Saturday 9

 

Southside Irish

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

 

Saturday 9: Southside Irish (1984)

Not familiar with this week's song? Hear it here.

 

1. This week's song was chosen because it's something of an anthem in Chicagoland around St. Patrick's Day. Can you name another song that makes you think of St. Patrick's Day or Ireland? 

 

2. The Irish Choir sings that the "craic" is always best among the Windy City Irish. "Craic" is Irish for "fun" and "high spirits." Are you planning anything fun this weekend?

Yes. We’re going out Saturday night.  We are seeing a concert by Burton Cummings.  He was the lead singer in a 1960’s band called The Guess Who.

3. They tell us that their fathers came over from Mayo, Cork and Donegal. Where did your ancestors hail from?

Funny you should ask,  I recently did a DNA test from Ancestry.com.

My paternal grandparents were born in Ukraine.  My maternal grandfather was born in a city that was then part of Russia but is now part of Poland,  and my maternal grandmother was born in a village that was then part of Austria but is now part of Poland.

So is it any wonder that my DNA results show I’m 100% Ashkenazi Jewish?

4. The lyrics mention the rivalry between Chicago's two baseball teams. As Spring Training 2025 draws to a close, how do you feel about your baseball team's chances this season?

The Mets look good.  I’m happy Alonso re-signed, sorry to see Iglesias go, and worried about Alvarez’s broken hand, but I think we’ll be ok.

 

5. The Chicago River is dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Does your community do anything to special for the holiday? 

I apparently live in an Irish neighborhood, because many of my neighbors have decorated their homes with shamrocks and leprechauns.  We don’t do anything formal here, but there are parades in neighboring communities this weekend, and I’m sure a lot of my neighbors will be heading into Manhattan Monday for the parade.

 

6. While this week's song focuses on the Irish population of Chicago, it's not the U.S. city with the highest percentage of citizens of Irish ancestry. According to the 2020 census, Boston is #1. Have you ever been to Boston? 

Many times,  it’s a lovely city.

7. On Monday, which is St. Patrick's Day, do you plan to wear green?

I don’t think I have anything green in my wardrobe.

8. Clovers are a recognized symbol of St. Patrick's Day, and a four-leaf clover is believed to bring good luck. Have you ever seen a four-leaf clover?

No.

9. Black coffee with whiskey and whipped cream is Irish Coffee. What's your standard coffee order?

Coffee with milk or half-and-half.  No sugar.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!