calling all Paddys, Bridies and wannabe Irish!

[Niamh]

So while floating through Sleepys Kraust thread, i started to feel kind of alone to a certain degree. Majority of the time, I'm practically the only Irish person here, everyone else pops in introduces themselves, post a couple of posts and pops off again.:( So I decide to take a leaf out of sleepys book and start a thread for all Irish, Irish decendants and wannabe Irish alike! I'll post pics of Ireland, stuff about Irish history and literature, lots of pointless information! (and maybe the odd quiz here and there!:p )
So who wants to be Irish with me? (so i'm not alone!:p )
Niamh

PS
Maybe i'll even throw a party for my birthday! :D

[SleepyWitch]

"arrghshoibawaugrrr" *trying to speak Gaelic* :)


I'll post pics of Ireland, stuff about Irish history and literature, lots of pointless information!
I'm looking forward to this :)
especially the pointless information, of course :D

[Niamh]

I'll just copy and paste that from my blog! :lol:

[papayahed]

My favorite bar ever is the "Old Shillelagh Irish Club" back home. Does that count??

I drank a Guiness once.

I've gotten up early to start St. Pady's day at 7:00 am.....

[SleepyWitch]

hey I drank a guiness more than once (.. not the same one, obviously) and I tried to float Slovakian coins on the foam but it didn't work. my friend and me dropped about 5 coins in the glass before we gave up

[Niamh]

Hey Its for everyone!
uck Guinness!:sick:

[Schokokeks]

Well, I might be a Kraut by birth and residence, but surely I'm Irish at heart ! ;) At least since you showed me through Dublin :nod:.

[Dori]

I have Irish ancestors and an Irish name (Patrick). :)

[Niamh]

Well, I might be a Kraut by birth and residence, but surely I'm Irish at heart ! ;) At least since you showed me through Dublin :nod:.

You should come back over and i'll show you more!!:D


I have Irish ancestors and an Irish name (Patrick). :)

we'll call you Paddy then!

If you are all wondering about the Paddys and Bridies thing, well i'm about to tell you!:p
Paddy is a variant of Partick and St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Bridie is a variant of Brigit, and St Brigit is the female Paron saint of Ireland.
Irishmen and women got called Paddys and Bridies originally by the British, something that obviously caught as every Irish person would get called Paddy or Bridie by residants of various countries regardless of what their real names where! Its also the origin of the term "Pats" when in referance to the Irish. :)

[barbara0207]

Hi, Niamh! I'm looking forward to your "useless information" and your pics.

While "The Troubles" were going on our curriculum for older students (17 - 19) had us study Irish history, politics, and literature. Now that the country lives in peace (thank God for that!) the curriculum doesn't seem to be interested any longer.

Warning. Being a teacher at heart, I'm a potential troublemaker correcting people all the time. :blush:

[SleepyWitch]

yep, we learned about Northern Ireland/Ireland before Home Rule (???) in school and at univ, but not in enough detail to even understand who is who (all those political parties etc). but apart from that, we never learned anything about Ireland :(

[TheFifthElement]

Can I join? I married into an Irish family, and I love the accent :D

[B-Mental]

Well, I am half Irish, does that count? Its the good half I promise. Also I celebrate St. Patrick's Month, and take the day off out of reverence to the Saint....plus its one of those amatuer drinker days, and they are usually trouble.

[Shea]

Well, I'm mostly Scottish and English, but my dad remarried an Irish woman and I was partially raised by her so I identify quite a lot with the Irish culture. Her mother, Grandma Caroline, tells wonderful stories about what it was like growing up in Ireland during WWII. I even brought her in to tell some of those stories to one of my 10th grade classes. My students loved her!

My favorite story that she tells is of Maggie. I've actually in worked it into my novel. Here is an excerpt:

“She was very poor, as we all were at that time. She lived alone out in the country, and often needed to walk into town to go to the market for supplies. Well, one of the times she was gone, I noticed that she left her door open, and these strange people were coming into her house. They’d stay a little bit and then leave. Mind, I was only a child at the time, and didn’t understand what was going on. So, I asked her, ‘Maggie, why don’t you lock your doors when you leave? Aren’t you worried that someone will come in and take your things?’
“Then she said, ‘Augh! No child! What if some poor soul was passing and needed a cup o’ tea? They could come in and help themselves!’”

I wish I lived in Ireland during that time where that sort of mindset was commonplace. As it is, when I spent a week over there, I found the Irish people extremely friendly and welcoming. I can't wait to go back!!!

[Koa]

Hm I've been to Dublin once though I wasn't too impressed :blush:, and the guy I like drinks loads of Guinness :D That's about my relation with Ireland lol...:blush: Hm and my birthday is near St Patrick so last year we went out on the Saturday before my birthday and everybody had St Patrick hats things but well at least I didn't attract any attention on my b-day lol.

[Pensive]

I loved reading Constant Friends, a novel all about Ireland and most probably written by an Irish author. :p

[vheissu]

Well, I am half Irish, does that count? Its the good half I promise. Also I celebrate St. Patrick's Month, and take the day off out of reverence to the Saint....plus its one of those amatuer drinker days, and they are usually trouble.


I'm half Irish as well (from my mother's side)!! :p Though I've been to Ireland only twice...No excuse really, especially since I live in Scotland most of the time and could just get the plane across very easily!

[Niamh]

The Term Boycott on the other hand, did originate in Ireland. During the 19th century after the famine, the Irish were very unsettled and for many years had been fighting for the right to own their own lands. Land Leagues were formed, Irish representatives in the british parliment debated the right to ownership of lands, but as is normal in these circumstances, the poor Irish and Irish farmers got impatiant and began to retaliate. One of the methods of retaliation of course was to refuse to pay rents they couldnt afford to greedy landlords with too much money, to ignore any baliffs that came knocking, and in extreme cases, force the landlord off the land in retaliation. One such landlord who faced all of these was Captain Boycott a landlord in Co.Mayo. He was completely ignored by his tenents, shop keepers in the local towns refused to acknowledge him, sell him or his servants products, and eventually ran him off his land.

[Shalot]

I have some Irish blood in me though not much. So I am pretty much a wannabe Irish. But I always wanted to go to Ireland too. Looking forward to more information.

[Schokokeks]

The Term Boycott on the other hand, did originate in Ireland. (...)
Hey, that's interesting, thanks for sharing ! You've been more successful in educating me than college has been this morning, Niamh ! ;)

What I've seen from Ireland when I went to Dublin last year pretty much confirmed all the positive prejudices circling about Ireland:
My friend and I must have looked a bit lost on the bus from the airport to town and were in consequence asked by about 10 (!! honestly !) people sitting next to us whether they could help us find our way around.
Enjoying our Guiness in the local pub that evening, we were joined on the cosy sofa by two elderly gentlemen who came to watch the rugby match on the telly above our heads. Within minutes, they had us involved in the shouting and cheering and were passionately explaining all the rules to us and told the greatest stories of their own glorious past games :D. So amiable !!

Not to mention Niamh, of course, who was the friendliest and best-informed tourist guide I've ever met ;).

[kilted exile]

uck Guinness!:sick:

Quite right, some nice Harp is much better

[Jane Jane]

I am part Irish and last night we were all crowded into me brother's bedroom singing Irish pub songs. It was great. "Her eyes they shine like the diamonds, you'd think she was Queen of the land. And her hair hung over her shoulders, tied up with a black velvet band." Ah it brings tears to your eye.
My favorite is the Whistling Gypsy Rover though. Something so medieval Robin Hoodish about it.
So come lass , give us a hug and let's go and see if we can find some wandering faeries, hopefully ones with a few dollars on them. I am quite broke at the moment. Lost all me cookie jar money when I went and washed it and took the dough and stuffed it in the old Guinness bottle. It was the first place anyone would look. So unless a couple of the little people found it I must surmize my brother was visiting. :)

[Niamh]

Not to mention Niamh, of course, who was the friendliest and best-informed tourist guide I've ever met ;).

Aww! Thanks very much Cookie!:blush: It was nice to have some as nice as you to show around! And you listened to all the stuff i babbled on about.

[Niamh]

*Irelands Population is only half the size if the Population of London. 4 Million.

*Since Poland entered the EU, 300,000 polish citizens emegrated to Ireland.

*The Irish comsume the most tea in the world, Drinking more than the intire UK.(tea is our answer to everything! )

*Multiple births are highest in Ireland than Any other European country, twins being the most common.

*Any major construction being done in Ireland has to have an Archaeolgical assessment done before construction begins by law. If Archaeological remains are discovered the construction company has to pay for the excavations.

*Halloween Originate in Ireland.

*St Brigit, classed as the second patron saint of Ireland, was originally a celtic Goddess of fertility. The early Irish Christians adopted her as a St because the people of Ireland devoted her. Her feast is still on the 1st of February.

*Ireland Is Known as the Isle of Saints and Scholars for a good Reason. Back when Europe was going through the dark ages, Ireland was going through a golden age. Monastic cities came to life in quite valleys (glendalough for example). People once flocked there to be educated from all over the country. We Also have a lot of Saints. Alot of places originate from the original churches of these saints and are evident in the place names. In my part of Dublin alone there are the following saints;
St Berach
St Donagh
St Marnog
St Esra
St Fintain
St Columchill
St Assem
St Doolagh

* Places names in Ireland can tell you how old a settlement possibly is.
Dun, Lis, Rath all indicate a fort and is therefore associated with the Iron age. Ie
Raheny (rath Enna) = The Fort of Enna
Cill means Church and indicates early christian. Ie Kilbarrack (Cill Berach) the church of St Berach. Many of these townlands still have the ruins of a later church from around 13th cent.
Ford in a place name is Viking. So Wexford, Waterford, carlingford etc are all originally Viking settlements.
Town in a name is usually from Norman up. Rolestown Bettystown, Courttown etc.

*There are more people around the globe claiming Irish heritage than there is in Ireland!

*Englands answer to helping the Irish durning the Famine was to give us american Maise which at the time was used as horse food.

*Ireland populated Scotland.

*Our lagandary hero Chuchullain chose his wife during a peeing competition. She was the one who peed the farthest!

*We have Mummies in St Michans Church. One is that off a crusader and possible templar. His legs are broken and crossed across his thighs.

*the Irish invented gurrilla Warfare. We only ever fought ourselves and England, and when we claimed our independence in 1932, we became neutral. Even today we dont fight but are peacekeepers working with th UN mainly in the Lebanon.

*Did i mention we like Tea?

[barbara0207]

From now on, i check the dictionary before i write anything!:p

Oh no, don't do that! Leave something for the teacher in me to correct! :lol:


The Term Boycott on the other hand, did originate in Ireland.

What a funny coincidence! I subscribe to Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day" and just today they told the very same story!


I am part Irish and last night we were all crowded into me brother's bedroom singing Irish pub songs. It was great. "Her eyes they shine like the diamonds, you'd think she was Queen of the land. And her hair hung over her shoulders, tied up with a black velvet band." Ah it brings tears to your eye.


That reminds me of an incident when I was a trainee teacher. Me and my colleagues were having a party, and around midnight two people got out their fiddles and asked me to get my guitar. And we played Irish pub and folk songs, and soon everybody was dancing and singing, 'No, nay, never' at the top of their voices. We only stopped at the break of dawn. It was then that I noticed I had a big blister on my thumb from strumming the guitar all night. I hadn't felt the pain before that.

[Niamh]

What a funny coincidence! I subscribe to Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day" and just today they told the very same story!


That Is a coincidence!:D

[barbara0207]

As you mentioned the Famine, Niamh, I remeber a very sad and angry song by Sinead O'Connor. I've found it now:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=7acYbfktsG8

Do most Irish still bear a (secret?) grudge in their hearts or is it just Sinead O'Connor?

[Jane Jane]

Oh nay never, no more, I wish more Irish guys would stop roving, they never come back. I would have loved to hear you all.
One of my brothers tried forever to teach me to play guitar but I love the violin and so that is what I do, well and the piano, but you can't exactly take that with you to a get together, now can you?
Irish music, well of course come Scottish, I did both classical dance, we all had to, and Irish dance(it's like being a puppet not moving the top part of your body, and Scottish dance, I looked wierd in those knee socks!), Irish music to me is the only music in the world that can sound very happy and heartbreakingly sad at the same time.
My brother played auld lang syne at Christmas along with Christmas music and the haunting melody of the flute stopped everyone in our tracks and their were tears galore falling off faces all over the house.
I drink so much tea that when I have foolishly let myself run out and cannot get to the store until the next morning I feel TERRIBLE. And it is not the caffeine, I drink the decaff as well. It is the ritual I suppose, the way it is part of me.
I like to make a cup before bed and turn out the lights and be by myself a wee bit and listen to Enya sing the lines'is there a way I can find you, is there a sign I should know........to bring you back home.' It breaks my very heart. I couldn't find my baby sister for four years plus and believe me those words hit me in the depths of my being.

[Niamh]

As you mentioned the Famine, Niamh, I remeber a very sad and angry song by Sinead O'Connor. I've found it now:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=7acYbfktsG8

Do most Irish still bear a (secret?) grudge in their hearts or is it just Sinead O'Connor?

Yeah a lot of Irish people do still bear a grudge. And our history is full of mistreatment, abuse, murder, slaughter, war and death at the hands of the English. Almost four million people either died or Emigrated from Ireland during the three, four years of the famine because the British government didnt believe any of the reports of starvation, and accused us of just being greedy. The Irish were forced to pay higher taxes and rent than any other part of the United Kingdom, and all the produce the Irish grew was sold and shipped off to Britain and the british colonies. People lived basicly on the potato.


Oh nay never, no more, I wish more Irish guys would stop roving, they never come back. I would have loved to hear you all.
One of my brothers tried forever to teach me to play guitar but I love the violin and so that is what I do, well and the piano, but you can't exactly take that with you to a get together, now can you?
Irish music, well of course come Scottish, I did both classical dance, we all had to, and Irish dance(it's like being a puppet not moving the top part of your body, and Scottish dance, I looked wierd in those knee socks!), Irish music to me is the only music in the world that can sound very happy and heartbreakingly sad at the same time.
My brother played auld lang syne at Christmas along with Christmas music and the haunting melody of the flute stopped everyone in our tracks and their were tears galore falling off faces all over the house.
I drink so much tea that when I have foolishly let myself run out and cannot get to the store until the next morning I feel TERRIBLE. And it is not the caffeine, I drink the decaff as well. It is the ritual I suppose, the way it is part of me.
I like to make a cup before bed and turn out the lights and be by myself a wee bit and listen to Enya sing the lines'is there a way I can find you, is there a sign I should know........to bring you back home.' It breaks my very heart. I couldn't find my baby sister for four years plus and believe me those words hit me in the depths of my being.

Yeah there is something about Irish music that can make you feel wonderful and miserable at the same time....

[B-Mental]

I'll tell you a little story. I was brought up Catholic, but when someone asks my religion I say Irish Catholic. Anyways, I'm working at a ski resort in the mountains of Montana, and I hear a man with an Irish brogue. I asked him where he was from, and he said "DUH, I'm Irish!" Anyways, he seemed a little rude, but I explained that I'm Irish-American. He replied, "Oh where I come from we call you tourists!" He proceeds to spit on the ground.

So I just shook my head, and told him..."Well, where I come from we call you Protestants!" I spat on the ground and walked off. Actually, he and I became smashing good friends. My Scottish buddies love it when I tell that story too. Oh well, I hope I didn't offend anyone.

[Niamh]

I'll tell you a little story. I was brought up Catholic, but when someone asks my religion I say Irish Catholic. Anyways, I'm working at a ski resort in the mountains of Montana, and I hear a man with an Irish brogue. I asked him where he was from, and he said "DUH, I'm Irish!" Anyways, he seemed a little rude, but I explained that I'm Irish-American. He replied, "Oh where I come from we call you tourists!" He proceeds to spit on the ground.

So I just shook my head, and told him..."Well, where I come from we call you Protestants!" I spat on the ground and walked off. Actually, he and I became smashing good friends. My Scottish buddies love it when I tell that story too. Oh well, I hope I didn't offend anyone.


:lol: :lol:

[Weisinheimer]

I'll tell you a little story. I was brought up Catholic, but when someone asks my religion I say Irish Catholic. Anyways, I'm working at a ski resort in the mountains of Montana, and I hear a man with an Irish brogue. I asked him where he was from, and he said "DUH, I'm Irish!" Anyways, he seemed a little rude, but I explained that I'm Irish-American. He replied, "Oh where I come from we call you tourists!" He proceeds to spit on the ground.

So I just shook my head, and told him..."Well, where I come from we call you Protestants!" I spat on the ground and walked off. Actually, he and I became smashing good friends. My Scottish buddies love it when I tell that story too. Oh well, I hope I didn't offend anyone.

that's awesome! :thumbs_up :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Jane Jane]

love it. I tried something like that once to a rude chap.
I found out at least that our medical here is very good. :)

[B-Mental]

Well thats good to know Jane Jane!

[Nightshade]

Im 1/16th Irish... or is it 1/8th Seen as my grandan was Irish liverpudlian, course theres probly even more irish in the liverpudlisan than just the one parent...
I can sing ( well if you dont miund the screeching sond of the voice) all of Danny boy in my sleep, apparantly I fell a sleep on the train one night last term and actually did :blush: .

[Niamh]

Im 1/16th Irish... or is it 1/8th Seen as my grandan was Irish liverpudlian, course theres probly even more irish in the liverpudlisan than just the one parent...
I can sing ( well if you dont miund the screeching sond of the voice) all of Danny boy in my sleep, apparantly I fell a sleep on the train one night last term and actually did :blush: .

:lol: :lol:

[Nightshade]

Go ahead an laugh... *sniff* my brain is so enourmus , it doesnt ever turn off
:p

[Niamh]

I've never heard of someone singing a whole song o a train once when they were asleep! why didnt anyone wake you up when you atarted?

[Nightshade]

Because... I dont know they are English?
Got some dirty looks though when I woke my self up on the last verse...

[Jane Jane]

Go one with you. If you were asleep dear lass how do you know you sang it all? Although, just your telling us this does confirm you may have a wee bit o the blarney in you. :)

[Shea]

My Grandma Caroline says there's not an Irishman alive that doesn't cry when they hear Danny Boy. Is that really true? She cries every time I play it on my harp.

[Jane Jane]

I am only one half Irish, the other half is Jewish. So truthfully whenever I have heard Danny boy since a tiny girl I have sobbed.I once saw a CARTOON with an Irish Goose rocking a little gosling in her lap and she sang that and I cried myself to sleep. So I would have to go with yes if I do it and I am half Irish.

[aeroport]

That's very strange about the etymological origins of the boycott. In the U.S. the first time we hear the term is in relation to the colonial boycott of British goods preceding - and obviously leading up to - the American Revolution in the eighteenth century. And yet every source I look at confirms what you say about the origin of the term itself. So apparently about a hundred years after the fact, we appropriated a term from the Irish as a designation for part of the U.S.'s history with Great Britain - I wonder what they called it before that...

Regarding me, I'm not totally clear about my genealogy - which, you might reasonably say, is really rather stupid, considering that I work in a genealogy library and am surrounded by people who can help me... - but I believe I'm partially *lowers voice slightly* Scottish, and, my not-terribly-reliable mother informs me, perhaps Irish as well...

In any event, I rather dig what I've seen of Irish literature, and am determined to make it over there sometime.

[Hira]

Haven't got any irish connection, except that my uncles live there! They do praise the greens over there!

I am reading Joyce's Portrait these days. Words and phrases are unfamiliar at times, are some of them taken from Irish English?

[Shea]

I am only one half Irish, the other half is Jewish.

That's just like my Grandma Caroline! Her father was Jewish. I think they were more worried over her during WWII because of her last name than any other child in school.

[Niamh]

My Grandma Caroline says there's not an Irishman alive that doesn't cry when they hear Danny Boy. Is that really true? She cries every time I play it on my harp.
Nah thats not true. I've never seen an Irishman cry when they Hear Danny Boy.:)


That's very strange about the etymological origins of the boycott. In the U.S. the first time we hear the term is in relation to the colonial boycott of British goods preceding - and obviously leading up to - the American Revolution in the eighteenth century. And yet every source I look at confirms what you say about the origin of the term itself. So apparently about a hundred years after the fact, we appropriated a term from the Irish as a designation for part of the U.S.'s history with Great Britain - I wonder what they called it before that...
It probably would have been classed as an act of coercion.:)


Regarding me, I'm not totally clear about my genealogy - which, you might reasonably say, is really rather stupid, considering that I work in a genealogy library and am surrounded by people who can help me... - but I believe I'm partially *lowers voice slightly* Scottish, and, my not-terribly-reliable mother informs me, perhaps Irish as well...

In any event, I rather dig what I've seen of Irish literature, and am determined to make it over there sometime.
:lol: you should take advantage of your job Jamesian!!! MAybe there is a clue in your surname or that of you mother or grandparents?


I am reading Joyce's Portrait these days. Words and phrases are unfamiliar at times, are some of them taken from Irish English?

It is termed Hiberno-English after the Latin name for Ireland Hibernia (winterland.)

[B-Mental]

Nah thats not true. I've never seen an Irishman cry when they Hear Danny Boy. ~Niamh

Thanks for saying that, I've never cried to Danny Boy, although there are many a song of Irish origin which will make me weepy, this isn't one of them. I will also admit that when Irish Americans die that celebrate their Irish Ancestry die...they have bagpipes play. I don't know if they do this in Ireland though. I will also admit that bagpipes make me melancholy.

[Remarkable]

I am in love with Irish literature.Does that count?Oh,and in a stupid test I took once in the net,I really belonged in Dublin(which is quite good for me,I have created the idea that it is the perfect place to write something good).

[Niamh]

~Niamh

Thanks for saying that, I've never cried to Danny Boy, although there are many a song of Irish origin which will make me weepy, this isn't one of them. I will also admit that when Irish Americans die that celebrate their Irish Ancestry die...they have bagpipes play. I don't know if they do this in Ireland though. I will also admit that bagpipes make me melancholy.

No we dont really use the bagpipes here either. They arent even our instrament. We have the Uillin Pipes (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://rlongconsulting.com/design/kennedy/graphx/bench.gif&imgrefurl=http://rlongconsulting.com/design/kennedy/pipes.asp&h=373&w=199&sz=43&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=oDmjtk13BAlL8M:&tbnh=122&tbnw=65&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dillin%2Bpipes%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%2 6hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4GGIC_enIE230IE231%26sa%3DN)

I think the bagpipes are very meloncholy indeed.

[Shea]

Uillin pipes are the most complicated instrument I've ever seen!

[Niamh]

Yeah and thats why one would find bagpipes being used more.

[Hira]

It is termed Hiberno-English after the Latin name for Ireland Hibernia (winterland.)

Oooh, hiberno-english. Thanks for telling, Niamh. I used hiberno-english as a search term in google and found lots more helpful and fascinating stuff than when I put Irish-English in it.

[Niamh]

You can actually buy dictionaries (http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hiberno-English-T-P-Dolan/dp/0717140393/sr=1-1/qid=1165332189/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-7642452-0005438?ie=UTF8&s=books) that translate hiberno-english into anglo-english (ie English!:p )
Here is a site about it.
Hiberno-English (http://www.hiberno-english.com/)

*******
Okay so for anyone whos wondering, The term Hiberno comes from Hibernia, which was the Roman name for Ireland. It Loosely translates to "Winterland". It is believed that the Romans names Ireland Hibernia, because when they arrived here on and expedition, it was cold, damp, wet, possible sleety and snowy, as well as being hilly and boggy and NOT what they wanted to try and conquer.:D If winter was a land, this was it!:D Although they didnt conquer us and add us to their empire, there is archaeological evidence of trading with small celtic villages on the east coast from Wicklow to Balbriggan.

[Hira]

Won't be able to buy it off Amazon:(

But thanks for the other link!!:):):thumbs_up

Are Corkian and Dublin dialects very much different? Just came across them in Wikipedia.

[Niamh]

Its corkonian and Dublinese. And Yes they are very different! :nod: There are aparently more Dialects in Dublin that in all of britain.:p you can go from Northern Ireland to Kerry and hear so many different accents.
See this site;
http://web.ku.edu/idea/europe/ireland/ireland.htm

[Niamh]

So i'm back with some more pointless info About Ireland.

* The Normans didnt invade Ireland, they were invited over in 1168 by King Dermot MacMuragh to help him regain some of his kingdom in Leinster. As a reward he gave to the leader of the army Richard DeClare ie. Strongbow the hand of his daughter Aoife.

* Some of the streets in Dublin City centre are still the original names from the viking period. They are also in the same position and length as they were over a thousand years ago. Most of these streets are located around Christ Church. Some of them are as follows
Wine Tavern St
Cow gate Street
Cornmarket
Fishamble st

* The Highest Pub in Ireland is Johnny Foxes in the Wicklow mountains.

* The Port of Cobh, Formerly Queenstown, was the last stop of the Titanic and the Lucitania. It is also supposed to be one of the most Haunted places in Ireland.

* Malahide Castle in north county Dublin Has been owned by the same family for its intire existance. The Talbot family past it on to the Office of Public works. The family also have a street named after them.

* Sean O' Caseys real name was Shane Casey.

* The Playboy of the western World cause historical riots in the Abbey Theatre 100 years ago. The uproar happened after one of the actors said the word Shift. (a female undergarment)

* W.B.Yeats Wife Georgie was an automatic handwriter.

* Irelands Epic An Tain Bo Cuailgne has never been adapted for the screen.

* Queen Mad mentioned in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is a fairy queen of Irish Mythology. (funny how it ended up in a play based in Italy. You can Visit Mabs chair which is located in the wicklow mountains.

* The Prehistoric site of Bru Na Bionne which consists of Three Megalithic tombs, Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, predate the Pyramids of Giza by almost 1000 years.

[Niamh]

So I thought i'd post a few picks to show you all some of the wonderful places you can visit in Dublin.
So i'll start off with the museums in the City centre area.
This is the National Library of Ireland Kildare Street. Its an amazing place that even has a geneology centre.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/nationallibraryofIreland.jpg
This is the national History museum of Ireland Kildare street. its apart of the same complex as the Library, Natural Museum and Art Gallery. They are located on the four corners of the Government Buildings. It is one of my favourite places to visit in Dublin and has things ranging from Neolithic to war of Independance. (even has a really small egyptology section.)
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/nathismu.jpg
This is Trinity College which was founded by Elizabeth I. It is one of Irelands leading Colleges. I've also included a picture of its really old library.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/trinitycollege2.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/libraryattrinitycollege.jpg
Here is the garden of remembrace In Parnell Square. The Irish Writers Museum is located along the square. The Statue depicts the Children Of Lir.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/gardenofr.jpg
this is the National History Museum of Decorative Arts Collins Barracks.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/collinsbarracks.jpg
And the Phoenix park which is located beside the museum. The Phoenix park is the largest in Dublin and is Also home to the President of Ireland. The Zoo is also there.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/phoenixpark.jpg
This Is Kilmainham Goal. Its an old prison located south of the liffey just up from Huston Station. The Leaders of the 1916 rising where imprisoned here.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/Kilmainham_Goal.jpg
Dublin castle is also somewhere to visit. If you go there Chester Betty Library is a must see. Contains religious doctrines from many different religions from around the globe.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/dublincastle.jpg
here are some nice bookshops to get lost in for a few hours.
eason on O'Connell Street
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/eason.jpg
Hodges Figgis Dawson Street
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/hodgesfiggis.jpg
Waterstones Dawson Street
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/dublin/waterstones.jpg

[SleepyWitch]

hey Niamh, you posted loads of interesting stuff while I was finishing up my thesis. I'll have to read it all in detail later on!

do you know any reliable websites or books about the Celts? I read a wikipedia article about them the other day but it confused me so much that now I know less about them than before. e.g. some people say they were a 'race', whereas other define them by 'culture' (the kinds of tools and burial rites they had) and language. but then there's this other recent study of mitochondrial (sp?) DNA that claims that British Celts came from what is now Spain and Portugal after the last ice age (i.e. like what? 15,000 years ago :eek:), whereas some older theories claim they came from France/Germany and cite the La Tène/ Hallstadt cultures as their ancestors. :mad: it's so confusing. seriously, I don't care whether this bunch of bronze age blokes came from 'Spain' or 'France' or outer space. All I wanted to know is how they lived and what famous Celtic sites there are. Plus, a timeline would be helpful....

[Niamh]

Oh Dear! Where do i begin!
Sleepy, The Celts that settled in Ireland are believed to have originated from around loch Neuchatel in Switzerland. Archaeologist believe this because there were similar eastern influences in Irish Celtic art as there was from archaeological finds around this lake. there is supposed to be examples on this stone situated outside Galway
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/loki42/ireland%20-%202005/misc/IMG_1266.jpg
i noted you mentioned the celts and the bronze age in one sentence. okay now this is where my education slips in. In Ireland there is this general prehistoric break down;
Mesolithic= c7000-5000b.c
neolithic=c5000-2000b.c
Bronze age=c2000-500b.c
Iron Age=500b.c-500a.d
Now the celts arrival in Ireland generally fits into the Iron age and not the Bronze age. and its believed (although this may not really be the case) that hte Celts entered britain Via Ireland. Scotland would have been much closer land wise back then and they arrived there from Ireland.The Scots are the Irish abroad after all!:p
In regards to the Race/ culture debate, it think it would be only fair to say they were both. They were a race because they were nothing like the natives that where already here (bronze age man believed to have floated from spain on the current of the gulf stream)
Famous Celtic sites in Ireland are Navan Fort (Emain Macha)
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/ireland/9bab.jpg
And
The Hill Of Tara
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/Prsfl9973/TheHillofTara.jpg
What types of books are you looking for? I pick something up for you if you want. Gives me an excuse for a trip to my National History Museum.:D
The Iron age is the period where most of our legends are based. The Tain is based during the late iron age and was written down a couple of hundred years later in The Annuls of Ireland. That would be a great book to read if you wanted to get an idea of what Iron age/celtic ireland was supposed to be like.
Also it might be of some interest for people to know that there is actually a ditch called the Dorsey, or more popularly known as The Black Pigs Dike which runs from Armagh along the old Iron age boardes of Ulster to the bottom of Donegal. It is believed to have been dug durning the Iron age by King Connor Of Ulster. There are obviously certain points along the ditch that are flat for access purposes. :) Pretty impressive eh?!

[Prole]

Its corkonian and Dublinese. And Yes they are very different! :nod: There are aparently more Dialects in Dublin that in all of britain.:p you can go from Northern Ireland to Kerry and hear so many different accents.
This is true, being Northern Irish (Down) I can't understand people who live like 50 miles away. When I was down in Cork with a friend a few years back, the dialogue between myself and the locals was like something from an old peoples home. "what?" "eh?" "He did what?" "I never touched your fridge magnet!" etc. We need translators to venture out the door!

Niamh, you're really selling Ireland. Was there a big economic crisis I'm not aware of and the country needs pimped out now? :p

[Niamh]

:lol: I lived with a guy from cork and a girl from Donegal when i was in college. They were okay to understand. But the person we all had a problem understanding was the guy from Finglas, twenty minutes drive from where i live!:p I okay with some Ulster accents like Monaghan, Cavan, and Armagh but thats mainly because i've lived up around there!
No! No major crisis! I just got lonely being the only Irish person here so I invite everyone to be Irish and then copied Sleepys idea of her Kraust thread and started telling people about Ireland!:D Things they might not know. :nod:
Now you being a fellow Irish, feel free to throw in any pointless info about the North as possible!:D

[Prole]

Useless factoid about the north number one: Where I'm staying at the minute I'm only a few hundred yards from St. Patrick's Grave (hence the name, Downpatrick). So St. Patrick's day is a big deal here, with a parade and such (I know Dublin, Belfast and other places have one, but the proper one is HERE :) )

[Niamh]

Up the airy mountain
Down the rushy glen,
We daren't go a-hunting,
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl's feather.
Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home,
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain-lake,
With frogs for their watch-dogs,
All night awake.

High on the hill-top
The old King sits;
He is now so old and gray
He's nigh lost his wits.
With a bridge of white mist
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses;
Or going up with music,
On cold starry nights,
To sup with the Queen,
Of the gay Northern Lights.

They stole little Bridget
For seven years long;
When she came down again
Her friends were all gone.
They took her lightly back
Between the night and morrow;
They thought she was fast asleep,
But she was dead with sorrow.
They have kept her ever since
Deep within the lake,
On a bed of flag leaves,
Watching till she wake.

By the craggy hill-side,
Through the mosses bare,
They have planted thorn trees
For pleasure here and there.
Is any man so daring
As dig them up in spite?
He shall find the thornies set
In his bed at night.

Up the airy mountain
Down the rushy glen,
We daren't go a-hunting,
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl's feather.

-- William Allingham