St. Patrick and Eoin Colfer

.

 

In Ireland, March 17^th is a Holy Day, celebrated with a special Mass and city parades.  This day usually falls during Lent, and drinking is minimal during this time.  But, the moment Lent is over...

St. Patrick changed the history of Ireland back in the 400s AD.  Through his understanding and compassion for the Irish people, Patrick converted the culture of druid pagan to Christianity.  Here is a web site about St. Patrick: Just Who Was ST. Patrick?

This post is in praise of an ingenious series of books by Eoin Colfer:  Artemis Fowl.  What is so great about this series?

The setting is Ireland, and the main character is the human evil genius child Artemis Fowl.  The son of a wealthy family, the twelve-year old Artemis has turned his brilliance to capturing a leprechaun, one Holly Short, captain of an elite squad of LEPs.

 

The Fey world is alive and kicking in this series.  The leprechauns are not naughty little mischievous gold stealers/hoarders.  Oh, no.  The leprechauns are an elite squad of top-notch covert operators whose missions are all directed at keeping the humans away from their world.  

 

A message written in Gnomish

There are other members of the Fey world, some very unsavory and some cooperative assistants.

 

This is a student rendering of the world beneath Ireland...

The list of Eion Colfer’s books in this series is long and delightful. There is a marvelous web site where young readers will truly enjoy themselves.

 Go to this site when you have time to spare!

This series delighted me, as an Irish person, but mainly as a teacher.  

 

It is difficult or even nigh impossible to find titles like these that will engage reluctant readers.  Boys especially are reluctant to venture into books at that middle-school age.  The Artemis Fowl series was a hit.  Each page has a line of ‘gnomish’ symbols that can be interpreted to give a message to the reader.

 

While this is not a typical St.Pat's Day post, this is a book series that captured many readers.   

Where the Waters Fall

Ireland 

flows 

with fairies, 

dances 

with leprechauns. 

Blink 

they 

disappear.

Torc Falls, Killarney

A Magic Place

Rainbow's End

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tara

For seventy years, Liam had chased every rainbow to capture a leprechaun and his pot of gold. Knowing that this would be his last rainbow, Liam slowly hobbled to the Hill of Tara.  Gasping in surprise, there sat his leprechaun.

Liam threw his rope and wrapped it around the green fella. “Ha!  I’ve caught you at last! Give me your όr (gold), you rόgaile (rascal)!”

The leprechaun sighed. “Have ye caught me at last, Ian? Been lookin’ for the όr all yer life, fear (man). I’ll give ye the gold.”  With that, he pulled out a Samsung 7 android phone, texting in some numbers. “Here you go!” and handed it to Liam.

“What?  WHAT? Bitcoins? Really?” Liam gasped.

“Worth every $8, 810.18 today!  And, ye have one hundred that, $8,810.18 times 100, so there you go, now. Redeem online." With that he faded into air. 

He left a wallet filled with ₤1,000 as an extra gift, which in American dollars is roughly $4,000.  Liam hobbled over to it and headed to O'Flanagan's Pub. No more End of the Rainbows for me.

Who was St. Patrick??

Tomorrow!  St. Padraig’s Day is TOMORROW!!

Sadly, here in the U.S.A., this special day has been twisted into ‘make-fun-of-the-Irish-Drinking’.

In Ireland, March 17^th is a Holy Day, celebrated with a special Mass and city parades.  This day usually falls during Lent, and drinking is minimal.  

St. Patrick changed the history of Ireland back in the 400s AD.  Through his understanding and compassion for the Irish people, Patrick converted the culture of druid pagan to Christianity.  Here is a web site about St. Patrick: Just Who Was ST. Patrick?

This post is in praise of an ingenious series of books by Eoin Colfer:  Artemis Fowl.  What is so great about this series?

The setting is Ireland, and the main character is the human evil genius child Artemis Fowl.  The son of a wealthy family, the twelve-year old Artemis has turned his brilliance to capturing a leprechaun, one Holly Short, captain of an elite squad of LEPs.

The Fey world is alive and kicking in this series.  The leprechauns are not naughty little mischievous gold stealers/hoarders.  Oh, no.  The leprechauns are an elite squad of top-notch covert operators whose missions are all directed at keeping the humans away from their world. 

A message written in Gnomish

There are other members of the Fey world, some very unsavory and some cooperative assistants. 

This is a student rendering of the world beneath Ireland...

The list of Eion Colfer’s books in this series is long and delightful. There is a marvelous web site where readers will truly enjoy themselves.

 Go to this site when you have time to spare!

This series delighted me, as an Irish person and as a teacher.  It is difficult or even nigh impossible to find titles like these that will engage reluctant readers.  Boys especially are reluctant to venture into books at that middle-school age.  The Artemis Fowl series was a hit.  Each page has a line of ‘gnomish’ symbols that can be interpreted to give a message to the reader.

So, in praise of Ireland and its patron saint, check out this web site and enjoy these books!