Poetry Corner

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig

By Brid Ewing

Newtowncunningham Co Donegal

On the 17th of March,from Toronto to Times Square,

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated everywhere.

In Montreal and Oslo, Tokyo and Adelaide,

Throughout the world, to our apostle honour is paid.

The Chicago River with green is dyed,

All the Irish Diaspora celebrate with pride.

They pay tribute to our Patron Saint esteemed,

With parades, song and music, and the wearing of the green.

Irish exiles are united, though oceans may divide,

Remembering Naomh Pádraig with reverence and pride.

World landmarks turn green – like China’s Great Wall,

Sydney’s Opera House, Leaning Tower, London Eye and the Niagara Falls.

Placenames like Downpatrick keep his name centre stage,

And Croagh Patrick with the annual Reek Pilgrimage.

He’s remembered in Slemish and Lough Derg in Donegal,

By fasting and praying,honouring his call.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate is a powerful prayer for protection,

His gospel of love and Divine connection.

He bequeathed us a legacy, bountiful and rich.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig duit.

Festival of food and fun

From left to right, Liam Rossiter of Liam Rossitter Butcher, Steven McMahon from X35, Michael Sheehan, owner of The Wine Buff, Eunice Power, CEO Waterford Festival of Food, Susan Denn from The Interlude Restaurant, chef Paul Flynn from The Tannery Restaurant, Townhouse and Cookery School and Fergal Walsh, Dún Artisan Bakery. \ Joleen Cronin

Mark 25-27 April in your diaries because that’s when the Waterford Festival of Food returns to Dungarvan for its 16th year. One of Ireland’s longest-running celebrations of food, community, and connection, the event hosts farmers, fishermen, artisan producers and chefs, including this year’s visiting chef Danni Barry, Ireland’s first female Michelin star chef.

The festival will also launch ‘Sound Bites’, an exhibition offering visitors a chance to hear the stories of people behind Waterford’s culinary food scene.

See waterfordfestivaloffood.com

FLIARA project in Italy

Aisling Murtagh, University of Galway, Ursula Kelly, Cormac Tagging, Tara Farrell, Longford Womens Link, Maura Farrell, University of Galway, Anne Kinsella, Teagasc, Teresa Roche, IFA Farm Family Committee, Louise Weir, University of Galway. \ EU FLIARA project .

The FLIARA project (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas) team met in Rende, Italy at its third Community of Practice.

The event, aiming to foster stronger support systems for female-led innovation in the rural and agricultural sector, brought together over 70 participants from across Europe, including researchers, policymakers, and representatives from agricultural and community organisations.

Sustainable ag students represent Ireland

Seven third-year students from the BSc in Sustainable Agriculture programme at Dundalk Institute of Technology will travel to Spain to represent Ireland, following winning performances in the Green Job = Dream Job Video Competition.

The contest which challenged students to create trailer videos on themes of sustainable agriculture, farm diversification, and green innovation, was organised by the AgriNext project. The final round of the competition which will take place in Córdoba in April.

Irish tradition?

Believe it or not, St Patrick’s Day parades didn’t start in Ireland – they actually originated in America. Irish immigrants in cities like New York and Boston began marching in the 1700s to celebrate their culture and heritage.

The tradition caught on, but Ireland didn’t have an official parade until 1903. New York remains the largest St Patrick’s parade in the world, and Dublin is also one of the biggest.

Exciting Agricultural media partnership

From left: Eoghan Lehan, Irish Heritage Trust (IHT), Willie French, Irish Agricultural Museum, Ciara Leahy, Irish Country Living, Anne O’Donoghue CEO IHT, Tony Larkin IHT, William Minchin, CEO The Agricultural Trust, Avril Doyle IHT,Matt Wheeler, Johnstown Castle, Sheena Hopper, The Agricultural Trust.

The Agricultural Trust is delighted to announce a new media partnership with the Irish Agricultural Museum at Johnstown Castle Estate Museum & Gardens, managed by the Irish Heritage Trust. Anne O’Donoghue, CEO of the Irish Heritage Trust says, “Our work at The Irish Heritage Trust is guided by the principles of ‘People, Place, and Participation’.

"We are delighted that this partnership will allow us to highlight and share the stories and people connected with the Irish Agricultural Museum in Johnstown Castle. This partnership will enhance public awareness and appreciation of Ireland’s agricultural heritage.”

See ifj.ie/AgMuseum

Cúpla focal

GaelGoer, a new free app which aims to connect Irish speakers of all levels, was launched this month following two years of research and development.

Nóirín Ní Bhraoin, founder of the app, explains: “As the saying goes “is beatha teanga í a labhairt” [the life of a language is in the speaking] and, following some research, I was taken aback by how many opportunities I was missing to speak our native language due to being unable to identify fellow Gaeilgoirí.

“We couldn’t be happier to get the app off the ground and we can’t wait to welcome the wider Irish speaking community to the platform.”

Gaelgoer is available to download via iOS and Android. For more information, check out gaelgoer.ie