My parents immigrated from County Galway to Boston and I grew up with those good memories of March 17th too. Plus Irish soda bread and Dad playing the accordian, which he learned on the crossing from Liverpool, and Mom singing all the old Easter Rebellion songs with me. We have lots of cousins in Ireland, all very well educated now, who opened their arms to my daughter last summer. "Sure, aren't you one of us" they said as they gave her bed&breakfast. I was taught to Worship at the Altar of Education and have just attended my little colleen's Ph.D. graduaton. The circle is unbroken.
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Mary