March 17 is a great day for the Irish, a great day for the green. It is, of course, the day when the Irish and the Irish-for-a-day get together to celebrate the day dedicated to holy St. Patrick, who drove heathenry and the snakes out of Ireland 1,500 years or so ago.
The Irish and the others will celebrate at McGinley's Pub, Reilly's Bar, the Tap Root, Celtic Treasures and elsewhere. Anchorage police will be out there on the job making sure all will return home safely.
But one thing is missing and without it, St. Patrick's Day in Anchorage can never be the same: The McMac Shoppe is gone.
The McMac Shoppe was started downtown in 1977 by Mary Digney, who moved the shop to a little green and white house next door to Chilkoot Charlie's in Spenard. Mrs. Digney was later joined by her sister, Kathleen Burns. When one walked into the McMac it was like walking into a treasure chest of all things Irish, Scottish and Welsh. There to be found were Irish caps and Scottish tartans, Aran sweaters and linen shirts, tweed jackets -- and there you could even order your kilt; Waterford and Edinburgh crystal and belleek, books and recordings and wall hangings, jewelry and all things Celtic. Also to be found were people who knew of the Celtic lands and many a story would be heard there.
It was the center of St. Patrick's Day in Anchorage. Everyone stopped in for a wee drap and some soda bread and talk of the auld sod. Mrs. Digney, the Woman of the House, reigned supreme. Sure and wouldn't ye think she was the Queen of Ireland, Maeve herself. And, there is Kathleen, welcoming the guests like Bridget herself," "Caid mile failte" she would say, and the visitor would reply "God bless this house and all therein." And sure, isn't that Mr. Digney himself, a fine man, over there making the Irish coffees as long as ye were 21 years of age. All day long people came and went. The pipers were there, the stepdancers, the seanchai was there with all the Irish stories. They came in green, with Guinness soccer jerseys and Cork Irish football jerseys, all worn with pride. "Wherever green is worn ... a terrible beauty is born," said the poet. Inevitably the tenor would break into "Danny Boy" and the tears began to flow. Soon one after the other was heard, "A Nation Once Again," "Kevin Barry," "The Patriot Game." Finally all would stand and sing "A Soldier's Song," the national anthem of the beloved Republic for which so many of our ancestors lost their lives.
The McMac Shoppe left us in 2004. I tried to buy the place, promising Mrs. Digney that nothing would change. Mrs. Digney would not sell. She said she started the business with no money and would leave it with no money, and she said she loved every minute of it. Kathleen is also gone now, as is Mr. Digney. Mrs. Digney is still with us. She can be found, as always, in the Irish booth at the Alaska Scottish Highland Games. She has lost her eyesight, but she recognizes everyone who comes up to say hello and talk about the old days. Mrs. Digney is not only a treasure for old Ireland but a treasure for Alaska.
I hope Mrs. Digney lives forever, and she already almost has. But if, like the rest of us, she doesn't, sure and may she be gone for a month before the divil even notices she is missing. And I know one thing for sure -- Mrs. Digney's soul will pass through old Ireland.
Sean O'Hare works in the freight transportation industry. He lives in Anchorage.
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