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Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

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written on 6th March 2025

Image credit - visit Baltimore For St Patrick's Day Poetry Contest -Sponsored By Oliver McKeithan.

During the great hunger many were forced to roam They settled in far off lands, that they now call home But they missed Eire and to connect they found a way With fellow Irishmen and women on St Patrick’s day. All over the wide world you’ll find an Irish diaspora Mainly in the USA , England, Scotland, and Canada They start off with a colourful parade on the big day Usually led by a pipe band and they lead the way. Many will wear shamrocks and something bright green They're so proud of their heritage and love to be seen Many will wear leprechaun hats and a false red beard They look quite menacing, but they are not to be feared. Many march behind the banners of their home county Emblazoned with their county crest it's wonderful to see But the Irish are welcoming and anyone can join in the fun Colour and religion matter not and it's open to everyone. After the parade has ended there's music and song And even if you're not Irish you'll feel that you belong The Guinness will be flowing along with Irish whisky too The Irish know how to celebrate, and they'll welcome you. I urge you to join in the celebrations and enjoy the craic Once you've had a taste of it next year you'll be back Everyone becomes honorary Irish on Saint Patrick's day So, pray for a bit of sunshine and for the rain to keep away. But the next morning you might wake up with a fuzzy head And it might be a great effort to get out of your warm bed A full Irish breakfast the next morn is the cure and that is so You'll be up and running in no time because I’ve tried it I know.

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Mary Murphy

Date: 3/27/2025 7:20:00 PM

Congrats on the win. What a wonderful poem! The description made me feel like I was in the parade, too. So immersive, my friend.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/27/2025 10:25:00 PM

Thank you very much Mary, I'm happy you enjoyed it. My parents are from County Clare in the west of Ireland, I've been over many times. Hope your week is going well. Tom

thriveni c mysore

Date: 3/27/2025 12:18:00 AM

Congratulations on your win dear poet. Joy catches up. Cheers!!!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/27/2025 12:21:00 AM

Thank you very much Thriveni, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Hope your week is going well. Tom

Sam Kauffman

Date: 3/26/2025 10:25:00 AM

Tom, this poem is filled with the delight, the pain and the history of the Irish! Love your admonishment in the last stanza and your wise perception that even though we may suffer with a "fuzzy head" we will wear the green and celebrate all over again singing "Danny Boy" as we go! Congratulations on your win! Blessings! Over Fork Over!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/26/2025 11:43:00 AM

Thank you very much for your congrats Sam, I'm happy that you enjoyed it. My goal is to march in the New York parade one day. My daughter went a few years ago and I leant her my Clare shirt,, when the Clare marchers passed they all waved at her, she felt like royalty, over fork over.. Tom

David Crandall

Date: 3/26/2025 9:07:00 AM

Back with congrats Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/26/2025 9:30:00 AM

Thank you very much for your congrats and return visit David. Much appreciated. Tom

Karen Jones

Date: 3/26/2025 9:02:00 AM

Congratulations on your win Tom!!!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/26/2025 9:30:00 AM

Thank you very much Karen, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Oliver Mckeithan

Date: 3/26/2025 6:09:00 AM

Congrats Tom on your placement in my contest. I enjoyed the writing on the diaspora and how it has influenced other cultures. The last stanza is great. Time to eat some blood pudding.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/26/2025 8:01:00 AM

PS, went to see the Dublin legends a few nights ago, foot tapped all through the performance.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/26/2025 7:52:00 AM

Thank you very much Oliver, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Blood pudding and white too, with a dash of chef sauce and you're in heaven. Thanks too for hosting the contest. Tom

Marikate Kingston

Date: 3/15/2025 9:25:00 PM

I just loved your third stanza. My name being Mary Catherine (the long version) my sister Erin Colleen and my brother, Sean Patrick, means we are quite Irish of course. I married to an italian ! My day will be filled with pasta and green beer. Tee hee. :0)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/15/2025 9:34:00 PM

Thank you very much Marikate, I'm happy you enjoyed it. My parents were Irish but I was born in the UK, I've been to Ireland many times, have lots of family over there, I wish you and your family a very happy St Patrick's day. Tom

CayCay Jennings

Date: 3/13/2025 8:20:00 AM

How informative and engaging your St. Paddy poem is. I thoroughly enjoyed every line. You done good, Tom! Poetry hugs ... CayCay (Cunningham is most English, right?)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/13/2025 8:46:00 AM

Thank you very much Cay Cay, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Cunningham is a Scottish name originating from Ayrshire in Scotland and many of them emigrated to Ireland. My parents were from the west of Ireland but I was born in the UK. Tom

Duke Beaufort

Date: 3/10/2025 5:22:00 PM

Tom, I am actually laughing after reading this. Thanks for the lovely description of pride and taking it in as a bit of fun! Smiles!!!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/11/2025 12:08:00 AM

Thank you very much Duke, have attended many parades over the years, it's a great day out. Last year myself and my brother carried the Clare banner, a proud moment. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 3/10/2025 3:24:00 PM

It would sure be nice to visit Ireland and be a part of this. Very well done, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/11/2025 12:06:00 AM

Thank you very much Andrea, Ireland is a beautiful country. During the great famine many Irish emigrated to the US and took a bit of Ireland with them. One of the biggest parades is in NYC and my daughter went a few years ago, she borrowed my Clare shirt and everyone waved at her, she felt like royalty lol. Its a great celebration and everyone is made welcome. Tom

Gershon Wolf

Date: 3/8/2025 7:58:00 PM

Love a parade... As for the next morning, Cornflakes and beer for me. lol. ~ gw

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/9/2025 5:49:00 AM

Thank you very much Gershon, I. Know you have a big one in Chicago, isn't that where they put green dye in the river. Cornflakes and beer sounds good to me lol. Tom

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 3/8/2025 2:53:00 PM

I LOVE the Irish and St Patrick's Day, almost always hosting a little gathering for fun and food! My husband's family still bears the Irish name, though they are truly an American mix of so many other genes on his dad's side of things. Still, we love to watch the River Dance online. I have wanted to go to Ireland for so long, and we are getting older and probably will never make it there, except for in our dreams! May the luck of the Irish be with ye Tom, and thank you for this wonderful poem.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/16/2025 2:45:00 PM

I bet they had a lovely time BJ. I like bees but wouldn't fancy them moving in lol

Bj Legros Kelley
Date: 3/10/2025 9:30:00 AM

Three of my children have gone to Cork, my lucky lil' darlings! Then after their return with photos, we had a man come over to remove a bee hive set up in the roof near our front entrance to our home (that was not a fun experience, those bees!!). Well, he had that lovely, LOVELY accent and the kids and he got into quite a conversarion, he was from Ireland! Even the darkest moments can have such a sweet surprise!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/9/2025 5:47:00 AM

Thank you very much BJ, my parents came from the west of Ireland but I was born in the UK. Have been over many times and still have many relatives over there. My cousin organises a reunion and it's great to meet up with them. Have a lovely weekend. Tom

Michael Tor

Date: 3/8/2025 1:23:00 PM

Tom love this Poem of yours. I love all the information you shared and how the Irish are so accepting of others enjoying their heartwarming tradition. The way you wrote this brought so much enjoyment. I looked up the Spancil Hill song or maybe a Ballad and so much enjoy the lyrics and music of this Gentleman, being in California, missing the place he lived in Ireland he wrote about, in his song Sadly he died at a very young age. In my younger years I enjoyed celebrating St Patricks day and...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/9/2025 5:38:00 AM

Thank you very much Michael, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Its a colourful celebration and the irish welcome everyone. They really know how to celebrate. Have a great weekend. Tom

Michael Tor
Date: 3/8/2025 1:27:00 PM

experienced what you eloquently stated in your last versus lol. Waking up just like you described, afterwards I would say to myself never again, but this would be repeated by myself and friends for many years to come lol. Love Ireland and the Irish. Thank you Tom for writing this lovely piece and sharing with us this Special tradition...

Joe Maverick

Date: 3/8/2025 6:19:00 AM

Just

Joe Maverick

Date: 3/8/2025 6:13:00 AM

Sure tis a great day for the Irish, such a great day as all should know. And for one I raise a Glass and wish them blessings and cheers.'

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/9/2025 5:51:00 AM

Thank you very much Joe, it is indeed and everyone is made welcome regardless of colour or religion, Shame the whole world can't be like that. Tom

Maria Williams

Date: 3/8/2025 4:34:00 AM

Dear Tom,this is a wonderfully heartfelt and uplifting poem that beautifully captures the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day and the enduring connection of the Irish diaspora to their homeland. We have a pub down the road from us, always know when its St Patrick's Day. The Irish are a noisy lot. lol...Hugs

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/8/2025 4:51:00 AM

Thank you very much Maria, I'm happy you enjoyed it. When the Guinness is flowing they get louder lol, as they say in Ireland, they're having the craic. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 3/8/2025 1:44:00 AM

- Yes, I'm sure they'll wake up with a green fuzzy head :) - A celebration you won't forget, Tom :) - hugs

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/8/2025 1:48:00 AM

Lol, thank you Anne Lise, have attended many over the years. It's a great day, would love to go to New York, my daughter went a few years ago. Have a lovely weekend. Tom

David Crandall

Date: 3/7/2025 3:24:00 PM

Great feeling of celebration and pride in your poem. I just listened to a nice song called Spancil Hill about dreaming of returning to Ireland.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/7/2025 7:30:00 PM

Thank you very much David, heard that one many times, it's in County Clare, it's where my parents came from. I was born in the UK. Have a great weekend. Tom

Deb M

Date: 3/7/2025 8:32:00 AM

I really enjoyed this wonderful poem/tale about St Patrick's Day and the parade Tom.Your descriptions and imagery are great. You seriously should write a travel book about your travels...it would be so interesting!! Debx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/7/2025 10:25:00 AM

Thank you very much Deb, have been on many parades so this was an easy write. Tom

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 3/6/2025 5:17:00 PM

A great tribute poem for Saint Patrick’s Day Tom. Have been on holiday to Ireland and loved the music and songs. The people are so friendly too, they go out of their way to help you, any way they can… Beryl

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/6/2025 9:35:00 PM

Thank you very much Beryl, my parents were from Clare in the west, have been many times. I'm happy you enjoyed it, Bham city Council pulled the plug on this years parade, apparently they're on the edge of bankruptcy. I'll have to go to New York lol, my daughter went a few years ago. Hope you and Alan are well. Tom

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 3/6/2025 2:46:00 PM

Hello tom, I just rather go to the parade. go to a pub and have a green beer to celebrate the st. Patrick's Day. enjoy your evening my friend. /Darlene/

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 3/7/2025 9:41:00 AM

Hello tom, Your welcome. Yes this is celebrated by everyone. they are a lot of fun. Enjoy your day my friend. /Darlene/

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/6/2025 2:58:00 PM

Thank you very much Darlene, it's a great day not just for the irish but for everyone. I've been to many St Patrick's day parades and had a great time. Tom