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Ideas for St Patrick`s Day - Well if the lyrics below don`t tell the true story about an Irish welcome from the Erin isle then I am not sure of what other words would be more appropriate to fit the bill.
If you're Irish come into the parlour
There's a welcome there for you
If your name is Timothy or Pat
So long as you come from Ireland
There's a welcome on the mat
If you come from the Mountains of Mourne
Or Killarney's lakes so blue
We'll sing you a song and we'll make a fuss
Whoever you are you are one of us
If you're Irish, this is the place for you
 The hospitality and friendliness of the folks of Ireland is somewhat indescribable. Ireland`s awesome scenery and the earthy Irish brogue of the paddy`s makes this a splendid place to be any time of the year. I remember one beautiful hot summer's day on a visit to Ireland while ambling along a mountain path wollowing in the breath taking sights (silver shimmering lakes and cascading waterfalls) and stooping down to pick heather, was to experience a wonderful sedate feeling of solace that every person at some time should have in their life. The Aura of it all was somewhat unexplainable. Anyhow a car pulled up and it was Paddy (not a paddy I knew) who stopped to give me a lift, the car was designed to seat 4 people. Not wanting to offend I squeezed into the back seat with the already six passengers inside. This is the Irish for you, friendly to everyone and not selfish when it comes to comfort. I experienced a couple of things during my stay in the mountain village of Tubbercurry that I couldn`t quite get my head around, and one was when out "shopping" for bacon, you see in Ireland you don`t shop for eggs and cabbage because every one owns chickens and have a cabbage patch but not always a pig. To my surprise at the end of the shop counter, there he was as large as life, and with a quick tilt of his cap to bid me good day, stood Paddy, drinking a pint of Guinness at 7.30am in the morning. So if you want a pint of the black stuff and pig rashers from the same place to fill your belly, and quench your thirst at the same time, then walk into shop in Tubbercurry.
There was also the time I thought I was a victim of candid camera. I had to use the public telephone to find out the ferry details for sailing back to England. I picked up the receiver of the phone, thankfully there was one, but for the life of me I couldn't find a dial to ring the number. Oh the embarrassment when I saw a handle at the side. I had to turn this handle and the faster it was turned the louder the operator's voice got the other end. Of course there were times I would forget about the handle, so no communication till you spun that handle like there was no tomorrow. It was like starting up a car from years ago. Needless to say I came off the phone none the wiser because I was concentrating more on the handle than to listening to the high low – high low – high low voice at the other end.
Ideas for St Patrick`s Day
Of course the cherry on the cake would be to celebrate this day in Ireland, however if not feasible then why not bring Ireland to you.
1. Have everyone in the household paint their faces and dress up as leprechauns. It is a must to wear shamrock and no cheating with clover, although a good alternative if you can`t get shamrock. You could wear watercress but stay at a distance. Have your guests paint each other`s face this will add to the fun
 Céad Míle Fáilte 
One hundred thousand welcomes
2. Expect to see this greeting above if you travel to Dublin city center on Paddy`s Day to watch the St Patrick`s day parades. Make your own banner with the above printed on, and place over your door. Consider having your leprechaun's parade local streets with an adult present if kiddies. Doing this will get you all in the spirit and your neighbors too.
3. When decorating the home it`s not compulsory to have 40 shades of green. A couple of different shades to mark the event are enough.
4. If you want to give a gift, then it is an Irish gift you must give. Very popular is the Claddagh ring. The design consists of a heart, symbolizing love and hands that symbolizes friendship and the crown for loyalty. A figurine of an Irish colleen is also another favorite gift to donate
5. You don't have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick's Day because after all St Patrick wasn`t Irish himself. If you`re planning a party then invitations have to be sent. Make your own to save money and with what you save buy an Irish music CD. Reels and hornpipes will have every foot in the house tapping; you may get more than a tap if a tipple of Potten has been drank. St. Patrick's Day Party Invitations: Cut Shamrock shapes out of green cardstock paper. On one side of the shamrock write your invite: Attach a gold foil- wrapped chocolate coin.
St. Patrick's Day Party Decorations: To your "green" room add a rainbow. Hang orange and white balloons and streamers. Use some of your hand made invitations to hang up too. Hang paper shamrocks, gold coins or other from the ceilings.
St Patrick`s Day Games can include playing - End of the Rainbow Treasure Hunt
Make a rainbow. Hide the rainbow along with gold coins (pot of gold.)
Create fun Irish clues for everyone to help them find the rainbow. If weather permitting play this game outside
Pot of Gold Coin Toss
Use a black pot/cauldron. Determine a reasonable distance from the pot and tape a paper shamrock to the floor. Guests will have to toss coins into the pot. Award a prize to the winner with the most successful throws.
Hot Potato: This is a popular game using a piping hot spud (be careful.) Play CD of Irish music while the potato is passed around a circle of players. Sometimes not always a winner in this game but it sure is fun. 
Burst the Balloon:
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Bag of green and orange balloons.
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Select 2 teams and have them form two queues.
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Give each person a balloon. Green for one team and orange for the other.
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At the other end of the room, facing the queues, place two upright chairs.
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At a signal the first person in the queue blows up their balloon, ties it, and runs with it to the chair.
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They have to sit on it, until it bursts.
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The player runs back to their team and the next person has to do the same
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The first runner goes to the back of the queue and the team that finishes first wins.
Serve healthy fruits at your St Patrick`s day party: Green fruit like grapes, kiwi, green apple, and honey dew melon along with Oranges full of vitamin C, are healthy eats and appropriate color for room decoration. Raw green vegetables such as celery and cucumber served with dip, is ideal.
St. Patrick's Day Drinks for children
Lucky Lime Drinks
Put one or two small scoops of lime sherbet in a clear glass
cup. Pour lemonade over the sherbet. Add whipped cream, green sugar sprinkles, and piece of fruit.
Irish Mint Floats
Drop two scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream into a glass. Pour milk over the top add a drop or two of green food coloring. Add whipped cream and green sugar sprinkles.
This year celebrate St Patrick`s Day on British soil
Make em laugh Paddy & Mick Jokes and Gags
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