To all things Irish
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! Rivers in some cities are dyed green. The St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City is famous as are the celebrations in Savannah and Chicago. Everyone wears green and has shamrock necklaces that blink, wear leprechaun hats and shoes with buckles. People sing sad Irish songs and toast each other with green beer or Irish whiskey.
What exactly is the origin of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Roman Britain and was kidnapped at the age of 16 and brought as a slave to Ireland. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland in 432, determined to convert the citizens to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461 he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. A couple of legends associated with him are that he drove the snakes out of Ireland. He also used the shamrock to explain the Trinity. In St. Patrick’s honor, March 17 became a time of religious ceremonies and feasts.
With the potato famine, Irish immigrants traveled to the United States and established St. Patrick’s Day as a more secular celebration with parades and all kinds of revelry. Although the color blue was first associated with St. Patrick, the color green, perhaps because of the shamrock, is the color adopted for St. Patrick’s Day. Shamrock pins and earrings are worn and
those with Irish and non-Irish ancestry celebrate this holiday. Even in Ireland, secular festivities are practiced although this is manly for the tourist.
Now thanks to Google and the editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, you now know why St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated and how it came about. As far as St. Patrick driving out the snakes in Ireland, I have heard that there are no snakes in Ireland, but this could just be a legend.
I love Ireland and I love that my ancestry on both sides dates back to mainly Ireland with some Scottish, British, German and Viking blood thrown in. I claim Ireland as the country I love out of all my ancestry. It has always been near and dear to my heart. I feel a kinship to it through my mother’s large Irish Catholic family. My Grandpa Colligan’s mother, my great grandmother, was born in Ireland. She emigrated to the United States.
I learned that my Grandpa Colligan named me. My first name came from my father, but my mom and dad chose to call me what my grandpa had named me. Most girls named Colleen spell the name with two “l’s”, but my grandfather insisted on spelling my name with one. The Gaelic spelling is Cailin, but he felt that would be too difficult for people to pronounce. He wanted my name spelled Coleen pronounced with a short o or “Cawleen.” My name is as Irish as can be. It means Irish girl. I like my name. I like the Irish association.
My dream from the time I was a young girl was to travel to Ireland. In 2012, my dream came true. Our son Heath and our daughter-in-law Kelly gifted me with a trip to Ireland that June. They, along with my husband Bill, flew out of JFK Airport in New York City and around five hours later, we touched down in a driving rain storm at Dublin. The minute my feet touched the pavement, I felt like I was home.
I know that sounds odd because I was born in America to American parents and have lived here all my life, but as I noted before, I have always felt a kinship to Ireland. It did not disappoint me, not one bit. The landscape is simply stunning. Ancient castles spring up everywhere. The people with their lovely, lilting accents, the ancient legends, the pubs full of happy people where a group might just take up musical instruments and start a concert is just so endearing. Our son was invited to play with one of those spontaneous pub bands. In our travels, we came around a curve and right before us was the Colligan River. How cool is that? A river in Ireland is named after an ancestor. I wonder which one? I bet I could “Google” that.
I would live in Ireland in a heartbeat, but all my loved ones live here. I hope to go back someday. Until then, here’s my favorite Irish blessing just for you: May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rain fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again,
May God hold you
In the palm of His hand.
— Author unknown
ATLANTA — After a 15-year career that came up just short of the World Series, Nick Markakis has retired.
Markakis spent his first nine years with the Baltimore Orioles before moving to his hometown Atlanta Braves for his final six seasons.
The 37-year-old outfielder helped the Braves through a difficult rebuilding process that paid off with three straight NL East titles.
A free agent after last season, Markakis told The Athletic in a story published Friday that he was done playing after accumulating 2,388 hits, earning his lone All-Star selection in 2018 and closing out his career in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series.
Braves manager Brian Snitker called Markakis “the consummate pro in everything he did.”
“We got a game away from the World Series,” Snitker said. “I would have loved to do that for him. He was what the Atlanta Braves are all about.”
Even though he no longer fit into the team’s plans, Snitker said Markakis’ presence was missed in the Braves clubhouse. The manager talked with him on Thursday about his retirement plans before he made them official.
“It’s a big hole in there without him,” Snitker said. “We all miss him. Just his stability and the calming influence he had on everybody. It was just a great career . ... I felt honored to manage him for the last few years of his career.”
Markakis joined the Orioles in 2006 and played at least 104 games every season until his last, finishing with a career average of .288. He initially opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, only to change his mind and return to the Braves in a part-time role.
He hit a walk-off homer in his first game back and nearly reached the World Series for the first time.
The Braves won two playoff series — their first postseason victories since 2001 — and took a 3-1 lead over the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series. But Los Angeles rallied for three straight victories to advance to the World Series, where they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays.
Markakis started that decisive game in left field, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning with the score tied. The Dodgers won the game 4-3 on Cody Bellinger’s homer in the bottom half of the seventh.
Markakis twice batted .300 and had a pair of 100-RBI season with the Orioles. He had double-figure homers every year in Baltimore, including a career-best 23 in 2007.
A native of suburban Atlanta, Markakis joined the Braves as a free agent in 2015 while the team was going through a major overhaul. After three straight 90-loss seasons, the Braves broke through to capture the NL East title in 2018, with Markakis playing a key role.
“He brought exactly what we were looking for,” Snitker said. “The stability, the professionalism. He was accountable to everybody. He went through some tough times here. He’s to be commended for that.”
In 2018, Markakis played all 162 games, batted .297 with 14 homers and 93 RBIs, and was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time.
Markakis had a more limited role his final two seasons with the Braves, but was still a productive player and immensely popular with his teammates.
Casseroles have to be one of the most tried and true Southern classic dishes. Notoriously easy to make and budget-friendly, they are a staple for busy parents and families who want to suit their children’s palates and provide a delicious meal without breaking the bank. The recipe I’m sharing with you today is among one of my favorites.
Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake can be made using storebought rotisserie chicken or homemade chicken breasts. It also calls for rotini pasta, marinara, mozzarella cheese, butter and Panko bread crumbs. Vegetables like bell peppers are a welcome addition, though I’ve chosen to leave them out in an effort to reach even the pickiest eaters.
Whenever I make this dish, I like to serve it with a garden salad and breadsticks, but any vegetable would pair well with it as a side. Asparagus is an excellent option, as are brussels sprouts, mushrooms and artichokes.
Want to make your own Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake? Here’s what you need:
♦ 1 small rotisserie chicken (pulled apart, shredded) or 4 baked chicken breasts (shredded)
♦ 3 cups dry rotini pasta
♦ 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce
♦ 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
♦ 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
♦ 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
♦ 2 tablespoons melted butter
♦ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
♦ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Here’s how you make it:
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 7x9 baking dish with butter or nonstick spray. Then, add water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Cook and drain the rotini pasta according to package instructions.
Place the drained pasta back into the pot and mix with marinara sauce, shredded chicken, half of the mozzarella, half of the parmesan cheese and the Italian seasoning. Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes over a medium-low heat, then spread it evenly over the bottom of the greased baking dish.
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the top of the pasta mixture. In a small bowl, mix together the Panko bread crumbs, melted butter and garlic powder. Sprinkle it evenly over the cheese layer.
Bake uncovered in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the top turns a light, golden brown. Serve alone or with salad, vegetables or breadsticks. Enjoy!