Yes, today is St Patrick's Day. And did you know that the Saint was neither Irish nor Patrick. He was English and took,or was given, the name of Patrick later in his life. Designated by the U.S.Congress in 1995,March is National Irish-American Heritage Month. Many, many Irish made their way all over the state of Michigan during the mid-1800's fleeing the potato famine. They were fishermen, farmers, miners, long-shoremen; some worked for lumber barons or the growing railroads. And sometimes they were paid in land. Therefore there were settlements north of Grand Rapids and small ones near Ann Arbor and Jackson. The Irish Hills in Jackson and Lenawee Counties is so named because the rolling hills and the lakes reminded them of their homeland. Just a little more trivia-over 94 million people will wear green today, 13 million pints of Guiness will be sold, Chicago has a green river-dyed green since 1962, and believe it or not-it was a dry Holiday-Ireland mandated the Pubs be closed on 3/17- until 1961. And "The Luck of the Irish"-legend has it that the Irish have a lock on "lucky." The four-leaf clovers, Horseshoes, rabbit's feet-Celts believed that rabbits possessed wisdom and any part of them brought good luck. I will leave that thought with you and wish you a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! 
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