We are all Irish on Sea Pat's Day but I know that some members of this forum are visiting Ireland for this special day. Hope you are all having a truly wonderful day and night.
What is it like?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17418 posts
I was in Dublin on St. Patrick’s day in 1967, on a spring break trip with 3 college friends. After watching the parade, we returned to the hostel where we were staying to decide what to do next. A young Irishman whom we later all thought of as a “ruddy-cheeked lad” came bouncing in to the shared kitchen and asked “Who wants to go for a hike in the countryside with me?” Of course we did! So he led us to the bus stop and we rode out to Enniskerry (I am amazed I can recall the name of the place) and we went for a nice hike.
During the bus ride we asked him how he happened to come up with the idea of stopping by the hostel to find some hikers. He said he was a Quaker, and had a “divine inspiration” that there were some foreign students at the hostel who would enjoy a jaunt in the countryside. He was certainly right about that!
It was a lovely way to spend the day.
Posted by
Reno, NV, USA
2547 posts
What a lovely memory, Lola! Happy St. Patrick’s Day @bostonphil7
Posted by
Chevy Chase, MD
2 posts
The Quakers helped the Irish a lot during The Great Hunger by opening soup kitchens, and did not force people to convert to receive the food.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17418 posts
MegAnn, thank you for your comment. I did not know about that, but was very inspired by their actions that led to the award of the 1947 Nobel Peace Prize.
Posted by
Chevy Chase, MD
2 posts
I hadn’t known that the American Friends Service Committee and the Friends Service Council had won the 1947 Nobel Peace Prize. Thank you for telling me!