By Alex Garrett
Every St. Patrick’s Day , I learn something new about St. Patrick himself. This year, I finally learned that he was born of ROMAN parents, yes St. Patrick was born Italian. After being held as prisoner in Ireland at the age of 16, his faith increased during those years and he eventually became a missionary to Ireland in 432!
I love that on St. Patrick’s Day New York City and the world celebrate the Irish and the heritage the way we do. It’s beyond just hitting the bar, it’s honoring how special the Irish are to building America and how impactful Irish immigration was for our beginnings, I’ll write about that in another post.
I also learned from my Italian radio friends like Joe Piscopo and Arthur Aidala it’s also a week to honor St. Joseph as well as St. Patrick.
Fact is whenever Irish and Italian holidays coincide it’s so fitting because the Irish and the Italians BUILT THIS CITY and AMERICA, TOGETHER! It’s even more inspiring to know St. Patrick was an Italian helping out the Irish people, through bringing Christianity and hope!
In the spirit of these two Saints, may we continue to roll our sleeves up like those who came before us and together continue growing what was built for us by the Irish and the Italians generations ago!
And it turns out my family line is Jameson thanks to my great great great great grandfather Charles Jameson. According to my mom, he would be very proud of where I am today and how fierce I laud my Irish heritage .
Erin Go Bragh!
OneLegUpAlex 