Proud Shamrock

As a child every St. Patrick's Day our parents proudly wore springs of shamrock and bought each of their children a St. Patrick's Day badge which we wore along with the shamrock daddy pined to our clothes. It was tradition.

Buying shamrock in Dublin came neigh to impossible along with finding St. Parick's Day badges. I ended up the last few years buying GOAL badges in the shape of a shamrock. So good came out of my need for tradition, but it never felt quite the same.

We moved to the midlands last year and so this year I had the opportunity to go west and see the St. Patrick's Day parade in Galway. I stopped off at my local filling station and they had shamrock and badges for sale. I was transported! Buying both I proudly pinned them on and thought of my folks.

In Galway I noticed so many people proudly sporting shamrock, on shirts, jumpers, coats and caps.

I heard Hail Glorious St. Patrick being sung and my day for tradition was made.

Some traditions are too important to be allowed fade out.

HAIL, GLORIOUS ST. PATRICK (words: Sister Agnes / tune: ancient Irish melody, 1920)

Hail, glorious St. Patrick, dear saint of our isle,

On us thy poor children bestow a sweet smile;

And now thou art high in the mansions above,

On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

(optional repeat)

On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,

On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Hail, glorious St. Patrick, thy words were once strong

Against Satan's wiles and a heretic throng;

Not less is thy might where in Heaven thou art;

Oh, come to our aid, in our battle take part!

In a war against sin, in the fight for the faith,

Dear Saint, may thy children resist to the death;

May their strength be in meekness, in penance, and prayer,

Their banner the Cross, which they glory to bear.

Thy people, now exiles on many a shore,

Shall love and revere thee till time be no more;

And the fire thou hast kindled shall ever burn bright,

Its warmth undiminished, undying its light.

Ever bless and defend the sweet land of our birth,

Where the shamrock still blooms as when thou wert on earth,

And our hearts shall yet burn, wherever we roam,

For God and St. Patrick, and our native home.