The Legend of St. Patrick, Retold with Cheese

St. Patrick's treasures are not at the rainbow's end. They are here.

Some More Irish Blessings

May your day be touched
by a bit of Irish luck,
brightened by a song in your heart,
and warmed by the smiles
of the people you love.

Bless those minding cattle,
And those minding sheep,
And those fishing the sea
While the rest of us sleep.

May the rains sweep gentle across your fields,
May the sun warm the land,
May every good seed you have planted bear fruit,
And late summer find you standing in fields of plenty.

May the frost never afflict your spuds.
May the leaves of your cabbage always be free from worms.
May the crows never pick your haystack.
If you inherit a donkey, may she be in foal.

Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
Wishing you always...
Walls for the wind,
A roof for the rain
And tea beside the fire.

Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire.

Earrings to celebrate.

Leprechauns: Magic or Blarney?

The most infamous in the Irish parade of characters is the leprechaun.  But who this little man, clothed in green?

Height: 2 feet
Eyes: Twinkling
Cheeks: Rosy
Appearance: Friendly
Occupation: Shoemaker
Hobbies: Drinking, Deception, Counting Gold, Pipe Smoking, Dipping Snuff

These unfriendly little fairies aren't easy to spot.  They spend their days making shoes and their nights drinking.  They stash all their earnings in a pot of gold at the rainbow's end.

You've all heard of the pot of gold.  But how to find it?  The only way is to follow the sound of a leprechaun hammering shoes. When you find the leprechaun, catch him, and he must promise to take you to his pot of gold.  But you can't let him out of your sight.

For leprechauns are tricksters, and have many was to make you look away.

Then, in the twinkling of an eye, they are gone.

And you are, of course, without your pot of gold.

Leprechaun by Colin Chapman
Lucky Leprechaun Bracelet by Cornerstoregoddess

The Banshee's Gift

by Alice Guerin Crist

1876-1941, written in 1921

As we came down the old boreen,
Rose and I – Rose and I,
At vesper time on Sunday e’en,
We heard a banshee cry!

Beyond the churchyard dim and dark,

‘Neath whispering elms, and yew-trees stark,

Where our star shone-a corpse-like spark-
Against the wintry sky.

We heard and shuddered sick with dread,
Rose and I- Rose and I,
As the shrill keening rang o’erhead
Where cloud-wrack floated high.

Our two young hearts long, sorely tried,
By poverty and love denied
Still waiting for some favouring tide,
And now! Death come so nigh.

‘Which of us two is called away
You or I-You or I?”
I heard my patient poor love say,
With bitter plaintive sigh.

‘Neither, dear girl,” I bravely said,
‘To Mary Mother bow your head,
And cry for help to Her instead,
Nor heed the Banshee’s cry’.

We raised our hearts in fervent prayer,
Rose and I-Rose and I,
Nor knew our troubles ended there,
Our happiness came nigh.

For ‘twas the grim old farmer, he-
My only kin, rich, miserly,

Who, dying left his wealth to me-
For whom the banshee cried.

The pendant necklace on a 24" beaded strand, filled with Celtic imagery, can be purchased here.  Or contact Cornerstoregoddess. $75 includes S&H.

Banshee pendant created by Tanya Bond
Kirkby Lonsdale, churchyard 

Chillingham Yew Trees
Winter Sky

An Irish Blessing

May there always be work for your hands to do.

May your purse always hold a coin or two.

May the sun always shine on your windowpane.

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
 

May the hand of a friend always be near you.
 

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Bracelet here.  Blessings everywhere.

When Irish Cats are Purring

When Irish cats are purring,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the tabbies sing.

When Irish cats are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish cats are purring,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

 

Have your heart stolen here.