Happy St. Paddy's Day!

According to the several full-blooded, ex-pats from Ireland that I know, that's how it's spelled: "P-a-d-d-y", not "P-a-t-t-y" as we think here in the States. Turns out, all of us that say, "St. Patty's Day" have given Saint Patrick a female nickname, because as one Irish person said, "Patty is invariably a girl's name". Therefore, a guy named Patrick gets the nickname of Paddy, not Patty. Conversely, a girl who's named Patricia gets the nickname of Patty. Well, I think all of us ignorant Americans need to pay a bit more attention here. Talk about an insult to the patron saint of Ireland.

Apparently, not many people have realized this because nearly everywhere I go here in NYC in March, I see, "Happy St. Patty's Day!" This is strange because one would think that because of the of the huge population of Irish in this city, they would've sorted out the businesses that were giving their holiday this misnomer.

Speaking of Irish names, did you know the name "Éirinn," which is Anglicized as "Erin," is the Gaelic name for Ireland? Interestingly enough, all those little girls out there with the name Erin are in fact named "Ireland". At least in Irish grammar, "Ireland" is a feminine word so they don't have the same issue as St. Patrick.

And finally, the coup d'état: "Gilmore/Gillmore" - (Gael) from words meaning "devoted to the Virgin Mary."

I knew it! I'd been searching for years to prove that we were Irish and now I have! I wouldn't say that our Gillmore family is necessarily devoted to the Virgin Mary, but hey, if that's what comes with being Irish, then I'm all for it.

Now I'm armed and ready for today. When people ask me about my background I will say, "I'm Irish, English, and Norweigan. My father's side of the family is Irish and Norweigan and my mother's side is English. My last name is Gillmore which, in Gaelic means: "Devoted to the Virgin Mary". I can't wait to finally tell someone the Gaelic meaning of my last name. St. Paddy's Day, here I come!

I also have to say that I will be donning a green shirt with my Snoopy leprechaun pin today as I'm out and about celebrating the newly found proof of my heritage. I know it's terribly cliché to wear green on St. Paddy's Day, but hey, I am still an American after all.

Sláinte!
(Which means cheers to the rest of ya!)