A treat for our readers today. Here's a guest posting by Randi Mary:

A few years ago during a two week trip to Ireland in September I was thrilled to learn that Ireland has FOUR Nobel laureates of literature!  W.B. Yeats in 1923, George Bernard Shaw in 1925, Samuel Beckett in 1969, and Seamus Heaney in 1995.  

But hold on!  What about James Joyce? Sadly, no Nobel prize for James Joyce.

The tiny island of Ireland is the only country on Planet Earth with four Nobel Prizes in literature; despite centuries of foreign invaders, laws forbidding the education of Catholics, multiple famines, the not-so-distant “Troubles” and economic ups & downs. Wow!

When I returned home from Ireland in late September, winter was not far ahead. I really enjoy winter, especially January, because I can stay indoors reading ALL DAY LONG.  I can spend hours in the libraries of Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Dakota counties - hunting.That winter as I browsed book titles and authors I was amazed by the number of authors with Irish names. That winter I discovered Colm Tóibín, Nuala O’Faolain, Peter Sheridan, and Frank Delaney.  Delaney’s “Ireland” is one of my all time favorite books!

 As a lifelong Minnesotan who loves winter, even I get a little tired of gray sky by late March. Early and mid March teases with a few sunny days and mild temps, then along comes more snow and howling winds.  In March I am truly thankful for great authors and great books.  

I have to mention the other Irish Nobel laureates:  Ernest Walton 1951 Physics;  Seán MacBride 1974 Peace;  John Hume 1998 Peace;  William C. Campbell 2015 Physiology or Medicine.

In my humble opinion, Ireland is truly a “Celtic Tiger”.