“Top of the morning to you — and the rest of the day to yourself.” Begosh ‘n Begorrah, St. Patrick’s Day is on the way. So, Happy St. Paddy’s Day to all my Irish friends. Of course, we all know that everyone is Irish on this day. Kiss me, I’m Irish. I love St. Paddy’s Day with all its traditions — the wonderful food, green beer, shamrocks, limericks, lullabies, wearing of the green and the Irish blessings.

Stories are told about St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland. I gladly celebrate such a feat as that.

I think I must have a bit of Irish blood in me since my ancestors are from the lineage of Daniel Boone. While researching my heritage I found that my ancestors arrived in Holland from Germany and boarded the ship named “Ann Galley” out of Rotterdam, by way of the Orkneys, Scotland and docked in the harbor of Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 1746. I haven’t yet found if or where they actually lived in Germany, or if perhaps it was just another stop for them on their way to the “new land.”

They settled in Virginia and North Carolina before crossing the frontier in a covered wagon to settle in unknown territory known today as the coal and gas valleys of Arkansas.

Monday culminates the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations held all across the country highlighting Irish Step dancers, marching bands, pipers, and dyeing the Chicago River green. However, there’s one place I doubt many of you ever heard of, driven through or thought about as being Irish. That place is Shamrock, Texas. Located in the Panhandle, it hosts an annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration each year. This two-day affair features Irish food, fun and festivities complete with a parade, banquet and the crowning of Miss Irish Rose.

The town even has a piece of the original Blarney Stone from Blarney Castle in County Cork, Ireland mounted on a pillar in downtown Elmore Park.

Shamrock was founded in 1890 by an immigrant sheepherder from Ireland. The town expanded and grew in the 1950s with the completion of Route 66 that went through the middle of downtown. The Tower Conoco Station was designated a national landmark and has been completely restored to its original 1935 condition. It is the site of many movie backdrops and photographs. Dana Forrester used it for his painting of all six generations of Corvettes. It has also been designated the Corvette Caravan Stop where owners gather each year to show off their ‘Vets.

My Irish friends are known for their great sense of humor and love for life and all it holds. They come from hardy stock; many of their relatives arrived in ships and docked at Ellis Island. These immigrants established themselves and through hard work, helped make America the great country it is today.

They brought with them a myriad of customs that many of us celebrate on St. Paddy’s Day. They are quick to share an Irish joke, limerick or blessing with me at any given time. For anyone to receive an Irish Blessing is, of itself, a blessing.

Adrienne Cook wrote, “St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time. A day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.” So, today I share with you one of my favorite Irish Blessings: “May you always walk in sunshine; May you never want for more; May Irish Angels rest their wings right beside your door.”

Email Betty Heath at begeheath690@aol.com.