So this is Sunday and St. Patrick’s Day was yesterday. This I knew, but there wasn’t anything I was planning to do about it. Then, today, I read a post which says, “Every year we observe St Patrick’s Day, and I don’t have one ounce of Irish blood coursing through my veins.”
Well, I suppose that really makes up for me then, since I have Irish ancestry on at least three sides of the family (including, obviously, the one that brought me maths and logical thinking.) My paternal grandmother grew up in Cork in the time of “the troubles” and told stories of Sinn Féin coming to the farm to take away their guns.
Food would be a good reason excuse to celebrate. And the least I could have done would be to put on a U2 album, I ’spose! But Eric mentioned a film they like to watch and it occurred to me that I could have watched any one of several “Irish flavoured” films I have in my collection:
- Michael Collins
Well, you wouldn’t watch this if you wanted pure entertainment or a happy ending, but (despite criticisms of liberties being taken with a few facts), I actually think this is a very good film. And, whichever side you come down on politically, as is said in the Wikipedia article on Collins, “In retrospect, the sheer scale of Collins’ workload and his achievements are impressive.” Julia Roberts’ Irish accent was reasonably impressive too, at least to my ears. - Wilde
So he was Anglo-Irish, but what we love best about Oscar Wilde, his barbed wit, I am sure came from “across the water.” Besides, I’m rather a fan of any unconforming and decadent lifestyle. Though, I do find it very sad that what ultimately ruined Wilde in his day, would (should) hardly raise an eyebrow today. “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” - Angela’s Ashes
Memoir by American author Frank McCourt, and tells the story of his childhood. This is no easy film to watch, because the harshness of the poverty they had to live through is portrayed in the raw, but this is true life. That is more than made up for in the sheer unbreakable spirit and hope that his story brings forth. - Irish Railway Journey: Derry to Kerry
In a quest for family roots, Michael Palin attempted to trace his great grandmother — Brita Gallagher — who set sail from Ireland 150 years ago during the potato famine, bound for a new life in Burlington, New Jersey, USA. This is the only item on the list that I haven’t got, but I do have all of the rest of Palin’s Travels and, frankly, if Michael “travelled” to his living room and we sat and watched while the magnolia paint on his walls dried, I just know he’d still find a way to make it interesting viewing.
- The Commitments
As Amazon say, “An irresistible, comic drama” featuring this old school Dublin soul band. Pure entertainment and, of course, a world phenomenon with the book, film, albums and band.
Or we could have just gone out and found an Irish pub instead. And, in case you’re wondering, yes, there are plenty in Tenerife too!
If you found something you like here, why not subscribe?
Sponzurz
