The Launch of "Eat, Pray, Angst"

I almost named this blog, “Drink, Pray, Angst…” But, confession time: to me, a pint of Guinness is more an object of curiosity than lust. And I didn’t want to turn off any fellow searchers, who, like me, would much rather have a chocolate bar than anything the least bit alcoholic—unless it’s one of those liqueur-filled chocolate truffles. As for my search across America—well, it’ll be more within a 100-mile radius of Seattle. And mostly virtual, rather than actual. But on to my point…

Here in America, people love Irish stories.

I think so, anyway. But if you want proof, look at what’s hot—well, at least very warm—in American culture these days. Celtic Woman, a quartet of Irish singers, is on a national tour. On Broadway, there’s “The Pirate Queen,” a musical brought to you by the makers of Le Miz and Riverdance, and the more literary offering, “Translations.” In film, the Irish musical “Once,” an indie favorite, recently cracked Entertainment Weekly’s Top Twenty. You’re a reader? How about Irish author Maeve Binchy’s “Whitethorn Woods,” on the New York Times bestseller list this spring? Then there’s the perennially popular folks like U2 and Frank McCourt. I could go on, but you get my drift.

From the earliest Irish immigration, the Irish have brought their culture with them—then proceeded to develop a huge fan base. It’s easy to see how—in “Booking Passage,” poet and author Thomas Lynch, says there are 40 million people of Irish descent in the U.S. alone. But the way Irish people and stories are so much a part of our cultural landscape, I don’t think it’s only Irish-Americans keeping the spirit going. Being a fan of any and all things Irish myself, I’ve set out on a quest to find both the high-profile and the more subtle Irish and Irish-American connections on this side of the pond.

I hope my search captures your imagination too. Feel free to share your own discoveries!