Archives for August 2016

Introducing Irish American Mom’s Giftshop

August 28, 2016 by Irish American Mom 60 Comments

Today I’m delighted to tell you my good news. On Thursday September 1st I will open a new online venture, Irish American Mom’s Giftshop.

Here I hope to share some beautiful pieces of Irish and American artwork and gifts, and help artists on both sides of the Atlantic introduce their wonderful work to a wider audience.

The Dark Hedges Print — Artwork Inspired by Northern Irish Hedgerows

The Story Behind My Giftshop:

A few months ago I received an e-mail from a young entrepreneur Connor with eCommetize in Orlando. He helps create and develop online stores.

After noting how I currently host giveaways to help spread the word about Irish and American artists and writers, Connor suggested I create an online store to streamline the process for anyone interested in purchasing personally curated and hand-picked gifts.

I must confess, my first reaction was to decline Connor. What do I know about online stores? Selling through a website? Irish gifts?

Then, I paused, thought for a moment, and realized, maybe I do know a little bit about Irish gifts and all things Irish.

Irish woodturning - crescent clock — Irish Woodturning – Crescent Clock

Overcoming My Fears:

So why would I turn down an opportunity such as this?

And the answer is fear. Yes that dreaded emotion fear, and being a true Irish woman, full of Irish guilt and fear, my knee jerk reaction was to close the door on what might be the most wonderful opportunity to come my way since the inception of my blog.

And so I asked myself what am I afraid of? And here’s what I came up with.

Firstly, I’m afraid of failure. Yes, my stubborn Irish pride and perfectionism leads to a dreaded fear of failure. But new generations of young Irish are not afraid of failure and small business opportunities. So I decided I need to overcome this ancient Irish trait, and my middle aged doubts. You know how it goes. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

My next big fear is that I might alienate you, my readers. What if you abandon my blog because you feel I’m too pushy, and using my blog as a gimmick for selling, selling, selling? That is definitely not how I want readers to feel about my little corner of the world wide web.

But then Connor reassured me that I will retain control of marketing. My giftshop can live outside my blog and I can link between both sites on my terms. Whew!

And then I contemplated the fact I host giveaways for free, and promote others for free, because I love what they do so much.

Would it be such a bad thing if I made a little money in the process? I do have four kids to get through college after all. And being a triplet mom, probably all four of my kids will hit college at the same time. Yikes!

What Granny Would Have Advised:

Finally, when I realized my biggest fear is fear of the unknown, I simply decided to go for it.

I thought about how my grannies might have approached such an opportunity. One granny would have told me that ….

“Everything happens for the best.”

and

“You’ll never know unless you try.”

My West Cork granny would have been more direct in her approach. She would have told me to …

“Grab the bull by the horns, and do it.”

Or perhaps, she would have been a proponent of another bullish Irish method for tackling problems:

“There comes a time when you must

take the bull by the tail

and face the situation squarely.”

And so, I’ve decided to take the blessed bull by the horns and the tail and open my little online shop.

summerpeaksmixingbowlkitchenware — Summer Peaks American Pottery Mixing Bowl

In Irish we say …

“Tapaigh an deis.”

(pronunciation “top-ig un deh-sh”)

Grasp the opportunity or

Seize the day

And if I still felt a little hesitant, this next Irish saying sorted my fears completely, by telling me, in true Irish fashion, to get on with life, and grasp the opportunities coming my way…..

“Here’s to it

and for it

and do it again.

For those that get to it,

And refuse to do it,

May never get to it

To do it again.”

~ Old Irish Saying

After reading that old Irish gem, who could sit back and decline a new business opporutnity?

Irish American Mom’s Giftshop Launches on September 1st, 2016:

And so, my gift shop has taken shape, and on Thursday September 1st 2016, I will officially launch it with a little giveaway.

Every time I host a giveaway I’m humbled by the beautiful comments left by readers, who frequently share their deep seated love of Ireland on the pages of my blog. I know selecting gifts, for those we hold dear, is a cherished task. I hope through my store I will be able to help Irish Americans celebrate our heritage, by curating ideas for thoughtful gifts.

Please feel free to browse through my store, but only buy if you truly love something and can afford the expense.

St. Brigid's Cross Brooch — St. Brigid’s Cross Brooch

I am privileged to share the artistry of Ireland and America. If you’re Irish, Irish American or simply Irish at heart, then let me show you the gifts that make my Irish heart sing.

Choosing a perfect Irish gift is a way of sharing memories, of celebrating our Irishness, and teaching our loved ones about our ancestry. Please join me on my new journey.

And don’t forget to pop back on Thursday when our doors will open. I’ll add all the links needed to discover my Irish American Giftshop.

Update February 2017

I’m afraid this online venture has come to an end, and the virtual doors of my little giftshop have closed.

Due to time constraints and my limited retail expertise, I have decided to return to my original love of writing and focus on blogging rather than merchandising. Thanks to all who browsed and shopped, and supported this adventure. It was a wonderful learning experience.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

Irish Sayings About Education

August 23, 2016 by Irish American Mom 8 Comments

Wise old words from Ireland abound including advice on the importance of education. Our ancestors held plenty of opinions and their respect for a good education is clearly evident in some old Irish sayings.

Back to school time is upon us. Kentucky kids are already waiting in line for school buses every morning, and in the evenings knuckling down to their homework.

Kids in Ireland and some of the states in the northeast still have one last week of freedom before returning to the books. But to help us all prepare for the school year ahead, I thought I might put together a list of sayings from Ireland about education.

This post is for parents, teachers and students the world over. Here you will find a little wisdom about why learning sets us on the road to success.

And as with all things Irish, there’s a little levity, but above all you will find, a deep seated respect for the importance of a good education.

So here’s my collection of Irish quotations, blessings, and sayings for back-to-schoolers everywhere, both young and old, and in between.

Education Quotations From Great Irish Writers:

First lets take a look at some wise words penned by world famous Irish writers. Here you’ll find some wonderful words from Yeats, Shaw, Wilde and McCourt.

“Education is not the filling of a pail,

but the lighting of a fire.”

~ William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)

“He says, you have to study and learn

so that you can make up your own mind

about history and everything else,

but you can’t make up an empty mind.

Stock your mind, stock your mind.

You might be poor,

your shoes might be broken,

but your mind is a palace.”

~ Frank McCourt, Writer

”What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge,

and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.”

~ George Bernard Shaw, Irish writer

“Beware of false knowledge;

it is more dangerous than ignorance.”

~ George Bernard Shaw, Irish writer

“Education is an admirable thing,

but it is well to remember from time to time

that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.”

~Oscar Wilde, Writer

The Triads Of Ireland:

The Triads of Ireland are a collection of early Irish proverbs compiled in the 9th century. These wise old words of our ancestors comprised three items that share a memorable trait. Here are three examples dealing with education …

Triad 177 – Three glories of speech:

steadiness, wisdom, brevity.

Triad 210 – Three candles that illumine every darkness:

truth, nature, knowledge.

Triad 245 – Three things that ruin wisdom:

ignorance, inaccurate knowledge, forgetfulness.

Sayings And Proverbs From Ireland About Education:

Next, let’s explore some of the old proverbs that have been handed down from generation to generation, encouraging young people to study, and ‘stick to the books’, as my granny used to say….

“Wisdom is what makes a poor man a king,

a weak person powerful,

a good generation of a bad one,

a foolish man reasonable.”

~ Old Irish Saying

“A little of anything isn’t worth a pin;

but a wee bit of sense is worth a lot.”

~ Wise Old Words from Ireland

Castles were built a stone at a time.

~ Old Irish Saying

“Praise the young

and they will make progress.”

~ Old Irish Saying

“Sense doesn’t come before age.”

~ Irish Proverb

“Food is no more important than wisdom.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.”

~ Old Irish Saying

It destroys the craft not to learn it.

~ Irish Proverb

“Speed and accuracy do not agree.

~ Irish Words of Wisdom

“The stars make no noise.”

~ Irish Saying

“The youngest thorns are the sharpest.”

~ Irish Saying

“Though wisdom is good in the beginning,

it is better at the end.”

“The young shed many skins.”

~ Irish Proverb

“‘Tis afterwards that everything is understood.”

~ Irish Words of Wisdom

“Watching is a part of good play.”

~ Old Irish Saying

“The slow hound often has good qualities.”

~ Old Irish Proverb

“A scholar’s ink lasts longer than a martyrs blood.”

~ Sage Words from Ireland

“The bird that can sing and won’t sing,

should be made to sing.”

~ Irish Saying About Talents

“Time and patience would bring a snail to Jerusalem.”

~ Words of Wisdom from Ireland

“The seeking for one thing will find another.”

~ Irish Saying About Learning and Development

Irish American Quotations About Education:

From the mouth of JFK, the 35th American President, to the words of the great southern writer Flannery O’Connor, here are a few of my favorite Irish American quotations …

”All of us do not have equal talents,

but all of us should have an

equal opportunity to develop our talents.”

~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35^th President of U.S.A.

“Our progress as a nation can be

no swifter than our progress in education.”

~ US President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

“The only real mistake

is the one from which we learn nothing.”

~ Henry Ford (1863-1947)

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.

Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

~ Henry Ford (1863-1947)

“There is no man living

who isn’t capable of doing more

than he thinks he can do.”

~ Henry Ford (1863-1947)

“Everywhere I go I’m asked if I think the university stifles writers.

My opinion is that they don’t stifle enough of them.

There’s many a best-seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.”

~ Flannery O’Connor

A Little Levity To Close:

And for all who feel like they are returning to prison after their free wheeling summer days of fun, here’s one of my favorite quotations from Irish comedian, Tommy Tiernan.

“And do you remember those essays

you’d have to write every September?

‘What I did on my summer holidays?’

Like they were only letting you out on parole or something!

~ Tommy Tiernan, Irish Comedian

And so with these quotations I say to students everywhere, welcome back to school after two long months or more of parole. Start sharpening your pencils and writing those essays.

Wishing everyone a happy and successful school year from parents coaching their kids through homework, students diligently trying to pay attention, to the back bone of every nation, our teachers. Happy school year everyone.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

Mizen Head, County Cork

August 16, 2016 by Irish American Mom 16 Comments

When you think of Irish cliffs and must-see tourist sites, the famous Cliffs of Moher in County Clare automatically spring to mind.

But today, I’m going to take you on a tour of County Cork’s lesser known, but just as spectacular cliffs at Mizen Head, Ireland’s most south westerly point.

I love to take you off the well beaten Irish tourist trail, to discover Ireland’s hidden treasures. If you plan to visit Ireland in search of bracing ocean scented air, then the Mizen is the place for you.

The wonderful thing about this magnificent County Cork outpost on the Wild Atlantic Way, is that it is far less busy than the more northerly Ring of Kerry or Cliffs of Moher.

And so, brace yourself for a photographic tour of dizzying proportions.

In today’s post I share some photos I took on a wild and blustery spring day. Join me as we peer over some of Ireland’s rocky precipices and enjoy the churning Atlantic ocean.

The old Mizen Head Signal Station has been transformed into an award winning Maritime Museum and Heritage Centre.

This rocky outpost is in a spectacular location high atop the cliffs and the swirling Atlantic Ocean tides. A path down 99 steps leads to a footbridge crossing the churning waters below.

Tread quickly across this bridge, if like me, you don’t have a head for heights.

I handed my camera over to my husband to take this shot looking directly below the bridge.

But once my kids started shouting they could see a seal battling the waters below, I overcame my fears to take a look.

Apparently seals and their pups are often seen swimming in the Atlantic swells within this gorge. Mizen Head is a perfect vantage point to scan the waters for whales and dolphins. Only seals spotted on our visit.

Here’s a view of the rocky shoreline from the bridge. The layers of rock are formed by Devonian era slate. The many shaded gray striations are simply spectacular.

This is a majestic landscape with breathtaking scenery equal to any found in Ireland.

Out in the distance the Fastnet Rock can be spotted.

A 19th century lighthouse sits atop this rocky outcrop known as the Teardrop of Ireland. For many leaving Ireland’s shores as emigrants, the Fastnet Rock was the very last little sliver of Ireland they beheld.

Building this safety beacon so far off shore is a credit to 19th century engineering skills.

The old signal station now houses an informative museum with exhibits showing what life was like for those who worked here many years ago.

Here you can learn about the vast array of wildlife to be found in the seas and surrounding cliffs, together with the history of the Fastnet Rock, Marconi and radio communication.

This majestic seascape, with its many breath-taking views has to be seen to be believed.

My family visited on a wet and blustery day, with storm clouds hovering on the horizon. Despite hail showers, and mist laden gales, we found the experience to be completely exhilarating.

Mizen Head is Ireland’s southerly land’s end. I highly recommend a visit, especially if you wish to experience the power of the Atlantic ocean, without the excessive crowds found in other corners of Ireland.

For anyone interested in visiting, here are two great websites for planning a trip –

Mizen Head Signal Station

Mizen Head Visitor Centre

Wishing you all happy trails in Ireland.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and Blessings)

Irish American Mom

New Book Giveaway – Cathy Kelly’s Between Sisters

August 9, 2016 by Irish American Mom 57 Comments

International bestselling Irish author Cathy Kelly’s new book Between Sisters goes on sale in the US today, August 9th, 2016.

I’m delighted to publish a guest post by Cathy, who shares her inspirations for this Dublin based story, and also to host a giveaway for a copy of Between Sisters from Grand Central Publishing.

But before I share details of how to enter this little giveaway, let me first hand you over to Cathy to tell us a little about her life and writing …..

Between Sisters by Cathy Kelly:

Irish people are supposed to have writing in their blood, so as an avid reader since the age of three, I guess I just had to have a try.

But when I first started writing professionally, I was just twenty and a journalist, covering all beats and angles but particularly interested in women’s stories. I covered movies, sad stories and even spent a fascinating five years working as an advice columnist – known as an agony aunt on our side of the Atlantic.

Yet I just couldn’t give up the dream of writing a novel, and finally made it into publishing, age thirty.

Twenty years on, with a husband, two beautiful twin teenage sons, three small dogs and what feels like a laundry business on the side (who knew kids created so much laundry?), here’s Between Sisters, my eighteenth novel.

Like all my novels, it’s got quite the cast list going and is about what happens in life when you think you’ve got it planned out – and then that curve ball hits…

Between Sisters is the story of sisters Cassie and Coco who’ve been raised by their grandma, Pearl – a wise, witty and elegant older lady who lives in a glorious house in Dublin’s Delaney Square, a wonderful community where a giant fig tree sits in the center garden and under which the local children play tag.

It was the perfect place for Cassie and Coco to grow up with Pearl and their dad, Jim, while he was alive. But there was just one thing missing: their mom.

Now grown up, married and with two beautiful daughters, Cassie somehow watches every woman of sixty-something she sees because deep in her heart, she’s looking out for her mother, Marguerite – the woman who left when Cassie was just seven, the woman who’d been swallowed whole by addiction and had just left.

Cassie’s so determined that her daughters won’t suffer in their childhood the way she did, that she’s over-doing it with guilt mothering: trying to work, run a home, be the perfect wife and mom, and even bake cookies. But something’s got to give…

For her younger sister, Coco, who runs a vintage dress shop, being left by their mom hasn’t affected her: no way, insists Coco. Neither has being betrayed by the man she loved.

Coco has her career, her cute apartment, her life mapped out and men just don’t feature in it. Neither do children, because what if she turned out like her mom and left?

And then life throws a curve ball. Coco’s best friend becomes seriously ill and Coco has to help with her family. The man who betrayed her comes back into her life and suddenly, all the plans she has to be a tough and single career woman in four-inch spike heels go out the window.

Cassie’s marriage begins to crumble under both the weight of her determination to be the perfect mother – and the increasing demands of her widowed mother-in-law.

Cassie’s husband, Shay, just won’t say no to his mother, Antoinette, and Antoinette’s got Shay running around for her night and day, doing errands and letting poor Cassie run their life and take care of their daughters on her own.

Her mother-in-law’s been widowed four years now and Cassie thinks she should be getting on with her own life, but why should she when she has Shay on a leash and he jumps to her every command.

And then the past flutters into her life, like a bird feather drifting past a window, and Cassie wants to know what really happened to her mother.

The only person who knows for sure is Pearl, her beloved grandma, and Pearl’s hiding something…

When I write, I love to imagine close-knit communities the way life was when I was a kid growing up and the way my life is now. As a child in Dublin, I lived on a road where every single family knew each other and the kids played tennis on the street, with the ball bouncing into yards and the only time we stopped was when a car drove in. My mom is from the west of Ireland and I spent my holidays there, just miles from the wildness of the sea, next stop the US.

Everybody knew everybody and while that can have its negative points, it created a solid community base where people took care of each other.

Cathy Kelly at This Morning — Cathy Kelly on the set of ‘This Morning’ TV Show

Now, I live in a small village called Enniskerry in County Wicklow on Ireland’s east coast, and that sense of community is there. I know everyone in the village and even though I am hopeless at identifying cars as I drive, I wave at everyone. Sometimes even tourists, wave back from their cars, delighted at the friendliness of the natives! The setting of my lovely village gives me inspiration for a world where people care and I love that.

I don’t create my characters from real people but wow, do I people-watch! Like most writers, the best inspiration comes from real life and I like nothing more in a book than creating people I like and then doing what life does to us all: changing things when we are least expecting them.

With Between Sisters, I came up with the idea of this amazing grandma who’d raised these two children when her son died and her daughter-in-law left. How would that affect these two girls when they were grown?

I also had great fun researching vintage clothes shopping for Coco’s shop as I adore old things, and cannot turn away from a shop selling old bits and bobs!

I loved writing it and I hope you enjoy reading it!

Hugs,

Cathy Kelly

The Giveaway:

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Cathy’s book, Between Sisters.

To enter just leave a comment on this blog post by noon on Wednesday August 17th, 2016.

Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration for your entry why not tell us if you enjoy reading books set in Ireland.

One winning comment will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail won’t be published, just used to contact our lucky contestant for mailing of the prize.

The winner will be announced on Wednesday August 17th, 2016, at the bottom of this blog post.

You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstakes’ entries by clicking here.

Thanks to everyone who supports this little giveaway by leaving a comment, and for sharing it with family, and friends who enjoy reading Irish books.

And a big thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of Between Sisters as a prize.

Update – Winner Chosen:

Good news. Our winner has been chosen using the randomized “Pick Giveaway Winner” WordPress plug-in.

Congratulations to …..

Janet Hug

I’ll send you a quick e-mail to let you know you are our prize winner.

Thanks to everyone who joined in and entered this little giveaway.

And a big thank you to Cathy Kelly for writing this wonderful post to introduce her writing and to Grand Central Publishing for sponsoring this prize. Looking forward to many more books from Cathy in the years to come.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

Old Irish Ways Heritage Museum

August 5, 2016 by Irish American Mom 18 Comments

I believe preserving the past for the future is a very important task, and today I’m delighted to introduce a rural heritage museum where Ireland’s past is treasured and shared.

Located just outside Bruff, County Limerick, Old Irish Ways is a folk heritage museum, where memorabilia from our past is lovingly restored and preserved.

Denis O’Connor, the founder of this wonderful museum started off with only a few precious pieces of vintage Irish treasures, but over the years he has gathered many more.

Today his collection of priceless keepsakes from Ireland’s past ranges into the thousands .

Denis’ goal is to recapture what life was like over 100 years ago, to give people a sense of how our forefathers lived. With items dating back as far as the 18th century, this exhibit truly spans the generations.

Here’s how Denis describes his museum on his website, Old Irish Ways ….

“Old Irish Ways is a collection of various artifacts and collectibles

which were used as part of everyday life

down through the years in an Ireland long past.

From the kitchen to the farmyard,

the collection built up by Denis over a number of years,

represents an Ireland of bygone days.”

Denis’ exhibits are for all of today’s generations to enjoy. Younger people see a collection of items from a bygone era, enlightening them about how diligently our forebears worked to survive.

But many of us will step through the doors of this amazing museum only to rekindle memories of days gone by.

Denis reports many visitors exclaim “I remember that” over and over again during a visit.

The Irish Cottage Kitchen:

The Irish cottage kitchen with a traditional open fire, for me, is an iconic symbol of my homeland. “Bean an tí” (pronounced ban-on-tee) or the woman of the house cared for the fire both day and night, those eternal flames vital for her labors and her rest.

The fire was not simply a means of heating the home, but the central hub of the household. Used for many tasks, the bean an tí baked breads, boiled bacon and root vegetables for her family, and simmered corn for animals. Sick animals were nursed in front of the fire.

My own granny used her hearth as a neonatal intensive care unit. When my uncle was born prematurely back in the 1930’s she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and hung him in a horse harness beside the fire to keep him warm. And he survived thanks to her ingenuity.

In the kitchen display at Old Irish Ways, Denis has recreated an old Irish family kitchen, including the dresser, an attractive yet functional piece of furniture. Decorative plates and china, cups, plates, coffeepots and jugs adorn the dresser.

At Old Irish Ways, papal pictures decorate the walls, together with the traditional Sacred Heart picture.

The Old Pub

Old Irish pubs were at the heart of Irish village life, many also incorporating a local shop.

Denis has gathered many commonly seen items from old pubs around the country and recreated his very own Irish pub where he now serves visitors a lovely cup of tea.

Here you will find vintage earthenware jars and beer bottles, an array of trays and bottle tops, water jugs and the famous Guinness timber barrel.

You can sit back on an old tractor seat high stool, sipping your tea and enjoying a chat, in this highly detailed Old Irish Bar.

Old Irish School:

School life in 20th century Ireland is recreated in the classroom exhibit. If you went to school in Ireland anytime upto the 1970’s, then the classroom at Old Irish Ways will bring back many memories.

Wooden desks stand beside the black board or chalk board as we say in America. The map of Ireland beckons on the wall and the desks are laid with old school books and workbooks.

The time spent in recreating this learning space from days gone by is clearly evident.

The Blacksmith’s Forge:

In days gone by the forge was a meeting place, where locals chatted and shared stories.

Politics of the day and the welfare of the local community often dominated the talk at an Irish Forge or “Smithy.” Plots and plans for rebellion were often forged at the forge.

A raised brick hearth or fireplace dominated the forge. Here, bars of iron were heated until yellow-hot. There was always a container of water to cool the iron. Heat permeated the air. The hammer hit the anvil and horses hooves were shod.

Typically the inside of the forge was very dark to allow the blacksmith see the variety of colors of the heated iron which indicated the temperature of the heated metal.

Denis shares all these stories and more in The Forge Exhibit.

Other Displays:

The Irish Creamery is another highlight, with various implements used in the production and processing of milk and butter on display. You all know how much I love Irish churns.

Other displays in Old Irish Ways include a carpenter’s workshop, a typical old Irish hardware shop, a display of old farming implements, and turf cutting tools.

For the motoring enthusiast there is one of the largest displays of motor oil cans, advertising signs and associated memorabilia.

Visiting The Old Irish Ways Museum:

This award-winning museum represents a true and unique reflection of a forgotten Ireland.

So why not stop by if you find yourself in County Limerick and want to get off the well worn tourist track and visit a friendly welcoming museum full of vintage Irish treasures.

The museum is located about 16 miles or 25 kilometers outside Limerick city, and only 3 miles or 5 kilometers from the town of Bruff, the maternal ancestral home of President John F, Kennedy.

And remember, you can visit Lough Gur if the sun is shining.

Open 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm, Denis recommends you give him a call before you visit, so that you can confirm a tour.

Here’s the contact information for Old Irish Ways.

Address: Caherguillamore, Bruff, Limerick

Phone: 0861541078

Email: [email protected]

Thank You:

A big thank you to Denis and his family for all their wonderful work in preserving this important piece of Irish rural history. They are to be commended for their dedication, and commitment to preserving Ireland’s past.

This is a private museum and a labor of love for Denis and his family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for kindling wonderful childhood memories. I really appreciate you giving me permission to share your lovely museum photos with my readers.

Next time I visit my family home in Kildorrery, County Cork, I’ll be sure to stop by for a chat and a cuppa tae in your Irish pub.

Blessings to you and yours from Kentucky.