They're clever and fun-loving, too.

They sent limericks galore,

And then they sent more.

Alas, we can just print a few!

Some say limericks were invented by soldiers returning from France to the Irish town of Limerick in the 1700s. Some trace them back to nursery rhymes of the 1400s. Some associate them with pubs and taverns. Shakespeare included them in plays such as "Othello" and "The Tempest." They were popularized by Edward Lear in his "Book of Nonsense," published in 1846.

Wherever they came from, limericks are meant to be fun — and that's exactly what we've had with our St. Patrick's Day Limerick Contest. We received a huge number of entries from people around the state — and even a few from outside the state and the country.

We asked for works with a Utah theme. And we got limericks that tell of our history. We got some that poke fun at our culture. We got lots that praise notable citizens. And others that take pot-shots at our political institutions. Foods, sports, scenery, businesses and more were turned into lilting rhymes.

Judging them was not easy. But our panel of judges had a lot of fun sorting through the piles and ccoming up with the winners. We hope you enjoy them, too.

So, thanks for sending them in.

Now, let this party begin:

Have a good laugh,

Like all of our staff.

Maybe, someday we'll do it again!

First place

Oh, look, it's a sad orange cone,

It looks lost, and afraid, and alone.

No wait, there's its brother,

And another, and another,

I'm surrounded, they're starting to clone.

—Jennifer A. Henderson, Springville

Second place

I was cookin' ribs back on the deck,

When I stumbled, and near broke my neck.

Since I've vowed ne'er to curse,

I said nothing worse,

Than, "Flip! What the scrud! Oh, my heck!"

—Don Milne, Bountiful

Third place