Inklings: Blarney 101 -- AKA, Irish legends | Columnists | Summerville Journal Scene

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Inklings: Blarney 101 -- AKA, Irish legends

Published Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:28 PM

By Barbara Lynch Hill
Summerville Journal Scene ®

All this month and particularly on the 17th, the wearin’ o the green – especially Kelly or Irish green – is definitely in! Even those with but a wee drop of the blood of Eire celebrate the feast of St. Patrick. I personally can’t believe it’s not a gala also observed in heaven. After all, the good Paddy is a saint and he did – according to legend – facilitate the explanation of the Holy Trinity using that ultimate Irish symbol, the shamrock.

Speaking of legends, including blarney, let’s examine the meaning of those two frequently used terms from Ireland. According to my trusty dictionary, blarney indicates smooth or coaxing talk. According to legend, kissing the blarney stone in Blarney Castle near Cork in Ireland, endows the kisser with the gift of eloquence. Been there; done that (Well, practically! To kiss said stone one is dangled upside down and backwards over a deep cavern. My son kissed it and I kissed him. Good enough for me!). In any case, I’m convinced the result is eloquence.

Synonyms for legend include fable, myth and fairy tale. The official definition however, tells us a legend is a story handed down for generations, believed to be true, but unverifiable. What Irish descendent wouldn’t believe them? Surely not this one. Witness the maiden name above.

Two of my other favorite Irish legends are about the leprechaun and the claddagh. The leprechaun is a tiny elfin shoemaker full of tricks, one of which is his hidden pot of gold. He is part of what Irishmen refer to as “little folk,” full of shenanigans. You have to “step lively and think quickly” to capture the treasure. And legend tells us he’s still got it!

The claddagh is a sentimental icon of Irish jewelry, as well as appearing on plaques and on china and other decorative items. It features a crowned heart encircled by two hands. The heart symbolizes love; the crown, loyalty; and the hands, friendship, the foundation of love with loyalty holding the two hands together. This legend is over five centuries old and originated in the fishing village of Claddagh near Galway in western Ireland. A young man of the village was captured by pirates and separated from his true love for years. He stole bits of gold from his captors and fashioned a ring of love, loyalty and friendship. He was eventually able to present it to his faithful beloved when he finally escaped and returned home. I get a tear in this Irish eye every time I hear this.

I’ve had a sign on my front door for over a quarter of a century. It says “Caed Mile Failte,” which translates to the traditional Irish greeting of “100,000 Welcomes.” They say that “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.” I hope that’s so. Again, I turn to legend. A four-leaf clover has always been considered a symbol of Irish good luck. Legend has it that the leaves of that clover represent faith, hope and love and God added luck for the fourth.

Please let that be true too. Especially for my favorite football team. The Fighting Irish have a new coach this year. His name is Kelly. And if that doesn’t do it – nothing will!

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