I have spent a great deal of time in Ireland over the last two and a half decades. Between personal visits and running small-group cultural trips I consider it almost a second home. I'm going to share a bit of "my Ireland" here from time to time.
A couple of caveats. First, I am not an Irish-American. I am an American with Irish roots and a personal relationship with the country. 100% American with no modifiers or hyphens. Second, I don't like paddywhackery. Paddywhackery is when the Irish are held up to ridicule through basically malicious jokes and stories. Most of which are just generic "Polish jokes" re-cycled. I like stories that are "real" in that they are rooted in Irish reality in one way or another. They reveal something, even while we laugh. If a native Irishman wouldn't laugh at it, why tell it? I don't tell stories I wouldn't tell my Irish friends.
The picture, by the way, was made at Brandon Creek, County Kerry. From here (not this exact place-- the launching point was a little more to the west) St. Brendan was said to have sailed to America sometime in the sixth century. (Yes, I know: Brendan and Brandon. Maybe later.)
There'll be more.
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2 comments:
I'm Scotch Irish, been to England and Scotland but never made it Ireland.
I'd love to hear more about your travels to Ireland. My bride and I look forward to traveling to that part of the world when our children are old enough to appreciate the trip.
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