Poetry Teatime: Saint Patricks Day
Saint Patrick’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to take a break with some tea, a treat, and a great poem or two. Ireland is a country full of amazing writers, so there is no shortage of people to pick from. Sometimes humorous, often melancholy, many times both, Irish poetry has something for everyone. Below, I’ve shared some of our favorites.
But first, let’s talk about tea and treats.
An obvious choice for an Irish tea would be an Irish breakfast tea. It is available in most grocery stores. There are also other tea blends including decaf options made by Irish companies like Barry’s, Thompson’s, and Lyons which are available widely online.
For treats, in addition to the many green options that appear in bakeries each year, you can make your own more authentic Irish recipes.
- For a less sweet option, consider Irish soda bread. Soda bread was a cheap, easy-to-make staple in Irish households especially after the Great Hunger (also called the Great Famine).
- If you find yourself having tea in a bed and breakfast or pub in Ireland, you are likely to be served shortbread as well. Store-bought options are plentiful but consider making your own Irish shortbread.
- Irish flapjacks should not be confused with pancakes. Rather, they are more similar to a granola bar. These baked bars can also be made vegan and gluten-free.
Young Learners (Elementary)
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) – Better known for his longer works including The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray, this author also penned the light-hearted and gentle poem “In the Forest” which is a lovely introduction to great Irish poetry.
Questions to consider while listening/reading:
- Where does this poem take place?
- What is the narrator observing?
- How do you feel when you read this poem? Relaxed? Scared? Excited?
Read and listen to “In the Forest” here.
Middle grades
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) is another great of Irish literature. A Nobel laureate and poet, Yeats was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. “The Song of Wandering Aengus” has roots in folktales and Irish prehistory (which is covered in more depth in History Unboxed’s Saint Patrick’s Day lesson [link]) and the Celtic dream god Aengus. In this poem, the narrator recounts a time in his youth when he catches a trout, which then turns into a girl.
This would be a great poem to illustrate. What does your learner choose to show?
Read the poem “The Song of Wandering Aengus” here.
Teens and Young Adults
One of the reasons that the people in the United States celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day is because so many Irish people immigrated to the U.S. There were Irish people in the Americas as early as the 1560s, but the vast majority arrived in the nineteenth century. They left Ireland to escape hunger, war, and religious persecution. As a result, today over 20% of U.S. citizens claim Irish heritage.
The song “The Green Fields of America” is a traditional Irish ballad of unknown authorship. It outlines the struggle of so many Irish people who did not wish to leave their homelands but were forced to through circumstances beyond their control. It is most famously performed by Irish folk musicians The Chieftains.
Listen to the ballad “The Green Fields of America” here.
Looking for more Irish poetry? Check out these titles:
I Am the Wind: Irish Poems for Children Everywhere, Edited by Lucinda Jacob and Sarah Webb
Tread Softly: Classic Irish Poems for Children, Edited by Nicola Reddy
Looking for even more about the history of Saint Patrick’s Day? Check out our Saint Patrick’s Day Unboxed digital magazine. In this lesson:
- Learn about the history of Ireland and the Celtic people
- Explore Irish-Celtic paganism and folklore
- Discover who Saint Patrick was and why he is celebrated
- Observe traditional symbols of Saint Patrick’s Day and where they came from
- Learn how to make some traditional Irish food & Crafts
- Explore history of the color green and its connection to Saint Patrick’s Day
- Take a deep dive with a recommended reading list
Rebecca McCormick is a writer and editor based in Fairfax, Virginia. She has a passion for history education and holds an MA in History of Decorative Arts. Rebecca believes that hands-on history and interacting with objects helps learning come alive for children and adults.