THE LUCK OF THE IRISH!

WITH MY GRANDFATHER BEING BORN IN HARDERWYKE, I AM FAR FROM IRISH, HOWEVER I CELEBRATED ST. PATRICKS DAY BECAUSE MY LATE WIFE HAD ANCESTORS BORN IN COUNTY SLIGO IN IRELAND.  CONSEQUENTLY I CAN STILL CELEBRATE ON SUNDAY.  MOST OF THE IRISH WHO CAME TO AMERICA CAME BEACAUSE OF THE POTATO FAMINE WHICH THREATENED STARVATION FOR MANY ON THE OLD SOD.  THEY DID NOT RECEIVE  A ROUSING HERE AND MANY FACTORY DOOR CARRIED A SIGN WHICH READ "NO IRISH NEED APPLY,"  WE NOW CELEBRATE ST. PATRICKS DAY ON THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF MARCH EVERY YEAR AND AS OF A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN MAYOR AL MCGEHAN MADE IT A LOCAL HOLIDAY.  ENJOY THE PARADE WHICH BEGINS AT NOON SATURDAY AT THE WEST END OF EIGHTH STREET AND WINDS UP AT COLLEGE AND EIGHTH.  WEAR SOMETHING GREEN AND YOU TOO CAN GET IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS.