Oak Harbor, about a century and a half ago, was discovered by a boatload of Irish to be near in terraine and climate to the Ould Country. Since the Celtic immigrants settled here, each March 17 is a commemorative date. Whidbey Island Irish feel that the only thing worse than being Irish is not to be Irish!

After two visits to Erin, which included kissing the Blarney Stone, watching the sun go down over Galway Bay, and sitting in the chair of the mayor of Dublin for a quick pic, we have come to the conclusion that only in America is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated with such verve and gaeity. Dublin’s fair city does not echo with sounds of the sons of the Ould Sod parading down O’Connell Street to McNamara’s Band.

One strange thing we noticed in Ireland was that pianos gracing foyers of hotels and corners of pubs were always locked. Coming from a somewhat musical family, we wondered why the instruments’ keys were secured. We are reminded of a long timre ago when our youngest son Doug was making his way home from the East Coast and stopped at an inn. Doub wandered over to the piano, sat down and began to play. When he was through the manager of the inn begged him to stay and work as a pianist.

In Ireland, leprechauns used to be sinister creatures who would play tricks on any people who crossed them. It is said the only thing a leprechaun is afraid of is a black-handled knife. An Irishman making a journey on a moonless night without a black-handled knife was asking for it.

When a very small part of the 40 million or so Irish in this country get together for a parade in Oak Harbor, they create a great deal more fun, music and dancing on one day — March 17 — than any other day of the year.

Oak Harbor’s Blarney Stone has its own leged, although there are those who would make light of it. ‘Tis said that a portion of the old Blarney Stone in Cork was taken by an Irish family to Australia where they first settled, then brought with them to Whidbey Island. While the newcomers were getting settled in a new country, the stone was almost forgotten. Then years later, but only a few years ago, the stone was brought to its honored resting place near the windmill at City Beach.

And each year on St. Patrick’s Day, the stone is kissed by honorable members of the city and Navy.

We have been asked why the arms of the windmill don’t turn. And now we have the answer: They do. At midnight on St. Patrick’s Day. But it all depends on how many pub runs the person has made.

Perhaps this year at Oak Harbor’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Dutch in their klompen and Volendam skirts will be joined by the Vikings of the Sons of Norway to walk the streets of the town. As a lovely Dutch lady once told me, “We are not Dutch. We are Americans.”

The curse of the Irish is not that they don’t know the words of a song … it’s that they know all the words.

May those who love us, love us, and those who do not love us, may God turn their hearts toward us. And if they do not turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles so we will know them by their limping.

Brush up your brogue

Oak Harbor street names may often be Dutch, but St. Patrick’s Day still is big fun in Oak Harbor. Early on the morning of March 17, leprechauns dress the town in shamrocks. No matter the weather, everyone walks or rides in the parade. The usual route is from Smith Park to the Blarney Stone at City Beach. After dignitaries kiss up to the chunk of rock, the crowd usually traipses to a local restaurant for singing and all forms of Celtic carrying-on.

The Irish Wildlife Society is calling for all the tribes of Eire and Scotland to march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade Monday, March 17, under their clan names. The society will provide signs for those tribes who call 675-0235 or 679-8531 before March 10.

All Irish-at-heart are invited to participate.

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