Bridging Oceans and Generations: The Irish Thread that Binds us.

Céad Míle Fáilte, and you are very welcome to this week’s Letter from Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day weekend! This week, we explore the Irish thread that connects generations of families across continents. I’m sitting here in County Cork with a cup of Barry’s tea, watching the first true signs of spring emerge across the countryside. I hope you’ll join me with a cup of whatever you fancy as we share a few thoughts on this most Irish of seasons.

There’s something magical about St. Patrick’s Day, transcending simple celebration. Have you noticed how it connects the global Irish family like no other occasion? Whether you’re in Boston, Brisbane, or anywhere in between—for one day, the world seems united by that distinctive shade of green.

I was chatting with Mary from our Green Room community last week. Her great-grandparents left Cobh in 1892 with little more than hope and determination. And five generations later, her family in Minnesota still pins shamrock to their coats and makes her great-grandmother’s soda bread recipe every March 17th. “It’s like holding a piece of home we’ve never actually seen,” she told me.

This invisible connection—this green Irish thread—stretches across oceans and generations, binding together some 80 million people of Irish descent worldwide. It weaves through our DNA, our family stories, our traditions and values. While the Irish thread may thin at times, it never breaks.

I’m reminded of what one of our readers shared on our Facebook page: “Ireland is green and beautiful but being Irish is more than a place. After all, we are everywhere and have made our mark on the world!” How true those words ring.

What traditions will you honour this St. Patrick’s Day? Perhaps you’ll attend a local parade, prepare a family feast, or simply wear a touch of green in quiet acknowledgment of your heritage. Maybe you’ll share stories of your Irish ancestors with younger generations, passing along that precious Irish thread for safekeeping.

You may even raise a glass and toast “Sláinte!” to those who came before—those courageous souls who crossed seas and built new lives while keeping Ireland alive in their hearts. Their strength flows in your veins, their stories remain etched in your family history.

As we approach March 17th, I invite you to reflect on your own connection to Ireland. How does that green thread manifest in your life? What Irish characteristics do you see in yourself and your family? Is it resilience, storytelling, humour, hospitality, or perhaps that rebellious spirit so many mentioned in previous conversations?

Whatever form it takes, know that you’re part of something remarkable—a global family connected by heritage, history, and heart.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ort!

(pronounced “ban-ock-tee na fay-la paw-drig urt”)

St. Patrick’s Day blessings to you and all your family!

Slán for now,

Mike and Carina.