Irish America

Irish America

Slainte Archives

Sláinte! The Pleasures of an Irish Pub

By Edythe Preet

September / October 1997

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We Irish are a garrulous folk, given to long-winded debates at the drop of a hat on just about any subject from politics to how one should brew a pot of tea. There's one thing however, on which just about every Irish man and woman will concur. One of the best places to meet and swap a tale or two is the neighborhood local. Pub that is.  According to Bushmill's Irish Pub Guide … [Read more...] about Sláinte! The Pleasures of an Irish Pub

Bid Thy Guests Welcome Though They Come At Any Hour

By Edythe Preet

July/August 1997

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In the 16th century Elizabeth I was Queen of England. Spain and England were at war, and their armadas stalked each other on the open seas. Certain Irish sailing captains who swore allegiance to neither nation raided both fleets for profit. Some called them pirates. Some called them heroes. One became a legend.  Her name was Granuaile. Grace O'Malley. Pirate Queen. Many tales … [Read more...] about Bid Thy Guests Welcome Though They Come At Any Hour

Sláinte! Many a Shabby Foal Makes a Fine Horse

By Edythe Preet

May/June 1997

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It is Spring. The foals are being born. In their gawky long-legged honor, I give you the saga of the Irish and their horses. It is a history that stretches across centuries. It is a tale of friendships and working partners. It is a romance born of the land, nurtured by necessity and fastened by ancient bonds. It is one of the oldest love stories on earth.  Horses arrived in … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Many a Shabby Foal Makes a Fine Horse

Slàinte! A Universal Christmas

By Edythe Preet

November/December 1998, republished in Winter 2024

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All around the world, the holiday season is a time to gather with family and friends, to share abundance, to feast, to reflect on the memories of joyful times past, and to make every effort to ensure that the future will be peaceful and prosperous for all. Here in the United States, the holiday season is celebrated in a myriad of ways bequeathed us by the thousands of … [Read more...] about Slàinte! A Universal Christmas

Sláinte! A Visit to Derry  

By Edythe Preet

September/October 1998

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Like most Americans, my ancestry is mixed immigrant. Mom's people were Italian; Dad was a storytelling Irish rover. I inherited his wanderlust and his love of words. When I decided to dig up the family roots, Northern Ireland was my first stop. Arriving in Derry (birthplace of my grandmother) as sunset turned the River Foyle into a ribbon of molten gold, I checked into Beech … [Read more...] about Sláinte! A Visit to Derry