Happy St. Patrick's Day

Let's be fair and admit that there are pugnacious drunks, regardless of their ethnic background, and friendly drunks, and also maudlin drunks. I think some Irish, when they have imbibed one too many, become maudlin drunks, and get teary eyed when Old Danny Boy is played. Or, they might lament about relatives they haven't seen in years.

My point being, not all drunks are pugnacious.

Getting drunk is used, I believe, for some who are homesick, and without getting a little loose with alcohol cannot really release their lonesomeness. Many drunks just want someone to shake their hand, and show that they can be liked.

Happy Saint, Bear.

The Irish ignore anything they can't drink or punch.

OMG
Now that's an emotional rollercoaster.


Cheek o' you girl.

agh.. just playin'. Takin' the piss, as it were. lol

Happy Saint Patrick's Day.



Have to say I hate all the paddywhackery.

So it's trouble you're looking for me girl!


And here I am at it meself.

May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Happy St. Paddy's Day!

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A St. Patrick's Poem On Shamrocks And Stereotypes
NPR Weekend Edition Saturday
March 17, 2012

Ireland has launched some of the greatest writers in English literature, from William Butler Yeats to Oscar Wilde to George Bernard Shaw.

To honor St. Patrick's Day, Irish expatriate Frank Delaney, has penned a poem especially for NPR's Weekend Edition called "Drowning the Shamrock." Delaney is the author of the novel Ireland; his career has lasted more than three decades and includes more than 3,500 interviews with some of the world's most significant writers. His previous literary project, "Re: Joyce," is an ambitious podcast that deconstructs each sentence in Ulysses.

"Drowning the Shamrock" is Delaney's irreverent "James Joyce-ian" take on St. Patrick's Day, filled with Irish pride.

Drowning the Shamrock
by FRANK DELANEY

"Hail glorious Saint Patrick dear saint of our isle
On us thy poor children look down with a smile —"
But I'm not singing hymns and I'm not saying prayers
No, I'm gritting my teeth as I walk down the stairs
And into the street with these louts fiercely drinking
And screeching and lurching, and here's what I'm thinking —
They're using a stereotype, a narrow example,
A fraction, not even a marketing sample
To imitate Ireland, from which they don't come!
So unless that's just stupid, unless it's plain dumb,
All these kids from New Jersey and the five boroughs
And hundreds of cities, all drowning their sorrows,
With bottles and glasses and heads getting broken
(Believe me, just ask the mayor of Hoboken)
All that mindlessness, shouting and getting plain stocious —
That isn't Irish, that's simply atrocious.
I've another word too for it, this one's more stinging
I call it "racism." See, just 'cause you're singing
Some drunken old ballad on Saint Patrick's Day
Does that make you Irish? Oh, no — no way.
Nor does a tee-shirt that asks you to kiss them —
If they never come back I surely won't miss them
Or their beer cans and badges and wild maudlin bawling
And hammered and out of it, bodies all sprawling.

They're not of Joyce or of Yeats, Wilde, or Shaw.
How many Nobel Laureates does Dublin have? Four!
Think of this as you wince through Saint Patrick's guano —
Not every Italian is Tony Soprano.

Happy St Patrick's day to all our A2K Irish!
I hope I'm not too late!

Melbourne, where I live, has lots & lots of Irish. No doubt a big celebration was had by all yesterday.

In the background of this photograph is Dan O'Connell's pub, a favourite Irish haunt.
Years ago, I spent hours there on Saturday afternoons, listening to everyone singing along & also to terrific Irish poetry. Wonderful!



Guinness flows on St Patrick's Day, to be sure:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/guinness-flows-on-st-patricks-day-to-be-sure-20120317-1vcdd.html

May those who love us, love us.
And those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts;
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles,
So we will know them by their limping.

happy st paddy's day to all...