It just seemed a bit much this year. It’s not the high cost of beef. I’ve got a 4 pound brisket in the freezer. We’re nearing our limits again on available refrigerator space for leftovers. I was drawn to another of my favorites. Didn’t have any pie for pi day yesterday, so maybe this dish can count for that, too. It’s fine Irish fare and perfectly suited for St. Paddy’s day. Plus it’ll use up some of the garlic mashed potatoes left over from the Speis’ Christmas party at Cowboy Creek Lodge 3 1/2 weeks ago. If you want a break from beer -whatever color – you can wash this pie down with a nice Syrah. Can you get more sophisticated than that?
Of course, this affair calls for a soundtrack. There are a couple discs we always pull out for this day.
The late Danny Doyle always leads off, with sometimes soaring sometimes tear-jerking old Irish songs. Try to make it through “Kilkenny”(1), about the correspondence between an aging Irishman and his son in America, without blubberin’.
Next, we get a little more formal and ask the Irish Tenors to take a turn. Their songs are so classic they’re enumerated on the CD with Roman numerals.
| Ellis Island | TV Matters MUM9020 2001 |
I can’t find a link to the whole album, but here’s an hour plus performance by them live in Belfast (2).
Then, if we want to go deep Irish, I’ve got my record of Brendan Behan singing Irish Folksongs and Ballads. Picked it up used back in med school. Was inspired by one of my professors, an English cardiologist named Rory Childers who used to do a one man show as Brendan Behan.
| Brendan Behan Sings Irish Folksongs and Ballads | Spoken Arts 760 unknown |
Brendan for sure has the singing voice of a poet, but he puts his soul into it. The whole album is on YouTube!(3)
If those discs are all spun and we’re hungry for more, there’s always Spotify. They have several Irish music stations and I’m sure will have at least one made-up special for St. Patrick’s Day.
Less than two days to go. I’m sure Beidh dea-am ag gach duine!
References
1. Maire McSorley. Kilkelly with Lyrics. YouTube 11/24/08. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N76kAivCb20
2. The Irish Tenors. Live from Belfast. YouTube 12/22/21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETfPKnaN0I0
3. Brendan Behan. Sings Irish Folksongs and Ballads. YouTube 11/13/11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx-3iVp4Fa8
Bob Ike's blog 
Another nice blog. Not very insulting to anyone……I’m insulted!Chap
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Hello, Are you dying? Why the letter?
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Please try the recipes. Oksana’s probably not too used to meat, except for yours, of course. But that’s a meager Texarkana tube steak.
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