Molly & the Tinker's Virtual Pub

Tinker · Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Posts: 12

Well, let's kick off this forum with a smattering of facts about Ireland and Irish history, and let's see where it goes from there. Didja know, for instance, that there are palm trees in Dublin? that despite the stereotype of the Irish Catholic, the Irish constitution formally recognizes eight denominations, including Quakers? that two of the Lord Mayors of Dublin in recent times were Jewish? that St. Patrick wasn't Irish? that Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union? that the first president of the Irish Republic was a half-Italian who was born in New York?

Okay, that should prime the pump, so to speak. What other comments, questions or profound observations do you have about the history and culture of the Irish?
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Tinker MacLea, alias Brian Leo

Velouria · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Northwest Indiana

My father's grandfather was a protestant born in Ireland, so yes I did know the constitution recognised protestants. And having recently converted to Catholicism a couple years back, I also knew that St. Patrick wasn't Irish. He is simply the patron saint of Ireland. It is also true that there never were any snakes in Ireland, and he didn't drive out literal snakes. My understanding of St. Patrick's driving snakes out of Ireland is this...

VoidKat · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 3

I love hearing about all things Irish, regale us great tinker! I knew St. Patrick wasn't Irish, but the rest of it is very interesting! Maybe you can tell us a little more about Gort as well. Very Happy

Tinker · Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Posts: 12

Well, I really don't know that much about it, though we've been there. It's a neat little town, so neat that it won the "Tidy Towns" competition many years back. And it really is the birthplace of somebody famous, famous to the Irish at least, and that is the literary figure Lady Gregory.

Unfortunately, the people there don't pronounce it "gort" but rather "gorrit". I believe that's a Gaelic word for holly, or maybe ivy. But I am not going to rewrite the song and come up with new rhymes just to accommodate that extra syllable.

BTW, some time when you're in Kat Eggleston's audience, request "Gort". It's in her songlist, though she seldom performs it. Can't say that I blame her.
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Tinker MacLea, alias Brian Leo

VoidKat · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 3

Would that I had the honor of visiting Ireland. I have ancestors from around Galway. And that pronunciation would be problematic in the song. Smile

Maybe just leave the inaccuracies about nobody famous and the mispronunciation in, and just add on to it as is with the new revelations. I think a little stretchin' o' th' truth o' things is in line, what with keeping the spirit of the place alive. It would never have come to my attention if you hadn't had the song on your CD!