Read

Watch

A Touch of Irish Song and Story

Published:
January 9, 2024
March 17, 2021
Watch this puppet show for St. Patrick's Day, and become enchanted and feel like a kid again afterward.|Watch this puppet show for St. Patrick's Day, and become enchanted and feel like a kid again afterward.

St. Patrick’s Day seems like a good moment to share a bit o’ storytelling that has transfixed us. If you have six minutes for a song and dance from the Emerald Isle, you might find yourself enchanted.  

When someone shared this with our Grotto team, we thought, Really? A puppet show? But then… we couldn’t look away.

 

There’s something about the way it all works together — the song, the story, the puppet and puppeteer — that cast us back to our childhood. It felt like we were sitting criss-cross-apple-sauce on the grass around this performance. That’s a good feeling — to remember being a kid being transported by wonder. We should do that more.

Creating stories is an ancient art, and it’s been done millions of ways — no one knows this better than the Irish. We feel lucky to be able to do that work here at Grotto. Most of what we make is done behind the scenes and is shared as a final product, but it’s captivating to see the relationship between the creator and the created in performances like this. That’s why we can’t look away from cooking videos or time-lapse shots of painters at work.

There’s just a hint of anticipation in this kind of storytelling. It’s not just the art or performance that intrigues us — it’s also seeing how it is being created. We wonder: What will those ingredients turn into? What is he painting? What will happen?

Too much of our lives are planned and programmed and scheduled and managed. We know what will happen nearly every moment of our day. That’s not a bad thing, but it can dull our ability to ponder and imagine new possibilities — to consider that things can be otherwise.

So make some time to be a kid now and again. Give yourself room to wonder, and don’t be afraid to dive in and follow it when something beautiful finds you.

Creators:
Grotto Shares
Published:
January 9, 2024
March 17, 2021
On a related note...
Grotto's Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes

Grotto's Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes

Grotto

Giving to Charity Isn't the Only Way to Help Those In Need

Giving to Charity Isn't the Only Way to Help Those In Need

Chuck Lamphier

3 Lessons from this Pandemic That Might Shape Our Future

3 Lessons from this Pandemic That Might Shape Our Future

Chuck Lamphier

Halloween Traditions from Catholicism

Halloween Traditions from Catholicism

Grotto

Why We Should Celebrate World Day of Peace With Pope Francis

Why We Should Celebrate World Day of Peace With Pope Francis

Caesar Montevecchio

How I Found the True Meaning of 'Play'

How I Found the True Meaning of 'Play'

Ben Wilson

This Story Will Change the Way You Remember 9/11

This Story Will Change the Way You Remember 9/11

Grotto Shares

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Lakeview

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Lakeview

Jennon Bell Hoffmann

How Pickup Basketball Opens the Door for Community

How Pickup Basketball Opens the Door for Community

Mike Jordan Laskey

Fairy Doors and the Call to Connection

Fairy Doors and the Call to Connection

Janelle Peregoy

5 Tips for Using Trivia Night to Build Community

5 Tips for Using Trivia Night to Build Community

Dan Masterton

Finding Forever Homes for Stray Dogs

Finding Forever Homes for Stray Dogs

Grotto

‘Meating Friday’: A New Easter Tradition

‘Meating Friday’: A New Easter Tradition

Ken Hallenius

5 Steps to Create a Response to Racism in Your Neighborhood

5 Steps to Create a Response to Racism in Your Neighborhood

Will Peterson

What Made Coach John Thompson a Legend

What Made Coach John Thompson a Legend

Grotto Shares

Food is a Lot Like Love — Here’s Why

Food is a Lot Like Love — Here’s Why

Grace Spiewak

What to Do if You're Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy

What to Do if You're Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy

Sarah Portner, LMSW

This licensed social worker shares the lessons she has learned from what gets women through unexpected pregnancies.

Explore Chicago’s Literary Scene This Winter

Explore Chicago’s Literary Scene This Winter

Jennon Bell Hoffmann

Nonprofit Combats Racial Disparity in the Bail System

Nonprofit Combats Racial Disparity in the Bail System

Grotto

Easter Celebrations by Grotto Network

Easter Celebrations by Grotto Network

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.