Here at MyJewishLearning, we’re serious about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. We started preparing a few weeks ago when I made Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes and we then went on to feature an article on the site about the history of Ireland’s Jewish community. 
Three things you probably didn’t know about Jews in Ireland:
–There have been two Jewish mayors of Dublin, and the first, John Briscoe, was also a member of the IRA. Hardcore!
–Rabbi Dr. Isaac Herzog was the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland, and went on to become the Chief Rabbi of the British Mandate of Palestine and of Israel after its independence in 1948. His son, Chaim Herzog, was born in Belfast and became President of Israel. President Herzog’s son, Isaac Herzog, is now a member of Knesset.
–There is only one known Irish Jewish casualty of the Holocaust.
Check out the article for more details.
As for your own St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, may I recommend my amazing Irish oatmeal recipe?
Tamar’s Irish Oatmeal
4 cups milk (not water)
1 cup steel cut oats
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 ½ Tablespoon Baileys Irish Cream*
salt to taste
Reserved milk, 1- 1/2 cups
Ideally, this recipe is begun the night before you want to eat it, but I almost never remember to do that. So, if you do remember, pour all the ingredients except the reserved milk into a saucepan. Cover, and let sit in the fridge overnight.
In the morning, pull out the saucepan and heat up on the stove. Boil for five minutes, stirring to prevent sticking on the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat, let sit for a couple of minutes.
If you don’t remember to do the prep the night before no worries. You’ll have to cook the oats longer (possibly as long as 30 minutes) but it will be worth it. The Bailey’s makes the oatmeal rich and decadent, but you don’t taste any alcohol, it’s just rich and sweet.
When you’re done, stir in reserved milk to prevent a crust from forming. Top with anything that makes you happy. I like a teaspoon of brown sugar, sultanas, and walnuts.
*There are people who will tell you that Baileys isn’t kosher. My understanding is that it is not chalav Yisrael, but that it is otherwise kosher. All Baileys is made in the same factory in Dublin, and among other places, the London Beit Din certifies Baileys and its Caramel and Mint flavors as kosher.
