Erin Go Bragh

When I was in elementary school all the kids used to taunt me with this saying, like it was something dirty. I'm proud of my name and I now know that Erin Go Bragh means "Ireland Forever". I'm not Irish but with the name Erin (which means girl from Ireland or just Ireland) I kind of need to show some enthusiasm. Below is a picture of the front of my official St. Patrick's Day shirt. I'll be wearing it today after work.

I hope everyone has found a small or big way to celebrate this wonderful day, Irish or not. Maybe you had green eggs or pancakes for breakfast, a steak and Guinness pie for lunch or plan to have Irish soda bread with your corned beef and cabbage for dinner. I decided to do some random research about Ireland; mainly actors and writers born there and movies filmed there. Some noticible actors include Colin Farrell, Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, Kenneth Branagh, Stuart Townsend and Daniel Day Lewis. Authors include Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Bram Stoker. If you have not read Stoker's Dracula you must put it on your 'to do' list. It is a beautifully written tale. Some great books written by Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes take place in Ireland.

The Matchmaker starring Janeane Garofalo was filmed in Ballinagra. It is a very funny movie and I recommend watching it today. The Quiet Man, PS I Love You, and Laws of Attraction also take place or have scenes in Ireland. Ella Enchanted, The Princess Bride, and Braveheart (I know, shocking) were all filmed or had scenes filmed in Ireland. Ballykissangel is kind of an Irish soap opera that you can get through Netflix and Falling for a Dancer was an interesting Irish miniseries. Whether you plan to celebrate the day by going out or staying in remember to wear green!