The Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway is a group of unusually shaped rocks on the coast of Northern Ireland, which were formed by a flow of lava into the sea. It was declared a Word Heritage in 1986.

As we know Ireland is a country full of mystical legends and of course there is one about the Giant's Causeway.

It is said that Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) built the Causeway to walk to Scotland in order to fight his Scottish opponent Benandonner. There are two versions of this legend.

One is that Finn McCool fell asleep before he went to Scotland. As a consequence the more powerful Benandonner crossed the bridge looking for him. Oonagh, Fionn’s wife, wanted to protect her hunsband and laid a blanket over him. Moreover, she pretented he was Fionn’s baby son. As you can imagine Benandonner saw the enourmous size of the baby and pictured Fionn as gigantic and unconquerable.

Another version is that Fionn begged his wife to disguise him as a baby after seeing Benandonner.

However, in both versions Benandonner left Nothern Ireland scared. To make sure that Fionn wouldn’t follow him, he splitted up the Causeway.

So, do you believe it :)???

How rich is Ireland?

The rapid economic growth, known as Celtic Tiger, in the Republic of Ireland began in the 1990s and ended in 2001/2002. In this period Ireland transformed into one of Europe’s wealthiest countries. This entry is aimed at examining the current situation. For further particulars read the Sunday Times Rich List.

The Sunday Times has published a Rich List a few days ago. A quick glance at this list will prove that Ireland is still a wealthy country. To get into the top 250 of Ireland’s richest people you need to have at least €32 million. An estimation showed that there are about 20,000 millionaires in the country. (total population 4,234,925). They also have seven billionaires in their midst.

For further information follow this link:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/article1690085.ece

Driving in Ireland

Another topic mentioned in Jaywalking with the Irish is driving in Ireland. Americans find Irish roads dangerous and slow, so here are some facts.

Firstly, Ireland’s roads are not appropriate for the volume of traffic they carry. Although new roads are built throughout the country and existing ones are being improved it will be some time before they reach a tolerable international standard.

Secondly, the roads are narrow; moreover, there is little or no hard shoulder (the area at the side of a big road where you are allowed to stop if you have a problem with your car). Another problem is that the verges (the edge of a road) encroach onto the road, which is a huge safety problem.

If you happen to be driving in Ireland and you see sings warning you of curved parts of a road, pay attention, they really mean it. Major hazards in Ireland are locals, who knowing the roads very well, drive them at breakneck speed. Additionally, Ireland is an agricultural country, so you will come across agricultural machinery travelling at about 10 miles an hour, tempting you to overtake. Consequently keep in mind to drive slowly and with caution.

Putting aside the fact that Irish roads are narrow and winding, there is another threatening development. Believe it or not, about 40% of Irish drivers have never passed a driving test. For the most part they are driving legally on what is only supposed to be a provisional license. This regulation allows some to drive a car while accompanied in order to learn to drive, but people use to renew these licences regularly and drive as though on a full licence.

In short, the main hazards are widespread poor road conditions, drunk drivers, poor enforcement of traffic laws and unskilled drivers.

Flann O'Brien

(1911-1966)

Flann O’Brien, who was a humorous writer, was known under several names but his real name was Brian O'Nuallai (Nolan). He was born in County Tyrone, on 5 October 1911, as one of twelve brothers and sisters. Nevertheless, he grew up in Dublin and was a civil servant for eighteen years.

He was powerfully influenced by James Joyce and even attended the same college, University College Dublin. In the 1930s he began writing for the Irish Times under the name Myles na Gopaleen (Myles of the Small Horses). He also wrote a column for the Nationalist and Leinster Times but never used his real name.

O’Brien graduated with an MA in 1935. During his time at college he discovered a gift for debate, writing, editing and a love for drink (--> read the interview by Tim Pat Coogan).

Myles na gCopaleen or Myles na Gopaleen were the names he used when writing Irish novels and his newspaper columns. His English novels appeared under the name of Flann O’Brien.

His works, under the name Flann O’Brien, include:

-The Dalkey Archive

-The Hard Life: An Exegesis of Squalor

-The Third Policeman

-At Swim-Two-Birds

-An Béal Bocht (The Poor Mouth)

An interview with Flann O’Brien in 1964 by Tim Pat Coogan (after the publication of The Dalkey Archive)

The interview was carefully planned. Apart from getting him to talk, there was one other main objective: to keep O’Brien away from the drink. It was to take place at 8.30 on a Saturday morning so that he could be returned home before the pubs opened. But the wily O’Brien escaped the television crew’s vigilance. Disappearing to the toilet in his house when the camera man called for him, he was hauled out some twenty five minutes later, drunk as a lord. He had hidden a bottle of whisky in the cistern and downed the lot while the crew were eating breakfast. Somehow the interview went ahead – O’Brien demanding more drink as he rambled on – with the result that on the only surviving recording of his voice we hear a man slurring his words, obviously drunk. Praised by the producer as one of the “classics of Irish broadcasting,” it was unbroadcastable in 1960s Ireland and is hardly a fitting tribute to its subject.

For further imformaion:
http://www.necessaryprose.com/obrien.html
http://www.necessaryprose.com/obrien.html

The Easter Proclamation

Was a document issued by the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army.

Click on the picture to follow the link and see a more readable version.

Michael Collins

Irish Patriot (1890-1922)Commander-in-Chief, Irish Free State Army

Michel Collins is mentioned in the book related to the War of Independence. (Chapter Two, Page 26)




Michael Collins was born on 16 October 1890 near Sam's Cross, a small village in West Cork.

He attended national school at Lisavaird, where he had a close relationship with his schoolmaster, who was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. The purpose of this association was to oust the British from Ireland. Furthermore, this secret organisation wanted to strengthen the sense of pride of the Irish as a race. This principle held the greatest meaning for Michael Collins.

Michel spent nine years in London. Later on he became the first the secretary and then the president of the IRB.

In 1916 he returned to Dublin to be part of the planned revolt, Easter Rising, which was a military disaster. The IRB was not in the position to defend most of their prominent buildings, like the GPO (General Post Office). As a consequence of the war sixteen rebellion leaders were killed by the British troops, which resulted in a shift in the Irish public opinion. They felt anger at the British reaction. Therefore Black and Tans and the 'Auxies' were used by the British Army to spread fear throughout Ireland, which lead to more violence on both sides.

In 1917, he was elected to the Sinn Fein executive and by mid-1919 had been made President of the IRB Supreme Council. At the same time, he was Minister for Finance in the Dail government and the commander of the IRA.
In October 1921 Collins was sent to Ireland by Eamonn de Valera, who was a leading republican politician in Ireland, to negotiate a treaty. After three months it was decided, that Ireland could govern itself but remain within the British Empire. However, his actual goal was the full independence of Ireland.

"Yerra, they'll never shoot me in my own county", said Michael Collins. Nevertheless, he was killed on August 22nd, 1922 in Beal na mBlath in West Cork.

Additional Information:

• He had a love for older people and children.
  
• In 1920 he was wanted by the British and had a price of 10,000 stg. on his head.


• Provoked England to war.
  
• Collins believed that physical force was the only route to independence.

http://www2.cruzio.com/~sbarrett/mcollins.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/michael_collins.htm

‘Jaywalking With The Irish’

I am in Croatia as usual over our long Easter break. My grandparents live in an quite isolated town. Besides watching the cows crazing, there is nothing more I could do to while away the time. No shopping centres, cinemas, coffee shops, internet, friends J… However, my pastimes over the next few days will be reading and grammar.

Today I have started to read ‘Jaywalking With The Irish’ by David Monagan. Because of the fact that I was able to focus on reading the whole day I have managed to read the first ten chapters.

First of all, the book is full of vocabulary and phrases I have never heard before, but you will absolutely be able to follow his train of thoughts.

As all of us are supposed to read the book and additionally we will have presentations on JI, I am not going to sum up each chapter in detail. When reading a book I am in the habit of underlining facts I find interesting or information I would like to know more about.
On my blog you will be able to find, when following the link ‘Jaywalking With The Irish’, further information about several topics mentioned in the book, for example, Michael Collins, Driving in Ireland, Famine, Black and Tans etc.