HONS3304

Do You Remember "Yeats Day"?

2007-02-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)

I WILL arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

Photographs by Me. May 2006.

[http://leanan-sidhe.blogspot.com/2007/01/do-you-remember-yeats-day.html]

Also, a big congrats to Michelle for getting 2 of her photographs displayed in the ICC.

Michelle photo of Eric on Inishmore in Ampersand

2006-12-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Michelle's photo of Eric (giving the "Guns Up" on Inishmore) appears with Michelle's byline on p 12 of the Fall/Winter 2006 issue of the CVPA "Ampersand" magazine. Congratulations to Michelle!

upcoming recitals!!!

2006-11-05T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! Just a shameless PR plug here! Kelli and I are having our junior recitals this week, and would absolutely LOVE it if you guys would come!

Kelli's Recital : Monday, November 13th
7:oopm-7:40pm
St. John's United Methodist Church

Michelle's Recital: Saturday, November 11th
1:00pm-1:30pm
Hemmle Recital Hall, TTU Music Building

whoops

2006-10-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

ok...sorry for those of you who still read this blog....

I was trying to post something for another blog and I was immediately sent to ours! haha...
me + the internet = technical difficulties :-)

2006-10-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

sooo much fun!!!

2006-09-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say that I had a great time at the ceili. It was really wonderful to see you all again, especially some of the people that I normally don't run into across campus! :-) I wish that everyone could have been there, and I know that all of you who weren't there wish that you could have been. We should totally do it again sometime!! I love all of you dearly and would be ecstatic to see you again!!!!! :-) But, yeah, just to say again......I had a great time!

Reminder: ceili 9.24 4-7pm at Chris & Angie's

2006-09-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

Y'all:

Just a reminder: ceili at our place next Sunday, 9.24, 4-7pm. Roommates and boyfriends/girlfriends definitely invited. We'll premiere the HONS3304 "video memoir" and hang out--bring munchies or drink if you wish.

We're at 2604 25th street here in town. Drop me an email if you need directions, and please pass on this invitation to other trip members.

all the best,
cjs

from Angela:

2006-08-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

Just in case any of you are still reading this blog, I asked Dr Smith to post this for me. It is from a book called Pilgrimage: Adventures of the Spirit, which I highly recommend. The author of this particular essay, James Houston, is talking about a place called Mo’okini on the northern tip of the island of Hawai’i, but I think it’s safe to say that the passage will remind many of us of Dun Aengus. I certainly could have replaced the word Mo’okini with Dun Aengus (or several other places we visited in Ireland), and it would have worked for me. Here’s the passage:

“It is the kind of place you have to react to. You have to mark the spot, or write about it in your journal. Standing there, it isn’t hard to imagine the first human who stopped and gazed toward the next island in the constant wind and felt the urge to consecrate the moment, to send a voice across the water, make a song or make a chant or gather a few stones in a heap, as a way of saying ‘I touched this place, and this place touched me.’

“Perhaps that first visitor tells others a story that includes something about the look and feel of the barren point, and this story conveys whatever it called out of him. Eventually someone else wants to see what he is talking about and comes and adds a stone to the pile of stones or sends another call across the channel. And there is an agreement that, yes, the place has a kind of power, which is to say, it releases something in those who experience it. Nowadays we might name this reverence, or wonder, or awe.

“I believe that such feelings can linger in the air and in the land, gathering, over time, in invisible layers. And after enough people have visited a spot, to stand, to pray, to sing, to fast, to chant, century upon century, its original impact has been layered and amplified until the ancestral atmosphere around a site like Mo’okini he’iau [shrine] is so rich with what Hawai’ian’s call mana, you can feel it like a coating on your skin.

“The atmosphere seemed denser there, thick with its own history of reaching toward the higher power. Though I am not Hawai’ian and can claim no authentic ties to the long tradition of the he’iau, I felt profoundly connected to the place. During the couple of hours I wandered inside and outside the rocky walls, I felt I was in a state of grace. Later, trying to explain this to myself, I began to think of sacredness as a kind of dialogue between the human spirit and certain designated places. These sites that call forth reverence and awe and humility and wonder, we make them sacred. It is a way of honoring those feelings in ourselves. And when we hear the songs the places sing, we are hearing our own most ancient voices.”

[James Houston, from the essay “Black Stones, Ancient Voices,” in a book called Pilgrimage: Adventures of the Spirit, a book edited by Sean O’Reilly and James O’Reilly, and published in San Francisco by a company called Travelers’ Tales, Inc.]

Hey

2006-08-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hey,
I was thinking of making a slideshow/movie of our trip and class. I have everyone's pictures online, but I wanted to request that if anyone took digital video of anything (class, trip, ceili, etc.) or wants to add something other than what is on the yahoophotos account, that they email it to me. I know not everyone checks this blog anymore, but if anyone who does could just pass the word around, that would be great. :)

hello, everyone!

2006-06-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

well, just thought id let you all know that i'm back in lubbock and what took so long. i just got back from an intensive three week course in ceramics, and it was amazing!! we got to play a lot with fire and chainsaws and hazardous chemicals--it was fabulous. i got to play irish music for my classmates whenever i missed ireland (which was most of the time; go figure) and they kept asking for more! that was really neat. the campus where we stayed was on a river, so there were several kyacking trips, and that was amazing by itself! oh, the whole experience was perfectly marvelous; i wish you all had been there with me! i think you would have loved it as much as i did.

anyway, much love to you all,
ta ta for now,
corey

Ahhh...the Arans

2006-06-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

Yay!! My family is back from Brazil!! Everyone is safe and sound, and my new sister, Ellie Jane (that's in English, in Portuguese it's Elle Giani, in Wai-Wai it's Elishani) is so wonderful!! I just love her so much! She is trying really hard to learn English as quick as possible and, oh, she's just so amazing!
Anyway, my dad and I were walking in the park today, and I start telling him about how in Ireland the most random things happened to us. So, I focused upon the really neat African drummers (Ian and Simon) that Ashley M., Michelle, Prathiba, Corey, and I met on Inishmore in the little thatched roof cottage on the hill. So many memories just flooded my mind!! I realized that all of the pictures I took would never ever be able to recreate that moment! They were mere attempts to capture such a purely fantastic essence!
I remembered again an instance from Inishmore that almost made me cry. When we had hiked up to the lighthouse, hehe, Corey and I just agreed to sit on a stone wall and watch the ocean because our legs were quite exhausted. As we sat and conversed, for some reason or another, I asked Corey if I could sing her a song I had written. Well, this song is very soft, slow, calm, and simple. But as I was singing this song, which is titled "In This Land", the ocean was magnificiently blue and serene, the wind gently caressed us and the grass around us with its hushed breeze, and somewhere, off in the mysterious distance, a church bell rang out over the hills and pierced my melody with sweet harmony. When I ended the song, Corey and I both looked at each other and remarked on the chills we had! It was a dream!! I couldn't believe how this had all fallen into place! It was kind of like when you spread a cotton sheet over the bed and it lands perfectly onto all corners without one wrinkle!! AAHHH!! My heart just wanted to burst and as I think of it now, it still desires to do so!! I love the Aran Islands! I love Inishmore! But most of all, I'm so glad I was able to spend my time there with all of you! Because you are all precious gems that have been crafted and kissed by the Master of the Universe!! Thanks to all of you and love sent your way!! :-) God Bless abundantly!!!

Esther

constant reminders...

2006-06-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Haha...like Kelli, I'm really glad that we're all kind of still writing in the blog. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one making comparisons. :-P Anyway, in my political science class yesterday we were watching a video about immigration. Suddenly Irish music starts winding its way out of the speakers, and I nearly destroyed my computer which was resting on the desk because I jumped so fast! I actually recognized a couple of tunes, although as usual, I can't remember any names to go with them. And I kept having this strong urge to point and say "I was there! I was in Ireland!" Ha ha... I think that the rest of the people in that class believe that I am insane now.

"Frodo-Syndrome"

2006-06-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

I'm glad that we are still writing here. After a few days of “moping” around, my mom jokingly diagnosed me with "Frodo-Syndrome"...referring of course to the end of Lord of the Rings when Frodo was still feeling the effects of his stab-wound...and reflecting on his journey and (at least in the film) said something along the lines of "How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on... when in your heart... you begin to understand... there is no going back? "

Anyway...I fortunately was NOT stabbed, and perhaps I am overly-sentimental (haha)...but, at least right now, nothing else seems as good as gallivanting about the countryside with 23 other fantastic people whom I now deeply cherish.

I find myself sitting in my summer class…wondering who the heck those 35 people are and why they absolutely refuse to believe in hominids…or that there were indeed matriarchal societies before 1500 …which I suppose is either religious or extremely closed-minded.

Like Esther, I’ve been comparing EVERYTHING to Ireland. My dad and brother have fortunately been camping since I’ve been home, but my poor mom is probably about ready to shoot me. :P (And that sentence makes me sad…because I just realized the only people I’ve spoken with since I’ve been back have been my parents and brother.) Feel free to call or instant message if any of you are as bored as I am.

I’ve really enjoyed looking at everyone’s pictures. Keep posting them!! J

I miss you all.

Ireland on the brain!

2006-06-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

Haha, I don't know if any one else has been doing this, but ever since we got back, I often find myself comparing various things to my experience in Ireland. I'm pretty sure every one around me here in Lubbock is getting fed up with it. Oh well, right? I miss everyone and all the happiness we had together. I hope everyone is having a great summer!!

Anyone notice any differences?

2006-06-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

Ok...so I was walking to my political science class across the fountain, and I was amazed by the fact that it was SO LOUD. After hearing nothing but nature in the ears for a couple of weeks, it was really weird to come back to all the sounds. He he he.... I hope you guys are all doing great, and like Lauren, I miss you all!

Thankful and Missing you guys

2006-06-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

In the town of Scarriff the sun was shining in the sky
When Willie Clancy played his pipes and the tears welled in my eyes.
Many years have passed and gone since the times we had there
But my heart's tonight in Ireland in the sweet County Clare.

(chorus) My heart tonight is far away, across the rolling sea
In the sweet Miltown Malbay, it's there I love to be.
So long ago and far away but nothing can compare;
My heart's tonight in Ireland in the sweet County Clare.

That August in Kilrush when the rain was lashing down
And our hotel was that hay barn on the outskirts of town.
We were all sick and feverish, and Dolan had the flu,
But Johnny produced some whiskey, and the sun came smiling through.

(chorus)

Those nights in Sixmilebridge when the songs and music flowed
And when it came to closing time, sure the lights were turned down low.
And the sergeant from Kilkishen, he would buy us all one more
And we never left that pub before the clock was striking four.

Lahinch and Ennistimon, Liscannor and Kilkee,
But best of all was Miltown, when the music flowed so free.
Willie Clancy and the County Clare, I'm ever in your debt
For the sights and sounds of yesterday are shining memories yet.

My heart tonight is far away, across the rolling sea
In the sweet Miltown Malbay, it's there I love to be.
So long ago and far away but nothing can compare,
My heart's tonight in Ireland in the sweet County Clare.
In the days of Sweeney, in the sweet County Clare.

Dallas, May 29 2006: The Fellowship is Ended

2006-05-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

But:

"Once a Ringbearer, always a Ringbearer."

Don't ever forget this experience.

Pictures

2006-05-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a Yahoo Photos address for you if you want to upload your class/trip photos there.

http://photos.yahoo.com/hons3304

Collaboration

2006-04-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

Shannon and I were discussing the issue of *packing* yesterday evening and thought to share this idea.

Ladies: I know there are some of you who absolutely can not "survive" for two weeks without a hair dryer or hair straightener. Shannon and I propose that we collaborate with eachother so that we bring 3 or 4 of each on the trip (along with appropriate voltage adapters....roughly $7 last time I checked) and share them. It seems that since we are all going to be having lots-of-girls-using-the-same-bathroom fun for at least a small portion of the trip...we will be able to "get by" with the lots-of-girls-using-the-same-appliances method. We use this on band trips and it works fine.

If you have a hair straightener or hair dryer that you wouldn't mind bringing on the trip and sharing with a ton of people (or fitting it in your bag), reply to this message with your name and the appliance(s) you are willing to bring. After everyone is done replying, I will either send you an email or tell you in person if you'll need to bring it or not. No one will have to bring more than one appliance unless they really want to.

Fantastic Irish Times supplement on the 1916 Rising

2006-04-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

See here for the Irish Times special 90th-anniversary supplement on the 1916 rising.

Becky MacPaddy Finds

2006-04-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

Recipe for Irish Champ

8 medium potatoes
1/2 cup milk
5 tablespoon butter
one bunch scallions or green onions chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Makes 6 servings

Peel and cube potatoes and boil in salted water until tender. Drain and mash slightly. In a small pan, heat milk and butter until butter is melted. Add chopped scallions. Fold mixture into the potatoes until well blended. Potatoes will be still be somewhat lumpy. Season with salt and pepper.

Random Pictures of Food

Champ

Irish Stew
(This picture reminds me of St. Patrick's Day in my house. Every year we eat corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes.)

Two different types of bread served with breakfast at a Bed and Breakfast in County Wicklow.

Sligo, Galway, Clare

Carrowkeel Passage Tomb: County Sligo

A field in County Galway

A wind disfigured tree in County Clare

Some Irish Art Work
(I am not sure if this is the type of "art" implied by the assignment, but these are three of my favorite types of artwork we have come across in the Irish culture.)

Engraved Headstones

Little Galway boy walking by street musicians that started to dance.

The churches... in particular the Cathedrals. This one is in Belfast.

Lauren Finds

2006-04-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

English Song about the Irish Diaspora

Kilkelly

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1860, my dear and loving son John
Your good friend schoolmaster Pat McNamara's so good
 as to write these words down.
Your brothers have all got a fine work in England,
  the house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected,
  a third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell
 are going to be married in June.
Mother says not to work on the railroad
 and be sure to come on home soon.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1870, my dear and loving son John
Hello to your Mrs and to your 4 children,
 may they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,
 I suppose that he never will learn.
Because of the darkness there's no turf to speak of
 and now we have nothing to burn.
And Brigid is happy, we named a child for her
 and now she's got six of her own.
You say you found work, but you don't say
 what kind or when you will be coming home.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1880, dear Michael and John, my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
 that your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,
 your brothers and Brigid were there.
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly,
 remember her in your prayers.
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning,
 with money he's sure to buy land
For the crop has been bad and the people
 are selling at every price that they can.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1890, my dear and loving son John
I suppose that I must be close on eighty,
 it's thirty years since goodbye.
Because of all of the money you send me,
 I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house
 and Brigid's daughters have grown.
Thank you for sending your family picture,
 they're lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit,
 what joy to see you again.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1892, my dear brother John
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you, but father passed on.
He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful
 and healthy right down to the end.
Ah, you should have seen him play with
 the grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend.
And we buried him alongside of mother,
 down at the Kilkelly churchyard.
He was a strong and a feisty old man,
 considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
 he called for you in the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
 we'd all love to see you again.

Pictures of Places

Galway Street

Ennis

Sligo

Song in Irish with English Translation

Tá scéilín nua 'gam le h-insint dóibhse	I have a new story to tell you
Cúrsaí spóirt agus comhrá dí	It's good crack and chat over drink
Úll breá gleoite do chuireas i mo phóca	A fine lovely apple I put in my pocket
'S ni bhfuaras romham ach prátín síl	And all I found was a seed potato

Chorus:
Ó mo thuírse mar shileann mo shúile	Oh sadly my eyes cry
Indiaidh an úll ud a bhí breá buí	After that fine yellow apple
An óig-bhean uasal bhí t'reis é thabhairt domh	And the lovely young woman who gave it to me
'S do thabhairfinn púnt ar é bhlaiseadh arís	And I'd give a pound to taste it again

Do shiúlais Cléire agus Carraig Aonair	I walked Clare Island and Carrig Aonor
Cuanta Béara bhí romham sa tslí	The bays of Béara Island were before me on the way
Puinte na nGréige 'gus na nDorsaí Maola	Puinte na nGréige and Dorsaí Maola
An fhiach 's an lao taobh amuigh de Bhaoi	The raven and the calf outside of Baoi

Do shiúlais Cualach mar a bhíos buartha	I walked through Cualach because I was sad
An pharoiste Thuaidh a 's na hAdhraí	The northern parish and Eyeries
San oileán Muarseadh d'inis dom buachaill	On the Island of Muarseadh a young man told me
Nach bhfáilghinn a tuairise go dtéinn thar snaidhm	That I wouldn't get word of her until I'd tie the knot

(Chorus)

Do shíulíos Coíbh agus Baíle na Móna	I walked through Cobh and Baile na Mona
Cathair Tún Tóime 'gus Inis Seircín	Cathar Tún Tóime and Sherkin Is
Síor ar a chósta sea d'inis dhom stróinse	On the east coast someone told me
Go rabh sé 'na sheo acu ar Sráid Néidín	That it was the laughing stock of Néidín

Pictures of Irish Food

Boxty Cakes

Soda Bread

Traditional Irish Fry

2006-04-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

Leprechauns

2006-04-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

I thought you all would like to know that someone on Collegehumor.comhas turned the leprechaun video into a rap:CollegeHumor Movie: Leprechauns in Alabama - the remix. and that the "amateur sketch" is for sale on Ebay eBay: Leprechaun Amateur Sketch (item 6267988065 end time Apr-10-06 08:00:00 PDT)....some people. -Shan

Shannon Finds!

2006-04-05T21:42:00.001-07:00

Shannon Finds:
Traditional Irish Recipe:

Boxty
Boxty is a traditional potato dish, celebrated in the rhyme.
Boxty on the griddle, boxty in the pan, If you can't make boxty, you'll never get your man
8 oz/ 250 g/ 1 cup raw potato8 oz/ 250 g/ 1 cup mashed potato8 oz/ 250 g/ 2 cups plain flour1 tsp baking powder1 tsp saltlarge knob of butter, meltedabout 1/4 pt/ 125 ml/ 1/2 cup milk
Grate the raw potatoes into a bowl. Turn out onto a cloth and wring, catching the liquid. This will separate into a clear fluid with starch at the bottom. Pour off the fluid and scrape out the starch and mix with the grated and mashed potatoes. Sieve the dry ingredients and mix in along with the melted butter. Add a little milk if necessary to make a pliable dough. Knead lightly on a floured surface. Divide into four and form large, flat cakes. Mark each into quarters but do not cut right through, and bake on a griddle or in a heavy pan.
If liked, more milk and an egg can be added to make a batter which can be fried in bacon fat like drop scones.
3 images of traditional Irish Food:
Boxty Cakes:

Irish Stew:

Champ (Irish potato soup?)

An Irish Song with English Translation:

AISLING AN OIG-FHIR	THE YOUNG MAN'S DREAM BY EDWARD LAWSON
Aisling ghéur do dhearcas féin, Go rabhas go faon sealad a'm luidhe, Faoí ghéugaibh crann chois amhan a'm aonar, Mar a m-bíodh aér agus spóirt a' t-saoíghil ; Bhídh ceileabhar eun ann ; a ngcaiseadhaibh ngéura, Bídh gleacaídheacht éise ann le feicsin trídh, Monbhar beach agus mil 'na slaodaibh Le fághail ag gach aein neach d'á ngeabhadh an t-slígh.	In a dream of delusion, methought I was laid, By a brook overarched with a fluttering shade ; A delicious recess, where silver-tongued rills, And far cataracts deep roar echoed round from the hills : Gleaming fish in clear waters were wontonly playing, And hoarse murmuring bees o'er wild flow'rets were straying ; While sweet honey distilled from old oaks to regale, The young and the fair in that odorous vale.
Rinn me stad tamall ag éisteacht Le ceileabhar éin bhídh a m-bárr na craoíbh', Ag síor-chur nótaídhe a g-cóir a chéile, A's dhearc mé sbéir-bhean mhín, dheas le'm thaoíbh, A gruadh ag lasadh air dhath na g-caér-chon, A rosc mar réult ghlan seaca bhídh, A scuab-fholt ómrach fighte go bróig léi, 'S le cúmhaibh na deóigh súd ní mhairfead mí.	A beautiful bird on a blossomy spray, Was warbling a varied and rapturous lay ; As I listened entranced in delightful surprise, A lovely enchantress astonished my eyes ; Her cheeks like the quicken's rich clusters were glowing, Her amber silk locks to her white ancles flowing ; Like a keen freezing star gleamed each sparkling blue eye, Alas! in one month, for her loss, I must die.
Do bhiodhg, do phreab an ainfhir mhaordha A's labhair go séimh de chómhrádh chaoín ; " A thogha na bh-fear mo slad ná déun-si "' S gur maíghdean mé casadh a'd líon, " Ná bídh-si ciontach le cam le claon-bheart " O taoím a'm aonar air mo chliú bhuain díom, " Oir gheabhainn-si bás trídh náire an sgeil sin " Nó'm gheilt do bheídhinn-si air feadh mo shaoighil."	When first she descried me, startled, alarmed, And with coy supplication my sympathy charmed : " Oh favoured of men ! do not ruin a maid, By fate to your power unprotected betrayed ; For with sorrow and shame broken hearted I'd die, Or for life thro' wild desarts a lunatic fly."—
A thogha na mban, ná tuig-si féin, Do shlad go n-déanfainn air aen t-slíghe, Le cam, le cleas, ná le beartaibh claona, Oir tá mac Dé aguinn ós cionn ag t-saoíghil ; Cuirim-si m'ímpidhe chum Rígh na gréine A's chum gach Naomh eile ghabhann le Críost, Tu-sa agus me-si bheith ag á chéile, A mhaighdion mhaordha, air feadh ar saoíghil.	" Oh peerless perfection ! how canst thou believe, That I could such innocence hurt or deceive ? I implore the Great Fountain of glory and love, And all the blessed saints in their synod above ; That connubial affections our souls may combine, And the pearl of her sex be immutably mine.
A phlúir na m-ban—a dheallradh na scéimhe, Ní fhásfaidh féur glas tré thalamh a níos, Ni bhiadh teas ann ná neart na gréine, Agus ní bhiadh réulta ann a d-torach oídhch',— Ní dhéanfaidh an ghealach solus d'éin-neach, 'S ní bheidh éisg ann air muir nó air tír, Beidh aghaidh gach srutha a g-coinne na sléibhte Tráth bheidhead-sa claon duit, a ghrádh mo chroídhe !	The green grass shall not grow, nor the sun shed his light, Nor the fair moon and stars gem the forehead of night ; The stream shall flow upward, the fish quit the sea, Ere I shall prove faithless, dear angel to thee." Her ripe lip and soft bosom then gently I prest, And clasped her half-blushing consent to my breast ; My heart fluttered light as a bird on the spray,— But I woke, and alas, the vain dream fled away.
Taréis gach geallaibh d'á d-tugas féin di, Phog mé a béilín go dlúith arís, Leag mé lamh air a brághaid bhreagh, ghléigheal, A's rugas am ghéagaibh air rún mo chroidhe :— 'N-uair d'úmhluigh si gabhail liom mar chéile, Bhi'dh mo chroídhe mar éun ag dul le gaoith ; Trí lár mo shúgradh do mhúscail mé, 'Smo chúmhaidh nír bh' aén read acht aisling í.

1 song in English making specific reference to a specific place in Ireland:Spancil Hill
The Story Behind Spancil Hill
Here's the story. First off, Spancil Hill is a real place. It's on the road between Ennis and Tulla.Nowadays there's little there but a crossroads and some ruined buildings but it was once the site of a famous horse-fair. The "Parish Church of Clooney" is only about a mile from Spancil Hill. The area was originally called Cnoc Fuar Choile (the hill of the cold wood), a name that was somehow anglicised to Spancil Hill. The word "spancil" relates to the practice of "spancilling," which was to use a short rope to tie an animal's left fore-leg to its right hind leg, thereby hobbling the animal and stopping it from wandering too far. Make of that what you will.
The Spancil Hill fair usually took place on the 23rd of June. In the song, he arrived on the 23rd, "the day before the fair" but in an earlier verse he said that it was also a Sabbath morning. Observance of the Sabbath would take precedence over the fair which would've started a day late, the 24th.
Now, as for the story behind the song. The author of "Spancillhill", Michael Considine, was born around 1850 and emigrated to the USA from Spancillhill around 1870. Some of his siblings came with him, but some stayed behind. One of his brothers, Patrick, died, leaving his widow to look after a five month old son called John.
Michael went to the USA with the intention of bringing his sweetheart over and for them to be married, but he never saved enough money for her passage. His sweetheart was "Mack the Ranger's Daughter" and not "Ned the Farmers daughter" as in the popularised version. She was his childhood sweetheart, Mary MacNamara.
Michael worked in Boston for two years or so before moving to California. He suffered from ill health for a long time. Knowing he hadn't long to live, he wrote the poem "Spancilhill" to send home in rememberence of his love. He sent the poem to his nephew, John, Patrick's son, in Ireland.
Michael Considine died sometime in 1873. Some sources say he was buried in Spancilhill, but others say he was buried in California. Mary MacNamara remained faithful to his memory and never married.
Pretty tragic, huh?
A folk singer tells the story of how he got the real words to this song. He was a at a friend's house and when the friend's eldery mother offered him the lyrics. A few years later, the singer was going to perform Spancil Hill, and a gruff voice interrupted and told him not to sing it. When the singer asked why, the voice said, "because you don't know it." When the singer performed it correctly, the man was very surprised and pleased. He identified himself as John Considine, Michael's nephew, who had guarded the words for so many years. Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
My mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly
I stepped on board a vision and I followed with the wind
And I shortly came to anchor at the cross of Spancil Hill
It being the 23rd June the day before the fair
When lreland's sons and daughters in crowds assembled there
The young and the old, the brave and the bold their journey to fulfill
There were jovial conversations at the fair of Spancil Hill
I went to see my neighbors to hear what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone and the young one's turning grey
I met with the tailor Quigley, he's a bould as ever still
Sure he used to make my britches when I lived in Spancil Hill
I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She's as white as any lily and as gentle as a dove
She threw her arms around me saying "Johnny I love you still
" Oh she's Ned the farmers daughter and the flower of Spancil HiII
I dreamt I held and kissed her as in the days of yore
She said, "Johnny you're only joking like many's the time before"
The cock he crew in the morning he crew both loud and shrill
And I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill.

Esther Finds

2006-04-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

1. TRADITIONAL IRISH BACON AND CABBAGE
INGREDIENTS
1 Shannon Traditional Slab Bacon (11/4 - 2lb)
1/2 green cabbage and 1/2 white cabbage
8 potatoes (peeled)
Salt and pepper
METHOD:
Remove slab bacon from plastic bag. Cover with cold water. Bring to boil and drain. Cover with fresh cold water. Bring to boil and then simmer for 25 minutes per 1lb plus 25 minutes over. Remove outer leaves of cabbage. Cut in half, add to the saucepan and simmer for the last 20 minutes. Remove bacon to chopping board and carve into thin slices. Drain cabbage, season with salt & pepper, chop and add a knob of butter. Serve the bacon with the cabbage and boiled potatoes

This is a little poem that I found quite interesting because it emphasizes the misconception of most that corned beef and cabbage was a staple meal in Ireland. Anyway, it's amusing.

GOOD GRIEF - NOT BEEF!
I just want to put something straight
About what should be on your plate,
If it's corned beef you're makin'
You're sadly mistaken,
That isn't what Irishmen ate.

If you ever go over the pond
You'll find it's of bacon they're fond,
All crispy and fried,
With some cabbage beside,
And a big scoop of praties beyond.

Your average Pat was a peasant
Who could not afford beef or pheasant.
On the end of his fork
Was a bit of salt pork,
As a change from potatoes 'twas pleasant.

This custom the Yanks have invented,
Is an error they've never repented,
But bacon's the stuffThat all Irishmen scoff,
With fried cabbage it is supplemented.

So please get it right this St. Paddy's.
Don't feed this old beef to your daddies.
It may be much flasher,
But a simple old rasher,
Is what you should eat with your tatties.
©Frances Shilliday 2004

Ceol agus Rince na hEireann
Music and Dance from Ireland
I am not sure when this stamp was made, but I really loved the depiction of the Irish bagpipes and the man playing them. One can sort of tell that he's not posed for the image. He is just playing or getting ready to; it's all happening in the moment.

"Out on the mountain" by Charles McAuley

Petroglyph paintings from Newgrange
"Newgrange is one of the oldest buildings in Europe, dating to about 3200 bc. Located on a ridge at a bend in the river Boyne, it has commanding views and can be seen from some distance."
"Many of the kerbstones and interior walls are covered with carvings.

Some of these can be clearly interpreted as calendar descriptions and indications of the alignment when the light enters the passage."
-Picture and text from www.onlymp.com/gallery/ petro/ireland/newgrange/

An Rógaire DubhTá mo stoca is mo bhróga ag an rógaire dubh, x3
Mo naipicín póca le bliain sa lá inniu.
PortaireachtTá nead insa sliabh ag an rógaire dubh, x3
Ní ghabhfaidh sé an bóthar ach cóngar an chnoic.
Dá bhfeicteása Máire taobh eile den tsruth, x3
Is a dhá chois in airde ag an rógaire dubh!

The black rogue has taken my socks and shoes x3
And my pocket handkerchief, a year ago today.
The black rogue has a nest in the mountain x3
He won't travel by road, but takes the shorcut over the hill.
If you were to see Máire on the far side of the stream x 3
And the black rogue's two legs high up in the air!

Jordan finds

2006-04-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

Recipe:
25g/ 1oz plain flour
pinch salt
pinch baking soda
110g/ 4oz medium oatmeal
25g/ 1oz butter, margarine or bacon fat
1/4 cup boiling water
Makes 4

Sift the flour, salt and baking soda into the oatmeal. Melt the butter, margarine or fat in boiling water and add to the dry ingredients. Mix until the mixture is a spongy mass (a little extra water can be used if necessary). Turn mixture on to a surface covered with plenty of dry oatmeal and scatter more on top. Flatten the dough and roll out until 1/2cm/ 1/4inch in thickness, then place a dinner plate on top and trim into a neat circle. Scatter on more oatmeal and rub it in all over the surface. Cut into quarters before baking on either a griddle or in the oven.

English song referencing the Irish Diaspora:
Emigrant's Daughter
Oh please ne'er forget me though waves now lie o'er me
I was once young and pretty and my spirit ran free
But destiny tore me from country and loved ones
And from the new land I was never to see.
A poor emigrant's daughter too frightened to know
I was leaving forever the land of my soul
Amid struggle and fear my parents did pray
To place courage to leave o'er the longing to stay.
They spoke of a new land far away 'cross the sea
And of peace and good fortune for my brothers and me
So we parted from townland with much weeping and pain
'Kissed the loved ones and the friends we would ne'er see again.
The vessel was crowded with disquieted folk
The escape from past hardship sustaining their hope
But as the last glimpse of Ireland faded into the mist
Each one fought back tears and felt strangely alone.

The seas roared in anger, making desperate our plight
And a fever came o'er me that worsened next night
Then delirium possessed me and clouded my mind
And I for a moment saw that land left behind.
I could hear in the distance my dear mother's wailing
And the prayers of three brothers that I'd see no more
And I felt father's tears as he begged for forgiveness
For seeking a new life on the still distant shore.

Oh please ne'er forget me though waves now lie o'er me
I was once young and pretty and my spirit ran free
But destiny tore me from country and loved ones
And from the new land I was never to see.

Food Images:

Black pudding, soda bread and breakfast

County Images:
Benbulben Mountain in County Sligo, Kilfarboy Cemetery in County Clare and County Galway

Eric -Finds

2006-04-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

Co. Clare

Co. Galway

Co. Sligo

black pudding

soda bread

lamb stew

Rocky Road To Dublin

In the merry month of May from my home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam-nearly broken-hearted,
Saluted Father dear, kissed my darlin' Mother,
Drank a pint of beer my grief and tears to smother,
Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born,
I cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghost and goblin,
In a bran'new pair of brogues I rattled o'er the bogs,
And frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.

Chorus
One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her,
Down the rocky road, and all the ways to Dublin,
Whack fol-lol-de-ra.

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary,
Started by daylight next morning light and airy,
Took a drop of the pure, to keep my heart from sinking,
That's an Irishman's cure, whene'er he's on for drinking,
To see the lasses smile, laughing all the while,
At my curious style, 'twould set your heart a-bubbling,
They ax'd if I was hired, the wages I required,
Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity,
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city,
Then I took a stroll out among the quality,
My bundle it was stole in a neat locality;
Something crossed my mind, then I looked behind,
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin',
Enquiring for the rogue, they said my Connaught brogue,
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.

From there I got away my spirits never failing,
Landed on the quay as the ship was sailing,
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he,
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy,
Down among the pigs, I played some funny rigs,
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin',
When off to Holyhead I wished myself was dead,
Or better far, instead, on the rocky road to Dublin.

The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed,
Called myself a fool, I could no longer stand it;
Blood began to boil, temper I was losin',
Poor old Erin's isle they began abusin',
"Hurrah my soul!" sez I, my shillelagh I let fly,
Some Galway boys were by, saw I was a hobble in,
Then with a loud Hurrah, they joined in the affray,
We quickly cleared the way, for the rocky road to Dublin.

Boxty Cakes:

1/2 pound hot cooked potatoes, 1/2 pound grated raw potatoes, 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda,
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, butter for frying, salt and pepper.
1.drain, peel and mash the hot potatoes.
2.stir in the raw potatoes, flour and baking soda.
3.add salt and pepper to taste.
4.mix well with enough buttermilk to make a stiff batter.
5.Shape into 3 inch patties about 1/4 inch thick.
6.fry on hot greased griddle until crispy and golden on both sides. Makes 12.

This just goes to show how current conflict still is in Ireland...

2006-04-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001/20060404/1932833002.htm&floc=NW_1-T

DUBLIN, Republic of Ireland (AP) -- A former Sinn Fein official recently exposed as a British spy was found fatally shot Tuesday after apparently being tortured, police said -- an act certain to send shock waves through Northern Ireland's peace process at a critical moment.

Denis Donaldson, Sinn Fein's former legislative chief in the failed power-sharing government of Northern Ireland, admitted in December he had been on the payroll of the British secret service and the province's anti-terrorist police for the previous two decades. He then went into hiding -- because the traditional Irish Republican Army punishment for informing is death.

Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell said Donaldson, 55, had been tortured before being killed -- apparently with one or two shotgun blasts to his head -- inside his isolated home near Glenties, County Donegal, in northwest Ireland.

"His right forearm is almost severed," McDowell said. "He was shot in the head and mutilation was done to his body. It's a murder we're dealing with."

The IRA quickly denied responsibility. "The IRA had no involvement whatsoever in the death of Denis Donaldson," the outlawed group's one-line statement read.

Gerry Adams, leader of the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party, said he did not know who was responsible, but suggested it might have been the work of IRA dissidents opposed to Sinn Fein's diplomatic efforts.

"It is likely that his death at this time is intended to undermine current efforts to make political progress," Adams said. "Those who carried out this murder are clearly opposed to the peace process."

But Ian Paisley, whose Democratic Unionist Party represents most of Northern Ireland's British Protestant majority and refuses to cooperate with Sinn Fein, said someone within IRA ranks was the most likely culprit. "There is a finger pointing tonight at IRA-Sinn Fein," he said.
The killing comes at a pivotal moment in Northern Ireland's 13-year-old peace process.
On Thursday, the prime ministers of Britain and Ireland, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, are to reveal a new blueprint for reviving a Protestant-Catholic administration that would be jointly led by the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein. The plan would call for Northern Ireland's legislature to reconvene in mid-May and face a November 24 deadline to elect an administration.

Donaldson's killing appeared certain to harden Protestant opinion against Sinn Fein, but officials in both governments said Thursday's announcement would go ahead anyway.
In a statement from his Downing Street office, Blair said he "strongly condemned" the killing and noted that Sinn Fein had disassociated "pro-peace process" republicans from the crime.
Northern Ireland's previous power-sharing coalition fell apart in October 2002 because of an IRA spying scandal involving Donaldson.

Donaldson and two others were charged with pilfering documents that identified potential targets of the IRA. Protestants accused the IRA of plotting a potential resumption of its violent campaign to oust Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom.

But British prosecutors mysteriously dropped all charges in early December. Adams initially defended Donaldson as an innocent man, then announced that Donaldson had confessed to being a paid British spy. Within hours, Donaldson admitted this in a television interview.
The IRA last year declared it was renouncing violence for political purposes and backed the pledge by handing over its weapons stockpiles -- moves supposed to spur a revival of power-sharing involving Sinn Fein.

But Paisley has refused to cooperate with Sinn Fein, citing IRA refusal to disband and its alleged involvement in criminal activities.

During its 27-year campaign, the IRA's internal security unit tortured scores of IRA members suspected of passing information to British intelligence. Typical IRA methods included applying electric shocks, and administering cigarette burns. Those who admitted informing had their confessions audiotaped before being shot in the head; their bodies were usually dumped -- naked and with hands tied behind their backs -- on rural roadsides.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

corey finds

2006-04-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

the fair-haired priest:
curfá:
Má bhíonn tú liom, bí liom os comhair lán an tí
Má bhíonn tú liom, bí liom de ló geal is oidhche
Má bhíonn tú liom, bí liom gach ordlach de do chroidhe
'Sé mo lean le fonn, nach liom Dé Domhnaigh thú mar mhnaoi

Dhá mbéadh spré ag an gcat nach deas mar a phógfaí a bhéal
Mura mbeadh nach fada ó bhaile a sheolfaí é
Tá iníon na caillighe gioblaighe casta pósta ó aréir
'S tá mo chailín ag baile 's gan duine aici a phógfadh a béal

'S cén cat mara a chas in san áit seo mé?
Nach iomaigh cailín a d'fhága mé i mo dhiaidh
Mar gheall ar throid 's ar bhruíon 's ar rud éicint nárbh fhíor
Muise, óinseach cailligh, 's iníon aici a bhí gan chiall

'S chuirfinn, threabhfainn, 's chraithfinn an síol go domhain sa gcré
'S sheolfainn na beithígh sna páirceanna 's airde a fhásann féar,
Chuirfinn crúidhthe ar an each ba dheise 's ba lúfaire a shiubhail riamh féar,
Ach d'éalochadh bean le fear nach ndéanfadh é sin féin.

If you're with me, be with me in front of all the people in the house
If you're with me, be with me all day and all night
If you're with me, be with me every inch of your heart
I's my great sadness that you aren't mine on Sunday as my wife

If the cat had a dowry, how nicely his mouth would be kissed
And if he didn't, it's a long way from home he'd be driven
The twisted, wretched witch's daughter is married since last night
And my girl's at home with no one to kiss her mouth

And what dead cat (misfortune) that directed me to this place?
There's many a girl in the village that I left behind
Because of a fight and a quarrel and something that wasn't even true
Musha, a silly hag and her daughter that had no sense

I'd plough and plant the seed deep in the soil
And I'd drive the cows to the fields where the tallest grass grows
I'd shoe a horse that was the nicest and fastest ever
And a woman would elope with a man who wouldn't even do that

and the pictures i chose for the "3 pics of Galway, Sligo, and Clare" category were ones that we took on our last trip. just fyi.

this is the "fake ruin" at the point at the cliffs of moher in clare.

then a photo of Sligo Abbey in Sligo City, County Sligo. you can't see it in this picture, but the doorways are all really, *really* short, even for the time, because they turned the ruined abbey into the city graveyard and then built up the soil when they ran out of room. neat, huh?

this last is a picture of a "good irish road" about a ten-minute walk from Galway Bay.

LOUGH ERNE by Dick Gaughan:

I am a rambling Irishman
In Ulster I was born in
And many's the happy hour I spent
By the banks of sweet Lough Erne
For to live poor I could not endure
Like others of my station
To America I sailed away
And left this Irish nation

The night before we went on board
I spent it with my darling
For four o'clock in the afternoon
Till the break of day next morning
But when that we were going to part
We fell in each other's arms
And you may be sure and very sure
That it wounded both our charms

But the first night that we spent on board
I deamed about my Nancy
I dreamed I held her in my arms
And well she pleased my fancy
But when I woke out of my dreams
And I found my bosom empty
Well you may be sure and very sure
That I lay discontented

And when we arrived on the other side
We were both stout and healthy
We cast our anchor in the bay
Going down to Philadelphia
Let every lad link with his lass
Blue jacket and white trousers
And let every lass link with her lad
Blue petticoat and white flounces

Brian Boru's Fort

2006-04-04T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here's the webpage where I found the picture of Brian Boru's fort. It says that, according to folklorist Daithi O hOgain, Brian Boru was either born or raised at this location:
http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/brianboru/index.html

Another webpage--which also would probably be more "citable", but doesn't really give much more information--is the Shannon Region Tourism webpage. Go to the page below, and then click on the hyperlinked Beal Boru for more information:
http://www.shannonregiontourism.ie/content.asp?id=41

Robin Finds

2006-04-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

Horse of Inis Oirr
County Galway, Ireland

Saint Columbus Cemetery
County Sligo, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher
County Clare, Ireland

Potato Farl
Also known as potato cake or potato bread, this is a northern dish. It is an essential constituent of the Ulster Fry, alongside bacon, egg, sausage and perhaps fried soda farl.

The recipe calls for:
Cooked, mashed potatoes. These should be freshly boiled, or, steamed and passed through a food mill, and used warm.
2 lb/ 1 kg/ 2 cups mashed potatoes
4 oz/ 125 g/ 1 cup plain flour
2 tbsp buttersalt

Melt the butter and mix into the potatoes with the salt. Work in the flour quickly but thoroughly and knead lightly. Divide in two and roll out each half on a floured board to form a circle about the size of a large dinner plate. Cut in quarters (farls) and cook for about 3 minutes on each side in a heavy frying pan in a little bacon fat.

Irish corned beef and cabbage

Tradional Lamb Stew

Traditional Irish Breakfast

Ashley-Finds

2006-04-04T00:31:00.000-07:00

"Tobacco Island"[
Chorus]
All to hell we must sail

For the Shores of sweet Barbados
Where the sugar cane grows taller
Than the god we once believed in
Till the butcher and his crown
Raped the land we used to sleep in
Now tommorow chimes of ghostly crimes
That haunt Tobacco Island

'Twas 1659 forgotten now for sure
They dragged us from our homeland
With the musket and their gun
Cromwell and his roundheads
Battered all we know
Shackled hopes of freedom
We're now but stolen goods
Darken the horizon
Blackened from the sun
This rotten cage of Bridgetown
Is where I now belong
[Chorus]
Red leg down a peg
Blistered burns the soul
The floggings they're a plenty
But reasons there are none
Our backs belong to landlords
Where branded is there name
Paid for with ten shillings
Cheap labor never breaks
The silver moon is shinin'
Cools the copper blood
Where the livin' meet the dead
And together dance as one
[Chorus]
Agony, will you cleanse this misery?
For it's never again i'll breathe
The air of home
From this sandy edge
The rolling sea breaks my revenge
With each whisper a thousand waves
I hear roarI'm coming home
Dark is the horizon
Blackened by the sun
This rotten cage of Bridgetown

Is where I now belong
[Chorus]

Recipe:

Traditional Irish Black--White Pudding Recipe
Irish Pork

Ingredients:
1 quarter pint of fresh pig's blood
8 oz. bread cut into cubes
1 quarter pint of skimmed milk
1 lb. cooked barley
1 lb. fresh beef suet
8 oz. of fine oatmeal
1 tsp. salt
2 tsps. ground black pepper
2 tsp. dried mint

Directions:Put the bread cubes to soak in the milk in a warm oven. Do not heat the milk beyond blood temoerature. Have the blood ready in a large bowl, and pour the warm milk and bread into it. Stir in the cooked barley. Grate the beef suet into the mixture and stir it up with the oatmeal. Season with salt and pepper and mint.Have ready two or three large roasting pans. Divide the mixture between them, they shouldn't be more than three-quarters full. Bake in a moderate oven (350*F. for about an hour or until the pudding is well cooked through. This makes a beautifully light pudding, which will keep well in a cold cupboard or fridge.Cut into squares and fry until heated through and the outside is crisp, in bacon fat or butter.
Serves Six It is normally fried and is an essential part of a traditional Irish breakfast. Or-- for supper with fried apples and mashed potatoes.
WHITE PUDDING- White pudding is a variety made without blood, but using minced liver instead..

County Sligo:
Flat lying sequences of Carboniferous limestones and shales have been dissected into the upland plateaux of the northwest of Ireland, with Ben Bulben forming an iconic landform on the coast of County Sligo.
Photo by: Dan Tietzsch-Tyler

County Galway:

The Spanish Arch

County Clare:

"A cow in county clare that needed some friends"

Páidín Ó Raifeartaigh

Bríste gan básta 'bhí ar Pháidín Ó Raifeartaigh
Hata buí ard 'bhí ar Pháidín Ó Raifeartaigh
Cosa caola arda 'bhí ar Pháidín Ó Raifeartaigh
Is d'éalaigh mo ghrása le Páidín Ó Raifeartaigh.

Curfá

Faidhfilileá, faidhfilil adió
Faidhfilileá is faidhfilil adió

Bríste go glúine 'bhí ar Pháidín Ó Raifeartaigh
Hata gan bonn 'bhí ar Pháidín Ó Raifeartaigh
Cosa buí arda 'bhí ar Pháidín Ó Raifeartaigh
Ach d'éalaigh mo ghrása le Páidín Ó Raifeartaigh.

Éirigh i do shuí a Pháidín Uí Raifeartaigh
Faraor ní fhéadaim tá ioscadaí lag ionam
Tá mé san aois ach níl trí troithe ar fad ionam
Féach mar sin fhéin go raibh mealladh na mban ionam!

Cailín 'tigh mhóir go deo ní ghlacfaidh mé
Bíonn sí nuall-ghuthach stuacach feargach
Bíonn buille ar gach ní ar chat is ar mhada aici
Amach sa meán-oíche bíonn focal na faire aici.

Cailín ón sliabh go fóill a bheas agamsa
Blífidh sí an bhó agus ceanglóidh sí an capall dhom
Déanfaidh sí an císte, mo chuid ime 'gus bainne dhom
Is go deo deo ní éalóidh le Páidín Ó Raifeartaigh.

Trousers with no waistband wore Paddy O' Raferty
A tall yellow hat wore Paddy O' Raferty
Long skinny legs had Paddy O' Raferty
And my true love eloped with Paddy O' Raferty.

Breeches to the knee wore Paddy O' Raferty
A hat with no base wore Paddy O' Raferty
Long yellow legs had Paddy O' Raferty
Yet my true love ran away with Paddy O' Raferty.

Rise up now, Paddy O' Raferty
Alas, I'm not able to, the backs of my knees being weak.
I'm of age, but no more than three feet in height
Even so, I had the seduction of women in me!

A girl from the big house I will never accept
She's often loudmouthed, sulky and cantankerous
She hits out at everything, the cat and dog,
In the middle of the night she has the watch word.

A girl from the mountain I'll get myself yet
She will milk the cow and fetter the horse for me
She'll make the cake, my butter and milk for me
And she'll never ever elope with Paddy O' Raferty.

Prathibha- finds

2006-04-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

Barm Brack

Cream the yeast and the sugar and allow to froth up in the milk, which should be at blood heat. Sieve the flour, caster sugar and spice and rub in the butter. Make a well in the centre and add the yeast mixture and the egg, beaten. Beat with a wooden spoon for about 10 minutes until a good dough forms. The fruit and the salt should be worked in by hand; the gold ring wrapped in greaseproof paper should then be added, and the whole kneaded. Put in a warm bowl, cover and allow to rise in a warm place for about an hour until doubled in size.

1/4 pt/ 125 ml/ 1/2 cup lukewarm milk
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp fresh yeast
8 oz/ 250 g/ 2 cups plain flour
1 tsp mixed spice, pinch salt
1 egg, 3 tbsp butter
6 oz/ 200 g/ 2 cups mixed fruit
(currants, sultanas, raisins, candied peel)
1 gold ring (in greaseproof paper)
2 oz/50 g/2 tbsp caster sugar

County Sligo

Ben Bulben

County Clare

The Barren Plateau

County Galway

Connemarra

Song with Place Reference

Click HERE to find out how!

Kilgary Mountain

As I was a-walkin' 'round Kilgary Mountain
I met with Captain Pepper as his money he was countin'
I rattled my pistols and I drew forth my saber
Sayin', "Stand and deliver, for I am the bold deceiver."
Chorus
Musha rig um du rum da
Whack fol the daddy o
Whack fol the daddy o
There's whiskey in the jar.

The shinin' golden coins did look so bright and jolly
I took 'em with me home and I gave 'em to my Molly
She promised and she vowed that she never would deceive me
But the devil's in the women and they never can be easy.

When I was awakened between six and seven
The guards were all around me in numbers odd and even
I flew to my pistols, but alas I was mistaken
For Molly's drawn my pistols and a prisoner I was taken.

They put me into jail without judge or writin'
For robbing Colonel Pepper on Kilgary Mountain
But they didn't take my fists so I knocked the sentry down
And bid a fond farewell to the jail in Sligo town.

Now some take delight in fishin' and in bowlin'
And others take delight in carriages a-rollin'
But I take delight in the juice of the barley
And courtin' pretty girls in the morning so early.

Guinness Beef Stew

Boxty

Corned Beef & Cabbage

Ash - Finds

2006-04-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

1 Recipe…

Wicklow Pancakes

Serves 4.

4 large eggs

600 ml of milk

4 ounces of fresh breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon of chopped parsley

Some chopped thyme

2 tablespoons of chopped chives or scallions

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons of Butter

Beat the eggs lightly, then add the milk, breadcrumbs, herbs and seasonings, and mix well. Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a pan until foaming, then pour in the mixture and cook over a low flame until it is brown underneath and just set on top. Put under the grill to finish. Serve cut into wedges with a knob of butter on each piece.

3 images, 1 each of Counties Sligo, Galway, and Clare…

County Sligo Golf

County Galway

County Clare

3 images of different Irish traditional foods

Irish Coddle

Soda Bread

Barm Brack

1 song in English which makes specific reference to a specific place in Ireland

Near Banbridge town, in the County Down

One morning in July

Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen

And she smiled as she passed me by.

She looked so sweet from her two white feet

To the sheen of her nut-brown hair Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself

To make sure I was standing there.

(Chorus) From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay

And from Galway to Dublin town

No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen

That I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped I shook my head

And I gazed with a feeling rare

And I said, says I, to a passerby

"Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"

He smiled at me, and with pride says he,

"That's the gem of Ireland's crown.

She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann

She's the star of the County Down."

(Chorus)

I've travelled a bit, but never was hit

Since my roving career began

But fair and square I surrendered there

To the charms of young Rose McCann.

I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet

Did I meet with in shawl or gown

But in she went and I asked no rent

From the star of the County Down.

(Chorus)

At the crossroads fair I'll be surely there

And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes

And I'll try sheep's eyes, and deludhering lies

On the heart of the nut-brown rose.

No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke

Though with rust my plow turns brown

Till a smiling bride by my own fireside

Sits the star of the County Down.

(Chorus)

Ryan's Finds

2006-04-03T20:07:00.000-07:00

1. I found a recipe for Boxty, a traditional potato dish.

ingredients:

8 oz/ 1 cup raw potato
8 oz/ 1 cup mashed potato
8 oz/ 2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
large knob of butter, melted
about 1/2 cup milk

Grate the raw potatoes into a bowl. Turn out onto a cloth and wring, catching the liquid. This will separate into a clear fluid with starch at the bottom. Pour off the fluid and scrape out the starch and mix with the grated and mashed potatoes. Sieve the dry ingredients and mix in along with the melted butter. Add a little milk if necessary to make a pliable dough. Knead lightly on a floured surface. Divide into four and form large, flat cakes. Mark each into quarters but do not cut right through, and bake on a griddle or in a heavy pan.

If liked, more milk and an egg can be added to make a batter which can be fried in bacon fat like drop scones.

2. three pictures of Irish food

This is a Picture of Irish Lamb Stew
Known as the national dish, this stew of lamb and root vegetables is cooked slowly

lled Black Angus fillet of beef atop a fried potato cake served with a layering of Irish whiskey sauce, herb butter and fried leeks

-This is Shepherd's Pie
This old world recipe includes ground Angus sirloin, carrots, potatoes, parsnips, peas and fresh herbs
3. Irish song with English Translation
Ho ro i a bhi o ho

Chall eileadh a ro ho

Horo i a bhi o ho

Chall o ho ro bhi

Ach a Thomais 'ic Uilleim

Bu tu 'n companach munaidh

Anns na coilltichean urrad

Fhuair tu urram na seilg

Gur a bhuidheach mi m' cheile

Thug an gunn' a Dun-Eideann

Dhomh-sa b'aithne do bheusan

'S cha bu leir dhomh do ghiamh

'S toigh leam airidh nam badan

Far am b'eibhinn leam cadal

'S am biodh fasgadh ri gaillionn

Aig aighean 's aig laoigh

Agus frith nan damh donna

'S nan ceannardan troma

Leam bu mhiann dol 'n an coinneamh

'N uair a chromadh a' ghrian

Le m' chuilbhir caol cubhraidh

Ann am achlais 'ga giulan

Luaidh ghlas air a h-urlar

Bheir tuill ur air am bian

Spor thana gheur dhu-ghorm

'N deigh a glasadh 's a dluthadh

'Chuireadh sradag ri fudar

'N uair a lubainn mo mhiar

Mharbhainn drachd agus lacha

Agus tarmachan creachainn

'S earbag riabhach nam badan

'Theid roi 'n mhaduinn 'na fiamh

Ho ro i a bhi o ho

Chall eileadh a ro ho

Horo i a bhi o ho

Chall o ho ro bhi

O Thomas son of William

You were my moorland companion

In the high forests

You wn renown in hunting

I thank my servant

Who brough the gun from Edinburgh

I knew of your excellent quality

And I saw no defect

I like the wooded sheiling

Where I was happy to sleep

Where there would be shelter from storms

For heifers and calves

And the forest of the red stags

Of the heavy antlered heads

How I loved to meet with them

At sunset

With my slender, sweet powdered gun

Carried under my arm

Grey lead on the forest floor

Would produce new holes in their hides

On bending my finger

The thin sharp blue-black gunflint

Having locked and fired

Would enflame the powder

I would kill drake and wild duck

And the ptarmigan of the mountain

And the little roe of the woodland

Will retrace her steps before morning

This is pretty obviously a song about hunting which is why I picked it I am sure that like many cultures hunting played a big part in traditional Ireland providing food for families.

4. Pictures

This is a Picture of a famine memorial in Sligo.

This is a Sunrise on Galway bay.

Above is a pictue of the Cliffs of Moher found in County Clare

Valerie-Finds

2006-04-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

* 1 song in Irish with English translation

Gur mis' tha fo mhulad
Air uilinn nan stùc.

'Mi coimhead Caol Muile,
'S cha ghrunnaich mi null.

Far an d'fhàg mi mo mhàthair
Air a càradh 's an ùir.

Far an d'fhàg mi mo leanna,
Caol mala 's rosg ciùin.

Chì mi'm bàta 'dol seachad.
Leam is lapach a "crew"

'S mur a deachaid mi mearachd,
Bha mo leannan air stiùir.

'Dol seachad air an Ile
Leam mis ìosal a cùrs'.

'Dol seachad air Eige
Tìr chreagach 'nan stùc.

'Dol seachad air Cola
Chaill iad coltas mo rùin.

'Dol seachad air Éirinn
Chaidh mo chéilidh 's a' ghrunnd.

Chaidh m'eudail do'n fheamainn,
'S i 'dol thairis a null.

Air àrr 'nan tonn uaine,
'S iad a suaineadh a siùil.

Air àrr 'nan tonn glasa,
'S muir a' sgapadh a bùird.

'S daor a cheannaich mi'n t-eòrna,
'S beag a dh'òl mi de shùgh.

'S daor a cheannaich mi'n sgadan
Air a phacadh as ùr.

'S daor a channaich mi bhranndaidh
Thàinig nall ann as ùr.

'S daor a cheannaich mi 'm bàta
Rinn am bàthadh 'n an triùir.

Sad am I (reclining)
On the slope of the rocks

I look towards the Narrows of Mull,
Yet I cannot wade across,

Where I left my mother
Buried in the sod

Where I left my sweetheart
Of the thin eyebrows and loving eyes.

I see the boat sailing past,
Her crew methinks is feeble

And if I am not mistaken,
I believe my sweetheart is at the helm.

Passing Islay, it seems to me
That her course is too far off-shore.

Passing Eigg,
The rocky land of the peaks

Passing Coll
They lost the semblance of my love.

Passing Ireland
My spouse went down to the ocean floor.

My dear one landed in the seaweed
As she was voyaging abroad.

On the crest of the green waves
As they twisted her sails.

On the crest of the grey waves,
The sea slashing along her decks.

Dearly did I pay for the barley,
Little did I drink of its juices

Dearly did I pay for the herring,
Newly packed.

Dearly did I pay for the brandy
That had just been stowed aboard.

Dearly did I pay for the boat
That caused the drowning the three.

* 1 song in English which makes specific reference to a specific place (town,
village, parish, or geological formation) in Ireland
The Cliffs of Doneen
You may travel far far from your own native land
Far away o'er the mountains, far away o'er the foam
But of all the fine places that I've ever been
Sure there's none can compare with the cliffs of Doneen.
Take a view o'er the mountains, fine sights you'll see there
You'll see the high rocky mountains o'er the west coast of Clare
Oh the town of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen
From the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen.

It's a nice place to be on a fine summer's day
Watching all the wild flowers that ne'er do decay
Oh the hares and lofty pheasants are plain to be seen
Making homes for their young round the cliffs of Doneen.

Fare thee well to Doneen, fare thee well for a while
And to all the kind people I'm leaving behind
To the streams and the meadows where late I have been
And the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen.

A song in English that refers to the Diaspora
GOODBYE MICK I'M LEAVING TIPPERARY
The ship it sails in half an hour to cross the broad Atlantic_My friends are standing on the quay with grief and sorrow frantic_I'm just about to sail away in the good ship Dan O'Leary_The anchor's weighed and the gangway's up, I'm leaving Tipperary
And it's goodbye Mick and goodbye Pat and goodbye Kate and Mary_The anchor's weighed and the gangway's up, I'm leaving Tipperary_And now the steam is blowing off, I have no more to say_I'm bound for New York City boys, three thousand miles away
In my portmanteau here I have some cabbage, beans and bacon_And if you think I can't eat that, well, there's where yer mistaken_For this ship will play with pitch and toss for half a dozen farthings_I'll roll me bundle on me back and walk to Castle gardens
And it's goodbye Mick and goodbye Pat and goodbye Kate and Mary_The anchor's weighed and the gangway's up, I'm leaving Tipperary_And now the steam is blowing off, I have no more to say_I'm bound for New York City boys, three thousand miles away
Now I won't come that Yankee chat, I guess I'm calculatin'_Come liquor up old sonny boy, when an old friend I am treatin'_I'm deep in love with Molly Burke like an ass is fond of clover_I'll send for her when I get there - that's if she will come over
And it's goodbye Mick and goodbye Pat and goodbye Kate and Mary_The anchor's weighed and the gangway's up, I'm leaving Tipperary_And now the steam is blowing off, I have no more to say_I'm bound for New York City boys, three thousand miles away
Then fare thee well old Erin dear, to part me heart does ache well_From Carrickfergus to Cape Clear - I'll never see your equal_Although to foreign parts we're bound where cannibals may eat us_We'll ne'er forget the Holy Ground of poteen and potatoes
And it's goodbye Mick and goodbye Pat and goodbye Kate and Mary_The anchor's weighed and the gangway's up, I'm leaving Tipperary_And now the steam is blowing off, I have no more to say_I'm bound for New York City boys, three thousand miles away
When good St Paddy banished snakes he shook them from his garment_He never thought we'd go abroad to look upon such vermint_Nor quit this land where whiskey grew to wear the Yankee button_Take vinegar for mountain dew and toads for mountain mutton
And it's goodbye Mick and goodbye Pat and goodbye Kate and Mary_The anchor's weighed and the gangway's up, I'm leaving Tipperary_And now the steam is blowing off, I have no more to say_I'm bound for New York City boys, three thousand miles away

1 Traditional Irish recipe
Boxty
Boxty is a traditional potato dish

8 oz/ 250 g/ 1 cup raw potato
8 oz/ 250 g/ 1 cup mashed potato
8 oz/ 250 g/ 2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
large knob of butter, melted
about 1/4 pt/ 125 ml/ 1/2 cup milk
Grate the raw potatoes into a bowl. Turn out onto a cloth and wring, catching the liquid. This will separate into a clear fluid with starch at the bottom. Pour off the fluid and scrape out the starch and mix with the grated and mashed potatoes. Sieve the dry ingredients and mix in along with the melted butter. Add a little milk if necessary to make a pliable dough. Knead lightly on a floured surface. Divide into four and form large, flat cakes. Mark each into quarters but do not cut right through, and bake on a griddle or in a heavy pan.
If liked, more milk and an egg can be added to make a batter which can be fried in bacon fat like drop scones.

Amy finds...

2006-04-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

1 recipe for Irish Traditional dish:

Dublin Coddle
1lb/ 500g best sausages8oz/ 250g streaky bacon1/2pt/ 300ml/ 1 cup stock or water6 medium potatoes2 medium onionssalt and pepper(serves four)
Cut the bacon into 1in/ 3cm squares. Bring the stock to the boil in a medium saucepan which has a well-fitting lid, add the sausages and the bacon and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove the sausages and bacon and save the liquid. Cut each sausage into four or five pieces. Peel the potatoes and cut into thick slices. Skin the onions and slice them. Assemble a layer of potatoes in the saucepan, followed by a layer of onions and then half the sausages and bacon. Repeat the process once more and then finish off with a layer of potatoes. Pour the reserved stock over and season lightly to taste. Cover and simmer gently for about an hour. Adjust the seasoning and serve piping hot.

1 song that makes reference to a specific place in Ireland

Donegal Danny
Chorus:-
So here's to those that are dead and gone
The friends that I left here
And here's to you then I'll bid you adieu
Since Donegal Danny's been here me boys,
Donegal Danny's been here

I remember the night when he came in
The evening was stormy and damp
A giant of a man in an oilskin coat
and a bundle which showed he was a tramp
He stood at the bar and called for a pint
And turned to gaze into the fire
On a night like this to be safe and warm
Is my hearts only desire

Then in a voice that was hushed and low he said: listen I'll tell
You a tale how a man of the sea became a man of the road
And never more will get sail
I've fished out of Howth and Killybegs, Ardglass and Baltimore
But the cruel sea has beaten me and I'll end me days on the shore

One fateful night in the wind and the rain we set sail from
Killybeys town, there were five of us from sweet Donegal
And one from County Down, we were fishermen who worked
The sea and never counted the cost but I never thought'ere
That night was done that my fine friends would all be lost

Then the storm it broke and drove the boat to the rocks about
Ten miles from shore, as we fought the tide we hoped inside to
See our homes once more
Than we struck a rock and holed the bow and all of us knew that
She'd go down so we jumped right into the icy sea and prayed
To God we wouldn't drown

But the raging sea was rising still as we struck out for the land
And she fought with all her crualty to claim that brilliant band
By St John's point in the early dawn I dragged myself to the shore
And I cursed the sea for what she'd done and vowed to sail her never more

Ever since that night I've been on the road travelling and trying
To forget that awful night I lost all my friends
I see their faces yet and often at night
When the sea is high and the the rain is nigh
Fearing at me skin I hear the cries of drowning men
Floating on the wind

3 images of different Irish traditional food:

potatoes are a staple food in Ireland

corned beef and cabbagge

Irish stew

3 images: one of County Sligo, County Clare, and County Galway

County Sligo

Cliffs of Moher in County Clare

Sunset in County Galway

Michelle Finds...

2006-04-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

Traditional Recipe

Boxdy (Potato Griddle Cakes) Servings: 8
1/2 lb Raw potato 1/2 lb Mashed potato 1/2 lb Plain flour Milk 1 Egg Salt and pepper
Grate raw potatoes and mix with the cooked mashed potatoes. Add salt, pepper and flour. Beat egg and add to mixture with just enough milk to make a batter that will drop from a spoon. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a hot griddle or frying pan. Cook over a moderate heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. Serve with a tart apple sauce: or as part of an Ulster Fry, with fried bacon, fried sausage, fried eggs, fried black pudding, fried bread, fried soda bread.
I also thought that this was an interesting little poem. :-)

An old poem says:
Boxty on the griddle,
boxty in the pan,
if you can't make boxty,
you'll never get a man.

Pictures of Traditional Irish Foods

Irish Stew

Ulster Fry

Champ

Irish Song in English with a place reference

THE CLIFFS OF DONEEN

You may travel far far from your own native land
Far away o'er the mountains, far away o'er the foam
But of all the fine places that I've ever been
Sure there's none can compare with the cliffs of Doneen
Take a view o'er the mountains, fine sights you'll see there
You'll see the high rocky mountains o'er the west coast of Clare
Oh the town of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen
From the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen
It's a nice place to be on a fine summer's day
Watching all the wild flowers that ne'er do decay
Oh the hares and lofty pheasants are plain to be seen
Making homes for their young round the cliffs of Doneen
Fare thee well to Doneen, fare thee well for a while
And to all the kind people I'm leaving behind
To the streams and the meadows where late I have been
And the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen

Images of Counties

Sligo

Carran church ruins, county Clare

Galway

Bribe. :)

2006-04-02T21:50:00.000-07:00

Does anyone have a recording (or know how to get one from somewhere that isn't iTunes) of "Two Gentlemen of the Road" with Jimmy MacBeath and Davie Stewart? I'm mostly interested in a track called "The Story Lives Forever" but iTunes wont let me buy it without buying the whole album. I will love you forever, be your best friend, and make you cookies!

Amber Finds

2006-04-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

Recipe for Dublin Coddle:
1lb/500g best sausages
8oz/250g streaky bacon
1/2pt /1 cup stock or water
6 medium potatoes
2 medium onions
Method:
Cut the bacon into 1in/ 3cm squares. Bring the stock to the boil in a medium saucepan which has a well-fitting lid, add the sausages and the bacon and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove the sausages and bacon and save the liquid. Cut each sausage into four or five pieces. Peel the potatoes and cut into thick slices. Skin the onions and slice them. Assemble a layer of potatoes in the saucepan, followed by a layer of onions and then half the sausages and bacon. Repeat the process once more and then finish off with a layer of potatoes. Pour the reserved stock over and season lightly to taste. Cover and simmer gently for about an hour. Adjust the seasoning and serve piping hot.

Innisfree, Co. Sligo: This picture reminded me of the Yeats poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree"

Dún Aonghus, South-west coast of Inishmore, Cill Mhuirbhigh, Aran Islands Co. Galway
According to the Lebor Gabála (Book of Invasion) the ancient race of the Fir Bolg built Dún Aonghus and other stone forts on the Aran Islands. It gets it name from a Fir Bolg Chief Angus. It also became the last refuge of the Fomorians.

Béal Bóramha, Brian Boru's Fort, Killaloe, Co. Clare

Amhran na bhFiann (A song in Irish and English)
Amhrán na bhFiann
Seo dhibh a cháirde duan Óglaigh,
Cathréimeach briomhar ceolmhar,
Ár dtinte cnámh go buacach táid,
'S an spéir go min réaltogach
Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo
'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh thíocht do'n ló
Fé chiúnas chaomh na hoiche ar seol:
Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.
Curfá:
Sinne Fianna Fáil
A tá fé gheall ag Éirinn,
buion dár slua
Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn,
Fé mhóid bheith saor.
Sean tír ár sinsir feasta
Ní fhagfar fé'n tiorán ná fé'n tráil
Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le guna screach fé lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.
Cois bánta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe,
Ba bhuachach ár sinsir romhainn,
Ag lámhach go tréan fé'n sár-bhrat séin
Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta
Ba dhúchas riamh d'ár gcine cháidh
Gan iompáil siar ó imirt áir,
'S ag siúl mar iad i gcoinne námhad
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.
Curfá
A bhuíon nách fann d'fhuil Ghaeil is Gall,
Sin breacadh lae na saoirse,
Ta scéimhle 's scanradh i gcroíthe namhad,
Roimh ranna laochra ár dtire.
Ár dtinte is tréith gan spréach anois,
Sin luisne ghlé san spéir anoir,
'S an bíobha i raon na bpiléar agaibh:
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.
Curfá
=========================================
The Soldier's Song
We'll sing a song, a soldier's song,
With cheering rousing chorus,
As round our blazing fires we throng,
The starry heavens o'er us;
Impatient for the coming fight,
And as we wait the morning's light,
Here in the silence of the night,
We'll chant a soldier's song.
Chorus:
Soldiers are we
whose lives are pledged to Ireland;
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave.
Sworn to be free,
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal,
We'll chant a soldier's song.
In valley green, on towering crag,
Our fathers fought before us,
And conquered 'neath the same old flag
That's proudly floating o'er us.
We're children of a fighting race,
That never yet has known disgrace,
And as we march, the foe to face,
We'll chant a soldier's song.
Chorus
Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!
The long watched day is breaking;
The serried ranks of Inisfail
Shall set the Tyrant quaking.
Our camp fires now are burning low;
See in the east a silv'ry glow,
Out yonder waits the Saxon foe,
So chant a soldier's song.
Chorus

The Queen of Connemara
(Francis A. Fahy)
Oh! My boat can safely float in the teeth of wind and weather
And outrace the fastest hooker between Galway and Kinsale;
When the black floor of the ocean and the white foam rush together,
High she rides, in her pride, like a sea-gull through the gale.
cho: Oh she's neat! Oh she's sweet! She's a beauty in ev'ry line!
The Queen of Connemara is that bounding barque of mine.
When she's loaded down with fish till the water lips the gunwale,
Not a drop she'll take on board her that would wash a fly away;
From the fleet she'll slip out swiftly like a greyhound from her kennel,
And she'll land her silver store the first at ould Kinvara quay.
cho:
There's a light shines out afar, and it keeps me from dismaying
When the skies are ink above us and the sea runs white with foam,
In a cot in Connemara there's a wife and wee one praying
To the One who walked the waters once, to send us safely home.
cho:

Kelli - Finds

2006-03-31T22:40:00.000-08:00

Recipe for Potato Farl

2 lb/ 1 kg/ 2 cups mashed potatoes

4 oz/ 125 g/ 1 cup plain flour

2 tbsp butter

salt

Melt the butter and mix into the potatoes with the salt. Work in the flour quickly but thoroughly and knead lightly. Divide in two and roll out each half on a floured board to form a circle about the size of a large dinner plate. Cut in quarters (farls) and cook for about 3 minutes on each side in a heavy frying pan in a little bacon fat.

----

Song about a place in Ireland:

"Limerick is Beautiful"
Source: Irish Street Ballads by Colm O'Lochlainn

Oh, then, Limerick is beautiful as ev'rybody knows,
The River Shannon full of fish beside that city flows.
'Tis not the river nor the fish that preys upon my mind
Nor with the town of Limerick have I any fault to find.

Oh, the girl I love is beautiful and fairer than the dawn,
She lives in Garryowen and she's called the Colleen Bawn.
But proudly as the river flows beside that fair citie,
As proudly and without a word that Colleen goes by me.

Oh then, if I was the Emperor of Russia to command
If I was Julius Caesar or Lord Lieutenant of the land.
I'd give my fleet, my golden store I'd give up my armie
The horse, the rifle and the foot and the Royal Artillerie.

I'd give my fleet of sailing ships that range the briny seas
I'd give the crown from off my head, my people on their knees
A beggar I would go to bed and proudly raise at dawn
If by my side, all for a bride, I found the Colleen Bawn.

---

County Sligo

County Galway

County Clare

---

Irish Art Depicting Traditional Topics

Walter Osborne - "St. Patrick's Close"

Trevor Fowler - "Children Dancing at Crossroads"

Darren Paul - "The Flute"

Alex - Finds

2006-03-31T12:35:00.000-08:00

For the recipe, I decided on something that was simple and easy to make (and something I really like on cold days). I chose to go with an Irish Potato Soup recipe:
6 medium potatoes
2 medium onions
3pt/ 1/2 l/ 6 cups stock or milk and water mixed
1tbsp butter
parsley
salt and pepper
(serves six)

Peel and dice the potatoes and chop the onions. Melt the butter and gently cook the onions and potatoes in a covered saucepan until soft but not coloured. Add the liquid, adjust the seasoning to taste, sieve if wished and serve in bowls decorated with a little chopped parsley.

Here's a picture of a variation of the potato soup. As you can see there are a few extra things put in it (specifically bacon and cheese) but that just makes the soup even better.

This picture is of a dish known as boxty. The dish includes ingredients like potatoes, some type of meat, and sometimes vegetables (the meat and vegetables are inside, it's kinds of like a crepe).

My third picture is of Irish lamb stew. I chose to use this one because it is something I want to try on our trip.

Song with referance to Irish Diaspora:

The Green Fields of America

Farewell to the land of shillelagh and shamrock,
Where many a long day in pleasure I spent,
Farewell to my friends I leave here behind me,
To live in old Ireland if they are content.
Now, sorry am I for to leave this green island,
Whose cause I supported in both peace or war,
To live here in bondage I ne'er can be happy,
The green fields of America is sweeter by far.

I remember the time when our country it flourished
When tradesmen of all kinds had plenty of money
But our manufactory has crossed the Atlantic,
And we, boys, must follow to America.
No longer I'11 stay in the land of oppression,
No cruel task masters shall rule over me,
To the country of liberty I'l1 bid 'good morrow',
In the green fields of America we will be free.

Oh, who could stay here among want and starvation
To hear the poor children crying for bread?
And many poor creatures without habitations,
Or without a roof to cover  their head.
Come, pack up your store, and consider no longer,
Six dollars a week, it's not very bad pay,
No taxes or tithes to devour up your labour,
When you are in the green fields of America.

My father is old and my mother she is feeble,
To leave their cottage their hearts feel sore,
The tears down their cheeks in large drops are falling
To think they must die on a foreign shore.
But little I care where my bones are buried,
If in peace and comfort I spend my life,
The green fields of Canada daily are blooming,
And then we will end all misery or strife.

Farewell to the groves of the sweet County Wicklow
Likewise to the girls of Erin all round,
May their hearts be as merry as ever I wish them,
'The now far away on the ocean I'm bound.
If ever it happens in a foreign climate,
A poor friendless Irishman comes in my way,
To the best I will make him right welcome,
At my home in the green fields of America.

The ship is now waiting, the anchor is weighing,
Farewell to the land I am going to leave,
My Mary she left both her father and mother,
With me to cross the western wave.
I'11 fill a bumper when we're on our passage,
And this is the toast from my heart I will say,
Here's health and long life to those that have courage,
To go to the free land of America.




This is a picture of a church in
the town of Skreen in county
Sligo.

This picture is taken somewhere in county Galway. I could not find the exact location.








This is a picture of the river
Shannon and the town of
Killaloe in county Clare.

OK, here's the recipe for the soda bread...

2006-03-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

Couple of people asked for it; here it is:

Don't think too hard about this. It's the kind of thing people actually will decide upon and bake when visitors first arrive. Best straight out of the oven; doesn't keep very well overnight. Lots of butter, maybe some marmelade, hot tea with milk and sugar. Note that all of these ingredients can be kept without artificial refrigeration; as long as the eggs and milk are kept cool (outside, in a cellar, or cooled in a stream), you don't need a fridge.

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a baking sheet. Warm 2 tbs butter until it is room temperature (e.g., soft, but not melted).

Sift together 3 cups unbleached white flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 2-4 tbs brown sugar. Cut the butter into the flour mixture with 2 knives or a potato-masher; you want the butter mixed in with the dry ingredients until the overall texture is coarse and crumbly.

In a separate bowl, whisk 1 egg and 1 cup buttermilk (or whole milk, or half-yogurt-half-milk). Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients, and stir with a fork only until mixed. Do not over-stir.

Dust a cutting board or clean counter with flour (so the dough won't stick). Turn the dough out onto the surface and dust your hands with flour (so the dough won't stick to them).

Now knead the dough (e.g., use the heel of one hand to press-and-stretch the dough into a flattened oblong, fold over and turn 90 degrees, and repeat). Do not knead any longer than you have to in order for the dough to stick together. It will be crumbly and flakey--that's OK, as long as it's mostly all sticking together. Shape the dough into a ball about 9" across.

Place on the center of the baking sheet. It's traditional to cut a cross into the top of the loaf, both as a religious symbol and also because this helps prevent the loaf cracking.

Bake 45 minutes and serve hot.

Variations: you can never go wrong adding a little bit more butter, a little more sweetener (adding about 1 cup of currants is a nice variant), or a little more milk. But the dough should be dry, crumbly, and flakey.

"Travellers" in the modern world

2006-03-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

"Council fails in duty to Travellers: court"

The Travellers, as we've said in class, are a historically-marginalized social group (whose ethnicity is disputed) who have lived as itinerants on the roads of Ireland, Scotland, and England at least since the 16th century (some have suggested that they are the descendents of people made homeless during the Tudor Invasions of that period). Even up to the 20th century, these people were marginalized, treated with great suspician by the "settled" population, often denied education or social services, and so on. As is commonly the case, this was because settled people saw the Travellers as a threat, potential thieves, dishonest, dirty, etc. At the same time, Travellers have been a very important source of retention for folklore: songs, stories, folk cures, folk crafts, etc. The short film clip we saw of the pipers playing at a house ceili was of a group of Scottish Travellers.

More recently, the Irish government has attempted to address the Travellers' way of life with a bit more understanding, and to set up social services that might permit them to continue that way of life insofar as it is possible. Sometimes they have been "settled" in housing estates (the film Into the West begins in such a Travellers' housing estate); sometimes they have been accommodated in "serviced halting sites"--essentially government-owned campgrounds, at which Travellers would have preferred status and could stay in their caravans, while also having access to medical services, mail, government offices, and so forth.

The link points toward an article on the legal case of two Traveller families who have been unaccommodated by Limerick's social services agencies; evidently the campgrounds were full or not otherwise available. Interesting example of very old "folklore" lifestyles trying to cope with the modern, post-Industrial world.

Research info

2006-03-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

For anyone that might care, I have a couple of books about Ireland that cover the country's history as well as containing beautiful pictures of the countryside. I also loaned Michelle a couple of books about Irish fairytales and Celtic myth/lore which I'm willing to be she might share. :)

Just FYI

2006-03-26T12:50:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I just wanted to let those of you who may care know that I got a book in from Interlibrary Loan called "Music and the Celtic Otherworld" by Karen Ralls-MacLeod. I'm finding a lot of good information in it on supernatural things. Those of you who have research topics relating to that are welcome to borrow it, look through it, and make copies if you need to. It's due back on April 15, so find me before then. :)

Please read and respond re/ availability for ceili

2006-03-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

Folks, a query:

Given that we need to find an evening when we can have our performance ceili (around April 22 or so), I will ask you to please *reply* to this message with a ranking of the following evenings in terms of availability. Use asterisks (*) to indicate the BEST evening, and a minus sign (-) to indicate an evening that is impossible.

See available dates below:

Sunday Apr 23 7-1030pm
Monday Apr 24 7-1030pm
Tuesday Apr 25 7-1030pm
Wednesday Apr 26 7-1030pm

So, if Monday Apr 24 was BEST for you, Sunday Apr 23 or Tuesday Apr 25 were next best, and Wednesday Apr 26 was impossible, you'd mark like this:

Sunday Apr 23 7-1030pm [*]
Monday Apr 24 7-1030pm [**]
Tuesday Apr 25 7-1030pm [*]
Wednesday Apr 26 7-1030pm [-]

Please leave your reply to the above instructions in the COMMENTS section just below this post, and please do so before Tuesday class. Thanks

Research Paper

2006-03-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

So, I forgot to post this, but, here it is. "The further you get from Ireland, the more Irish you become." I found this quote and decided, though funny, it seemed to hold true as far as celebration of Irish culture for those who have moved away from Ireland. My great-grandfather is a perfect example of the quote. I am exploring the quote's relevance to the celebration of St. Patrick's day outside of Ireland. I am primarily using family stories to gain knowledge, but am also using descriptions of celebrations of St. Patrick's Day both inside and outside of Ireland.

research proposal

2006-03-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

My research project is going to be a comparison between St. Brigid and St. Patrick. I want to see the difference between a pagan God and a Christian Saint. Both St. Brigid and St. Patrick were influential to Irish in different time periods, and I want to research the actual influential differences they had on the Irish people. I plan to focus on their contrasting characteristics and their impact on Ireland. My references will mostly be books from the library and cited internet sources.

Research

2006-03-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

I am interested in researching food and drink in traditional Irish culture. This may include exploring roles of food and drink in Irish culture, customs of preparation, and the contexts of their use. I may address how and if roles and perceptions have changed over time and I plan on citing sources that will include books from the TTU library, articles, and other sources as available.

How to say "Happy St Patrick's Day" in Irish

2006-03-16T16:02:00.000-08:00

Added to WebCT under "Materials - Week 11 - Audio"

"Beannachtai na Feile Padraig"

"ben-nock-TI na FAY-la PAW-dreg"

good stuff!

2006-03-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

Folks:

I have gone through and added comments to each of the research proposals/descriptions by each class member on the blog. In advance of class on Thursday Mar 23, please do 2 things:

(1) Read my own comments on your particular research assignment (and feel free to reply, also in the comments);

(2) Read all other proposals and select at least TWO (2) other proposals which you feel are related to yours. Thus, you'll have 3 proposals under consideration, including your own. In the "comments" section of EACH proposal--your own and the other two you've selected--please add a comment articulating the *specific ways* in which you see the three proposals as related to one another.

So, for each of the three proposals you select, your comment might look something like this:

"I see a clear connection between [this student]'s proposal and mine. Here are the connections I see: (1) ... (2) ... (3) ... I would imagine that [this student]'s research will include drawing upon the following different kinds of sources similar to mine [...] and I expect that [this student] and I might be able to collaborate in the following ways:..."

Remember, you'll make this comment about TWO OTHER proposals AND your own. Please get this done in time for Thursday's class (remember we don't meet Tuesday).

cjs

Just a random comment...

2006-03-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

By a fine stroke of mi Irish luck, I was in Washington DC on Sunday for the Saint Patrick's Day festivities! It was quite the hoopla if I must say. There was a parade, live Irish (and Scottish...) music, step dancers, high school bands playing when Irish Eyes are Smiling... everything you would expect from an Americanized celebration. It was quite a site. I will post a picture or two when I find them on my uncle's computer. :) slan...

Research Topic

2006-03-09T06:15:00.000-08:00

My research project is on the natural lore of Ireland. Much of what seemed like "magic" or "nature magic" to observers was often the detailed and practical experiences of country people which seemed "magical" to outsiders. I have found that people living among nature believed that spirits or actual beings dwelled in their surroundings and people then associated this with a magical or mythical creature/plant. I am largley interested in the symbolism of certain natural things to the everyday life of the Irish. I plan to focus on 3-4 examples of these magical/symbolic phenomena.

I plan to primarily reference texts from the University library, as well as alternate sources.

Research Topic

2006-03-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

For my research topic, I am extremely interested in examining the magical and the supernatural as it pertains to Irish music, poetry, and storytelling. How large of a role does the supernatural/magic play in each of these genres? Why is it so important? What comparisons can I find between the subjects of Irish music, poetry, and storytelling that are similar to American music, poetry, and storytelling? These are some of the questions that I wish to answer by studying this topic in more detail. I plan to use sources from the Texas Tech library including books, personal accounts, and possibly musical recordings (if they can be found). Naturally, I will also utilize any other sources that I happen to come across outside of our own library. More specifically, I would like to select at least one example from each genre so that I can draw comparisons between them. More specifics include an interest in the legends of Tir na nOg, the ideas of triads, and the mythological cycle. As I continue with my research, I expect to find more subjects of interest that will more clearly define my thesis.

topic information

2006-03-08T23:36:00.000-08:00

I am interested in examining the ways in which the mass media has contributed to both a world perception and an internalized (Irish) perception of Irish culture/identity. I am curious to see whether the ways in which we view the Irish are biased by their portrayal in various media elements such as tv/film/magazines/newspapers. Likewise, I want to know if the Irish in turn exaggerate or downplay their culture in response to this? I am also curious to see if there is a difference between the way(s) in which the Irish speak about/portray themselves versus "outside" commentators. Is their tendency to be more truthful or more "fantastic?" Are they more likely to present an accurate picture and understanding of their culture or are they equally biased in their own manner? This sort of also brings to light the idea of "contestation of ownership," at least in terms of the Irish culture (as we perceive it) as really "belonging" to the Irish or something that has been foisted upon them and subsequently adopted by the people. Also, what is important in their culture and why? Is their portrayal of this importance a facade or truly existant? Has the need for their own "identity" caused them to accept views, etc. that possibly might not have achieved such status or importance if not influenced by the outside world? I think this is a valuable question to be considered since I believe strongly that their culture has survived (intact) because it remains within a tangible setting at all times.

My source material will probably vary widely. I am hoping to have some interviews with people I know who have lived both in Ireland and within the "greater Western world," in the hopes that they can provide a link between both worlds or offer experiences that argue for or against the above questions. I am sure I will have various films/newspaper articles/television commercials etc. that will play a role in the development of this topic. And of course, I cannot forget the large stack of books and articles which I never fail to request of the very obliging Interlibrary Loan folks. :)

Research Proposal

2006-03-08T22:21:00.000-08:00

I am interested researching fife and drum bands and their role in Irish music versus ‘traditional’ Irish music and culture. I am beginning to understand that traditional music and culture has close ties to regional origin and religion. Thus, I would like to delve into how the fife and drum bands fit into the protestant versus catholic culture and tradition. With regard to traditional music, among other things, there seems to be a “zero sum” attitude among conflicting groups. That is, if one side has it, there other does not or cannot. If one side benefits, the other is hurt. Northern Regions, namely County Antrim and Armagh, and their fife and drum bands are not associated with traditional music. For example, the Orange Order formed for “ ‘Protestant self-defense’” Thus, fifing traditions within the Orange Order do not play the traditional music associated with Catholics. Fifing and drumming is associated with Protestants. This great divide although still alive today among the older generation did not always exist. Although the repertoire are different, the people and players were acceptably allowed to participate in both traditional and fife and drum music. The view on this greatly coincides with the political turmoil of the time. I will explore by contacting Gary Hastings, exploring the TTU library, and hopefully finding interviews with informed sources, how the political environment affects the Irish musical tradition.

Research on Competitive Dance

2006-03-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

I am currently exploring the competitive nature of Irish folk dancing. While researching the history of dance in general, I became aware of the great extent to which other cultures who invaded Ireland had contributed to Irish folk dancing. The Irish have taken dances from many other cultures and assimilated them into their own culture, and, over the years, developed their own steps and routines. Over the last few years, a sort of craze for Irish folk dancing has emerged with the popularity of River Dance and Lord of the Dance. Today dancers compete worldwide. Although the type of dancing is relatively the same from culture to culture, it intrigues me to know the extent to which influence from this competitive side of Irish folk dancing has led to incorporation of ideas and dances from other cultures. I am working on exploring the effect of this type of competition on the traditional folk dance in Ireland.

To explore this topic I will use the internet as well as books from the library to gain a foundation in traditional Irish folk dance. I will also talk to Kathleen from the Canterbury Center about my topic and ask if she or anyone she knows competes in this type of dancing that I can interview.

Topic Proposal

2006-03-08T18:36:00.000-08:00

I plan on doing my paper on the relationship between pre-Christian beliefs and the early stages of Catholicism after St. Patrick's arrival. Then, I will relate how music, musicians, and folklore were preceived and how they illustrate/ describe these two cultures. These two cultures are very different from one another in many aspects, and also have several parallels, including poetry and writing styles, and the emphasis on nature. These two cultures also have different views on music and musicians, which I will tie into the paper. I plan on using the Texas Tech Library for most of my research, and also interviewing my local priest, who is a native of Ireland. I hope to tie this in with my performance project by memorizing a poem or two by St. Patrick himself, depending on what I find in my research.

Research topic

2006-03-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

When discussing the topic of Irish dance, many avenues can be pursued in different directions ranging from early history to present day interactions. However, as I read more and more about the origins of Irish dance, I cannot help but be fascinated by the fact that the essence and passion of dance occurs in the rural and poor parts of Ireland. The dancing masters are key evidence to the process of how the Irish who perhaps were not connected with the cultural renaissance of mainland Europe created their own entertainment and preservation of "identity." Dances happened everywhere; in the courts, the kitchens, the fields. Yet, styles today of Irish dance are probably most influenced by the methods used by the dancing masters. Even large scale competitions are devised from the simple dance-offs that were once held between two rivaling dance masters. Although the tactics and work of the dance masters linger today, the reality of how they affected rural society is intriguing indeed.
For this project, I intend on providing evidence and examples of the steps taught, how they were taught, and what they meant to those learning them. I also want to include the similarities experienced between the original rural societies in Ireland and the diaspora that affected several sects of American culture, particularly the Appalachia. The impoverished mountain communities, like the Irish, had to develop their own type of entertainment whether to distract their minds from the dim lifestyles of hard labor or to just have fun. The Appalachian development evolved separately from the Irish dance; however, in terms of dance, many steps were borrowed from the Irish hard and soft shoe along with other moves from African-American folk dances. These comparisons will be presented more in performance than in research.

There certainly are a variety of sources I can turn to for information. Thus far, I have done most of my research through articles and books. I do hope, however, to obtain personal accounts from Irish dancers and Appalachia cloggers regarding their opinions of how traditional instruction by a teacher or by relative has helped secure their heritage and participation of cultural "being."

Invitation

2006-03-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I'm giving a workshop tomorrow entitled Beginner's Guide to Irish Flute. It's from 5-6 in M01 in the Music Building. If anyone's up to coming I'd love to have the extra feedback.

Research Topic

2006-03-06T22:27:00.000-08:00

Drawing on articles, books (including first-hand accounts of travel to Ireland in this time period), recordings/liner notes, and conference notes, I will argue that the contention of the bards demonstrated the society of patronage and the power the bards held in Ireland. The contention of the bards was a war of words in the early 17th century, full of insults flying back and forth about other bards and patrons. The contention of the bards was a period of decline for the entire bardic system, but still alludes to some very interesting and powerful ideas about the power of words and the place of bards in Irish society.

Research Topic

2006-03-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

I am very interested in the way that storytelling in the Celtic cultures (in this case, Ireland specifically) has changed over the generations. For my project, I want to look at the impact of Christianity in Ireland, in relation to religion and storytelling. I'd like to look at the "blending" of pagan and Christian beliefs and ideas in the lives of the Irish, as reflected in their stories. To do this, I am going to try to find a story from the pre-Christian era and compare it to the same, or similar, story from after the introduction of Christianity.

My sources for this project will probably come from the Texas Tech Library, as well as from personal collections of Celtic mythology and stories.

2006-03-06T19:16:00.000-08:00

In American society, the methods of learning and teaching are much different from those of traditional Irish culture. American children would be expected to be taught in a classroom setting surrounded by books and computers. Whereas in Irish traditional culture, a student may be taught through a mentor. I plan to explore the societal differences that occur due to the traditional Irish culture's methods of learning as compared to the American culture's methods.

corey's research topic

2006-03-06T18:45:00.000-08:00

for my project, i'm studying the relationship between storytelling and music in the joe heaney, bobby casey, andy mcgann 1950s(ish) era. i know that there is a storytelling tradition, and that it has its own performance pracice like that of the music, some of both we have touched on in class discussions. i think it would be fascinating examine how players choose certain stories to go with specific tunes, or songs, to create the mood they want to convey, and then how each different performer chooses which story for which song, or tune, and how they differ from each other. i'm mostly looking for recordings right now in my stage of research, but also can't resist looking at anything that appears promising.

Valerie's topic proposal

2006-03-06T13:25:00.000-08:00

For my project, I am going to research some of the immediate origins of the 1916 Easter Rising, focusing mainly on the Gaelic rise in popularity from the 1890’s to the time of the revolt. The failure of Home Rule due to the outbreak of World War I is the event that is most commonly associated with this uprising, but ‘new nationalism,’ as this wave of cultural nationalism was termed, had a great deal to do with the patriotism that initiated this attempt at independence.
Many Gaelic groups formed or resurfaced during the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century. The Gaelic Athletic Association, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the birth of Sinn Fein, and the Gaelic League (on which I will be concentrating most) were some of organizations to gain popularity. The increase in a sense of national identity was the key factor of the most effective revolution in a long list of Irish revolts since its oppressive settlement by the English during Tudor and Stuart England.
I plan to cite many sources from different mediums of oral and literary culture, discussing their individual and collective effect on the outbreak of ‘new nationalism.’ I have not chosen any specific examples thus far, but a plethora of poems, songs, stories, and possibly dances do exist in our class texts, as well as all twenty books that I have already checked out from the TTU Library.
For my performance project, I plan to enlist the help of Cory Green to learn a traditional Irish fiddle tune, or possibly to sing an Irish revolutionary song, which I have yet to choose.

interesting short amateur documentary on Irish dance in America

2006-03-05T06:33:00.000-08:00

Interesting. Modern Irish step-dance is a very competition-oriented art form; this an outgrowth of cultural arbiters' conviction that the way to create interest was to formalize and arrange competitions. A lot of people think this was a bad idea; sounds like the young woman making the documentary also thinks so.

On youTube:

Research Topic

2006-03-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

From my experiences in the past few years, I have developed an interest in ancient mythology from cultures around the world. Because I do not have much experience with Irish mythology, I plan on focusing on two of the four cycles of myths in Irish history. So far I am planning on focusing on the Ulster and Fenian Cycles. My hope is that I can learn the differences between the two cycles in terms of storytelling techniques, topics addressed, types of heroes, types of villians, types of music associated with the stories, whether or not dance was associated with the stories, etc. Overall my main goal is to determine the differences between the Ulster and Fenian Cycles as well as how and why the Ulster Cycle transformed into the Fenian Cycle.

I have determined that there will be at least two basic parts of my research. The first part will focus on finding stories written during the two cycles. The second part will focus on finding information about the differences between the two cycles. Some of this research (especially interpretation of the stories) could end up being based on my opinions but I am confident there are enough sources, other than my opinions, to base a research paper from. I have already begun to read several stories from both cycles from books I borrowed from Dr. Smith a while back. I am still wanting to get a few more before I call the first part of my research complete. I believe I should be able to find most of the sources for the second part of my research either from the Texas Tech library or from other libraries that participate in the interlibary loan system. My main concern about this is that I may not be able to find enough information concerning music and dance in relation to the Ulster and Fenian Cycles, but I am hopeful that if I can not locate texts, I might be able to locate people that know of texts.

I am planning to tell one of the stories I find and possibly play (if I can learn how to play the tin whistle fast enough) a short piece of music that goes along with the story for my performance project.

Research Topic

2006-03-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

I plan to research the way that Irish music has made use of the legendary Sidhe. I plan to examine the texts of songs and the titles of instrumental tunes, as well as what the musicians think the tunes mean. Dr. Smith said something in the comments on my topic proposal about a tune called "The Gold Ring" and Seamus Ennis and Tommy Potts having interesting stories about its origin, so I will definitely be looking at that. Also, to get enough evidence and support for my paper, I'm going to need to look at stories that exist about the effect the Sidhe had on music. I found some references to sources in the Readings Packet (Glassie Introduction) that should be helpful, as well.

I will probably be using the TTU Library for most of my research. I also have been grabbing books in book stores for awhile...most of which have song texts in them...and I plan to use those as well. For the tunes, I will be listening to recordings and reading liner notes.

This will also tie in to my performance project.

Topic

2006-03-01T21:16:00.000-08:00

For my presentation I plan on finding more information about the ancient four kingdoms of Ireland, including what styles of music they played, how they danced, how they ruled their goverment, and even what they ate. I will be using the Texas Tech library, notes we have already gotten from class, and the all powerful google search engine.

Research Proposal

2006-03-01T20:37:00.000-08:00

I want to examine the effect that religion and primarily the influence of the Catholic Church has had on Irish culture today. I hope to form some hypothesis as to how culture developes under the dominant influence of one religious authority. I will use historical evidence to understand why Ireland is what it is today as well as primary source testimony from recent times to understand what role religion plays today and in the future. The historical documents I hope to use will consist mainly of letters, songs, and stories passed down through generations, because so much of Irish history was transmitted orally until only recently I will probably have to look to sources that were published recently but contain imformation that is centuries old and is being recorded for the first time. I realize it may be difficult to pinpoint a lot of the original sources as they have been passed around so much and much of what I will find will in fact be one person's interpretation of a much older story. This, however, could prove to be useful if I can compare to sources with similar stories it may provide exactly the kind of evedence I am looking for. As for more recent sources I hope to be able to use the testimony of those that have experienced first hand Irish culture which I can gather either by interview, class lectures, or on the if I am lucky enough to meet someone.

Research topic

2006-03-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

I'm planning on studying the regional styles of Irish music, including techniques, playing styles, instrument variations, etc. I'd like to know how geographical and cultural circumstances have affected traditional music. I plan on referencing recordings and videos, especially those which are in regional style, and notes on regional techniques and the important players of those regions. A working thesis:

Through the study of recordings, notes and [hopefully] interviews, I will describe the numerous musical styles and techniques associated with the different regions of Ireland.

Southern ACIS post #01

2006-02-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

First post from Columbia SC, the Southern Chapter meetings of the American Council for Irish Studies.

This is usually an enjoyable, cross-disciplinary conference with fun people. Arriving (late) last night, my bag lost, and went directly to the banquet, where I was pleased to find my old friend Turloch Boylan (flute), originally from Antrim but now living in Houston, leading the trad band playing during dinner.

First session Saturday AM:

VC. “Black” Irish

An investigation of the various phenomena associated with the interaction of Africans and Irish in the New World. Potentially a very interesting topic, historically very much neglected by scholarship.

My old friend Turloch Boylan (flute), born Antrim but now living in Houston, was playing trad tunes with fiddle and guitar at the banquet. Banquet was at the “Capstone” restaurant—very weird rotating “space-needle” style

Scholar #1 “The Black Irish – or White Slavery? – in the Atlantic World”

Looks at the myths versus reality of those indigenous Irish (especially in the West) who had dark hair and dark skin, who were popularly believed to be the survivors of sailors from the 1590s Spanish Armada shipwrecked on the west coast. This paper looks at the actual numbers of survivors (a very small number) and questions whether this is possible.

Paper suggests that the term “Black Irish” may originate from the indentured status of early Irish immigrants to the New World, and more specifically from the intermarriage of African slave and Irish indentured fathers and mothers. Very early in the colonial period, not only African slaves but also bought-and-sold “contracted labor” brought poor Irish emigrants there. “Black Irish” in the period was a euphemism for “slave Irish”—meaning Irish emigrants, famine victims, or petty criminals—or “bond slave.”

Cromwell’s invasion and defeat of Ireland 1651-1662, and his evocation of laws that permitted the enslavement of “vagabonds and the destitute” led to the exportation of poor Irish, for sale, to work in sugar and tobacco plantations in the Caribbean and SE part of American colonies. “Those who fail to transport themselves to Connacht or Clare will be regarded as felons and subject to deportation.”

Circa 40,000 transported b/w 1651-54, or 80,000 by 1660. Kidnapping, “shanghai-ing”, to be “Barbadosed” (that is, to be kidnapped into Barbados from Ireland). Essentially: there was a slave trade from the West of Ireland into the Caribbean in the 17^th century. Numerous first-person accounts and legal actions confirming this, especially in colonial courts. Those courts took action by enacting laws setting limits on, but not forbidding the practice of, such forced kidnapping. [also not only in the South, but also in the North, including the Puritan town of Salem Massachusetts]. Clearly there was a great deal of profit to be made.

Many characteristics reminiscent of the African slave trade, including the exportation of very young women to breed additional human stock. Children of mixed-race (Irish mothers, African fathers) were regarded as hereditarily slaves as well. This suggests in turn a very intimate if very brutal interaction between African and Irish imports. “Black Irish” also associated with maroon and slave rebellions. “Black Irish” in Montserrat and Jamaica. Irish slaves treated at least as badly as Africans, due to the blame that attached to their Catholicism.

Interesting primary source research here, but conclusions are very weak; e.g., “they died.” Posits that the later term “Redleg”, used in Barbados, may be a reference to the tendency of the Irish to sunburn, and later associated with their offspring. This term also shows up in South Carolina to refer to those of mixed blood—explanation is plausible, because many Barbadans relocated to South Carolina. Back to the question “So what and who cares?” Meaning: what is the significance of this information, what insights does it lead to, and what implications might it carry for other scholars’ research on related topics?

Scholar #2

“Why Were So Many of My Black Classmates Named Mac-Something?: Afro-Celtic Culture in the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina and the Cape Fear Region of North Carolina.”

She grew up in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, and there seem to be similarities b/w this and Cape Fear. She is speaking from her own experience, very impromptu, and mostly talking about her home town and experience.

Cites jazz musician Willie Ruff on parallels between African-American and Anglo-Scottish music practices, including hymn singing and improvisation (call-and-response, “lining out”, etc). Not very well-informed about musical practices or the actual facts of interaction b/w Anglo-Celts and African-Americans. Digresses to speaking about street names and the persons after whom they were named. She presents some interesting anecdotal/biographical information about interplay b/w historically black and historically “Scotch-Irish” neighborhoods. Interesting historical fact that Carolinian planters advertised in European newspapers to persuade “drains” (e.g., poor working- or peasant-class people) to immigrate to America. Influx of Scottish Highlanders and French Huguenots (note that both these groups are religious dissidents).

Question: why assume that black families with Scots-Irish names acquired those names early on? Surely this could also be the outgrowth of slavery days: white masters giving their names to offspring they had fathered on black women? If that’s not the case, evidence is absent.

Insofar as there is a point here, it’s that genealogical techniques can be employed to discover some interesting patterns of intermarriage.

A few interesting primary facts:

Ulster Scots from 1660s into Charleston Harbor

Presbyterian Scots Lowlanders from 1720s

Scottish Highlanders from 1730s: note Argyll colony of Lowlanders, already settled

Next session is mine at 9:30; will add a post-mortem.

Podcast 01 up

2006-02-13T06:09:00.000-08:00

Folks:

See header. Over on WebCT, under "Course Menu" you'll now find a new link to "Podcasts." These are numbered, labelled mp3 files which you can listen to online (just follow the directions and click on the link) or download to your own computer/mp3-player (follow directions and right-click on the link).

I'd welcome your feedback--PARTICULARLY as regards topics you'd like me to address. If there is something you'd like to hear more about, or a topic I haven't mentioned in class but in which you're interested, please feel free to post a request for that topic under "Comments" HERE *on the blog*.

cjs

Ch 5 in Passing the Time

2006-02-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

I meant to post this earlier. I find it so fascinating how Glassie descibes perfection in the arts and culture. A perfect performance doesn't mean that the musician or story teller hits every note or memorizes every detail. Perfection is achieved when the contributor is able to show his/her audience that he/she cares enough about the material being presented to have invested their beings into it. The performance is just as meaningful, if not more, to the presenter as it is the the audience. Carson emphasizes a similar approach in LNF when he describes the traditional Irish musician is one who does not play by the book. Instead, they make the tunes they know their own while keeping the inheritance passed down to them.

my old friend Henry Glassie at a rally in Bloomington!

2006-02-06T15:38:00.000-08:00

Click here

Inishbofin (island) session weekend

2006-02-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

How a single evening's session becomes a whole weekend.

Fun site: photos from around 2005 Irish music festivals

2006-02-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

"Fleadh" = "festival" in Irish. Check it out.

Commenting on comments thus far

2006-01-30T10:41:00.000-08:00

Folks:

Here are a few preliminary reactions to your comments on the readings thus far. Keep in mind that each student is asked to read and respond with at least 1 comment per reading by Thursday class.

On the Glassie ("Reading I"):

At 11:29 PM, Michelle mentions the orthography of Hugh Nolan's story. As you all know, in scholarly writing, one is expected to cite one's sources using double-quotes, block-quotes, and footnotes, and to quote them accurately. In what way might Glassie's orthography similarly be considered "accurate citation", and what additional/non-verbal information might it convey?

At 10:34 PM, Valerie alludes to ways in which Glassie "composes each quoted line as if it were poetry." Is he possibly making a comment not only about Nolan's presentation but more broadly about how speech is understood and valued in an Irish rural context?

At 7:02 PM, Amber "storytelling is an art all of its own" and makes some distinctions b/w written and oral storytelling. What are those distinctions and why might this "distinct art form" be especially valued in an Irish rural context?

At 8:17 PM, taiyo makes analogies between the sharing of stories and the sharing of tunes. What are the elements of both which may be lost in transcribing to the page? And, what mechanisms does the culture maintain in order that these elements are not lost?

At 10:17 PM, Esther makes a useful comment about how Glassie's orthography "slows the reader down." Do you think this is intentional? If so, what change in the reader's reception of the text might such a slowdown make possible? At 10:31 PM, Esther added an observation about patterns in the transcriptions; to what does she connect these patterns; and, do you agree with her?

At 12:18 PM, Alex commented both on the orthography and also on the density/difficulty of Glassie's prose style. What kinds of suggestions do you think can help us "read past" the difficulties and understand why Glassie might make certain stylistic choices?

On Reading II (Carson, "Ask My Father"):

At 10:59 PM, Michelle commented on borrowed words and tunes, and points out Carson's observation that "names [...]not only help to summon the tune into being, but recall other times and other places where [it] was played." What kinds of personal, autobiographical, social, and community "recollections" might tunes or words provoke? And how might this serve the community?

At 10:33 PM, Valerie commented on different names, and the way that versions of names and of tunes differ amongst different people. What is the relationship here between "culture received" (that is, words or tunes learned from someone else) and "culture personalized" (that is, putting one's own stamp on those words or tunes)?

At 6:45 PM, taiyo commented on the community which sharing, and, especially, exchanging words or tunes make possible.

At 7:36 PM, Amber makes a nice connection between the personal relationships of those sharing tunes and similar relationships of those sharing stories, and also comments on personal variation (see my questions just above).

At 12:38 PM, Alex has some very good observations about "ownership and sharing." In the case of a repertoire passed down to a community from anonymous authors, who "owns" the tune or the story? If the concept of "personal ownership" of the cultural artifact is removed, how does that change a community's sense of its shared "common property"? (Remind me to speak in class about "concepts of the Commons."

On Reading III (O hAllmhurain):

At 10:21 PM, Michelle commented on the power of music and language to share and spread ideas and opinions. Why much such sharing and spreading threaten invaders?

At 10:30 PM, Valerie also commented on a sense of "pride and community" that language and music present, and the ways in which this might in turn threaten an invader's control. As Valerie puts it "a united body of Irish people represented a more real danger than a handful of scattered farmers." We will see many political activists throughout Irish history using music and language to create just this sort of unity.

At 5:47 PM, taiyo has good comments about ways in which medieval respect for music and musicians still remains in some Irish contexts.

At 1:34 AM, Amber also comments on the ways in which suppressing music and language helped invaders control the Irish population. She also has a very apt comment on the ways in which removing a people's sense of cultural identity makes it easier to "re-program" them into another way of life. Can you think of other colonial situations in which an indigenous culture was suppressed in order to make its people easier to control?

At 12:48 PM, Alex puts it very well: "[Culture] is the most difficult thing for any invader to conquer and is typically the last thing a victorious invading force gets rid of."

Reading IV (Altramar liner notes):

At 12:32 AM, Michelle links medieval and modern concepts of "music as sacred sound" and quotes Altramar' s goal as being the recreation of "the sound, the impact, and the affect of these great works of sung poetry." Is this consistent with the (above-cited) idea of "making the music one's own"? Can you reconcile these two seemingly contradictory goals?

At 10:32 PM, Valerie lists the three categories of music.

At 6:00 PM, taiyo links these categories to nature and to magic. What do these links tell us about music, sound, nature, and the supernatural in the ancient Celtic world (and what aspects of these beliefs carried over into the Christian era?).

At 11:51 PM, Amber has good examples of modern circumstances in which music is still used to create community.

anniversary of Bloody Sunday

2006-01-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

This blog post commemorates the 34th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Derry, when a peace march supporting Civil Rights in that Northern Ireland city was fired upon by British soldiers and a number of people were killed. Like the shootings at Kent State and Jackson State in the States in the same period, these were tragedies that occurred when large numbers of non-violent protesters were confronted by armed soldiers who were unfairly and unrealistically ordered to do crowd-control. Also as with the Kent and Jackson States shootings, no charges were ever filed.

There's a fine film in quasi-documentary style about Bloody Sunday.

This event gets at something significant in all periods of Irish history ever since first colonization (by the Vikings, if we want to go back that far): that the gulf between "haves" and "have-nots" has too often been accomampanied by a kind of "zero-sum" game, in which each opposing side operates from a presumption that any gain by the other side means one's own side has lost something. In other words, in Irish sectarian and economic politics, too often there has been a tragic unwillingness to seek "win-win" situations--say, for example, peace, in which both sides gain--or to regret "lose-lose" situations--say, for example, violence, in which both sides ultimately suffer. So "peace and reconciliation" is a very hard job that often has mostly to do with re-educating people. This is why peace initiatives that work in Ireland have often targetted very young children: for example, by funding sending poor Catholic and Protestant children to summer camps together, and so on.

Sesame S

2006-01-28T17:27:00.000-08:00

An American charity is footing the bill for Sesame Street to produce 26 episodes aimed at countering the development of "sectarian" (e.g., "Protestant versus Catholic") attitudes in Northern Ireland.

Due 1.31.06 9:20am: Reading IV Altramar liner notes

2006-01-26T11:50:00.001-08:00

As described in class and on WebCT, you are asked to respond via the "Comments" function to ONE of the questions about the reading. Please complete this "Comment" response to one of the following questions by Tuesday 1.31.06 9:20am.

Readings packet: Liner notes to the Altramar CDs Crossroads of the Celts (focusing on music of the insular Celtic languages: that is: Welsh, Scots Gaelic, and Irish Gaelic; in other words, primarily pre- and very early-Christian music) and From Galway to Galicia (focusing on music of the “Atlantic Celtic” coastal culture); these notes roughly parallel the time period covered by Ó hAllmhuráin, above.

What was the role of sound in ancient Celtic society? What were music’s powers?
To what categories did the Celts assign music?
To what extent did these beliefs about the spoken word, the memory, and “music as sacred sound” carry on into the more recent folk-music tradition?

Due 1.31.06 9:20am: Reading III Ó hAllmhuráin

2006-01-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

Ó hAllmhuráin: 25-46 “Music in Early and Mediaeval Ireland” and “Tudor and Stuart Ireland”

These chapters pick up the history of music in Ireland from approximately the time of the Fianna (after 100AD), where our history lecture left off.

What aspects of very early Celtic esthetics seem to have been maintained in later periods: about music’s power, about musician’s role, about the treatment of musicians, about music’s job in retaining cultural history and cultural identity?
Note the dates and the protagonists of the various English invasions, note the response of the invaders to music and language, and ask yourself why invaders saw music and language as such severe potential threats.

Due 1.31.06 9:20am: Reading II "Ask My Father"

2006-01-26T11:49:00.000-08:00

Carson: “Ask My Father”

“AMF” is essentially about language: about dialog, and about the dialogs that the particularly evocative titles of instrumental tunes can create. He includes extensive quotations from several other authors in this chapter: in fact, as many words in the chapter are written by others as are written by Carson himself.

Does this somehow relate to the theme of this chapter?
What is the relationship between words that are borrowed from other authors and tunes that are learned by ear from other musicians?
How might this concept of “ownership and sharing” relate to or differ from more formal or individual-oriented concepts of ownership?

Due 1.31.06 9:20am: Reading I

2006-01-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

Folks:

As described in class and on WebCT, you are asked to respond via the "Comments" function to ONE of the questions about the reading. Please complete this "Comment" response to one of the following questions by Tuesday 1.31.06 9:20am.

Glassie: Ch. 4 “The Next Day”

We spoke in class about "history" as it works in an oral culture; refer to your class notes on that discussion. In addition, please respond on the blog with 1 comment to at least 1 of the following questions (e.g., pick 1 of the following questions and post 1 comment containing your response):

"Also in this chapter, we get extended examples of Glassie’s method for transcribing (e.g., capturing on the page) “oral history”—that is, history which is conveyed in speech and conversation."

What specific orthographic (e.g., structure, grammar, and writing style) choices does Glassie make in these transcriptions? And why do you think he makes them?
What are the advantages to the rather peculiar orthography which Glassie employs?

nice new "young persons'" site from Ireland

2006-01-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

Interesting commentary on social life, politics, religion, and various other pretty-darned-explosive-to-the-Irish topics.

if you're having trouble fine-tuning the research proposal

2006-01-22T07:24:00.000-08:00

Folks:

See header. If you're having trouble fine-tuning your research proposal, let me suggest a couple of strategies that may help jump-start ideas:

(1) Go to the blog and read the various comments and self-descriptions of classmates that I posted. Look especially at the comments and descriptions of those people whose key interests seem to be similar to your own;

(2) Browse through our reading packet and look at the different kinds of topics AND approaches by the various authors: music, dance, song, food, genealogy, place names, language, storytelling, etc; if you find topics that are interesting, read the articles, run web-searches, look in our TTU library database, and find out more;

(3) Visit Wikipedia.org and browse the various topics related to Ireland;

(4) Visit the online magazine "Musical Traditions" and browse their (often very detailed) articles, which also often include images and sound files.

(5) Feel free to post a query or request for ideas to the blog, including whatever thoughts you've already had but also asking for additional feedback--that way, not only I but also classmates can bounce thoughts around.

One student's research idea and CJS response

2006-01-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

Jordan wrote:
I was considering conducting my research on the differences between
regional musical styles. I've looked into it online, and I think it
would be a good topic, but I'd like to make sure the differences between
the regional styles are large enough to compare and contrast. From what
I've read, I think they are, but I'm just making sure.

CJS replied:
Yes, there certainly are contrasts b/w different regional styles,
particularly as regards certain instruments, most notably the fiddle:
Sligo fiddling is very different from Donegal fiddling which is in turn
very different from Clare fiddling. The differences are nearly as
evident b/w regional flute styles or "accents", but less pronounced with
piping styles (pipes, flute, and fiddle are the core instruments in the
tradition). Could you find ways to tie these researched contrasts to
other factors, like regional linguistic accent, topography, contrasts of
regional lifestyles or professions, history, and so on? (I think yes).

I'm taking the liberty of posting your query and this reponse to the
blog, as it's a good idea and one which others may be able to spin off
from (though of course you have first dibs on this particular issue).

Cool people, shared interests

2006-01-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

Folks:

Nice responses on the "partner portraits"! I'm posting a chart I made just to help myself recognize various persons' shared interests. By all means read these offer, click on the links, and think about ways in which one or more of your own interests might overlap or collaborate with those of colleagues. Remember that you are very free (in fact very much encouraged) to collaborate, share interests, combine research or performance presentations, and so on. Let me urge you to be in touch with one another and help one another brainstorm ideas.

The chart's below. Am also posting to WebCT (look under "Materials - Week 02 - Links") so you can download if you wish to do so.

Slan.

Blog profiles and shared interests

Name

Self introduction and portrait by partner(s)

Initial areas of interest expressed

Shannon

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/another-shot-at-pre-first-assignment.html

http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/preliminary-assignment.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/looking-into-shannons-eyes.html

Genealogy, food, folkways, music,

Becky

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/its-all-mystery-to-me.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/nicks-partner-intro.html

Catholicism/religion, storytelling, dance, rural life

Nick

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/do-you-have-song-to-sing.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/nicks-partner-intro.html

Community, participation, music

Jordan

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/pre-first-assignment.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/impressions-of-partners-jordan-and.html

Poetry, genealogy, music, “crack” (enjoyable social interaction)

Valerie

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/my-first-real-session-experience.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/little-about-valerie-little-about.html

http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-response.html

Horses; storytelling; culture, music

Esther

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/harmony-realized-amidst-tribulation.html

http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/part-3-why-ireland.html

http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/poem-open-rose.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/introduction-of-esther.html

Dance, religion, culture

Taiyo

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/introduction-of-esther.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/session-and-beyond.html

Music, society, many cultural aspects

Sarai

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/koffee-kup-on-slide-road-seems-like.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-intro.html

Ethnography, dance, photography, music

Lauren

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/my-first-real-session-experience.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/laurens-partner-intro.html

Instrumental music, community, social contexts

Michelle

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/this-is-picture-of-horse-drawn-milk.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/impressions-of-partners-jordan-and.html

http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-response.html

Literature, poetry, verbal/oral art, photography

Ash

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/grab-mug-and-enjoy-company.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/robin-and-ashley.html

http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/ash-and-robin.html

Language; ballads, sessions, genealogy

Ashley

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/swim-anyone.html

http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/pre-class-assignment.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/robin-and-ashley.html

Instrumental music; pub life and musical community

Robin

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/pre-assignment_11.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/robin-and-ashley.html

http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/ash-and-robin.html

Horses, nature knowledge, natural environment

Abi

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/preassignment-ramblings.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/robin-and-ashley.html

Very wide, but includes many aspects of music and culture

Kelli

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/giants-causeway.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-intro-kelli.html

Travel, friends, history, music, folktales, legend cycles?

Eric

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/just-bit-of-good-fun.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-intro-eric.html

Music, culture, sessions, community, artistic intensity

Amber

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/story-to-tell.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/ambers-partner-intro.html

Folktale, folk process, folklore as history and cultural identity

Prathibha

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/irish-culture.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-assignment.html

participation; Celtic spirituality; cross-cultural elements

Ames2007

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/introductory-assignment_10.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-intro_18.html

Fishing; nature lore; genealogy; music; legend cycles? Catholicism

Alex

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/sailing-poetry-and-culture.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-intro-alex.html

Narrative, folktale, seafaring; N European culture; voyage epics?

Ryan

Self: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/intoductory-assignment.html

Partners: http://hons3304.blogspot.com/2006/01/partner-intro-ryan.html

Polytheism, nature knowledge, song, genealogy; place names

Partner Intro - Ryan

2006-01-19T11:53:00.000-08:00

The image Ryan selected is a picture of what looks like an inlet somewhere on the island. Inlet or not, it is a beautiful picture. Although Ryan does not describe where the picture was taken, he does make a very important point. The entire island is full of beautiful landscapes that have inspired a countless number of people throughout history. It almost seems like the island has a sort of magical quality to it. From the picture alone, I believe that Ryan feels that Ireland is a lovely place with some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world located on it.

Ryan chose to use the poem "Our Weeping Island" by Elizabeth O'Hylan in his blog. The poem seems to focus on a recent battle that involved a majority of the island. The battle is not described, only the results of it. It is similar to several Norse poems I have read but it has some qualities that are not Nordic (which I am assuming to be Celtic). Ryan says he chose this poem because he wants to know more about Celtic traditions and their unique pagan religion.

Ryan is taking this class because he has Irish ancestors and a large interest in Celtic and Irish history, society, and culture. By taking this class, Ryan hopes to learn more about his Irish ancestry as well as how Ireland's culture has developed. From his blog I also believe he is rather interested in Irish music.

Becky

2006-01-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

Becky’s post included a photo of an abandoned church on the coast of Ireland, the lyrics of a song by Thomas Moore called “The Last Rose of Summer”, and a very in depth description of what interests her about Ireland. She notes that the picture of the church is very old, “older than America”, which she finds to be particularly interesting because of her fascination with people and cultures. In describing the lyrics of Moore’s song, Becky comments that the longing for relationship in the song is a desire for color in one’s life, another reflection of her interest in people and their interaction with each other. She explains her desire to learn about Ireland because of genealogical reasons, because of her hope to gain knowledge of other cultures, and because of a curious fascination with the Irish (what she feels may be a curious fascination). Her post did an excellent job of allowing the reader to understand her motives.

Partner(s) Intro

2006-01-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

Ashley (Ashley on BLOG)

Ashley has had the opportunity to visit Ireland and encounter first-hand the fun-loving Irish culture. It appears there is much to see and do throughout the country and many of the locals are free-spirited and definitely enjoy a good time. Furthermore, she went to Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day, a major holiday and reason to “live it up”. Ashley has an Irish heritage and hopes to learn about the country that she has roots in, no matter the depth. During her visit to Ireland, she was awestruck by the beauty of the countryside and the hospitality of the Irish, and looks forward to her return visit.

I love the picture she selected of the Irish coastline, it shows the rugged beauty while also showing the lush green pastures. I have heard the green countryside of Ireland is hard to imagine, because the color is so lush. The writing excerpt selected is a classic piece that illustrates the fun-loving culture and easygoing attitude of the Irish, something I look forward to encountering.

Ashley (Ash on BLOG)

Ashley looks forward to learning about the Irish culture – the language, the history, the music, and the dance. Much of her interest comes from encounters with others who have a connection with the country. She has family that currently lives in Ireland and has met people that speak the Irish language. The difference in Gaelic and the languages we are accustomed to hearing in America (Spanish, German, French…) is another fascination. Ashley has an Irish heritage, and naturally wants to learn about her family’s background.
Ashley is interested in art and chose a painting of a historic swim in the Dublin River. She appreciates the painting and sees all angles of the piece. Ashley chose the excerpt of Danny Boy. This is a very popular and well-known Irish song that can be recognized by almost anyone who has any knowledge of Irish music.

Partner Intro- Kelli

2006-01-18T23:06:00.000-08:00

Kelli chose a picture of the Giant’s Causeway and she included a short description including part of the myth behind the location. I think picking this picture shows that Kelli really enjoys the myths and folk tale aspect of Irish culture. Of course reading on further she says out right that what fascinates her is the “folklore and fantasy side of Ireland” but this picture also reveals her interest. She chose a Yeats selection which I found very interesting and also noticed that once again she went with the story/folklore aspect of Irish culture. Irish folklore definitely has a strong appeal to Kelli evidenced by her interest in Yeats and the fact that she already knows Irish myth and history. However, I believe the main reason she is taking this class, and in this we are the same, is to learn Irish traditional music. She mentions having been to a few of Dr. Smith’s sessions and I can identify with the desire to want more of this aspect of Irish culture that as outsiders we hear about and watch from a distance but do not often get the opportunity to get involved.

Partner Intro - Eric

2006-01-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

Eric’s blog entry really interested me. He states that while he is interested in Ireland’s rich history and beautiful scenery, what captivates him the most is the traditional pub life and music. The picture he chose is of a group of musicians in a pub in Dingle, Co. Kerry, which supports this. Also, his writing excerpt was by the band Flogging Molly. He says he chose it because it is reflective of the band members’ childhood spent in pubs. Eric likes the idea of the sense of community people get from such a lifestyle. Flogging Molly’s Rock/Trad Hybrid music was able to reach out to Eric in such a way that he feels connected to such a community just from listening to it. I actually feel like I have something in common with Eric in this aspect. He didn’t grow up being exposed to traditional Irish music and has a strong desire to pry his way into that world and, to quote him, “earn the right” to say that he is passionate about Irish culture. I feel this way sometimes, too. People who play traditional music or do Irish dance are already in a community with each other. To say you feel strongly for something when you’re not a member of the community is kind of awkward. At first, I was a little surprised to see a Flogging Molly song posted on the board, but I completely understand why he used it. Because of their pop-culture influence and their knowledge of Irish trad, they are able to bring completely new audiences to the genre because they relate it to something that more young people (especially in the States) understand. Eric has obviously made this connection.

Partner Intro - Alex

2006-01-18T19:41:00.000-08:00

After reading Alex’s blog post he seems to be the kind of man who wants to know as much as he can about the cultures and history of other countries. He has taken courses covering the history of Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, and Iceland. He is taking this class to further his knowledge of Ireland and its history, oh and the trip was a selling point as well. Alex also has an interest in boating; for his blog he chose a picture of a Galway Hooker, for more information on this boat read his blog, and expressed his interest in learning more about them or even riding one when we go to

Ireland

Partner response

2006-01-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

Michelle’s picture and her commentary show me that she is interested in different types of people. She contrasts the man looking on with the milk man; what traditions do the different men have? It is as if she is interested in how the two men react to certain stimuli from very different cultures, and how that would influence their day to day lives. This same idea is present in her commentary on the Yeats poem; she has a respect for the way different cultures live (Ireland’s simplicity, in this case). Although it is a goal that we all share, it seems to me that Michelle’s primary goal is to learn first hand, instead of out of a book from a teacher who knows little about the core of the subject.

Valerie’s picture of the Kylemore Abbey highlights the Catholic and Protestant conflict in Ireland. She seems to want to identify on a higher level with the Irish themselves; her commentary on her chosen writing excerpt, “The Easter Proclamation”, leads me to believe that she still has many questions about the conflicts with the United Kingdom and about the culture of the people themselves. She notes her interest in the superstitions and ghost stories of the Irish people, but it is more likely that Valerie seeks knowledge of the Irish background and the things they hold sacred, including their history, culture, and music.

A little about Valerie, a little about Jordan...

2006-01-18T18:43:00.000-08:00

Valerie

Valerie made some very interesting comments in her blog. Basically, she seems to be most intrigued by the ancient culture and history of Ireland. One of her goals is to put forth her best effort to study the clash between the Catholic and Protestant, Pagan and Christian, and natives and immigrants of Irish culture. The picture that she chose of Kylemore Abbey is very appropriate, because it illustrates what she wants to explore in the duration of this class. In addition, the writing excerpt of The Easter Proclamation is also demonstrative of her interests. This excerpt reflects an important part of Irish history; a part of history that Valerie is eager to explore in more depth. Valerie’s entry wet my curiosity. I have no real knowledge of the conflicts in Irish history, but I would like to learn more about them. I believe that the picture and the writing excerpt that she chose are good sources to portray a small bit of Irish culture. I am able to connect with her in the way that history itself appeals to each of us. I am also “taken in by the ghost stories, mythical characters, and superstition” of Ireland.

Jordan

Jordan also made some very interesting comments as well. For the most part, he is mainly focused on learning about Irish culture as a whole. One of his goals is to learn more about his “roots” and connect with the heritage of his family. For the caption of his picture, Jordan said that “although it is possible that I have a stereotypical view of Ireland, I have always thought that the Irish love to have a good time.” This is somewhat similar to what I sometimes think about Irish culture as well. The picture of the pub illustrates Jordan’s visualization of Ireland—the community inside and outside of the pub itself. For his writing excerpt, Jordan chose “Easter Day” written by Oscar Wilde. I am not familiar with this poem, but I was moved in the same way that Jordan was, perhaps. He chose this poem based on the images that it evoked in him, and I have to agree with him. Basically, the main point that he makes is that he wants to learn more about Ireland to draw connections with his roots. He points out that Irish culture isn’t normally a topic that is explored in depth, so this is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a class like this.

Looking into Shannon's Eyes

2006-01-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

Shannon chose a picture of a small, warm, inviting home surrounded by green shrubs, grass, and trees. It is a beautiful picture that reminds me of the openness that is associated with the Irish culture. She notes that it reminds her of a picture that she has seen of her great-grandfather’s house in Ireland. Her comparison of the two pictures makes me all the more curious about my ancestors that came from Ireland and what their houses looked like. Shannon includes a poem called “An Irish Airman Forsees His Death” by William Butler Yeats. She says that she chose it because, in addition to Yeats being one of her favorite poets, she is struck by the emotion and nationalism that is defined in this poem. I think in her choice of written work, Shannon shows her interest to obtain a better understanding of the Irish people in general. We all have our stereotypes of what we think makes up this culture, but there is so much more to the people that live there. They have seen hardship and poverty, and it is these times that have made the land and the people so rich with culture and tradition. I think this interest is also reflected in her personal statement. While growing up, Shannon has heard many stories of Ireland that have painted an image of the culture and people in her mind. I think she may wonder if she has painted a fairytale land or a fairly accurate depiction of life in this country. I know that Shannon is a music major and plays the flute because we met at the Tech Band and Orchestra Camp a few summers ago, so it came as no surprise that Irish music especially catches her interest. I do not know Shannon very well, but I think this will be a great common interest to start to get to know each other much better.

Classmate Introduction

2006-01-18T17:45:00.000-08:00

From her description of the image she took, I sense that Corey is intensely inquisitive. She always yearns to learn more, and will always use her previous knowledge to speculate and figure out what lies beyond the text or the image at hand. Corey wants to know the full context. Judging from the image she selected, Corey is also concerned with being accurate and true to what she studies. Corey seems to deeply appreciate the true meaning or goal behind everything. She isn’t one for mainstream or popular fads, but knows what she likes and sticks to it. Corey greatly appreciates art and nature. The influence of the modern, commercial world is something that ruins a beautiful and meditative scene and environment for Corey. She enjoys finding and expressing emotion through music and the simplest things found throughout Ireland. Corey wants to explore cultures and customs outside of American in her constant quest for further learning.