St. Patrick's Day is a holiday that many look forward to all year round -- both in Ireland and here in the States. After all, who doesn’t love a day filled with parades, good food, even better drinks, and all green everything? After living in Ireland for five months, I learned that there’s a lot more we have to thank the Irish for than just this fun spring holiday. Here are my top 5:
1. Halloween
That’s right -- one of our most beloved holidays actually originated in Ireland as a Celtic tradition. The roots of Halloween can be traced back to Samhain, which was a Celtic festival celebrated in ancient times in the area that is modern-day Ireland. College students can now tip their hats to the Irish for giving them two of their favorite holidays for themed parties: St. Patrick's Day and Halloween.
2. Color Photography
Believe it or not, Instagram’s great-great-great-great grandfather, original color photography, was an Irish invention. In 1894, Irish physicist and Trinity College graduate John Joly created the Joly Colour process, which was the first color photographic process using a single photographic plate that was successful. Using a Polaroid may seem retro to us now, but that’s nothing compared to the time and work that went into developing this Irish pioneer’s photographs. From millennials everywhere who are addicted to documenting their everyday lives via pictures -- thank you, John Joly.
3. Excellent Beverages
Most tourists exploring Dublin will find themselves making a trip to the Guinness Storehouse, one of the most visited attractions in Dublin, for a tour of the place and a lesson on how to pour the perfect pint. Ireland is not only home to this beloved beer, but also to some of the world’s most famous whiskeys and other beverages, like Jameson and Baileys. And if alcoholic drinks aren’t up your alley, fear not; Ireland also kills it in the tea department.
4. Irish Poetry and Literature
The Irish have excelled in poetry as a tradition and art form for centuries, and it is the birthplace of many famed poets and writers whose words are now known around the world. "The Importance of Being Earnest," by Oscar Wilde, and "Gulliver’s Travels," by Jonathan Swift, are just two of the most famous works to be produced by Irish authors. Ireland was also home to two Nobel Prize winning poets, WB Yeats and Seamus Heaney, and many other great poets and authors as well.
5. Irish Musicians
Another art form that the Irish seem to have an abundance of natural talent in is music. Perhaps their poetry skills translate well into writing lyrics, or maybe they just have a knack for music and singing, but the Irish have certainly produced some of the most beloved musicians and bands both now and in decades past. Van Morrison, six-time Grammy winner, hails from Northern Ireland, while the band U2 was formed in 1976 in Dublin. The most recent chart-topping artists to come out of Ireland include Hozier, The Script, and a quarter of One Direction, A.K.A. Niall Horan, who always proudly performs with a sticker of his country’s flag wrapped around his microphone.
Maybe I’m a little biased, seeing as I fell in love with the country after studying abroad there last semester -- but it’s undeniable that Ireland has produced some pretty awesome things that we here in the United States love to enjoy and partake in. So next time you’re enjoying a round of Guinness, Instagramming that picture of your Halloween costume, or belting out some One Direction in the shower, just remember to thank Ireland for bringing some great things into your life.
