St. Patrick's Day

Came across St. Patrick for the first time, when we had a special Mass to celebrate his feast at St. Mary's Church in Dubai. Any party loving Dubai resident would definitely have been to the Irish Village. And being a Thursday today and the start of the weekend, I'm sure the place is alight with celebrations. 

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Legends about him abound. But here's a report on him as posted in Saint of the Day on www.americancatholic.org. Listen to this hymn with words from the quote credited to him. 

How many Irishmen (or Irishwomen) do you know? While I didn't really know too many in Dubai, I've had the good fortune of knowing Irishmen in Mumbai (not Englishman in New York). And what's more, the Irishmen I knew were 'Men of God' - Redemptorists priests stationed at our parish church in Chembur in Mumbai. Fr. Frank Toner who used to be the parish priest of the parish in the early to mid-eighties, and who has a football tournament named after him at the parish. Also remember 'my dear people' Fr. Gerry Morgan and his wonderful homilies.

Celebrating the Irish today on the feast of St. Patrick, the music world is lucky to have a philantropic singer in Bono from U2. I remember their album having a biblical name in it. 

An Irish woman musician who was in the forefront in the '80s was the 'bald and beautiful' Sinead O'Connor.

The nineties saw the rise of an all girl Irish band with a combination of rock with Celtic Irish tunes. Enjoy the sounds and instruments in 'Dreams'.

The last song on this post is a personal favorite that was released around 50 years ago. Van Morrisons 'Brown Eyed Girl'.

 That's all for now. Will be back soon.