A Bit of Irish Fun...or Something

It is often assumed Diana is of Irish stock because she is a fair skinned red head. This irks her no end. She asked me when she was fairly young if she was in fact Irish because so many folks thought she was. I told her to really spin their heads and let them know she is ethnically Greek, which is true since my birth father was a Greek immigrant. (And I wonder why the kid likes to mess with people's mind as much as she does...).

On my dad's side (dad, not birth father) his grandfather was and Irish immigrant who was disowned by his Catholic family for marrying a German Protestant. Dad and his mother are a fearsome mix of German and Irish. Seriously, don't anger either one of them. It's just not worth it. So, since I am adopted that means almost nothing for my own alleged Irish pedigree but hey, I grew up in that stew so for one day a year I'll claim some Irish background. I produced a kid who looks Irish because he father does too. I never inflicted upon her the indignity displayed in this picture of her father though. He's happy enough in this picture but others exist in which he is wearing a very pronounced scowl. Yes, his mother did this to him many years in a row.


Now we'll move on to the trivia portion of our post...

Bagpipes were originally made from the full skin of a sheep. I guess that kind of explains why they look like the bagpiper is giving mouth-to-mouth to an upside down sheep and why the instrument sounds sort of like the sheep is protesting.

The Irish version of bagpipes is called Uillean pipes. Uillean means something akin to playing with the elbow.

The rock group known as the Pogues originally called themselves Pogue Mahone, which translates from Gaelic to mean kiss my ass. (I think I need to go find some Pogues recordings right about now.)

Historians believe St Patrick's real name was Maewyn Succat. Personally, I think the Irish improved upon the poor man's situation.

Ireland is the only nation with a musical instrument (the harp) for its national symbol.


(The last 4 facts are taken from Ireland Fun Fact.com)


To close I'll share my favorite toast from my favorite Irish poet, William Butler Yeats. By the way, poets were at one time esteemed as highly as kings in Ireland. How can you not have affection for a place where the national symbol is an instrument and poets are so well regarded?

A Drinking Song

WINE comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That's all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die.
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and I sigh.

~W. B. Yeats~



Happy St. Patrick's Day