Boruma - Irish by heritage, family by name

When it comes to childrens’ books about St. Patrick’s Day, we’re left with few options (good options that is). I’m sure everyone knows of the board book, on sale at every book store in American leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, and there are a few about leprechauns, but rare is a book that weaves the Irish holiday’s stereotypes so well into the pages of a fine tale with a nice moral for kids.

A cute story, of the towns of Tralee and Tralah, from Susan Wojciechowski (Author) and Tom Curry (Illustrator) delivers A Fine St. Patrick’s Day.

The small Irish towns of Tralee and Tralah, each year, compete over the finest St. Patrick’s Day decorations. Tralah always wins. In the town of Tralee this year, six-year-old Fiona Riley has an idea everyone knows will turn town’s luck. While preparing the decorations, a small man with pointed ears visits each town with a plea for help; the townspeople of Tralah, working fervently to retain their title, send him away. Kind hearted Fiona and the people of Tralee believe otherwise and the events that transpire chance history.

Tom Curry’s fantastic characters, green hills and thatched-roof houses, capture the beauty of Ireland and the fantasy of St. Patrick’s Day while Wojciechowski’s story conveys charity over achievement and community over competition. Pick up a copy here

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Every family of Irish descent needs an introduction of Ireland for children. Miroslav Sasek’s This Is Ireland is a classic.

Author of a series of similar books from This is London to This is San Francisco, Miroslav, born in 1916 in Czechoslovakia, put pen AND paint to paper to write and illustrate these fantastic books.

First published in 1964, This is Ireland brings the Emerald Isle to life, with a bit of Oirish where the shamrock grows and a leprechaun stands at the end of every rainbow guarding a crock of gold. There’s Dublin with its modern city crowds, tall steeples, and Trinity College; there’s Clonmacnois, the burial place of kings; there’s the kiss on the Blarney Stone, and much more about the beautiful, friendly land so many love to call home. The period illustrations, reminiscent of the sixties, coupled with Sasek’s witty, playful narrative, makes this the perfect gift that will truly delight both children and parents.

Published following the runaway success of bestsellers This is New York and This is Paris, now, like the former available Sasek classics, This is Ireland is a revised edition of his original book from the 1960s; still timely and current. His brilliant, vibrant, almost nostalgic illustrations have been fantastically reprinted, remaining true to his vision more than 40 years later. As necessary, facts, such as the population of Dublin or the menu at Bunratty Castle, have been updated ensuring that kids know that even yes, there are 1,000 pubs in Dublin.

Click here to order a copy

Black Irish is a term that is often used to refer to people with dark hair and eyes who are stereotypically non-Irish in appearance (take a look at the photo at the bottom of the site).

Irish tales as they are, legend has it, they are descended from shipwrecked sailors of the Spanish Armada. A variation with which I’ve always taken more credence is that they are descendants of the Spanish Moors who either came to Ireland for trade or more – in 1601 King Phillip III of Spain sent an expedition, under the command of Juan del Águila, to support the Irish rebels to the English crown during the course of the ‘Nine Years’ War’ (1594–1603). The troops landed in the city of Kinsale and remained there, surrounded by the English troops and without possibilities of receiving Irish help, until they surrendered.

I’ll admit it early and get it over with: Jonathan Swift had it right; oysters make me sicker than a night with my friend Jameson. But…. my brother loves them and there are few natural foods, truly a delicacy, which so indelibly put Ireland on the map.

So for Mike, here’s Steaming Oyster Stew
8 oz. milk
1 pint light cream
8 oysters
2 tablespoons butter
Dash cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper

Heat the milk and cream together until a film appears on the surface. Watch it so it doesn’t boil!
Drain the oysters and add them (sliced if you prefer) and the butter to the hot milk and cream mixture. Heat them for about five minutes more; again keeping them from boiling over.
Add the seasonings and serve immediately.

Unfortunately, Swift’s insightful comment is where he and I draw the line. Such a fan of oysters was he that he left this behind to make me cringe at the though of “Oysters”

Charming oysters I cry:
My masters, come buy,
So plump and so fresh,
So sweet is their flesh,
No Colchester oyster
Is sweeter and moister:
Your stomach they settle,
And rouse up your mettle:
They’ll make you a dad
Of a lass or a lad;
And madam your wife
They’ll please to the life;
Be she barren, be she old,
Be she slut, or be she scold,
Eat my oysters, and lie near her,
She’ll be fruitful, never fear her.

Oh! and check out The Irish Spirit: Recipes Inspired by the Legendary Drinks of Ireland; let us know what you think of the Oysters with Bacon. I’d try them myself but… well…