Erin Go Braugh

In the past couple years I've taken a real interest in finding out more about my Irish heritage. I've been saving for a trip to Ireland as well. I'm hoping to make it there next year. In honor of St. Patrick's Day I'll be headed down to Newport on the Levee to drink some green beer and have my very first ever Irish Car Bomb, lol. I know I'm late but better late than never.

A little bit of history on O'Hogan:

It has been recorded as O' Hogan, Hogan, Hoggan; this is a famous Irish surname. It derives from the Old Gaelic name O' hOgain, which means male decendant of "Ogan", a nickname which literally translates as "young man". The original namebearer, Ogan, was himself descended from the uncle of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (1002 - 1014). Therefore the Hogan's descended from Kings and Queens of Irealand! The Hogans come from County Clare with adjacent parts of Counties Limerick and Tipperary. The chief resided in Ardcrony near Nenagh, County Tipperary, and today, the great majority of namebearers belong to that county.

Fun facts about St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day is religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

The actual color of St. Patrick is blue. Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.

The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.

In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green. Mayor Daley is also of Irish descent.

The phrase, "Drowning The Shamrock" is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!