February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
My mother asking former New York City Mayor Ed Koch (dressed in his Aran sweater) what part of Ireland he was from. Have you ever marched in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade? Never missed it. I always march with Cavan. Why wouldn’t I, with the name of O’Raghailligh in their banner? Five essential Irish albums that should be part of everyone’s music library: Fisherman’s Blues by The Waterboys; The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Live at Carnegie Hall; Irish Heartbeat by Van Morrison and The Chieftains; Rum, Sodomy, and The Lash by The Pogues; Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. How much green do you wear on March 17th? Only what makes my envy glow. Do you eat corned beef & cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day? How about soda bread? No to the corned beef & cabbage. As for the soda bread: no, but I do mix soda with a certain beverage. Favorite Irish film? “The Dead.” Favorite Irish book? “Banished Children of Eve” by Peter Quinn. Favorite Irish song? “I Hear You Calling Me.” Complete this sentence: The most Irish thing about me is . . . that I never eat corned beef and cabbage.