Sorry I haven't blogged for a week or so. Not a lot happening on our smallholding in Ireland. The Romans never visited Ireland but they named it: Hibernia, which means the land of eternal winters. I think they must of been on their holidays here. Anyway I have still not been able to dig over the veg plot or let the cattle out to graze and have their cows disco when we let them run, dance and jump about.
What did St Patrick say when he drove the snakes out of Ireland?
"Are you alright in the back lads?"
England never celebrates St George like the Irish celebrate St Patrick. I wonder why not?
Watched the famous Manchester United v Sheffield United the other day. Think they should start showing tiddly wink matches or train timetables on a Saturday tea time instead.. Bring back wingers and attacking football please!!!!
I recognised the name Clonakilty. The name of the best black pudding I've tasted.
ReplyDeleteYes they are very good puddings Philip.
DeleteWhen I read your headline I thought they've move St. Paddy's day to January.
ReplyDeleteWe have quite a few Irish pubs in Vienna but unfortunately they insist on smoking when the sport is on the box, which basically means all the time.
When I was in Dublin I looked after a man's coat while he went out for a drag. Now why can't they do that here? In 2018 they might get round to it the say. Being Welsh I celebrate St Davids and St Patricks.
I visited Vienna in 2014 Gwil. I loved the Dunkels and Bratwurst. We also visited Bratislava - a Euro a pint!
ReplyDeleteI have only ever seen British pubs in Spain and Portugal. Once visited an 'Oirish' pub in Calais. They served the Guinness with a shamrock froth and nobody spoke English.
I think they should have smokers rooms in bars instead of making people go outside. I am a bit of mixed breeding: my dad came from Ireland, my mum from Lancashire, her mother came from Wrexham and my mother's grandfather came from Yorkshire. Thanks Gwil!
You have a good mixture there. My dad came from a long line of Snowdonia folk. Mum was a Geordie. We lived in the shadow of Caernarfon Castle.
DeleteI have been to the top of Snowdon and visited Caenarfon castle. Incredible how much mixed blood we all have Gwil.
ReplyDeleteI wondered what had happened to you on Saturday Dave when I blogged about the football. I think I'll go and take a look and see what's happening at Old Trafford. A bit of a strange time for United at the moment, can't make out what the team are doing.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's 0-0 and its at St James'Park.Felleini's playing and oh, he got's a penalty, harsh decision, Wayne Rooney to take, and he puts Man United ahead! Perhaps it's a good omen for the night, decision goes Man U's way.
DeleteHi Rachel. Been a bit down after Christmas and parents anniversaries. I have still been reading your blog though.
DeleteI can't put my finger on what's wrong with United. It's like they are copying Liverpool and Chelsea and not wanting to play for their manager. I noticed the fans showing sarcasm on Saturday. Most United fans I speak to are not happy with the style of play.
It was quite a game. Smalling did something really silly in the box, gave away the penalty. It will be a game for Man United to forget I think.
DeleteSorry to contradict you Dave the Romans were in Ireland and in sufficient numbers to have drawn a map naming the towns. It is believed that unlike Britain they did not arrive as invaders but as traders. Up in Meath they built shrines and left offerings outside of Brú na Boinne. See http://irisharchaeology.ie/2011/11/roman-contacts-with-ireland/
ReplyDeleteSt Patrick did not bring Christianity to Ireland it was already established, for many years before he set his Welsh foot upon the land and in fact he did not stray very far from Ulster when he was here - most of what Catholic school history books is BS! Go visit this site
http://www.libraryireland.com/SocialHistoryAncientIreland/II-VI-1.php
Looking forward to Spring and warmer weather.
Thanks for that Heron. There doesn't (been looking it up on the Internet) seem to much evidence of any Roman archaeology in Ireland and I don't think they made it to Scotland. A lot of Roman artifacts are thought to have been brought from England and Wales through trading.
DeleteSt Patrick is known to be the Apostle of Ireland and many Irish churches claim he founded them.
Like wise I am looking to Spring and getting the cattle out to graze the fields. Thanks!
We are still rather squelchy underfoot here Dave, even though the east of England is one of the driest areas.
ReplyDeleteSt David's day is always marked in Wales.
Hi Irene. Yes St David's day is always marked in Wales. The first of March isn't it? I use to say to my mother: "It's my day, St David's day.
DeleteIt's hopelessly wet here underfoot. Totally fed up with our wet climate. Thanks!
I find in England they are very apathetic towards celebrating marked events and dont seem as proud of there national days, just been watching on the news that the government are meeting today to discuss if England should have its own anthem like Wales and Scotland :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn. I notice that the newsreaders seem to call people British these days. You never hear them say: English.
DeleteThink you are right about the apathy to celebrating marked events. April 23 is St Georges day and Shakespeare's birthday. I think Jerusalem would be a far better anthem than God Save Our Gracious Queen. Refreshing to see England cricket team come out to the strains of Jerusalem. Thanks!
France 'does' St Patrick's Day, and there are lots of Irish bands playing here although they will sound nothing like the 'true' Irish music, ...sort of like a French interpretation of the Irish. Our band was booked to play for St Patrick's Day but I think it has been cancelled! Not to worry, I am sure that another booking will turn up from someone!
ReplyDeleteHi Vera. I have been in a couple of Irish pubs in France. Do you have any English pubs? Wetherspoons recently opened a pub in Cork city. Would love to see the French bands playing Irish music.
DeleteNo, no English pubs that I know of, but we do have an Irish pub a couple of hours drive away. One of these days I shall have a go at making a video of the band, but only when I have figured out how to use the video on my camera!
DeleteI would like to watch a video of your band on your blog Vera.
DeleteAmericans celebrate St. Patrick's Day big time, at least in the Northeast where I've always lived. There are also lots of Irish pubs in these parts with Guinness on tap. This will be my first St. Patrick's in Boston, which has a large and proud Irish population. I expect to see a lot of shamrocks and little plastic leprechauns in the shops once we are ready to move on from the stuff of Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteHi Shawn. I believe there are nearly 100 million people claiming an Irish connection. Are there any English pubs in America? Thanks!
DeleteInterestingly, there are no English pubs, though there is one Scottish tavern in Boston with an amazing selection of Scottish craft beers.
DeleteI see Gordon Ramsey owns an English restaurant in Las Vegas Shawn. My friend visited Utah and found lots of craft beers very similar to English one's.
DeleteI will probably get kicked in the arse for this, but I think that England is now so diluted that nobody knows or cares about England let alone have pride in her.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with having an opinion Irene. I often wonder why England doesn't celebrate it's Englishness more.
DeleteI think it has to do with the shame of having been a colonial power. At one time, so much of England's self-image was tied up in the idea of empire, an idea that is no longer admired.
DeleteYou could be right Shawn. Yet I think the world is missing out on English ales and regional English recipes.
DeleteI remember some very tough ( on my liver) paddys nights in liverpool when i was younger......
ReplyDeleteBtw...can you post a photo of yourself someday..its nice to " picture" my fav blog writers
Hi John. Tell us more about those paddy nights in Liverpool. They have an amazing sense of humour don't they?
DeleteYou can find me on the blog in March 3 2012 or just type Northsider Dave in Google images. It's good to have a celebrity blogger visit the blog. How many followers have you now John?
Love to be in Amsterdam on St Paticks day, lots of Irish pubs, they serve a green coloured beer.
ReplyDeleteAmsterdam St Patricks day sounds amazing Cumbrian. Do they celebrate St George's day in Cumbria?
DeleteNo, I doubt if many people know when it is.
DeleteNo, I doubt if many people know when it is.
DeleteI saw Easter eggs in Tescos yesterday Dave.:-)
ReplyDeleteWe saw hot cross buns in Aldi last week Deb. They will playing Christmas music in July soon. Thanks!
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