A lucky guy: Irish all year long

When it comes to weather, the St. Pat's in Five Points committee, at least in recent years, hasn't had the luck of the Irish on its side.

When it comes to authenticating all things Irish at the festival, there's no luck involved.

But Joe Kennedy is.

For two years Kennedy has been the Irish Authentication Committee chairman for St. Pat's in Five Points. (Joe Cronin served previously.)

Kennedy, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the world's oldest Catholic Irish fraternal organization, celebrated St. Pat's a week early.

Last Saturday, we hung out with him at his organization's annual St. Patrick's Ceili at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Marion Street. Ceili, pronounced kay-lee, is an Irish social event with music, food and, of course, drinks.

We were there to see exactly how Irish Kennedy is. A slight cause for alarm: The folks were eating Irish barbecue sandwiches, which, Kennedy said, was S.C. barbecue cooked by Irishmen.

Then again, how many local Irish events have someone sing the Irish national anthem? In Irish?

Kennedy also made a brilliant observation: Besides Irish, what other ethnicity can you be for just a day?

"That's one thing I think Irish of Irish heritage take pride in," Kennedy said. "On St. Patrick's Day, you're Irish for a day.

"As a matter of fact, being a past president of this division, I can declare people Irish for the month."

We sat down with Kennedy - there wasn't a Guinness on our table, but there were a few around us - and asked him about what makes him Irish, among other Irish-related things.

My Irish credentials include ... Both sets of grandparents and an aunt and an uncle were Irish immigrants (and) came here between 1912 and 1925. Also, I've been a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians for 12 years.

I became the St. Pat's in Five Points Irish authority because ... It truly is a great group of people who work very hard to accomplish something.

The party isn't the only thing the Irish like to do on St. Pat's ... We help our fellow man because the festival raises money for charities.

St. Pat was ... The man who brought Christianity to Ireland.

I'm at the Ceili because ... I am the Ceili committee chairman, and this is our division's biggest event of the year.

Irish car bombs are ... It's something that I will never drink because it will knock the green out of me. Plus, there's a little politically incorrect stereotyping to it because of the troubles that were in Northern Ireland.

What's authentic about the local festival ... We had Seven Nations a couple of years. Through us, the Rince na h'Eireann dancers have danced, and this year, a fellow from the Ancient Order of Hibernians division in Augusta - his name is Terry Wick - will have a food booth. I believe his booth will be on Saluda, and I would recommend going by for some Irish food.

The worst Irish idea I've seen at St. Pat's is ... The plastic green Irish hats.

Green is ... The Emerald Isle. I've been fortunate to go there twice, and it is a very nice green place.

So what's with the saying, Kiss me I'm Irish ... I've been trying that since I was a teenager, and ... I'm not going to tell you the results.