By Shane Goodman shane@dmcityview.com

Magically delicious

Now, I realize that the Goodman name certainly doesn’t have an Irish ring, but my creamy-white freckled skin and freshly-sprouted red beard are dead giveaways for my heritage.

Like many of you, I am a mixed breed — mostly Irish and some American Indian on my mother’s side; half French and half German on my dad’s. But since I am more Irish than anything else, and since many of my relatives could pass for the guy on the Lucky Charms box, I proudly accept it.

An observant man once said that we Irish don’t know what we want, but we are prepared to fight to the death to get it. Others have claimed that we ignore anything we can’t drink or punch. But we Irish have a humorous side, too, like the time we gave the bagpipes to the Scotts as a joke. The Scotts haven’t figured it out yet.

But today, heritage doesn’t come into play much, at least not for middle-aged white guys in milquetoast Iowa. That all changes for one day, March 17. When else would Iowans drink anything green? Or eat such tasty delights as corned beef and cabbage? And aside from farmers who receive green apparel with the purchase of seed corn and combines, why would so many Iowans adorn themselves with the color of pickles?

Well, one day a year, we are all Irish, and not just the 13 percent in Polk County who claim the ancestry. This week’s cover packs information about numerous local celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day, along with some history for those of you who are in it for more than just a good drunk. Reporter Andrew Brink (a fellow Irishman) takes us on a Central Iowa tour to see what a number of Des Moines area establishments have to offer. He also shares a great discussion with Bob Conley, the founding member of Des Moines’ chapter of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the group that organizes Des Moines’ annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

So, for one day, slap on some green and do what we Irish do. But be careful, as the local police don’t buy into that luck-of-the-Irish thing like we do.

Thanks for reading.

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