So, I’m married to an Irishman. How Irish, you ask? Well, our last name starts with a vowel, includes an apostrophe and the pronounciation is mangled almost daily. If you sat my Father in Law in a pub in County Clare, you’d take him for a local. Matter of fact, that’s where “his people” are from. (We know this because they’ve traced it back…WAYYYYY back.)
We have actual Irish friends, too – some living in Dublin and one recently moved from there to Canada. They’ve informed me that this “St. Paddy’s Day” celebration we have here is “absolute bollocks”, “total shite”, and bordering on racist.
(Granted – I had asked Greg to say “They’re always after me Lucky Charms!” just before he said this, so perhaps I was a wee bit responsible for that particular rant…ahem…)
Well that may be…but it’s a damn good excuse to drink and have fun, which is precisely what I plan to do at a St. Paddy’s Day Parade this Saturday. Since we gave our son a first name that’s just as Irish as his last name, I sort of feel responsible to immerse him in all the fun that his heritage can offer.
And, really – why the hell not?
(I plan to do the same for my Italian side – seriously, how much fun is he going to have stomping grapes? But, I digress.)
I randomly grabbed some Irish tunes in honor of the occasion.
**Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers are legend.
**The Chieftain’s Rocky Road to Dublin is considered by my hubs to be the consummate Irish song.
**The Pogues & Shane McGowan can do very little wrong in my book.
**The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan’s voice gives me chills, and this live, acoustic version of Zombie? Love.
**Sinead O’Connor is a weird wench, no question…and, as a Catholic, I’m probably supposed to hate her. Meh. She kills it on this song.
**Dropkick Murphys are a little much, but in small doses I dig them.
**The Saw Doctors…dude, I love the Saw Doctors. Thanks again, Greg!
**Flogging Molly is awesome – they’re the bedrock of my housecleaning music. I dare you not to move to these.
There’s lots more, but this is a good start to getting into the mood for the holiday. So, hoist a pint, thank the good Saint for taking care of those devilish snakes and dance a few jigs. It’s good for the soul.
Erin Go Braugh, and God Bless the Irish! (…and the “Irish-by-Marriage”…)
My three favorite Christmas Songs, for your holiday enjoyment.
I’m nothing if not diverse…
1. Pueri Concinite: Jean Baptiste Maunier and the Vienna Boys Choir
(Go ahead – don’t get chills. I double dog dare you. I’m just sayin’…)
Lyrics in Latin:
Pueri concinite Nato regi psallite Voce pia dicite Apparuit quem genuit Maria Sum implenta quae praedixit Gabriel Eia, Eia, virgo Deum genuit Quem divina voluit clementia Hodie apparuit Apparuit in Israel Ex Maria virgine natus est Rex!
Lyrics in English:
Sing together, children, sing songs to the newborn King; in pious tones, say: He who was born of Mary appears. Now we see fulfilled the word of Gabriel: Eya, eya! The Virgin has given birth to God, As the divine mercy willed.
2. Merry Christmas from the Family: Robert Earl Keen
(Lest anyone be confused…THIS is the original. Robert Earl Keen wrote it. The Dixie Chicks, Jill Sobule, Montgomery Gentry and whoever else desecrated this gem with “covers” should be patently ignored.)
3. Fairytale of New York: The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl
I can’t hear this without singing the chorus at the top of my lungs. (Usually followed by beer. Often preceded by beer too.) RIP, Kirsty. Happy Christmas, Shane.
