“I never saw a moor;
I never saw the sea,
Yet know I how the heather looks
And what a billow be.”
I have always wanted to go to Ireland. I come from a long line of Irish as evidenced by my freckled arms, blue eyes, and what was once strawberry blonde hair (it’s darkened with age). Once, while visiting family in NY, my brother was pinched on his very freckled cheek by a sweet elderly lady as we lingered in the pews after church. I can’t recall exactly what she said as she pinched, but it was something about him being a sweet Irish boy! My brother was less than thrilled.
Despite my heritage, I have only seen Ireland online, but I can imagine it as Emily Dickenson did through books. I’ve compiled a list of Irish-themed books to imagine, learn, and enjoy the Emerald Isle in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Shout out to two used bookstores that helped me with this list: Under Charlie’s Covers and Quirky Books. Under Charlie’s Covers was featured recently on ABQ Mom’s Instagram. I recommend visiting used bookstores and chatting with the people who work there. They have such an enthusiasm for books and everything to be gained from them. I also had the help of Grok. AI did a great job compiling a book list for me and the kiddos.
Side note: If you want to know what else AI can help you with in your busy mom life, check out this article.
Adult Books
Ireland by Frank Delaney: The woman who described Ireland had me hooked from her description. She said the protagonist went to Ireland in search of a storyteller but ended up becoming a storyteller himself in his search. Along the journey, he shares the traditions and lore of the Irish people.
Voices of Ireland by Malachy McCourt: An anthology of fiction, poetry, and essays from well-known Irish writers over three centuries.
The Leprechaun Companion by Niall Macnamara: Learn all there is to know about Leprechauns and Ireland’s other faery folk.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: I loved this book. I haven’t read this in years, but I loved the imagination and determination of the main character, Francie. Young Francie sits on the firescape of her family’s apartment, looking at the trees of Brooklyn. Life for the Irish wasn’t easy in the Brooklyn of 1912. Francie’s parents struggle to make ends meet and want a better life for their children. One part that has stuck in my memory from the book is Francie’s beautiful imagination. She dreams up a whole story to go with numbers. Numbers all have a story and fit in the bigger story of a family of numbers. This coming-of-age novel is a memorable and enjoyable read.
Angela’s Ashes: I never finished Angela’s Ashes, but I remember it was a somber story. It is well written, though, and fascinating to read. Even sad stories are worth reading to learn about a time and place so distant from my own.
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry: “A beautifully written novel about memory, loss, and Irish history, centered on an elderly woman reflecting on her life in a changing Ireland.”
Collected Poems by W.B. Yeats: “Yeats, one of Ireland’s greatest poets, captures the soul of the Emerald Isle.”
Children’s Books
Fiona’s Lace by Patricia Polacco: I love Patricia Polacco’s books. She writes about the stories of her heritage. Each book is like looking through a family photo album and hearing all the stories accompanying the pictures. Fiona’s Lace follows an Irish family in Chicago that comes together and makes it through hard times with the help of Fiona’s talent for making lace.
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola: “Based on an Irish folktale, this humorous book follows lazy Jamie, who lucks into a giant potato thanks to a leprechaun.”
The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever by Teddy Slater: “A rhyming tale of leprechauns throwing a festive party for St. Patrick’s Day.”
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing: “A twist on the classic ‘Night Before’ rhyme, this follows two kids setting a trap for a leprechaun.”
Patrick: God’s Courageous Captive by VOM Books: I didn’t know Patrick was a Roman captured by Irish pirates. Who has ever heard of Irish pirates? But apparently, my ancestors were swashbuckling fiends long before Jack Sparrow became a household name. I learned many fascinating things about St. Patrick in this beautifully illustrated book.
Irish Food
And what goes along better with an Irish-themed book than an Irish meal? Have you ever sung the three little piggies song? At the baby shower for my son, I found out that there are several different versions. The version my family always sang was, “And this little piggy had corned beef and cabbage and this little piggy had none.” As my mom and I sang the song, confident that’s how everyone sang it, we found out that was not so. If you’ve never tried this Irish meal, St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect day to try it. I wish I had a recipe from my great great great grandma Connolly. Unfortunately, I had to find something more recent.
