By Selina Frederick

Did you know that March is a great time to boost your show and your income? While St. Patrick's Day may not be one of the more heavily booked occasions, Spring Break is a time when the days can be scheduled until overflowing.

This month's special day provides many theme possibilities. Shamrocks, Leprechauns, Rainbows and Gold are all such magical things! With a little practice you can add a new routine, like 
Dick Williams' St. Patrick's Day Banner (paper tear) or simply refresh your patter or add a new joke.

Meantime, enjoy this page we've prepared just for you -- a collection of riddles, poems, songs, and good old Irish wisdom to tickle your imagination as you pack your case for the shows ahead.

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic." -Adrienne Cook

St. Patrick's Day Jokes
Is there a place in your show, or warm-up for a little St. Patrick's Day giggle? It is always fun to have a riddle or two up your sleeve for one-on-one interaction too!

When is an Irish Potato not an Irish Potato?
When it's a FRENCH fry!

What does it mean when you find a horseshoe? 
Some poor horse is going barefoot!

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Irish!
Irish who?
Irish you a happy St. Patrick's Day!

What is Barney's favorite thing on St. Patricks day? 
A BLARNEY stone!

What do you get when you cross a pillowcase with a stone? 
A sham rock.

Why did St. Patrick drive all the snakes out of Ireland? 
He couldn't afford plane fare.

What happens when a leprechaun falls into a river? 
He gets wet!

What do you get when you cross poison ivy with a four leaf clover?
A rash of good luck.

Songs and Poetry
Songs are fun for daycares and libraries or anywhere small children are gathered. Try using them to bridge one routine to another or to fill a small dead space in your presentation. Poems make great hand-clapping rhymes which are super for audience involvement!

Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little leprechaun, can't you see?
I am as tiny as can be!
I only come around just once a year
That's when St. Patrick's Day is here!

Tune: "Eensy Weensy Spider"

An eensy, weensy leprechaun
came out St. Patrick's Day
to look for the gold
That was hidden far away.
Over the rainbow
was where he was told
so, with the wink of his green eye,
He ran for the gold.

Tune: "Yankee Doodle"

Patrick is a leprechaun
He has a sack of gold 
He hides it in a special place 
Between two stumps, I'm told 
I think I saw Patrick out in the woods at play 
He smiled and laughed and winked his eye 
And then he ran away

Tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

I'm looking for a leprechaun,
Leprechaun, leprechaun.
I'm looking for a leprechaun,
Do you know where he's gone?

He wears a suit that's made of green,
Made of green, made of green,
He wears a suit that's made of green,
Do you know where he's gone?

He lives by a rainbow and hides his gold,
Hides his gold, hides his gold,
He lives by a rainbow and hides his gold,
Do you know where he's gone?
If you see a leprechaun,
Leprechaun, leprechaun,
If you see a leprechaun,
Please tell me where he's gone!

Tune: " Do Your Ears Hang Low"

Do your ears point up? (Pull on tops of ears.)
Do you have a lot of luck? (Cross fingers.)
For gold do you dig? (Pretend to dig.)
Can you dance an Irish jig? (Dance a jig.)
If you answered, "Yes," (Nod head.)
You're a leprechaun, I'd guess! (Wink eye.)
Do your ears point up? (Pull on tops of ears.)

___________________________

St. Patrick's Day is here, you see.
We'll pick some shamrocks, one, two, three.
We'll count the leaves and look them over, 
And maybe find a four-leafed clover.
I'll sew green buttons on my vest,
Green for St. Patrick is the best.
I'll wear a green hat, very high,
And dance a jig...........at least I'll try!

_______________________________

One green shamrock, in the morning dew;
Another one sprouted;
And then there were two.
Two green shamrocks, growing 'neath the tree,
Another one sprouted;
And then there were three.
Three green shamrocks, by the cottage door,
Another one sprouted;
And then there were four.
Four green shamrocks, near a beehive;
Another one sprouted;
And then there were five.
Five little shamrocks, bright and emerald green,
Think of all the luck these shamrocks will bring.

________________________________

Seek adventure and let your dreams soar, 
Grow and discover- imagine- explore! 
Follow your rainbows, look up and believe,
You'll find out no goal is to hard to achieve!

Irish Wisdom
A friend's eye is a good mirror.

A hound's food is in its legs.

A lock is better than suspicion.

Even a small thorn causes festering.

He who gets a name for early rising can stay in bed until midday.

It is not a secret if it is known by three people.

It is the quiet pigs that eat the meal.

The day will come when the cow will have use for her tail.

The hole is more honorable than the patch.

The man with the boots does not mind where he places his foot.

The raggy colt often made a powerful horse.

The wearer best knows where the shoe pinches.

You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.

Never bolt your door with a boiled carrot.

The river is no wider from this side than the other.

It is difficult to choose between two blind goats.

There is no use in carrying an unbrella if your shoes are leaking.

It's no use boiling your cabbage twice.

If you move old furniture, it may fall to bits.

Never dread the winter until the snow is on the blanket.

Time and patience would bring a snail to America.

A good retreat is better than a bad stand.

There's no point keeping a dog if you are going to do your own barking.

An oak is often split by a wedge from it's own branch.

If you don't want flour on your clothes, you better stay out of the mill.

You'll never learn to swim on the kitchen floor.

You can't plough a field by turning it over in your mind.

Quote of the Month
"Those who laugh at me because I am different also laugh at others because they're all the same."