You don’t need “The Luck of the Irish” to take some St. Patricks Day photos and make them spectacular.  All you need are some cute little subjects (which you’ve already got) and a few inexpensive props (that you can easily and inexpensively obtain at your local party store.)   Couple those with a bright sunny day and, possibly, a field of grass or clovers, and you’ll have the perfect equation for some high quality, memory-made prints of your wee lads and lassies.

Here are some ideas for some creative St. Paddy’s portrait keepsakes:

• Balloons:  A simple bunch of green balloons is a unique way to draw attention to the picture.   Sometimes one big green balloon will add a little bit of uniqueness to your photo, too.  Against a stunning blue sky, on a bright sunny day, you are bound to create a setting that everyone will dote on.

• Hats: Local party supply stores have a lot of different styles;  Derby hats, green glittery top hats, a striped stove hat, or a charming plaid Gatsby style topper.   Add one of these hats to your baby, toddler, or older child’s precious little head, and you will definitely capture a fun mood in your shot.

• Green Feather Boa: This fun prop can be wrapped around your sleeping baby or wrapped around your diaper clad infant or toddler.  It adds texture and color, all-the-while capturing that winning photo.

While adding props to your portrait scene can really make your prints interesting and entertaining, there are a few things to remember and do that will make a good picture, a phenomenal picture.

• Lay the kids down, with their heads touching, and shoot from above.  This perspective is fun!

• Follow the “rule of thirds” by place your subjects on one of the imaginary lines that make up three vertical and horizontal columns/rows.   This rule produces an image that is very aesthetically pleasing.

• Seek motion in your picture by letting your subjects move freely while you shoot.  Sometimes this type of photography will produce that accidental image that you will treasure always.

“May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.”
~Irish Blessing

By Glennys Savage-Moore

Irish baby names, with their Gaelic spelling, are getting very popular.

Like others who immigrated to North America, the Irish gave their babies Americanized names. That way, their children blended into their new society and didn’t stand out among their peers.

But the third and fourth generation started to take interest in their Irish roots and chose Irish words to name their children. Even though some of those names (like Colleen, meaning “girl” in Irish) are not used as names in Ireland, folks of Irish descent honored their heritage by using Irish words

And today? Well, not only are Irish names becoming more common, but the Gaelic spelling of names is too. Spellings like Moira (Mary) and Aoife (Eva, pronounced “EE+fa”) for girls and Eoin (OH+n) for boys are more and more popular.

Why? A lot of people just like the sounds of Irish names or they want their child to have a name that isn’t too common, but just a bit different.

You have to remember though — if you name your child “Eva” and spell it “Aoife”, they’ll forever spell their name for other people, every day of their life! So, you’ll have to decide just how unique your child’s name should be.

A good website for pronunciation is Baby Names of Ireland. It’s great to know how to pronounce these names! They have hundreds of baby names, Gaelic spellings, and pronunciations — for us Irish-challenged folks.

Come to Perfect Baby Names for the top 25 most popular baby names in Ireland in 2003.

About the Author:
Glennys Savage-Moore is a Canadian writer who focuses on articles about babies, health, and needlework. She is the webmaster of Perfect Baby Names and publishes a monthly ezine called “Baby News” with up-to-date baby news, baby fun and learning, and links to resources about choosing baby names.

by Deborah Felker

My personal search for the perfect Irish baby name began many years ago, when my husband and I found out we were going to be blessed with another daughter. We knew we wanted an Irish name for our baby girl so we would always remember the spiritual connection that we shared.

After all, it was from this bond that she was conceived. In those early days and nights of endless romance and passion, practically all we ever listened to was Enya and Riverdance!

My husband and I knew we were soul mates who shared a strong “Celtic heartbeat”. Like so many other happy couples expecting a baby, we knew we had been blessed to find each other in a sea of lost souls.

It wasn’t long before we had formed a bond that we knew was eternal. And now that bond would become even more unbreakable…with the impending birth of our baby girl, Shannon.

“Shannon” is an example of a popular Irish name which is derived from a place, rather than a legendary character or historical person. The names “Tara” and “Kerry” are other examples. “Shannon” is the name of the longest river in Ireland.

The Irish have always held “the Shannon” in a special place of honor both as a source of life and a symbol of ancient wisdom. In fact, the accepted meaning of the name Shannon today is “wise one”.

So this Irish baby name seems to be fitting after all, since our daughter became part of the lifeblood of our home, just as the river is the lifeblood of the Irish countryside.

Our children fill our lives with warmth, laughter, and love; and they provide us with never ending opportunities to gain and pass on wisdom.

If you are filled with the Irish spirit like me, whether you have Celtic ancestors or not, there is no better way to pass on that legacy than to give your wee ones a Celtic or Irish baby name. But all too often, when you go looking for that special Irish baby name, you only find yourself frustrated by the lack of practical information.

On Fantasy-Ireland, you’ll not only find both popular and unique Irish baby names, you’ll also discover what they mean, how to spell them, how to say them, and more.

Irish Baby Naming Customs
There are many old Irish customs you can incorporate that will honor your Celtic spirit and pass on your Irish heritage to your children. If you have spent any time looking into Irish genealogy, you have probably noticed how often names recur within families. The reason for this is that there was a customary way of choosing baby names in Ireland that left very little room for the creativity we enjoy today.

Irish Customs for naming boys:
The oldest son was named after his father’s father. The second son was named after his mother’s father. The third son would be given his father’s name. The fourth son was named after his father’s oldest brother.

Irish Customs for naming girls:
The oldest daughter was named after her mother’s mother. The second daughter would be named after her father’s mother. The third daughter was given her mother’s name. The fourth daughter was named after her mother’s oldest sister.

Choosing a Creative Irish Baby Name
If you would like to carry on some Irish family names, but prefer to be more creative, perhaps you could trace your own family tree for Irish names that you find most appealing. Or you could name your child after a famous historical figure. Another option would be to choose the name of a legendary character in Celtic mythology.

The Evolution of Irish Baby Names
Prior to the medieval times, there were over 10,000 different names being used in Celtic territories. Many of these names were derived from combining one or two word elements which each had distinct meanings. Names would often be created using the words for lucky colors, plants, and animals.

Or names would be created using words for moral or physical qualities such as strength and beauty. For example, the name Muiriol is derived from the word “muir”, meaning “sea”, and the word “gel”, meaning “bright and shining”.

Just as our modern English language is drastically different than Shakespeare’s English, modern Irish is very different from ancient Gaelic. Irish baby names usually have many different forms, as well as an English version or two, which is often easier to pronounce and to spell.

Alternate spellings often emerged as a result of strict and oppressive English laws, which forbid the use of the Irish native language. Throughout those dark years in Ireland, it was illegal to speak Irish, so people were forced to use English versions of their names, even if the name lost it’s true meaning as a result.

Continue your cherished Celtic legacy by choosing the perfect Irish baby name for your child. Discover the meanings and stories behind the most popular and unique baby names of Ireland.

About the Author:
Deborah Felker is the creator and editor of Fantasy-Ireland.com, featuring the Top 30 Most Popular Irish Boy Names, the Top 30 Most Unique Irish Baby Boy Names, the Top 35 Most Popular Irish Girl Names, and the Top 35 Most Unique Irish Girl Names. Whether you want to use a popular name for your baby, or avoid one, Fantasy-Ireland.com is your best resource!