Day greetings to my Irish relatives and friends who celebrate in whichever way they do.

I find it funny that Paddy's day is celebrated more in England and the US then here in Ireland.

Most exciting thing about it is the day off.