The Royce Files

He allegedly drove the snakes out of Ireland. He taught a lesson on the tri-unity of God using a clover. He defied the High King of Tara. He sat atop of a mountain in County Mayo and prayed for 40 days for the Irish. He won the adoration of the entirety of Ireland despite not being Irish himself. Numerous wells, geological features, churches and towns the world over are named for him. Not bad for a religious fellow who lived over a millennium ago. And today we usually use it the possible day of his death to drink and parade and celebrate all things Irish. And let us not forget- wear green. The parading started with Irish immigrants to America and only recently was added to the mostly religious activities of the day in Ireland. The parade in town was pretty short. So short that I missed it. I got there almost 1/2 hour after the start and alas, the last float went by and it was done. It was rather chilly that day so I suspect a hasty parade was made. I did not make it to the Celti...

My town has been doing a St. Patrick's parade for a few years now. We don't exactly got a large population of Irish. I think I know a handful of directly Irish in town. Most of us are indirectly Irish in some way. According to my family tree, I've got a great grandmother who has Irish ancestry and perhaps a great great grandmother too.  Many just become a wee bit Irish to join in the libations. On to the parade. I took a few pictures. Unfortunately the best part of the parade happens in the first 5 minutes- with the historical reenactors, bagpipes, and the marching firemen in full dress. I missed that all because of a train. I couldn't cross into downtown until it passed. The rest of the parade is a bit ho-hum. Just people wearing green and occasionally throwing sweets with a few mascots thrown in for good measure. The man who usually jigged the entire route in a green tux passed away last year. It appeared his entire family came en-mass to walk or ride in the parade....

W ell another St. Patrick's Day is done and dusted. Nothing spectacular in the Go this year. The parade this weekend was rather ho-hum but it definitely looked more like a St. Patrick Parade- lots of people walking and hardly any floats. I suspect this is what it evolves to become. However, I think there should be some more imagination and creativity put into it. And there needs to be more music! I digress. In the States, St. Patrick seems to have become the patron saint of drinking. Perhaps this is the case elsewhere. I know no other day to celebrate a Christian pioneer that is celebrated with numerous pints. Somehow we lose track of Patrick and celebrate all things Irish by drenching ourselves with green beer. Although one website notes that binge drinking is normal in Ireland , I highly doubt that is for what the Irish want to have a reputation. And the cost of a pint in Ireland, I can hardly believe this is affordable behaviour. In other Irish news- violence again erupted in th...

Throngs of people descended upon Downtown Fargo on Saturday afternoon to catch the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The weather was sunny and brisk but overall pleasant. The parade seemed to lose at bit of luster from last year's parade. Absent were plenty of costumed individuals, bands, animals (other than dogs), and better candy distribution. Most units distributing candy were all out by the time they reched NP and there were plenty of children lining Broadway from there to the tracks. Could have made for a bad riot had the children risen up. The parade plodded along at points and created quite a few gaps. Entertainment was okay- there were a few dancers, a pipe and drum band and 1 guy playing the tin whistle on a truck. For ND's largest city this was a pretty mediocre showing. The spectators kept encroaching upon the parade route that you would think that someone famous was in it. This year St. Patrick didn't even show up (not in person that is) although there were ...