Mary Dowling grew up on the Emerald Isle before making her way to Fort Myers.
"I'm from Tipperary, which is Southern Ireland," Dowling said. "I had a huge interest in Irish music and Irish sports. Leaving was kind of hard."
When Dowling immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s, she found a piece of home here along the Gulf Coast.
As the President of the Women of Irish Heritage Southwest Florida Group, Mary helps build more than just community.
"You make a lot of friendships with people who you have a lot in common with," Dowling said. "Then there's the whole comradery and the whole giving back."
For the past two years, the group has given scholarship money to local Irish dancers pursuing the sport. Last year, local dancer Amaya Griffin of Kellyn Celtic Arts won the scholarship.
"There's no boundaries with Irish dance. There's no limits," Griffin said.
Kellyn Celtic Arts Co-Founder Jamie Knaub teaches dancers like Amaya to find the rhythm of the Irish spirit. "Most dancing, you're use your arms, you use your whole body, and you do use your whole body in Irish dancing. But it's all about the footwork and legwork."
With every hop and step, Griffin dances deeper into the heart of her heritage.
"When I'm Irish dancing I'm embracing Irish culture. Or when I'm at my Lolo and Lola's house, it's my Filipino culture. I love having such a multi-faceted background," Griffin said.
So this St. Patrick's Day and every St. Patrick's Day, these ladies remind us: If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough.
"I think it's really important to know where we started so we know where we're going," Knaub said.