Welcome to the March quotes and trivia gems.

Ah, the month of March. It holds the hope of spring and the celebration of the always popular St-Patrick’s Day celebrations on 17th!

March at last arrives!  She brings with her the shamrock and the promise of grass and gardens –  a green respite from the white, grey and wet of a long winter.

The shamrock, of course, is the symbol of Ireland and Saint Patrick’s Day. As a Montrealer, we have a special connection with the Irish.

My hometown honours the  Irish diaspora and the contribution Irish immigrants made to the building of the city by including the shamrock in the Montreal city flag.  It’s a tribute to the many Irish descendants that still make up a major segment of the local population.

Our Saint Patrick’s Day Parade parade has been held, uninterrupted, since 1824 in spite of snowstorms, wartime and economic depression. We celebrated the 195th edition last year making this the longest-running parade in Canada.

Montreal may be the largest French-speaking city outside of Paris, but on St. Patrick’s Day, every Montrealer claims to have at least a little green in their veins. And many do as the French and Irish have been allies against the British since the 17th century. You’ll find many francophone families sporting Irish surnames like these Johnson, Martin, O’Neill, Nelligan and O’Gallagher.

Speaking of names, the Irish tradition of the last name prefix “Mac” refers to “Son of ..” and the prefix “O” refers to “Grandson of ..”

Here’s Some St. Patrick Trivia.

Did you know that St. Patrick (AD 385-461), the Patron Saint of Ireland, was actually not Irish at all.  

Born in Wales into a wealthy Roman-Christian family, he was kidnapped at the age of sixteen by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland.  After several years he escaped back to Wales only to return to Ireland on his own accord with the mission of converting the Pagan Irish to Christianity.

In modern times, the holiday is associated with the colour green as history has it that St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover, or shamrock, to explain the Holy Trinity.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th  because it’s believed to be the day he died.

There’s a reason the Irish have a reputation for “kicking up their heels” and chugging back an ale or two on St. Patrick’s Day.

The excess partying, came about because the Lenten (Lent) restrictions on eating and drinking were lifted for the day thus allowing revellers to take full advantage of the otherwise austere days prior to Easter.

It’s because of this indulgence that the expression “Paddy Wagon” came to be.  When the drunk Irish were arrested, they’d all say their names were Paddy.

Even if you’re not Irish, you undoubtedly know some Irish songs if you spent any time near a pub in mid-March. I have many favourites but the one I’m always drawn to is the ballad, Oh, Danny Boy.

This month, I pay tribute to the Irish by presenting to you a pot o’ gold Irish proverb GEMS.  

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“If you’re lucky enough to be Irish … you’re lucky enough!” ” quote=”“If you’re lucky enough to be Irish … you’re lucky enough!” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“Here’s health to your enemies’ enemies! “ via Gary’s monthly Gems ” quote=”“Here’s health to your enemies’ enemies! “ ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.” ” quote=”“May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“May the wind always be at your back.” via Gary’s monthly Gems” quote=”“May the wind always be at your back.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“May you be at the gates of heaven an hour before the devil knows you’re dead!” ” quote=”“May you be at the gates of heaven an hour before the devil knows you’re dead!” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold pint and another one!” via Gary’s Monthly Gems” quote=”“Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold pint and another one!”” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far.” via Gary’s March Gems” quote=”“May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“May you live to be 100 years, with one extra year to repent.” via Gary’s March Gems ” quote=”“May you live to be 100 years, with one extra year to repent.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“May the roof above you never fall in and those gathered beneath it never fall out.” via Gary’s March Gems ” quote=”“May the roof above you never fall in and those gathered beneath it never fall out.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.” via Gary’s March Gems” quote=”“A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.” via Gary’s March Gems” quote=”“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“A little fire that warms is better than a big fire that burns.” via Gary’s March Gems” quote=”“A little fire that warms is better than a big fire that burns.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“The older the fiddler the sweeter the tune.” via Gary’s March Gems” quote=”“The older the fiddler the sweeter the tune.” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“Here’s to Hell! May the stay there be as fun as the way there!” via Gary’s March Gems ” quote=”“Here’s to Hell! May the stay there be as fun as the way there!” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“May neighbours respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you and Heaven accept you!” via Gary’s March Gems” quote=”“May neighbours respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you and Heaven accept you!” ” theme=”style2″]

[click_to_tweet tweet=”“Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you! “ via Gary’s March Gems” quote=”“Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you! “” theme=”style2″]

When the  Irish came, they brought with them their songs, their literature and yes their wise, witty, and profound proverbs.

Since I’ve now come to the stage in life when loss is far too common an event, and because I had a very special Irish friend who passed recently, I will leave you with this beautiful and succinct Irish proverb as a tribute to her memory – a reminder to appreciate every moment we have with those we hold dear.

(from a headstone in Ireland)

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”