Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! What are the Irish most noted for? Their mouth-watering food, their poets and authors, music and dancing? Their folklore?
Their Amish community? Huh?
Last week, when I told a friend I was posting a blog on Saint Paddy’s Day, she asked about the Amish living in Ireland. I told her there weren’t any. But the idea niggled in my head.
I scanned Google, but knew not to accept what I stumbled upon as reliable. So I contacted noted professor and author, Donald B. Kraybill, the ultimate authority on Amish. He affirmed my statement. “There are NO Amish in Ireland,” he wrote. “We define Amish as horse and buggy driving. It’s possible that there are some Beachy Amish in Ireland. They are plain dressing, car driving folks who left the Amish in the early 20th century. But for many reasons are not Amish.”
According to one article I read, The Dunmore East congregation is part of the Beachy Amish Mennonite faction, which emerged in 1927 and is known for being more worldly than other Amish groups. Old Order Amish avoid most modern technology such as electricity and the Internet, but these Beachy Amish (what they call themselves) drive cars, live in modest contemporary homes and use phones. The church owns its own Website! In the photo of their church —Old Order Amish don’t worship in churches— it is surrounded by automobiles. Contradictions abound. But I don’t want to bore you to tears when you could be cooking Irish stew!
Why do you think the Irish are steeped in myths and folklore? What’s so special about clovers? Are you wearing green today so don’t get pinched? What’s your favorite Irish dish? Do you ever cook it at home?
Leave a comment and enter to win these two Amish-potholders from Lancaster County, PA, and one signed book from the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy. USA & Canada only. Winner has 3 days to respond.
Happy St Patrick’s Day!!!
Thanks for writing & entering the giveaway, Angie! Happy St Patrick’s Day to you!
What a treat. I love those potholders! Especially the rooster!
That rooster was selected for me by an Old Order Amish woman who is a delight, Kathryn! Thanks for entering the giveaway!
I would love to go to Ireland some day! I would be interesting if Amish did love in Ireland considering the Irish traditions are steeped on folklore and superstition. The Amish would fit in the background of Ireland considering their love of the land.
Thanks for writing, Hannah! It would be interesting, indeed. Good luck in the giveaway!
I wasn’t sure so I’m glad Donald was able to clear that up. Yes I’m wearing green today, half Scott / Irish and German. Grandpa called us Heinz57!
I am indebted to Donald for generously sharing his years of research, Cathy! You sound like a lovely combination. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
I love homemade things. The potholders are really neat!
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Joyce! Good luck!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Thanks, Paula! Happy St. Patrick’s day to you & good luck in the giveaway!
Happy St. Pat’s Day! Thanks for a chance to win 🙂
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Michelle! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!
Happy St. Patricks Day 🙂
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Liz! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!
I love the pot holders and I love your books and would love to win, as to Amish from Ireland I don’t know but its something to learn about. google here I come. I am Scotch Irish English and German, so I guess today is 1/4 my day ha ha
I didn’t need to google….I just needed to read further down the page.
Thanks, Sharon! Good luck in the Giveaway!
As I read your post there are no Amish in Ireland with the break away Beachy Amish whom broke away in the early twenties. As for your give aways this month I would be a happy Irish gal to win one or o. ther
Happy Green Eye’s a smiling to you!
Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the giveaway, Regina! I’d love to see those green eyes smiling should you win. Good luck!
From what I have read, they are a small group, making their move into Ireland in the 90s…is this correct?
Now that I read your blog, I see it was not totally correct. These were the Beachy Amish.
Beachy Amish-Mennonite, Virginia. Not Old Order Amish, for many reasons. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway. Good luck!
Happy St Pat’s day to one and all, I live near Savannah Ga and we do Ireland proud with all the whoopla on this day with the sharing of the green….everywhere. Our parade usually has the Gentle Giants (Budweiser horses) and is a wonderful day where all are Irish this day.
I like the cute potholders and always like reading your books,thanks for giveaway.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to you, Pauline! Thanks for writing and good luck in the Giveaway!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Thanks for a chance to win.
Thanks for writing and entering the Giveaway, Deborah! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!
I would love to be Irish Amish
An interesting thought, Nancy! Did you go to their Website? http://www.anabaptistireland.org/about-us/ I don’t know any Amish who worship in a church or use the Internet. Thanks for writing and good luck in the Giveaway!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Would love to win.
Thanks for entering the Giveaway, Sharon. Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day too!
Happy St. Patrick’s day!! That was interesting, I love to learn more about Amish all the time. I love the stew and the corn beef and cabbage. I eat it out though no one in my family will eat the cabbage. I so love it. I do have a bit of Irish in me I am told. The pot holders are adorable love to win!!! Tope of the morning to you!!!
Blessings
Diana
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, Diana! I wrote “mouth-watering” under that stew because if I could I’d eat every bit, including the yummy cabbage! Good luck in the Giveaway!
Happy St Patrick’s Day to everyone.
Thanks, Kathy! Happy St Patrick’s Day to you too and good luck in the giveaway!
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!
I agree with you, Rachel! Thanks for entering the Giveaway!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day May we all have the luck ‘o the Irish.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, Jane! May you have good luck in the Giveaway!
I love cooked cabbage so it is a treat on St. Patrick’s Day. I don’t search for four leaf clovers but I do enjoy the Christian link to St. Patrick. Thank you for this interesting article and giveaway.
Blessings,
Connie
cps1950@gmail.com
Our St. Patrick’s Day tradition involves me doing lots of cooking…Corned beef, a cabbage and apple slaw, potatoes and Irish soda bread. Followed by mint chocolate chip ice cream while watching the John Wayne / Maureen O’Hara classic, The Quiet Man. So y’all know what I’m doing tonight 🙂
Oh, yum, yum, yum, Lisa-Ann! Have fun tonight!
I am Irish & love reading Amish literature. Would love to have these in my kitchen. Happy St. Pattie’s Day
Happy St. Pattie’s Day to you, Karen! Thanks for entering the Giveaway. Good luck!
Happy St Patrick’s Day!! Thank you for another great giveaway
Thanks for writing, Lorraine! Happy St Patrick’s Day to you and good luck in the Giveaway!
Very interesting to hear about the Irish side of amish living.
Thanks for paying my blog a visit and entering the Giveaway, Mary! Good luck!
Kate, I was born a Mullvain and married a Mulligan. Of course I cook Irish dishes at home! We love corn beef and cabbage and of course, Shepherd’s Pie. Then there’s meet pasties. We don’t eat those as much as we used to, bein’ that we’re older now. All the fat, y’know. :o)
Hi, Ane! You married the right man. How did you get so lucky? If you cook Irish dishes at home, he married the right woman! Now, I’m hungry …
So excited for this contest!!!! I love St. Paddy’s day. I have on my cute pj pants with green fileagree….(misspelled), have St. Paddy sloppy joes for lunch, looked for 4 leaf clovers,,,,didn’t find one. All in all having a great day!!!!!!
I’m delighted you’re having a great St. Paddy’s Day, Sue! sounds fun. Good luck in the Giveaway!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Really cute potholders!
Thanks for entering the Giveaway, Sheryl! Good luck & Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I am part Irish and I do cook a little bit of Irish food. Good article about the Amish.
Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the Giveaway, Sheila! Your family is fortunate to have a good cook in the house. Good luck!
Never thought about there being Irish Amish!!!
I’d never thought about it either, PJ! The more research I did the more evident was the verdict. Still, I am in Donald Kraybill’s debt for settling the case. He is the expert. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
I never even thought to consider the question of Amish Irish until you asked it! I have always wished I had Irish blood in me, and have read many Irish stories, or stories centered around Irish people. Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite authors. I admired the stories of the many Irish people who fled the famine and poverty in their own country and came to America looking for a better life. I was heartbroken when I read of them being taken advantage of when they came here and many basically becoming slaves for rich Americans. So unfair! Thanks for the giveaway, those potholders are really cute!
I enjoyed several of Maeve Binchy’s novels, Connie! Many groups, including Italians, were impoverished in this country for years. The Irish persevered and grew in stature, a few even becoming president. Thanks for entering the Giveaway!
Top of the afternoon to you laddies……..loving a day set aside for the Irish !!!!
Thanks for stopping by to enter the Giveaway and spread good cheer, Patty! You have the perfect name for the day. Hope it’s been fun!
Never thought about it before -kind of neat. the potholders are so pretty! Have a Happy St. Patrick’s day!
May the luck of the Irish be with you, I love this day everyone seems happier in their green so they don’t get the leprechaun pinch. Also love those pot holders
They do seem happier in their green, don’t they, Janet? Good luck in the giveaway!
Thanks for entering the Giveaway, Vicki! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I am Irish by my history and love this day, it was my parents anniversary too. I never thought if they had Amish in Ireland but loved reading this.
What a delightful way to remember your parents’ anniversary, Pat! Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the Giveaway!
There is something magical about believing in what you can’t always see and the stories that are passed down from generation to generation. Most everyone likes to think about finding that special (clover) gift. Yes, I’m wearing green proudly, my family comes from Ireland on my mothers side. My favorite dish is the boiled dinner with soda bread. We always cook and celebrate at home ( I’m not sure how far back our family stopped drinking, but there will be ice tea served with dinner, not beer.)
How wonderful that your family cooks a traditional Irish meal, Sparkle! Oh, the thought of it makes me hungry. I also love soda bread. Thanks for writing and good luck in the Giveaway!
It never occurred to me that there possibly could be Irish Amish! That would make a good story line for a book. I would love the chance to read your books. Thank you for the chance to win!!!
If you haven’t read one of my books, I hope you get a chance soon, Linda! Thanks for leaving a comment and entering the Giveaway. Good luck!
I have all of your trilogy except for Pennsylvania Patchwork! Would love to win this story. I have my green Crocs on today for a double jig to The Irish Washerwoman song ~ my hands and feet just won’t stay still. Happy St. Paddy’s Day, half-Irish Kathleen 😀
That Irish Stew looks d~e~l~i~c~i~o~u~s
You simply must get a copy of Pennsylvania Patchwork, half-Irish Kathleen! Thanks for your delightful comment that put a smile on my face. Yes, that’s stew does look delicious! Good luck in the giveaway!
Happy St Patrick’s Day! Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂
Happy St Patrick’s Day to you, Deborah! Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Love the pot holders!
Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the giveaway, Dorie! Hope you enjoyed a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I thought they existed but not for sure
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Julia! Good luck!
happy st. pattys day and would love the pot holders there beautiful
Happy St. Patty’s day to you, Karen. Good luck in the giveaway!
Happy St. Patty’s day. That’s a good question. Well are there?
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Yolanda! Happy St. Patty’s day!
Thanks for kind of clearing that up… I wear green because my family is onery enough to pinch me every time I get close.. LOL it is fun to see how many do wear green today.. Happy St Patrick’s Day!
dkstevensneAToutlookD OtCoM
It is fun, Deana! Festive. Thanks for entering the give away. Happy St Patrick’s Day and good luck!
Never thought about if there were Amish in Ireland. Interesting thought! Hope you had a great St. Patrick’s Day!
Thanks so much, Brenda! I hope you had a great St. Patrick’s Day too. Good luck in the giveaway!
Thank you for the contest. Your writing is one of the BEST. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
You are very kind, Betty. Much appreciated. Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
I found this article very interesting. I guess I never thought about where else you will find the Amish. I live in Pennsylvania, so we have many of them around. Great people. The potholders are cute. It would be great to win them. As for St. Patrick’s Day meal, I planned on making corned beef and cabbage but forgot to pick up some corned beef. So it is ham and cabbage this year. 🙂 Through in some potatoes and carrots and you’ve got a yummy meal. Sure smells good in here.
Your dinner sounds scrumptious, Pat! How wonderful that you live in Pennsylvania near Amish. Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
I never thought about if there were Amish in Ireland. There might be some Irish Amish here in the U.S., especially if Englischers joined the Amish. I am Irish. And that Irish side used to be heavy drinkers. Then a great great great grandfather went to a bar and someone slipped something into his drink that made him very sick. He quit cold turkey and tried to curtail anyone else in the family from drinking. He even freaked when root beer became popular. Younger members would drink the pop and he would get upset, “What are ya given those kids beer for?”
Thanks for sharing your story about your great great great grandfather, Karen! What a terrific gentlemen. Good luck in the giveaway!
Thanks for the contest. The stew looks fabulous!
Thank you for entering the contest, Roxanne! Yes, that stew does look delicious.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We would love the potholders, but would really enjoy the book.
If you’d really like one of my books I am delighted, Nora! Thanks so much for entering the giveaway. Happy St. Patrick’s Day and good luck!
Happy St Patty Day to you to,i am part Iris,but don’t no what part and German and Indian thanks for the givingaway.
You sound like a lovely combination, Barbara! Thanks for entering the giveaway. Good Luck. I hope you’ve enjoyed a Happy St. Patty’s Day!
On St. Patricks day there’s a little bit o Irish in everyone!! Love your books!
I think you’re right, Sabina, as I saw a lot of green today and many smiles! Thanks for your lovely compliment. Good luck in the Giveaway!
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day Katie would love to win your book and love the potholders! Hope to win:)
Thanks for writing and entering the Giveaway, Sarah! Hope you had a fun Saint Patrick’s Day. Good luck in the contest!