St Brigid's Church, built 1924
For the second year in a row the Amherst Select Board has declared February 1st "Amherst Irish Day aka St. Brigid's Day" a celebration of all things Irish -- the hard working folks who helped build this town back when Miss Emily was hibernating in her upstairs room.
Yes, it specifically started only last year (even though the Irish have been here since 1840s) to counteract the idiotic "Blarney Blowout", a Frat Boy slander of the Irish with particular emphasis on highly profitable alcohol sales.
Fortunately, with the assist of 225 police officers, the Blarney Blowout last March was a blow over, and will be again this year. While the Amherst Irish Association event was a resounding success.
When St. Brigid's was first built it dominated the downtown and was one of the largest buildings in Amherst. Then in the mid-1960s UMass started to grow exponentially with those Southwest Towers reaching for the sky.
But St Brigid's is still -- and hopefully always will be -- a stirring symbol.
How will the schools be celebrating this?
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing it won't even come up.
They can't celebrate in the schools. Then they'd have to celebrate all 250 cultures and who knows what pygmy tribe they may have left out. Homogeneous is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteThe schools are only interested in Africa. And maybe the Dia de los Muertes. White culture? Forget it.
DeleteReading the comments on this blog makes me question whether the Neanderthal age really has passed.
ReplyDeleteSo- What are the plans?
ReplyDeleteOverlooked last year- My Irish eyes are smiling in anticipation of this year!
Why do you continue to bring up Blarney Blowout when last year it was a non-event thanks to the efforts of UMass and the town?
ReplyDeleteSorry to break the news to the trolls: we are all Neanderthal-pygmy hybrids….
ReplyDeleteThe blog writer is a Neanderthal.#nolife
ReplyDeleteI guess we've exhausted this subject.
ReplyDelete