Today, the listeners of a nationwide pop radio station in Ireland, Today FM, voted for the following song as their Friday Favorite:
Lynryd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama”
An answer to your next question:
No, Today FM is not the kind of radio station that appeals to ironic hipsters.
The Republic of Ireland does not observe Memorial Day on the last Monday of May. Indeed, there is no public holiday of the Republic devoted to the memory of war.
The Republic of Ireland’s orientation towards wars and soldiers reflects the nation’s extraordinarily complex history of warfare. I’ll mention a few, recent aspects of that history — and that will be difficult enough. (more…)
We have guests at the B&B! Last week, Ray, Cindy and Will visited two new destinations near Dublin: the Glendalough park in the Wicklow Mountains and the archeological sites of Knowth and Newgrange (which are part of the Brú na Bóinne complex).
There’s lots of information and photos from those two days in the Flickr sets. This past weekend, we visited Switzerland. We’ll add those photos to overall collection of photos for their visit.
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
To the begrudgers, March 17th is a day for worldwide paddywhackery, usually of the most stereotypical sort. (As opposed to paddywhackery of great subtlety, which is difficult to detect without being Irish yourself.)
Yesterday, we gave you an antidote to one St. Paddy’s cliché. Today, we give you another genuine Irishism:
Ah sure, it’ll be grand.
This versatile statement is a substitute for the blander American phrase, “Don’t worry about it.” The ideal circumstance for saying it today would be when it starts to rain on your parade.
It is pronounced with a practically undetectable insinuation of sarcasm. For months, I took it to be a cynical statement, but it is not. Mostly, it expresses an attitude — that the current situation is the best that we will ever get, regardless of what we deserve. With reference to situations of one’s own creation, the statement conveys confidence that things will end acceptably, no matter the contradictory, incomplete, or makeshift nature of arrangements.
If all this seems to be a negative portrayal of Irishness, then you’re probably American or British. Admit it, you too wish that you could so easily say, “Ah, feck it, let’s get a pint.” And if you could summon that strength of character, it would be grand, even if you didn’t put so much effort into turning your drinks green.
We have two items from the interwebs to call to your attention, this day before the international celebration of Irishness.
First, we address the fake Irish idiom, “Top o’the Mornin”. As Seamus so perceptively commented, it is never said in Ireland without irony, at least in our experience.
The interweb’s smartest community, MetaFilter, offers the following American-style retort for those who are so ignorant as to further this offensive, Lucky-Charms stereotype: “And the rest of the day to yourself.” The genuine Irish usage of “yourself” makes it a real winner.
Second, we honour the best celebrations of St Patrick’s Day. By consensus of the Irish media and historical precedent, those take place in the USA. So we have a few links for your pleasure:
Finally, a St Paddy’s Day research project for our most enterprising readers: What is Gorey’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade? There is some controversy over its schedule. Another article, albeit in a regional paper, implies that it is the most prestigious parade in Ireland. Also, the following notice appeared in the Irish Independent on Wednesday, 5 March 2008:
IF YOU find you have a gap in your schedule this St. Patrick’s Day, due to Gorey’s parade being held on Sunday, March 16, then you might be inclined to join in the festivities in Arklow. Arklow’s St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on Monday, March 17, and will kick off at 3 p.m.
The organising committee has said that participants in the Gorey parade are also welcome to take part in the Arklow parade.
My google-fu failed me on this one. I know that the Dublin parade is on Monday; we’ll be there!
Before we moved to Ireland, our good friend and frequent commentor Dave gave me a copy of The Lonely Planet’s Irish Language and Culture. The book, unlike a tourist guide, goes into lifestyle and society, sport, slang and entertainment.
For many months, I would read a little bit about Ireland before I went to bed. It helped give me insight into the Gaelic Games, helped me memorize the four provinces and the 32 counties. I also picked up several classic Irish phrases, included “You’re grand,” “No bother at all,” and “Jaysus!”.
Here’s a big thank you to Dave for the book. Now that Will and I have finished it, it will move to a place of honor in the guest room, so all our visitors can have the opportunity to learn just a little bit more about the country they are visiting.
Happy Daffodil Day! In Ireland, March Seventh is Daffodil Day in Ireland. It’s a day designated by the Irish Cancer Society to donate funds to support cancer research and services to those who are affected by cancer. Several Anglophone cancer societies use the daffodil as an official symbol, including the American Cancer Society. (In Chicago, Daffodil Days begin on St Patrick’s Day.)
As in the US, the Irish Cancer Society employs Jarvisian skill in PR, bring the government, the media and practically all mainstream institutions on board.
The daffodil is also the national flower of Wales. In a neat coincidence, the national rugby team of Wales visits Croke Park in Dublin tomorrow. At this point in the Six Nations Tournament, Ireland is one of three national teams tied for second place behind Wales. So, on the day before one of the biggest matches of the year for Irish rugby, thousands of Irish fans are wearing a symbol of the opposing team. Nice!
Finally, on a personal note, I’ve wondered for weeks whether any daffodils are poking their heads above ground in the Midwest. I’ve seen them around Dublin for weeks. The photo above was taken on February 18th. Do you see daffodils where you are? Let me know in the comments.
Here in Ireland (and the UK), Mothers’ Day is tomorrow. Flowers and candy are on sale everywhere, as you’d expect.
The Irish-English story of Mothers’ Day is a nice example of the entanglement of the Anglophone countries. Mothers Day is technically named Mothering Sunday, and it falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. (So this year, it’s abnormally early. I’m sure that many Irish sons were caught unawares!)
The tradition originates in Laetare Sunday on the Catholic liturgical calendar. The story is that, centuries ago, servants and apprentices were allowed to return to their mother-church and their family on Laetare Sunday. 
So, that Sunday became associated with children returning to their extended families and thus, their mothers.
Mothering Sunday was nearly forgotten by the 1930s, but American servicemen stationed in England during the Second World War helped revive the tradition, and the focus of the day was firmly fixed on mothers alone. Mothering Sunday is prominent once again. From the appearance of the stores on Grafton Street, the tradition is now indistinguishable from Mother’s Day in the US — it’s a standard hallmark-holiday.
By the way, the story of Mother’s Day in the United States is much more exciting. It’s a historiographic grudge-match! In one corner, flourishing in 1872, is the feminist and anti-war suffragette, Julia Ward Howe. In the other corner, flourishing in 1908, is the Victorian sentimentalist, Anna Jarvis. In the grand tradition of pugilistic commentary, I offer my analysis in verse:
Howe’s left-side rhetorical hook
is second to none,
but the appeal of Jarvis to mainstream authority
will get the job done.
Good stuff, especially for doctoral candidates. This donnybrook should continue for decades to come.
I have political interactions with Dubliners more than twice a day (when I’m out and about). Here’s two from today.
First, in the hardware store: The two workers there know me and they know that I’m American. One asks, “How about yer man McCain. Do ya think he’ll win?” Discussion ensues, bringing in another customer (Irish). All seem to hope that Obama wins the primaries and the election.
Second, not really an interaction, but a poster I saw all over town:
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