Saint Patrick’s Day is upon us once again and with it comes “the wearing o’ the green and the reinforcing o’ the stereotypes”.

I can’t remember where I first heard that quote, but it still makes me smile and also makes me proud of my heritage.

The Irish are the only folks I know who not only aren’t ashamed of their caricatured reputation, but actually embrace it.  Fond of a good drink, a good song and a good story, the people of the Emerald Isle, their descendants and those unrelated souls who simply are moved by the spirit, choose today to kick up their heals and kick back with a few pints.  It’s a cherished time spent with family and friends to recall past revelries whilst celebrating new ones. 

Here in Chicago the holiday is treated like Christmas in springtime.  We throw massive parades on both the north and south sides of the city, we dye the river green (well greener anyway), we listen to live bands from sunrise to sunset, and we eat and drink till we can’t see straight, though I’m not sure whether it’s the food or alcohol that does it to us. 

For a lot of people though, stepping out to celebrate simply isn't possible.  So for those of us staying in this holiday, I thought I’d compile a list of ways to have some Irish-inspired fun in the comfort of your own home.

Food:

The traditional emigrant Irish meal is generally comprised of corn beef, cabbage, boiled potatoes, soda bread, and beer or cider.

The corn beef, cabbage, and potatoes are a pretty straightforward recipe.  Generally a crock-pot and a pot of boiling water are the only elements you’ll need as far as the actual cooking goes.  Preparation obviously takes a bit more, but not much.

The soda bread is a bit trickier, but again none of this is gourmet cuisine.  A little time, effort, and practice and you’ll get the knack for it.

For those of legal drinking age, traditional Irish beer is of course Guinness and for the cider drinkers like myself there’s a great import I enjoy called Magners, it’s really lovely stuff.

Music:

So now that you’ve squared your meal away you may want to listen to some music.  There’s plenty of wonderful instrumental pieces. Any collection of Jigs and Reels will probably give you a decent feel for the sound. 

For some lyrical history you can delve into the infinitely vast world of Irish folk music.  There are so many story songs in Irish culture, also known as ”pub songs”, that it’s practically a genre of music onto itself.

If you’re looking for something that combines traditional sounds with a contemporary feel, then there’s really no better band than The Pogues (thought I was going to say U2 didn’t ya).  I suggest starting with the older stuff when they still had their original lead singer Shane MacGowan.  (MacGowan has since reunited with the band, but was absent for several years and thus didn’t sing on the more recent albums)

Movies:

After you’ve danced yourself silly you may want to wind down with some visual entertainment that doesn’t involve your uncle balancing pint glasses on his forehead.

Those interested in learning about Ireland’s fight for independence should check out Michael Collins.  It’s one of Neil Jordan’s best films, which is saying a lot, and Liam Neeson does any incredible job playing the title role.  Admittedly it is a somewhat one-sided account of history and I don’t know how fairly Eamon de Valera was portrayed, but even with that caveat the piece is still very moving and gives a sense of the internal conflict that Ireland faced as a nation trying to stand on its own.

For a more modern look at some of the struggles in Ireland check out In the Name of the Father.  This film centers on a group of men and women who are brought in for a crime they didn’t commit and forcibly coerced into false confessions.  The main event in the movie is the trial of the protagonists by the British Government, but it also deals with the rocky relationship between a father and his wayward son.  Like Collins, it’s the leads in this piece that make it so incredible.  Daniel Day-Lewis and Peter Postlethwaite turn in breath-taking performances and really represent the heart of the film.

Since I don’t want to come across as the world’s most depressing Irish cinema lover, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite films of all time The Commitments.  It’s the story of a group of guys and gals looking to pull themselves up from their working-class doldrums by forming a “Dublin Soul” band.  The movie is simultaneously humorous, heart warming, and musically astounding with all the singing and playing performed by the actors on screen.  Interesting fact, the actor who plays Deco, the lead singer in the movie, was only 17 when the film was made.

So now you’ve got all the makings for a little home-grown Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Remember to have fun, be safe, and for f**** sake don’t drink too much.

I'll close with a little saying from the old country.

May those who love us, love us.
And for those who do not love us,
May God turn their hearts. 
And if he cannot turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles.
So we may know them by their limping.

-Quoth the Raven

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