Almost two-thirds of people celebrating St Patrick's Day have no idea who the priest was, a survey claims.
Guinness sales rise dramatically every year on 17 March as people across the world mark the event.
But its true meaning has been forgotten - or never learnt - by many, according to the Manchester Irish Festival.
Organisers quizzed 2,000 people taking part in its festival parade but only 40% knew of the Christian missionary, who is the patron saint of Ireland.
Massive event
Manchester Irish Festival treasurer Patrick Marmion said: "People these days tend to celebrate St Patrick's Day with a massive party.
"The results found that the majority of Irish revellers believed St Patrick's Day meant wearing the Shamrock, sampling the Guinness and modelling the seasons must-have novelty hat.
"It has turned into an event where people go out and catch up with friends for a few drinks.
"In Ireland itself, the majority of people would take the opportunity to go to Mass - but also find time to have a few Guinness."
Teenage slave
Folklore tells how the priest, who was eventually elevated to the post of bishop, drove snakes out of Ireland.
The story is thought to symbolise ...   more »

By Solly Ganor
FrontPageMagazine.com |
Five years ago, I had a conversation with a young Palestinian student who in short precise terms explained how Islam will defeat the West. The conversation opened my eyes to a much larger picture in which Israel plays only a minor role in the Islamic game of conquest. Since then I tried to speak to some Arabs who come to pray at the Mosque, but they were not as outspoken as the student.
Last week, I had another conversation with an Israeli Arab construction boss by the unlikely name of Francis who was in charge of building a villa near our house in Herzelia. He told me that his family was Christian, and his name was given to him in honor of the Franciscan monks. Our conversation was as interesting as the first conversation I had with the Arab student five years ago and I would like to share it with you. Francis frequently parked his car near our house and we would exchange polite greetings.
About a week ago, the water was shut off for repairs in the house he was building, and Francis asked me if I could give him some hot water ...   more »

A school in England attempting to be politically correct toward Muslims ended up offending them even more when it changed the name of its rendition of "The Three Little Pigs."
The Honley Church of England Junior School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, decided that since pigs are offensive to Muslims, it should rework the classic tale and call it "The Three Little Puppies" instead, according to the Daily Mail of London.
Islamic leaders, however, condemned the move as misguided and said decisions like this were turning Muslims into "misfits" in society.
About 250 children, ages 7 to 11, were to perform "The Three Little Pigs" at Huddersfield Town Hall in June. But at a recent committee meeting, the organizers of the Kirklees Primary Music Festival decided to change the script to be "sensitive" to Muslims.
"We have to be sensitive if we want to be multi-cultural. It was felt it would be more responsible not to use the three little pigs," said committee member Gill Goodswen, head teacher of Stile Common Junior School, according to the London paper.
"We feared that some Muslim children wouldn't sing along to the words about pigs."
Goodswen said there was no complaint that prompted the ...   more »

Source: Ha'aretz
Mar 16, 2007
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad heaped scorn on the international community on Thursday over its feeble attempts to halt Iran's nuclear program.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany finally agreed on Thursday on a package of additional sanctions to impose on the Islamic Republic in light of its continued defiance.
Those measures will reportedly include a ban on Iranian military exports and freezing the assets of additional individuals and companies tied to Iran's nuclear program.
Speaking to his own state-run media, Ahmadinejad scoffed at the agreement and the Security Council resolution it will form the basis of, noting that Iran is already capable of maintaining its nuclear cycle without outside assistance.
What are you seeking to prevent [Iran] from achieving? Today, the Iranian nation fully possesses the nuclear fuel cycle. If all of you gather and also invite your ancestors from hell, you will not be able to stop the Iranian nation.
Israeli leaders have sharply criticized the international community for failing to take strong enough measures to stop Iran before it was too late.
Many now expect that Iran will obtain nuclear weapons barring military intervention by either Israel or ...   more »