Stacy Conradt
The Quick 10: 10 Pats Born on St. Patrick’s Day
by Stacy Conradt - March 16, 2010 - 5:58 PM

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I know St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until tomorrow, but I thought I’d give you some conversation fodder in advance. You know, just in case some of you plan to be out enjoying some Guinness and Jameson instead of obsessively refreshing mental_floss. Who knows, maybe you’ll even get a free drink out of it (assuming you’re of the legal drinking age, of course): ask your friends to name a Pat born on St. Patrick’s Day, and if they can’t, they owe you a drink. Trust me, it’ll sound like a great idea after you’ve already had a few.

BOBBY1. Patrick Duffy. Bobby Ewing’s alter ego was born on March 17, 1949. And here’s a totally random fact about Mr. Duffy: his nephew is Barry Zito, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
2. Patty Maloney. This particular Patty is an actress with dwarfism who stands just three feet, 11 inches tall. She has appeared in many movies and T.V. shows over the years, including operating the Crypt Keeper puppet in Tales from the Crypt. She was also in The Star Wars Holiday Special.
3. Pattie Boyd. Pattie is well-known to lovers of classic rock: she was married twice, once to George Harrison and once to Eric Clapton, who in turn wrote a couple of the most romantic songs in rock history in her honor (The Beatles’ “Something” and Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight”). Boyd was a model when she met Harrison on the set of A Hard Day’s Night in 1964; the pair were married two years later. They divorced in 1977 and she married Clapton, Harrison’s close friend, in 1979. She also had an affair with Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones toward the end of her marriage to The Quiet Beatle.

4. Mathew St. Patrick. You might not know this actor by name, but I had to include him for obvious reasons. OK, it is a stage name – he was actually born Patrick Matthews. Anyway, St. Patrick was on All My Children for a couple of years in the late ‘90s/early ‘00s, but I know him best as David’s boyfriend Keith on Six Feet Under.

5. Pat Rice. Pat Rice is a man from Belfast who has made his career with Arsenal F.C. (that’s “football club,” AKA soccer to us Americans) since 1964. He joined the Gunners in 1964 as a mere apprentice, turning pro a couple of years later. He became captain in 1977 and left the club for a few years in the early ‘80s, but returned to them after he retired from playing in 1984. Since then, he’s been coaching Arsenal in various capacities. He’s currently the assistant manager.

6. Patrick Adams. He may not be a household name, but the recording artists he writes for and helps produce certainly are. Adams has been involved in the careers of Salt-N-Pepa, Sister Sledge, R. Kelly, Gladys Knight, Rick James and Coolio, among others.

7. Patrick McDonnell. It’s possible you look at Patrick McDonnell’s work every day, depending on what comics your newspaper carries (and if you read the comics every day, I guess. I do.). McDonnell draws a strip called Mutts featuring a couple of house pets – a dog and a cat – named Earl and Mooch, respectively. Charles Schulz called it one of the best comic strips of all time.

corgan8. Billy Corgan. That’s Billy Patrick Corgan, actually. You probably know Billy – he’s the face of the Smashing Pumpkins, he engages in public feuds with Courtney Love and maybe dated Jessica Simpson last year. He made his debut on St. Patrick’s Day, 1967.
9. Princess Patricia of Connaught. Princess Patricia was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria who gave up all of her royal titles when she married a commoner. She was born at Buckingham Palace on St. Patrick’s Day in 1886.
10. Patricia Ford. Ford is a retired model probably best known for her Playboy photoshoots in the ’90s.

If you had a kid on St. Patrick’s Day, would you pay homage by giving your child a Patrick-derived name? Are you a Patrick or Patricia born on St. Patrick’s Day? And if you really do get a free drink out of this, be sure to come back and let me know tomorrow. I’m teetotaling this year and would be thrilled to know that someone was able to put this to good use.

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Comments (23)

  1. The Canadian Military has the PPCLI, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and I always wondered about who Princess Patricia was as a kid.

    Thanks to this article I finally got around to finding out!

    posted by Sarah in Canada on 3-16-2010 at 6:32 pm

  2. I know a Patti who was born on St. Patty’s Day. Apparently it wasn’t done on purpose. I always thought it was a cool coincidence; glad to see a _floss blogger agrees!

    posted by CPete on 3-16-2010 at 6:43 pm

  3. I was born on St. Patty’s Day. my grandmother wanted me to be named Patrick but my parents nixed it. So, I am William. By the way, it’s the best day ever to have a birthday.

    posted by will on 3-16-2010 at 6:52 pm

  4. My son was born on St. Patrick’s Day, 6 years ago, and the nurses were disappointed that I wasn’t naming him Patrick. Instead, his name is Luke, which apparently appeased the nurses…they called him “Lucky Luke” and “Luke the Leprechaun”! :)

    posted by Sadie on 3-16-2010 at 7:45 pm

  5. My mom was due on March 19th and planned to name me after my two grandmothers. Well, I ended up a St. Patty’s baby and she came thisclose to naming me Colleen instead, but reverted back to the family names. I used to be frustrated as my given name is very old fashioned sounding (Constance), but I have grown to love it!

    posted by C on 3-16-2010 at 7:50 pm

  6. In Girl Scouts we used to sing a song about Princess Pat. I never knew she was born on St. Patrick’s Day.

    The Princess Pat’s Light Infantry
    They sailed across the seven seas
    They sailed across the channel too
    And they took with them, the Rickadandoo.

    CHORUS:
    The Rickadandoo, now what is that?
    It’s something made by the Princess Pat
    It’s red and gold, and purple too,
    That’s why it’s called, the Rickadandoo.

    Now Captain Jack, had a mightily fine crew,
    They sailed across the channel too,
    But his ship sank, and yours will too,
    If you don’t take the Rickadandoo.

    The Princess Pat, saw Captain Jack,
    She reeled him in, and brought him back,
    She saved his life, and his crew’s too,
    And do you know how?—with the Rickadandoo.

    posted by veetie on 3-16-2010 at 9:01 pm

  7. St. Patrick’s day birthday, middle name Patrick. I was obviously named for my birthday, right?
    Nope, I’m named after my grandfather. That’s what my parents tell me, anyhow. :)

    posted by Jacob Patrick on 3-16-2010 at 10:40 pm

  8. I am the mother of a St. Patty’s Day baby. Despite our proud Irish heritage, it never occured to me to name her in honor of the Saint. (Maybe it was because her surname is the same as a famous Irish adult beverage.)

    Kudos to veetie for knowing the Rickabamboo song. We’ve been singing it all cookie season.

    posted by Chris on 3-16-2010 at 10:41 pm

  9. I’m a St. Patrick’s Day Patti! The story goes that my mom and dad had a few names in mind. Back in 1972, women got to stay in the hospital for awhile so on day four or so, the nurses said, “Mrs. Smith, you have to pick a name!” I am also part Irish, which makes it extra cool :) It’s a great thing and I’m glad my parents named me Patricia…although it is hard to go out on my birthday because every place is so freakin’ packed!
    Thanx for this cool article :)

    posted by TeacherPatti on 3-16-2010 at 11:06 pm

  10. @veetie I sang that Princess Pat song growing up in Scouts, but we totally butchered the words! “The Princess Pat lived in a tree” and we’re southern so it sounded more like “rig uh bamboo”

    By the way, that’s the first time I’ve seen that 3rd verse.. I’ll have to tell my mom about it, since the song makes so much more sense with the correct words :)

    posted by catherine ann on 3-17-2010 at 12:14 am

  11. Celebrating Joshua Thomas Leader’s 1st birthday on St. Patrick’s day 2010. Not being Irish we never had a reason to be that interested in the holiday, but we sure do now!

    He will have to wait a little bit for the free drinks to be something not in a sippee cup…

    posted by JTLeader on 3-17-2010 at 8:40 am

  12. @catherine ann I am from Indiana and we said that Princess Pat lived in a tree as well.

    Thanks veetie for reminding me of that song. I will be singing it all day.

    posted by Andrea on 3-17-2010 at 9:30 am

  13. I am not a St. Patty’s baby but I do have an Irish name. But my friend is going to the doctor today to be induced for labor. Hopefully she’ll have a St. Patty’s Day baby today!

    posted by Colene on 3-17-2010 at 11:07 am

  14. It’s St. PADDY’S Day!

    posted by T on 3-17-2010 at 11:18 am

  15. Isn’t Layla also about Pattie Boyd?

    posted by Caitlin on 3-17-2010 at 11:27 am

  16. A lady I work with is named Patti Day. Today is her birthday. I have no excuse to forget! Her sister was born on Valentines day and her dad desperately wanted to name her Valentine… thankfully cooler heads prevailed.

    posted by Shawn on 3-17-2010 at 11:49 am

  17. @catherine ann we said rig a bamboo too. I always thought it was a rig of bamboo. As in the boat was made out of bamboo, which sort of made sense. My sister actually texted me last night and said “What is that song about the lady with the purple thing and the bamboo?” haha I’m happy to know the real words but I’ve been singing it for 20 years and won’t be able to shake the rig a bamboo.

    posted by Shawn on 3-17-2010 at 11:57 am

  18. Wow…I can’t believe Mr. Schultz would even acknowledge such a piece of crap comic strip. When I want to intentionally hurt myself I force myself to read Mutts and The Family Circus.

    Perfect Captcha: To Detested

    posted by Nick on 3-17-2010 at 12:03 pm

  19. I was born on St. Patrick’s day – my middle name is Michael. I say that I’m 1/3 Irish.

    posted by Rick Stein on 3-17-2010 at 12:48 pm

  20. I was in Daisy and Brownie Scouts and never knew that song. And “Layla” IS about Patti Boyd. Today’s my aunt Christine’s birthday, but I don’t know if Great Grandma wanted to name her anything Ireland-oriented.

    posted by Sara in Al on 3-17-2010 at 12:52 pm

  21. Seven years ago today they brought me my wee Fiona Grace wrapped in a green blanket… She was ten days late, I was induced, 40 hours of labour, the doctor had a golf game planned… but I kept my fingers crossed, saying 17, 17, 17… because YES it is AWESOME to have a THEME every year!!! Plus she’ll never have to pay for a beer on her birthday EVER!

    posted by Marion on 3-17-2010 at 1:42 pm

  22. My brother-in-law is a St. Patrick’s day baby, although Patrick doesn’t appear anywhere in his name. (Then again, my husband’s family is of Welsh descent, not Irish. I have some Irish ancestry, though…)

    posted by Krie on 3-17-2010 at 4:43 pm

  23. I know three people born on St. Pat’s. All are Irish (two are twins, boy and girl) and the non-twin is named Patricia! Never asked her if she was named because of her birthdate.

    posted by Mrs. Coffee on 3-17-2010 at 5:38 pm

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