My grandmother, Catherine Durkin Moore, was born in 1886.  She could remember seeing the signs in windows of shops and offices: HELP WANTED: IRISH NEED NOT APPLY.

My high school history teacher told us that people used to say that the best thing about the invention of the wheelbarrow is that it enabled the Irish to walk on their hind legs.

My dad told me that on St. Patrick’s Day, there are only two kinds of people: those who are Irish, and those who wish they were.

With all due respect to Dad, I know that’s not true.  Why would you want to be Irish when you have your own family heritage that is just as grand and wonderful—as they all are.