VOA标准英语2012--New York Suburb Claims to be More Irish Than Ireland

New York Suburb Claims to be More Irish Than Ireland

To the people of McLean Avenue, an Irish enclave just north of New York City, Saint Patrick’s Day means Music….Food….Drink….Fun.

Eileen’s Country Kitchen serves as an unofficial Irish headquarters. The establishment is known for its soda¹ bread and other Irish comfort foods.

Owner Eileen Mannion Collum came to the United States 25 years ago and is proud of her Irish heritage, but she loves her adopted country, too. 

“You could be what you want to be in America if you work hard, believe in yourself, have good ethics² and you have compassion³," Collum says. "Because I don’t think you have to think with here," she added pointing to her head. "I think if you think with here [the heart], you have compassion with your food, compassion with your customers.

Neighbor Peggy Dolan recalls her childhood in Ireland.

“Go out and pluck a little shamrock, put it in your buttonhole and off to mass," Dolan remembers. "We’d walk about two and one half miles to mass and home. It was a free day from school. It was a happy day."

A group of young Irish-American children will be dancing up New York City’s Fifth Avenue in the annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade.

"I’m going to go to the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the city and I am going to dance. It’ll really be fun," says Kasey Van Doran, who is 12 years old.

“It’s just like wow!" exclaims traditional Irish dancer Sarah Johns.

“It will be my first time doing it. I am so excited!" confides⁴ traditional Irish dancer Fiona McDonald.

Ditto for dance instructor⁵ Bridget Flynn.

“Those girls that work hard at it tend to do very well. And they really like it," Flynn says. "There is great self satisfaction in being able to achieve this kind of a dance.”

Other Irish traditions are also on tap for Saint Patrick's Day, including a traditional meal at Eileen's. 

“Now I have my corned beef freshly cut, place it on top…this is what everyone’s going to be havin’ on Saint Patrick’s Day,” explains owner Collum. 

Corned beef, cabbage and potatoes are top sellers at Eileen's every Saint Patrick’s Day. 

1 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

2 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

3 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

4 confides   

v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的第三人称单数 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等）

参考例句：

• Now Butterfly confides to Pinkerton that she has secretly embraced Christianity. 蝴蝶向平克顿吐露，她已暗地里信奉了基督教。 来自辞典例句
• He also confides, in great secrecy, that his own heart still bleeds over Natalie. 他还极秘密地透露，他自己内心里还在为那塔丽感到痛苦。 来自辞典例句

5 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。