By MARY KASPER

Next week, whether you know it or not or whether you care or not, the Irish will prevail on Mar. 17. Again all the lads and lasses of the Irish descent will be able to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. You are probably wondering how St. Patrick's Day began so here's the whole story ....

Once upon a time a very, very, tiny leprechaun with very, very big and pointy ears and tiny, tiny shoes that curled up lived in a tree. (No, I'm very sorry to say he did not bake cookies in a hollow tree!) Every day he had to make his own meals, and every day he made clover stew, clover bread, and clover cake. And before he knew it, clovers (or as we know them) shamrocks were growing all around the tree where he lived. Then the whole forest was invaded by giant shamrocks and the forest was renamed Shamrock Forest. Well, if you believe that story, I have some nice land for sale down in Florida (swamps and alligators included). Here is the true story ....

Back in about 420, in Britain, a young man was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland to herd sheep (exciting job, huh?) This young man was called Patrick. Patrick soon escaped his slavery and went to France, where he became a monk. A vision then sent him back to Ireland to be a missionary bishop.

Patrick became very famous and was then known as the person who found Ireland all heathen and left it all Christian." Many legends grew up about St. Patrick, one being that he charmed a plague of snakes down to the seashore, where the snakes then drowned. The Shamrock came into being because Patrick planted the three‑leafed clover to illustrate the idea of the Holy Trinity.

The date, Mar. 17, is the day St. Patrick died, and this day has been remembered and celebrated since colonial days. When Mar. 17 rolls around next week, anyone who feels even a twinge of Irish should go to the nearest McDonalds and treat him self to a shamrock shake.