Top ten winners and losers from St. Patrick's Day season 2012

The best and worst from the annual Irish season in America

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, March 22, 2012, 7:22 AM

Updated Thursday, March 22, 2012, 2:43 PM

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Photograph of the Certificate of Irish Heritage presented to President Barack Obama

Photo by Fexco

Winners:

1. Irish Heritage Certificates. President Barack Obama was just one of the notables who received the certificate of Irish ancestry which is quickly becoming the must have gift for Irish Americans.

2. Enda Kenny, Irish leader got the full VIP treatment in Washington, Chicago and new York. A full day of events with President Obama , House Speaker John Boehner, VP Joe Biden and others shows the clout Ireland still has.

3. President Obama. His impassioned speech about his Irish roots delighted his crowd of Irish American supporters at the White House and sent them forth to do battle on his behalf in November

4. Cardinal Timothy Dolan - Proving a real media superstar. His sermon at St.Patrick's Cathedral on St.Patrick's morning was among his best ever

5. St.Patrick's Parade New York. Glorious sunshine and a weekend day that allowed millions to come and watch. What is not to like?

Losers:

1. Urban Outfitters, showed how little they cared about slandering an entire community as drunks and vomiting shamrockers. The lack of a public response shows their arrogance and insensitivity

2. NIke. At least they apologized but I doubt we'll see them using the 'Black and Tan' label again anytime soon.

3. US Ireland Alliance Their CEO Trina Vargo stated that Irish were "horrified" at Irish Americans over St.Patrick's Day. Way to go to build links between both countries.

4. Senator Scott Brown Massachusetts senator had stated that E 3 visas for Irish were "about to pop". Only a damp squib over St.Patrick's period when the big move failed to happen

5. PC Paddy's - Bah Humbug! New York Times and Irish Times precious op-eds saying Irish need to move over and make room for all immigrants on St.Patrick's Day parades. Political correctness knows no bounds!

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IrelandNorth | Mar 28, 2012, 07:56 AM EDT

Irishness is in your genes, not conferrable by transient Government Ministers. Gene testing would do the business. Get one done and frame it. Though if political consciousness was a determinant, this would probably rule out -40 somethings in Ireland who have had their cultural awareness concussed by designer press/media censorship and a revisionist education/bourgeois conditioning. Just read Ciara Murphy's West-Brit/Free-State posts, for God's sake.

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timbobdennehy | Mar 24, 2012, 08:24 PM EDT

I am hoping you can help! I'm looking for African Grandparents aged late 60's UPWARDS for filming next Wednesday March 28th in DUBLIN (He/she MUST be of AFRICAN descent). It’s is for the new production "13 Steps Down". If you are suitable or know of someone who is of African descent, aged 65 and living in Dublin/Wicklow areas and available for filming next Wednesday 28th please email me their pictures & date of birth

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timbobdennehy | Mar 24, 2012, 08:22 PM EDT

Casting Director for MovieExtras.ie. I am hoping you can help! I'm looking for African Grandparents aged late 60's UPWARDS for filming next Wednesday March 28th in DUBLIN (He/she MUST be of AFRICAN descent). It’s is for the new production "13 Steps Down". If you are suitable or know of someone who is of African descent, aged 65 and living in Dublin/Wicklow areas and available for filming next Wednesday 28th please email me their pictures & date of birth to Support@MovieExtras.ie

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pounder | Mar 23, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT

OBAMA IS NOT IRISH.

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BippyBellito | Mar 22, 2012, 07:59 PM EDT

May this be the only success Obama has all year! How foolish that a much of Irish can be duped by this most EVIL of men!

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Springfield9 | Mar 22, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT

The Certificate may be inching towards "loser" as they discount them and toss them out as gifts. Think of all the certificates eligible to persons in the (now deceased) British Empire - there's probably a smidgen of Irish/Soldier genes in Gondwanaland.

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Murph46 | Mar 22, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT

So,you are now pimping Irish American cert.as you wouldn't post my response about them?

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Murph46 | Mar 22, 2012, 09:54 AM EDT

I have called the Irish American certificate as trivial well before O'Bama received his.I have likened it to name a star certificates ($49.95).I and most of my Irish American friends don't need a piece of paper to tell us we are Irish.

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