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Thankful for the Luck O’ the Irish

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Tampa chapter.

The Irish have given us one of the most favorable drinking days of the year, but what else can we thank them for?

1. Shepard’s Pie and Corned Beef and Cabbage

A typical Irish meal

2. The Tattoo Machine

Samuel O’Reilly, born to Irish immigrants, patented the first electric tattoo machine.

3. Color Photography

John Joly, an Irish physicist, invented the first successful process for color images.

4. Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars

You know the song you danced to with your middle school crush? You can thank the Irish band, Snow Patrol, for that.

5. AED

Professor James Pantridge produced the first portable defibrillator.

6. Claddagh Rings

Love, loyalty, and friendship – that’s all there is to say about these popular rings.

7. Border Collies

DOGS DOGS DOGS

8. The Submarine

Want to know how the U.S. Navy can go underwater? John Phillip Holland, an Irish engineer, developed the first submarine to be commissioned by our Navy.

9. Liam Neeson

If you ever get abducted in a foregin country, you can thank Ireland for knowing who to call.

10. The proverb “wine reveals the truth”

Sceitheann fíon fírinne

Well, we probably could have figured this one out the hard way, but thanks to the Irish we didn’t have to.

11. The set of Saving Private Ryan

The Irish Defense Forces supplied over 2,000 men to act as extras in this film and it took place on Ballinesker Beach, Curracloe Strand.

12. Leprechauns

I don’t know about you, but every time I play Kings and the rule is “Little Green Man”, this is who I picture.

13. The word “hooligan”

An acceptable word to use to describe your friends

14. Leaving milk and cookies for Santa

I guess Santa has some thanking to do, too. Traditionally, families would leave a pitcher of milk and some sweet bread out for Mary and Joseph to come rest in their homes the night of Christmas Eve.

15. Flavored Potato Chips

When you need a little salt in your life, thank Joe “Spud” Murphy for thinking of giving us some flavor.

16. St. Patrick

St. Patrick spent time converting the Irish to Christianity and passed away on March 17th, hence St. Patrick’s Day.

 

17. Guinness

Did you really think I wouldn’t include beer?

Ashley is a third year student at the University of Tampa in sunny Florida. The three things she can't live without? Puppies, coffee, and pizza.
Hi, I'm Chanel. I'm a Sophomore at the University of Tampa with a major in Public Health. I laugh at horror movies, don't understand romantic movies, and cry during documentaries. I am vegetarian, but I will make an exception for pepperoni pizza rolls because the plain cheese are just plan disgusting. I dream of owning a cuddly pet chicken and a tiny home. Hm... I also enjoy torturing myself by spending an hour and half in a 105 degree room to practice Bikram Yoga. That is all.