Wee’ Book of
Ireland
By Timothy P. O’Neill
Hi, I’m Rory Patrick O’Neill at your service; let me show you around my home here in Ireland.
Ireland is an Island off England’s west coast separated only by the Irish Sea. It is roughly the size of Wisconsin when it comes to land mass but only has 4½ million citizens. Dublin is the Capital city and is also home to Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and the world famous Guinness Brewery.
This is the village square in Inistioge where my family is from and still lives today. For fun we do what you do! We play basketball, baseball, Soccer (well, we call it football) and American Football too.
Inistioge is the typical picturesque Irish village and has been used in two American Movies, “Circle of Friends” and “Widows Peak.” Maybe film people chose Inistioge for its history and natural beauty as it lies on the River Nore which flows all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
My Cousin hurls for Kilkenny County, the “Kings of Hurling.” Hurling is an Irish Sport with an Ancient Gaelic origin. It’s like Hockey but the puck has to be kept in the air when carried by the hurlers. It’s a wicked good time. It’s definitely the number one most popular sport in Ireland.
Ireland is known for is legends and Fairies. The Leprechaun, Dullahan, Pooka, Changelings, Grogochs, Merrow, and the Banshee are said to still roam our beautiful green Ireland. The Banshee appears only to warn members of certain Irish families that their death is near.
Saint Patrick came to us from Ireland as a slave from England, returned to England, and came back again to Ireland a Bishop for the Catholic Church. It is said he drove all the snakes from Ireland as our humble little island is still snake free. We celebrate a day dedicated to his honor every March 17.
Around 1845 Ireland was struck with the “Gorta Mor” or The Great Hunger. It is better known in the United States as The Potato Famine. The Potato was Ireland’s Primary source of food and about 1/3 of the Irish depended upon it to keep their families fed. But a disease struck the Potato plant about this time crippling the crop and causing 1,000,000 Irish men, women, and children to die and another 1,000,000 Irish to immigrate to the United States of America.
Some had come before but most came after the Potato Famine. Now more than 7 million Irishmen have left their native Ireland for America’s friendly shores.
Ireland’s Flag is often referred to as the Tri-Color. Each color stands for an important piece of Irish history. The Green stands for the Catholic Religion, the Orange for the Protestant Religion. The White stands for a lasting peace between the Green and the Orange.
I hope you’ve enjoyed our wee tour of Ireland. Drop 10 Euros in the can by the door on your way or I’ll send the banshee after ya’.