Every time I peel potatoes, I think of the Irish. I don't know why. Maybe it's the old stories about the Irish potato famine that I heard from my mother and my grandmother and have never forgotten. I like potatoes as much as the next person, and it's one of the most versatile root vegetables, but I can't imagine having a diet solely based on potatoes. I can't imagine if that were the case and the crop failed.
Everyone is Irish today, so I wanted to post a little tribute to a resilient people by sharing a list of common English words that come from the Irish. Credit goes to the Scottish for words like whiskey, loch, and clan, but according to Emma Taylor's article at Accredited Online Colleges, Scottish Gaelic grew out of Middle Irish. Thanks Emma. I didn't know that!
Check it out and amaze your friends with your knowledge of word origins whilst tipping back a pint (I can't do green either). And doesn't hooligan sound nicer than criminal? A hooligan can be almost charming. Haven't you ever wished that you'd said "yes" just once to that hooligan in your past?
Here's to the "water of life" and a day of fun with the hooligans in your present.
16 comments:
I have to agree with you on hooligan, it has a touch of the Irish wit and whimsy to it, although I think it was the actual family name of some tough guys.
A word I love is shenanigan. Are we up for some to that today? I think I'll stay home, out of the rain, and lift a pint to my ancestors.
I don't think hooligans are ever really bad; just mischievous non- conformists. Probably...
Tricia,
I love some shenanigans. I'm up for that! Why don't we lift a pint to our ancestors together?
Frances,
Right. And I love nothing more than a mischievous non-conformists. Happy St. Patty's Day.
I've always like the word hooligan! It's fun :) Have a great day!
happy st P's day! :)
Jemi,
Me too! Thanks for commenting.
Shelli,
And Happy St. Paddy's to you as well. It's way past happy hour and here I am, still drinking tea. Better get out there and see if I can stir up some shenanigans!
Aye, a charmin' wee post for St. Patty's Day that I read just as the day ended. My maternal grandmother was Scots-Irish, although I am still a bit confused about what that particular mixture is!
Lydia,
Thanks. Maybe she isn't sure either!
Over the last few weeks I've spent a lot of time contemplating a famine ship that went down off the coast of our town. A Celtic cross in the cemetery reminds us of the tragedy. A local man self-published a book trying to gather the history of the voyage the records were incomplete and conflicting...and I think of the almost 100 lives lost and the histories that changed as a result. It seemed like the right thing to have a simple family dinner last night...
Liza,
Thanks for commenting and sharing that story. I like walking through old cemeteries for just that reason. We're having the simple family dinner tonight.
I've said yes to a few hooligans. I only wish I'd done it more often! ;-)
Ann,
Oh! I love your comment! Thanks.
I am all for green beer, shamrock-coloured pancakes (or mash) and a good Irish tune or two, but in my neck of the woods the college students had a few too many draughts while celebrating and torched a neighbourhood. Those kind of hooligans we can do without. :(
Katherine,
Ouch. Those are the hooligans who give holigans a bad name. I've never had green pancakes. Thanks for commenting on my Irish post!
Funny, to my Irish is all about beer and nice music :-)
Pet,
Well, that too!
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