Friday, March 16, 2012

We All Be A Wee Bit Irish Today



On Saint Patrick's Day I think everyone has a little green flowing through their veins.  I have been told that I am Scots-Irish, among other things.  I used to think that meant it was kinda like the Hatfields and the McCoys where someone among the feuding clans somehow managed to find true love long ago and one of my ancestors was a product of that ill-timed love affair.



You either just bought that story I was trying to sell ya, or you figured out I must have kissed a Blarney Stone or two in my youth.  Here is a more famous "blarney" joke for your enjoyment:


O'Gorman jumped up from the card table white with rage
'Stop this game!' he shouted. 'Fitzgerald is cheating!'
'How do you know?' his partners asked with concern.
'He's not playing the hand I dealt him!'






The Irish are very proud of what they consider their national treasures and so should they be!  Here are a few little known facts about the history and culture of the lovely Irish people:






1)  The national emblem of the country is the Celtic Harp, not the shamrock as many believe. No other country in the world has a musical instrument for their national emblem.

2)  Bram Stoker , the author of Dracula was Irish.

3)  Saint Patrick's true name was Maewyn Succat

4)  There are no known snakes  living in Ireland.

5)  4 Irish authors have won the Nobel Prize of literature .


Ireland is also the home of many Irish Children's Book Authors.  Here are just a few:


Roddy Doyle...The Giggler's Treatment


Patricia Lynch...The Turf-Cutter's Donkey


C S Lewis...The Chronicles of Narnia


Eoin Colfer...Artemis Fowl series


Marita Conlon McKenna...Under The Hawthorne Tree


Padraic Colum...The King of Ireland's Son


Pat O'Shea...The Hounds of The Morrigan


Kate Thompson...The New Policeman


James Stephens...Irish Fairy Tales


Siobhan Dowd...The London Eye Mystery






Nowhere else in the world could you find such a beautifully rustic writer's retreat.  Can't you just visualize a highland romance or a wee fairy tale just waiting to be born there?  Or, if you are interested in writing on a grander scale...





20 comments:

  1. Very interesting. Love the pics. The only place I haven't visited, have been to Wales, Scotland and England but not Ireland..... one day!

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    1. Diane, that first picture is of the Blarney Castle where the famous blarney stone is visited by thousands of tourists each years wanting to kiss it! Oh, how I envy you! I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Scotland...ahhhh, maybe ONE day...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. I understand that Ireland treats its writers really well. A good reason to go there.

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    1. I bet it wouldn't hurt if you could claim some Irish background as well...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. I love this holiday! And such beautiful pics... Thanks so much for sharing!

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    1. I usually wear green on this day, but I'm judging in a TaeKwonDo tournament all day today and I don't think my master instructor would like it if I showed up in any other clothes but my dress uniform...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. Lovely Irish reminders...Thanks, Donna!

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    1. I'm glad you liked it, Tina!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. Lovely! My ancestryis Irish and it's one place I have always wanted to visit. Maybe I can convince my hubby that we both need to go on an Irish writer's retreat. ;)

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    1. Yes, Rebecca, wouldn't it be lovely to wake up one morning, look out your window and see THAT lovely view?

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. I,too, am Irish. And a descendant of the McCoys. While what I just wrote is true, I have been known to let a little blarney flow.

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    1. I know you, Janet, how true, how true...lol

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. Thank you for posting the beautiful pics! I am fortunate to have visited Engald and Scotland, but not Ireland. *sigh* One day...
    Happy St. Patrick's Day! :)

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    1. So which did you like better...England or Scotland? I would love to visit both some day...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  8. Donna! Thanks so much for popping over to my blog!

    I had the awesome experience of vacationing in Ireland this past summer. Oh. My. Gosh. it is a writer's dream. Such beautiful scenery.

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    1. I'm beginning to think I'm gonna have to toss a coin to see where I would head first...Ireland or Scotland...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. Stopping by from the A-Z challenge to say hi and to tag you. Love Ireland, it is really a beautiful place.

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    1. Hi Siv, and thanks for the "tag"! I have not received that one yet so I am going to run to your blog and check it out! Good luck with A to Z Challenge!

      Thanks for stopping by, and come back any time!

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  10. Congratulations! You have been tagged with The Lucky 7 Meme Award.
    Check out my blog, for the rules and the badge. Then, visit my friends’ blogs to see their Lucky 7s!
    Love and licks,
    Cupcake
    http://cupcakepetrillo.wordpress.com

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    1. Awwww, Genevieve, two "tags" in one day...I MUST have the luck of the Irish! ;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete