Strolling along the streets of Old Town Alexandria, Pat Troy often finds himself praying Hail Mary’s. It’s his favorite prayer, said the owner of Ireland’s Own Restaurant and Pub located across the street from the city’s Tavern Square.
He has a good relationship with the Mother of God, he said.
“If we don’t have our faith we don’t have much,” said the native of the Emerald Isle in his thick Irish brogue.
His devotion to the Blessed Mother has always been a part of him, said Troy, who has a statue of her in his yard. “She’s the one who will go to Our Lord,” he said as a gold Celtic cross dangled from his neck.
Growing up near the banks of the Shannon River in Kilcormac County, Troy recounted the days he served as an altar boy at his home parish.
“I was very religious as a little boy,” said Troy, who at the age of 10 set up a make-shift altar out of tinsel paper in his bedroom.
 “People thought I was going to be a priest.” He often attended Mass with his grandfather, a man who heavily influenced his life. “He’s one of my idols,” a stark white-haired Troy said.
Troy carried that faith with him when he emmigrated to the United States in the ’60s as a 21-year-old with $50 in his pocket. He trusted in God and seized perhaps his only chance to move to the land of opportunities.
“The faith is all we have,” said Troy, who has been a parishioner at St. Mary Church in Alexandria for over 30 years.
Seated in a red leather chair in a modest office a few floors above the restaurant, he is surrounded by photos of his friends and family; and trinkets representing Ireland — a leprechaun, an Irish flag and stacks Irish music CDs.
He’s grateful to the patron of Ireland for his faith, he said. “St. Patrick brought the faith to Ireland, the land of pagans, and from then on it was instilled in the genes of the Irish people.” He sadly noted, however, that people in Ireland are increasingly falling away from their faith. “St. Patrick sent missionaries to teach Christianity … now we need missionaries to go back to Ireland,” said Troy.
Although he attributes St. Patrick for bringing the faith to his country, he has a great devotion to an Italian saint, he said. A bronzed paperweight of the head of St. Pio, commonly known as Padre Pio, sat across from him at his desk. Troy, who has visited San Giovanni Rotunda — the home of the Italian holy man, called Padre Pio his favorite saint. Troy tightly closed his eyes and touched the palms of his own hands as he spoke of Padre Pio’s stigmata.  
He often prays for the intercession of the saint known for working miracles. Miracles are possible with God and the power of prayer is strong, he said. However, “It may not come out the way you want it.” God always knows what is best, said Troy, who himself has been suffering with deteriorating vision. Perhaps, it is a “burden that I’m going to have to carry,” he said.
His own commitment to the Church is one of the reasons why he wanted to be one of the venues for the diocesan sponsored Theology on Tap, a series of talks where various speakers come to deliver a talk to young adults and is followed by questions.
One of the noticeable images that inundate his office is that of the eagle —framed photos of an eagle, mugs with eagles and other little eagles everywhere.
Aside from his devotions and love for his homeland, which he visits at least once a year, Troy is a patriotic United States citizen, hence the eagles. A framed copy of his citizenship certificate hangs above his desk.  
His love for the country goes hand in hand with his appreciation for the Armed Services, which is evident in his restaurant. Sections of the pub are dedicated to Navy, Marines, Law Enforcement, Fire Department and Rescue Squads among others with uniforms and badges representing each.
“It’s what makes America great to me,” he said of his tribute at the restaurant that offers traditional Irish fare along with American pub-style dishes.
Troy, a fan of Irish football, but also a Redskins fan, who switched over to supporting the Houston0 Texans for a brief period, has a large copy of a poem entitled, “All American Irish Man,” framed near the door of his office.
The lively and jovial man spoke of the antics he uses to entertain his patrons. Troy nearly jumped out of his seat at the opportunity to sing the refrain and do the hand motions to the Unicorn Song. He often tries to get his patrons to sing along. People are usually good sports, he said, including U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who visited the pub in the ’80s and sang along to the Unicorn song. “I said Mr. President you have to participate too … and he did,” Troy said proudly.
“I’ve had a great life in this country,” said Troy, who has been married to his wife for 42 years and they have two grown children.
His life is centered on prayer and his Catholic faith and that will never change, he said. “We owe an awful lot for being here. We need to thank God.”

Henrietta Gomes can be reached at hgomes@catholicherald.com.

(c) Copyright 2007 by Arlington Catholic Herald