Slainte, my fine friends!
As promised earlier this month, I am dropping a Saint Patrick’s Day version of my Pop 5 column. This is a bit of a throwback to my old Seven Irish Pop Culture Essentials for Saint Paddy’s Day column I used to write, but it’s been about nine years since that column last appeared on this site.
I don’t know why I stopped writing it (probably a combination of time, depression, and my full-time job), but I’m happy to bring it back. Ever since I moved out of my family home in 2006, I’ve been obsessed with my Irish heritage. Could that be due to covering Irish bars at the Jersey Shore for nearly a decade? Probably didn’t hurt, but for some reason the tin whistle siren song of the Emerald Isle has called to me since my early 20s. And yes, I do own a kilt.
So, I wanted to share with you, the audience of Pop Break, my recommendations for Saint Patrick’s Day — a day where no matter who you — you are in fact, Irish and all that entails. While some may think that just means getting sloppy drunk and eating a corned beef sandwich, there’s so much more than that to being Irish. My favorite part of my heritage and our Irish pub culture is a celebration of good food, good music, and good drink. And let’s examine the most important word of that sentence — celebration. There is a joyousness to the Irish (and yeah we’re sarcastic, foul-mouthed, and moody at times too), and I want to celebrate and share this with all of you.
Enjoy the column and may the road rise up to meet you.
1. The Definitive Saint Patrick’s Day Film: The Quiet Man. This might not be the first film you think of when it comes to an “Irish” movie. Some may head to the pub for Martin McDonagh’s highly acclaimed The Banshees of Inisherin, others might enjoy the big silly fun of Boondock Saints, or maybe the wonderfulness that is Brooklyn (a true gem of a film). Most of you are probably dropping your R’s and putting Martin Scorsese’s The Departed on. All of these are great choices (although I haven’t seen Banshees yet), but for me it’s this oft-forgotten John Wayne and John Ford film.
Yes, the men who brought us some of the most iconic Westerns of all-time, are responsible for one of the quintessential Irish American films ever. The 1952 film follows a retired American boxer Sean Thornton (John Wayne) returns to the village where he was born in Ireland, where he finds love (in form of Maureen O’Hara’s Mary Kate Danaher). Of course, her brother Squire “Red” Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen) doesn’t agree and this leads to a wild tale of romance, fist fights, pubs, and laughter.
Now, the film does get criticism from native Irish as being an overly cheerful Americanization of Irish life. Well, of course it is. It’s a movie and an upbeat one at that — real life isn’t this happy. Also, some of the themes and romantic aspects haven’t aged well at all. Yet, the lush scenery, the gorgeous cinematography, the fun performances (including a fierce performance from O’Hara) allows for the film to become a rollicking punch-in-the-face, raise-a-pint, and woo-your-bonny-lass film. This film was my inspiration for my love of tweed Irish hats (which are oh-so trendy these days). Seriously, watch this movie and you’ll be dying for a slice of soda bread.
2. The Traditional Bands: If you want to truly imbibe in the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day you’ve got to throw it back to the days of the folksy, cable knit sweater wearing, bearded troubadours who created all-time pub standards and/or re-interpreted classic Celtic songs into tunes woven into the souls of everyone with a shred with a shred of Irish DNA. Here they are in no order of importance:
- The Clancy Brothers
- The Dubliners
- The Irish Rovers
- The Chieftans
- The Wolfe Tones
All of these bands have handcrafted their legacies in the music world with songs that range beer hoisting bar anthems to the saddest songs of love and loss. If there is one band I’d tell you to check out on your favorite streaming platform (or if you’re lucky and your grandparents have them on vinyl), listen to The Clancy Brothers. Usually paired with Tommy Makem, this group just has a wonderful sense of humor to their songs, but never forget to bring in themes of love and loss to their work. Their music is the blueprint of Irish music, in my humble, so run don’t walk to listen to these lads (not lads anymore, of course.
3. The Pub Punk Bands: One element of Irish music I haven’t mentioned that is absolutely intrinsic to its core — politics. This is why Pub Punk was born and has existed so brilliantly for all these years. The following bands are all acts to get in the pit over:
- The Dropkick Murphys
- Flogging Molly
- The Tossers
- The Pogues
- The Fighting Jamesons
You obviously cannot go wrong with Dropkick Murphys. Maybe it’s a little too on the noise since “Shippin’ Up to Boston” or “Kiss Me I’m Sh*tfaced” will be blasting out of every bar this month. But listen, sometimes choices are obvious for a good reason. Dropkick kicks ass has a message and the songs are always fun.
4. Derry Girls: My wife has great taste. Not in men, obviously. However, when it comes to most things pop culture, yes. Derry Girls, which aired three seasons on Netflix, follows a group of Irish Catholic teenage girls who live in the very Protestant town of Londonderry, North Ireland during the mid-to-late ’90s. Northern Ireland, outside of protest songs, is not exactly a region of Ireland we tend to think about during Saint Patrick’s month.
The series is uproariously funny and foul-mouthed with its tongue-in-cheek nostalgic look at pop culture, while also still keeping a very real, earned, and honest foot in the political climate surrounding the country at the time. There’s so much heart and so many big laughs in this series and if you grew up Catholic, there’s a couple great “if you know, you know” jokes in there for you. The series is still streaming on Netflix.
5. The Fashion, Food and Drink: Saint Patrick’s Day can honestly be celebrated throughout the entire month of March, and if you’re someone like me — you can wear, eat, or drink anything Irish 24/7/365. Here’s a list of things you can enjoy from this wide-ranging category:
- Corned Beef: Here’s a little secret for you — throw your corned beef in the slow cooker for 12 hours on low, and you’ll thank me!
- Irish Soda Bread: Skip those loaves with crystallized sugar on top (it’s not necessary). Get the one hard loaf from your local food store, heat it up and smear some Kerry Gold Irish Butter on it for the win.
- Harp Irish Lager: Yeah, Guinness is the drink of the month, but if you’re not in the mood for a pint of the black stuff, get yourself some of this golden deliciousness. It’s a delightfully tasty beer (and great for cooking corned beef).
- The Irish Cap: Scally Cap. Flat Cap. A Peaky Blinder (okay maybe not). These wool hats are great for year-round usage. Now, for summer months you can find alternatives to the wool hat from the Boston Scally Cap or The Quiet Man Collection (got mine from Ragland Road in Disney Springs). They’re dapper, fun, and are a reliable piece of headwear.
- The Cable Knit Sweater: For some of us with a dad bod (read: me), this is definitely not going to hide much, but they are usually a reliable, warm option for any cold and damp day.
- Irish Whiskey: I have not partaken in the blessed sacrament consistently like I once did. However, I still know a thing or six about Irish Whiskey. You cannot go wrong with Jameson (stick to the original), Tullamore DEW, Fighting 69th, Teeling, and if you’re feeling cheeky, why not try Writer’s Tears.
- Finally, Wear Green: Green is a wonderful color that brings out your eyes. Does it? Not sure, but it sounds good. It’s a cheerful colorful that always denotes celebration. So why not wear it year-round?
That’s the column for this year. Please go out and enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day responsibly!
