“Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling. From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.”
– From a popular Irish song

Some of my close Irish friends, especially those directly from Ireland, consider St. Patrick’s Day to be a joke; that it’s not “Irish” at all. Well, I feel sorry for them. I welcome any holiday that allows me and everyone else in the world to celebrate the Irish Heritage. It’s a day steeped in loyalty, faith, pride and love.

The Great Migration. During the great migration, Irish people had to fight for their lives, their culture, and their very existence. America loves an underdog, and there was no greater underdog then the Irish. The migration was a two- or three-month boat trip in appalling conditions, with as many as 900 people crammed in with no clean air, light, or toilets. Food was scarce and water was neither fresh nor abundant. If you didn’t die from hunger, disease, or dysentery, you died of thirst. Some boats reported a 50 percent loss of passengers before they hit the docks. The two main ports of entry into the United States were New York and Boston, and most Irish people stayed there because they had little or no money to travel any farther.

If they made it off the boat, the Irish faced a new problem: discrimination. Employment ads would end with “No Irish need apply,” and businesses displayed signs saying “No Irish permitted.” Most were forced to work on railroads, canals and in the mines, with low wages and harsh conditions. The Irish were depicted as lazy, stupid and dirty. Many of them deliberately got rid of their accents, changed their names and abandoned Catholicism.

Irish-Americans knew there was only one way out of this poverty stricken state. They would have to work hard, stay faithful, and dedicate everyday life to the family.

Great Irish drinks. The Irish are best known for three libations: whiskey, Irish cream, and beer. Irish whiskey is similar to Scotch whisky; the main difference is that Irish whiskey is distilled three times, whereas Scotch is distilled only twice. Also, the peat in Irish whiskey is almost never used in the malting process, so the smoky, earthy overtones of Scotch are not present. The most famous Irish whiskeys are Jameson’s and Bushmills, but I prefer Tullamore Dew.

I think it’s a bit softer then the other two and is a great sipping whiskey. (Note: the Irish spell the drink “whiskey” while the Scottish drop the “e.”)

An often overlooked but delicious little liqueur is Irish Mist, a golden liqueur produced in Dublin and made from aged Irish whiskey, heather, clover, honey and aromatic herbs. Irish Creams are Irish whiskey and cream mixed together. Introduced in 1974, Baileys was the first Irish cream on the market and still remains the most popular.

Finally, Irish beer is dominated by stout brands, particularly Guinness. And although there are many fine lagers, like Harp, it’s difficult to think of Ireland and not think of Guinness.

The Final Chapter. The famine Irish immigrants were the original huddled masses. They came not with dreams and plans, but with the modest goal of staying alive. They came to America in search of a better life. As a result of so many generations before me sacrificing so much, I’m able to write this article.

So when I’m sitting in a bar on St. Patrick’s Day with people of all cultures singing Irish songs, drinking Irish spirits, and thinking about my proud heritage, I just have to say to my friends who don’t believe in such a glorious event: “May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. Bless Ireland forever!”

David McMahon is a certified sommelier and manages Jasons, in Dublin. He is a contributing writer for Luxury Living Magazine.

For the love of St. Patrick, try out some of these Irish concoctions. Slainte!

Irish Whiskey Sour
Shake violently with chipped ice, the juice of 1 lemon, a teaspoonful of sugar and a little white of an egg. Pour into a glass and add 2 ounces of Irish whiskey and a little soda.

Irish Punch
Heat a good-sized glass. Add 2 slices of lemon, 4 cloves and 1 glass of Irish whiskey. Fill with hot water, add sugar to taste, stir well and drink.

Irish Eyes
Combine 1 oz. Irish whiskey, ¼ oz. green crème de menthe and 2 oz. heavy cream. Shake with ice, strain and serve.

Irish Car Bomb
Pour chilled ½ pint of Guinness into beer mug, let it settle, then take a shot filled with ½ oz. of Irish whiskey on the bottom, topped with a ½ oz. of Irish cream on top. Drop shot in mug and chug.