Irish Birthday party

Irish step dancer costume

Several years ago, for my sister's tenth birthday, we did an Irish-themed party since she loves Ireland as well as all things the color green!

Our Mum decorated by draping shamrock fabric over the window valance, and placing a bit of ''rainbow'' over the fan! The birthday girl loved it all. :)



Irish woodland party table



The table was decorated as an Irish woodland, with a real log in the center, little handmade gnomes wearing green shirts, a green teddy bear waving an Irish flag, little woodland creatures such as foxes and rabbits, and more.

(note: Norwegian flags stand for the fact that Ireland was first settled by Vikings.

Thanks to P.B for pointing out that many Irish inherited their signature brilliant color of

 red hair from the Norse!)

I made this step dancer costume for my sister's doll Kirsten. In this picture, it is modelled by

a more Irish-looking doll. :)

On the birthday, even the weather co-operated with the theme by acting very wet and green!

(rare for the middle of September in Missouri!)

Of course on the birthday, we watched a video of Riverdance. (which is amazing for the most part!)

And the birthday cake was.....

A log cake!

You can easily make this delightful cake; there are dozens of recipes online!

such as here, here, or here!

Enjoy.

(pictures are actually from a different, more recent birthday party when we also made a log cake.)

(The very happy birthday girl with her log cake, which was decorated with meringue mushrooms!)

Try making  meringue mushrooms!

And another cute idea which we discovered later is... green pepper shamrocks!

I hope you are inspired to do a little Irish party this weekend!

Or any time this spring!

Or even for a September birthday, as we did. :)

Be Thou My Vision

A favourite Irish hymn...

BE THOU MY VISION

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;


Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.


Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,


Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;


I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;


Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;


Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;


Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;


Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:


Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,


Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:


Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,


High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,


May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!


Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,


Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.




note: images public domain from here

(Be Thou My Vision instrumental)