Artist In Ireland

Happy St Patrick’s Day you and to my whole family.

Pity, you can only see half of my mother’s face. She’s the best looking one of all of us.

The brother in law Mick Burke is taking the picture and the nieces and nephews have run away. Except Jack. Prince Jack of Oakville is being held by his daddy Chris, the Duke of Oakville.There’s Chris’ wife, the dark haired beauty Caroline, Queen of that household; beside little Prince Jack stand one of his many aunties- Lady Essie O’Toole of Erin Mills Parkways. Behind her is the Right Honourable Joe O’Toole of Royal York Road. On the far side wearing matching red vest and red eye glasses is Lady Bridget O’Toole of Mississauga. And I’m there, hunched over in front,the Countess Eileen  O’Toole of Drumshanbo. We’re a pleasant band of maruraders.

Happy St Patrick’s to you in Toronto, from your lousy sister, living the good life in Ireland.

A delightful thing here is that this day is a holiday. And if you’re a student or teacher, you also get Monday and Wednesday off- that coupled with the past weekend makes a   5 -day break. Sounds like a trip to Spain to me!

But no… here we are… for the patron’s saints feast. St Patrick has a lot to answer for… but don’t get me started.

Instead know this. I’m in Leitrim, its 7:41am. It’s grey , overcast, but its not raining.  The parade is at 4pm. The parade assmbles on the Carrick Road at 3:30. The Country Market starts at 2pm. The entertainment on the street begins at 3pm. I start it off and will sing a few songs at that time. There’s a committee meeting at 1pm to decide the parade order ’cause now every tractor and lorry in the country wants to join in. ( I kid you not). Set up for the costume area for the National School meeting area at the Food Hub is at 12:30. Last minute window dressing with the 3rd class’s art work at Paddy Mac’s place is at 11am.

It’s a precise operation we run here. Its’ got to be to have this much fun.

All the luck of the Irish to you, whereever you are. New York City, St Paul’s Minnesota, downtown T.O. British Columbia. Kent County. Carrick-on-Shannon. Poland. Or Paris      ( you know who you are!)

I’m thinking of you fondly. Thanks for clinking in. Leave a comment. And come back tomorrow to see pictures from the Drumshanbo St Partrick’s day Parade and Country Market

all the very best

always

eileen

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 at 7:59 am and is filed under An Introduction. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.