Irish Musicians
Frank Patterson
Known as "Ireland's Golden Tenor," Frank Patterson was born on October 5, 1938 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, and died June 10, 2000. During his lifetime, he gained international renown, singing for presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Patterson's music was also featured the films, The Dead, Miller's Crossing, Michael Collins, and Gangs of New York.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Irish Thought for April 29...
Irish Movies
The Eclipse
In the horror/thriller, a widower (Ciarán Hinds) living in an Irish town by the sea is convinced by a visiting horror novelist that the widower is surrounded by ghosts. The picturesque town of Cobh, Cork County, where the movie was filmed, supplies a gorgeously claustrophobic backdrop. Directed by Conor McPherson.
The Eclipse
In the horror/thriller, a widower (Ciarán Hinds) living in an Irish town by the sea is convinced by a visiting horror novelist that the widower is surrounded by ghosts. The picturesque town of Cobh, Cork County, where the movie was filmed, supplies a gorgeously claustrophobic backdrop. Directed by Conor McPherson.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Irish Thought for April 28...
Irish Proverbs
Good luck beats early rising.
I believe this is true. Unfortunately, such a rare number of us Irish have good luck that I would not be sleeping in any time soon.
Good luck beats early rising.
I believe this is true. Unfortunately, such a rare number of us Irish have good luck that I would not be sleeping in any time soon.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Irish Thought for April 27...
Irish Trivia
Historically, Ireland had set patterns for naming children. The first son was named after the father's father. The first daughter was named after the mother's mother. The second son was named after the mother's father. The second daughter was named after the father's mother. The third son was named after the father, and the third daughter after the mother. The fourth son was named after the father's oldest brother, while the fourth daughter was named after the mother's eldest sister.
Historically, Ireland had set patterns for naming children. The first son was named after the father's father. The first daughter was named after the mother's mother. The second son was named after the mother's father. The second daughter was named after the father's mother. The third son was named after the father, and the third daughter after the mother. The fourth son was named after the father's oldest brother, while the fourth daughter was named after the mother's eldest sister.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Irish Thought for April 26...
Quotations
No person knows better than you do that the domination of England is the sole and blighting curse of this country. It is the incubus (nightmare) that sits on our energies, stops the pulsation of the nation's heart, and leaves Ireland not gay vitality but horrid the convulsions of a troubled dream.
-Daniel O'Connell
No person knows better than you do that the domination of England is the sole and blighting curse of this country. It is the incubus (nightmare) that sits on our energies, stops the pulsation of the nation's heart, and leaves Ireland not gay vitality but horrid the convulsions of a troubled dream.
-Daniel O'Connell
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Irish Thought for April 24...
Limericks!
There was an Old Man of the West,
Who wore a pale plum-colored vest;
When they said, "Does it fit?"
He replied, "Not a bit!"
That uneasy Old Man of the West.
There was an Old Man of the West,
Who wore a pale plum-colored vest;
When they said, "Does it fit?"
He replied, "Not a bit!"
That uneasy Old Man of the West.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Irish Thought for April 23...
Irish Etymology
"Black Irish" : Irish people, noted for their medium skin tone and black hair and swarthy skin, descended from sailors of the Spanish Armada when two of their ships were wrecked off Spanish Point (County Clare) in 1588.
I wish I was Irish with darker colored skin. I am so pale white that you can see every poor from which my hair sprouts on my arms and legs. I am so pale white that my skin is often red and irritated looking. I am so pale white that if I spend time in the sun, I either stay ghostly white or turn into a tomato (there is no tan for me). That is pretty pale white if you ask me.
"Black Irish" : Irish people, noted for their medium skin tone and black hair and swarthy skin, descended from sailors of the Spanish Armada when two of their ships were wrecked off Spanish Point (County Clare) in 1588.
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| Spanish Point, County Clare |
Monday, April 22, 2013
Irish Thought for April 22...
Irish-American Celebrities
Kathy Griffin
An American actress, stand-up comedian, Emmy Award-winning television personality, best-selling author, and a LGBT rights advocate, Kathy Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episode of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan. She also starred in the Bravo reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, for which she has won two Emmy Awards as executive producer. She has also worked as a voice artist and red-carpet commentator, in addition to several other career pursuits. In 2008 and 2009 she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
I know her best for two things not mentioned above. 1. her sometimes infuriatingly, irritating voice and 2. her stint on an episode of The X-Files. It is Season 7 Episode 20. Pretty funny. You should check it out if you haven't seen it. You get a double dose of Kathy.
Kathy Griffin
An American actress, stand-up comedian, Emmy Award-winning television personality, best-selling author, and a LGBT rights advocate, Kathy Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episode of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan. She also starred in the Bravo reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, for which she has won two Emmy Awards as executive producer. She has also worked as a voice artist and red-carpet commentator, in addition to several other career pursuits. In 2008 and 2009 she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
I know her best for two things not mentioned above. 1. her sometimes infuriatingly, irritating voice and 2. her stint on an episode of The X-Files. It is Season 7 Episode 20. Pretty funny. You should check it out if you haven't seen it. You get a double dose of Kathy.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Irish Thought for April 21...
Irish Blessings
May the sons of your sons smile up in your face.
May the sons of your sons smile up in your face.
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| Something to remember when you are getting those smiles... |
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Irish Thought for April 20...
Irish-American Movies
The Brothers McMullen
After their good-for-nothing father dies and their mother leaves to be with her true love, three brothers are left with only each other as they struggle with their own romantic relationships. Starring Edward Burns, Mike McGlone, Jack Mulcahy. Directed by Edward Burns.
The Brothers McMullen
After their good-for-nothing father dies and their mother leaves to be with her true love, three brothers are left with only each other as they struggle with their own romantic relationships. Starring Edward Burns, Mike McGlone, Jack Mulcahy. Directed by Edward Burns.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Irish Thought for April 18...
Irish-American Heroes
After performing heroically in both World War I and World War II, William "Wild Bill" Donovan was instrumental in forming the CIA. He has become known as the "Father of American Intelligence."
After performing heroically in both World War I and World War II, William "Wild Bill" Donovan was instrumental in forming the CIA. He has become known as the "Father of American Intelligence."
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Irish Thought for April 17...
Irish Writers
Eoin Colfer
Born in Wexford, Eion (pronounced Owen) Colfer gained fame as the creator of the Artemis Fowl series of children's books. Colfer was also given permission to write the sixth book in the late Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, entitled And Another Thing..., which was published in October 2009.
Eoin Colfer
Born in Wexford, Eion (pronounced Owen) Colfer gained fame as the creator of the Artemis Fowl series of children's books. Colfer was also given permission to write the sixth book in the late Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, entitled And Another Thing..., which was published in October 2009.
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| Go enjoy some good reads! |
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Irish Thought for April 16...
Irish Symbols
Trinity Knot
Enduring since the sixth century, when it emerged as a motif on metal work, crosses, and architectural elements, the Trinity Knot, like the shamrock, represents the intertwined connections of the Holy Trinity, and symbolizes faith and devotion. It often adorns Celtic wedding and engagement rings.
Trinity Knot
Enduring since the sixth century, when it emerged as a motif on metal work, crosses, and architectural elements, the Trinity Knot, like the shamrock, represents the intertwined connections of the Holy Trinity, and symbolizes faith and devotion. It often adorns Celtic wedding and engagement rings.
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| This is the cross that I wear every day, keeping my faith close to my heart. |
Monday, April 15, 2013
Irish Thought for April 15...
Quotations
Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a best seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.
-Flannery O'Connor
My main problem with this quote is that many teachers are the ones who make us read those books which should have been prevented. I won't name names, but I love books. I love reading. However, I could name two books that I read for school and my intelligence suffered as a result.
Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a best seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.
-Flannery O'Connor
My main problem with this quote is that many teachers are the ones who make us read those books which should have been prevented. I won't name names, but I love books. I love reading. However, I could name two books that I read for school and my intelligence suffered as a result.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Irish Thought for April 14...
Irish Trivia
The only true fjord - a narrow, long inlet from the sea - in Ireland is Killary Bay, on the Mayo-Galway border.
The only true fjord - a narrow, long inlet from the sea - in Ireland is Killary Bay, on the Mayo-Galway border.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Irish Thought for April 13...
Irish Proverbs
Marry a mountain girl and you marry the whole mountain.
I'm glad no one told me husband this proverb. Switch mountain to Sullivan...the thought of marrying my entire family would have sent Alex running!
Marry a mountain girl and you marry the whole mountain.
I'm glad no one told me husband this proverb. Switch mountain to Sullivan...the thought of marrying my entire family would have sent Alex running!
Friday, April 12, 2013
Irish Thought for April 12...
Irish Food
Goody
Part of the traditional ritual midsummer celebration on St. John's Eve, goody was cooked in a large pot over a communal bonfire and share among the revelers. The dessert consisted of fresh white bread bought from a baker, was was boiled in milk flavored with sugar, cinnamon, and spices.
Goody
Part of the traditional ritual midsummer celebration on St. John's Eve, goody was cooked in a large pot over a communal bonfire and share among the revelers. The dessert consisted of fresh white bread bought from a baker, was was boiled in milk flavored with sugar, cinnamon, and spices.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Irish Thought for April 11...
Irish Musicians
Enya
Irish singer, composer, and musician Enya was born on May 17, 1961. Her musical career began in 1980 in her family's group, Clannad. Her solo music gained recognition in the 1986 BBC series The Celts, and her follow-up album Watermark, with its unique, ethereal sound, and its soaring single, "Orinoco Flow", propelled her to international fame. By 2001, Enya became Ireland's best-selling solo musician and the country's second-largest musical export. (Woo Hoo for U2!) Enya has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and earned four Grammy awards.
Enya
Irish singer, composer, and musician Enya was born on May 17, 1961. Her musical career began in 1980 in her family's group, Clannad. Her solo music gained recognition in the 1986 BBC series The Celts, and her follow-up album Watermark, with its unique, ethereal sound, and its soaring single, "Orinoco Flow", propelled her to international fame. By 2001, Enya became Ireland's best-selling solo musician and the country's second-largest musical export. (Woo Hoo for U2!) Enya has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and earned four Grammy awards.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Irish Thought for April 9...
Irish-American Artists
Georgia O'Keeffe
Receiving widespread recognition in her lifetime, Georgia O'Keeffe challenged the boundaries of modern American art and was celebrated for her technical skills. Known for her vibrantly colored paintings, including many large-scale works in which a flower was enlarged to overflow the canvas then abstracted to essential shapes. With strong Southwestern influences, O'Keeffe's other famous subjects included adobe buildings and farmhouses, desert panoramas, and cow skulls.
Georgia O'Keeffe
Receiving widespread recognition in her lifetime, Georgia O'Keeffe challenged the boundaries of modern American art and was celebrated for her technical skills. Known for her vibrantly colored paintings, including many large-scale works in which a flower was enlarged to overflow the canvas then abstracted to essential shapes. With strong Southwestern influences, O'Keeffe's other famous subjects included adobe buildings and farmhouses, desert panoramas, and cow skulls.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Irish Thought for April 8...
Limericks!
There was an Old Person of Basing,
Whose presence of mind was amazing;
He purchased a steed,
Which he rode at full speed,
And escaped from the people of Basing.
There was an Old Person of Basing,
Whose presence of mind was amazing;
He purchased a steed,
Which he rode at full speed,
And escaped from the people of Basing.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Irish Thought for April 6...
Irish-American Celebrities
Maureen O'Hara
Born as Maureen FitzSimons, O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. In 1946, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States. The famously redheaded O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with highly sensible attitudes. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne, and stared as the mother of a young Natalie Wood in 20th Century Fox's Miracle of 34th Street. She published her autobiography, 'Tis Herself in 2004.
My two favorites of her movies are Big Jake and The Quiet Man. I would recommend watching both if you have not seen them. They both are filled with humor and the passion of John Wayne and Maureen. She has said the following about herself in The Quiet Man and I agree that there are many moments that are captured in mind:
O'Hara: "I have often said that The Quiet Man is my personal favourite of all the pictures I have made. It is the one I am most proud of, and I tend to be very protective of it. I loved Mary Kate Danaher. I loved the hell and fire in her. As I readied to begin playing her, I believed that my most important scene in the picture was when Mary Kate is in the field herding the sheep and Sean Thornton sees her for the very first time. It's a moment captured in time, and it's love at first sight. I felt very strongly that if the audience believed it was love at first sight, then we would have lightning in a bottle. But if they didn't, we would have just another lovely romantic comedy on our hands. The scene comes off beautifully."
Maureen O'Hara
Born as Maureen FitzSimons, O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. In 1946, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States. The famously redheaded O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with highly sensible attitudes. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne, and stared as the mother of a young Natalie Wood in 20th Century Fox's Miracle of 34th Street. She published her autobiography, 'Tis Herself in 2004.
My two favorites of her movies are Big Jake and The Quiet Man. I would recommend watching both if you have not seen them. They both are filled with humor and the passion of John Wayne and Maureen. She has said the following about herself in The Quiet Man and I agree that there are many moments that are captured in mind:
O'Hara: "I have often said that The Quiet Man is my personal favourite of all the pictures I have made. It is the one I am most proud of, and I tend to be very protective of it. I loved Mary Kate Danaher. I loved the hell and fire in her. As I readied to begin playing her, I believed that my most important scene in the picture was when Mary Kate is in the field herding the sheep and Sean Thornton sees her for the very first time. It's a moment captured in time, and it's love at first sight. I felt very strongly that if the audience believed it was love at first sight, then we would have lightning in a bottle. But if they didn't, we would have just another lovely romantic comedy on our hands. The scene comes off beautifully."
Friday, April 5, 2013
Irish Thought for April 5...
Quotations
Every action of our lived touches on some chord that will vibrated in eternity.
-Sean O'Casey
Every action of our lived touches on some chord that will vibrated in eternity.
-Sean O'Casey
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Irish Thought for April 4...
Irish Movies
The General
The story, based on true events, centers around criminal Martin Cahill (Brendan Gleeson), who managed to execute two near-impossible robberies in Ireland with his gang, but the was pursued by the authorities as he became a popular hero in Dublin. Directed by John Boorman.
The General
The story, based on true events, centers around criminal Martin Cahill (Brendan Gleeson), who managed to execute two near-impossible robberies in Ireland with his gang, but the was pursued by the authorities as he became a popular hero in Dublin. Directed by John Boorman.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Irish Thought for April 3...
Irish Folklore
The Pooka
A vindictive, dangerous fairy that appears as a fearsome, huge black horse with eyes of yellow fire, the pooka terrorized the countryside at night, breathing blue flames and wreaking havoc. It has a deep human voice, and sometimes stopped in front of houses to bellow the names of people, demanding to take them on midnight sprees. If refused, the pooka would vandalize their property. If the ride was accepted, the pooka would gallop around until the rider was flung headlong into a ditch, breaking his neck. According to legend, Irish king Brian Boru tames the pooka with a charmed bridle, and rode the fairy steed until, exhausted, it promised that it would never kill another man. The pooka still takes drunks on wild rides, but always returns them with only bruises and a tale to tell.
The Pooka
A vindictive, dangerous fairy that appears as a fearsome, huge black horse with eyes of yellow fire, the pooka terrorized the countryside at night, breathing blue flames and wreaking havoc. It has a deep human voice, and sometimes stopped in front of houses to bellow the names of people, demanding to take them on midnight sprees. If refused, the pooka would vandalize their property. If the ride was accepted, the pooka would gallop around until the rider was flung headlong into a ditch, breaking his neck. According to legend, Irish king Brian Boru tames the pooka with a charmed bridle, and rode the fairy steed until, exhausted, it promised that it would never kill another man. The pooka still takes drunks on wild rides, but always returns them with only bruises and a tale to tell.
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| The pooka http://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2011/12/fairy-hound-and-pooka-crypto-folktale.html |
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Irish Thought for April 2...
Irish Drink
Red Lemonade
Sold under the brand names TK, Finches, Country Spring, and Nash's, red lemonade is similar to white lemonade with a slight taste difference possible due to the red food coloring added. Difficult to find outside of Ireland, the soft drink is mostly used as a mixer with whiskey, and is often mentioned as one of the op things Irish miss when they are outside of Ireland. A popular myth suggests that the dye used to color the lemonade red is banned outside of Ireland, but most of the manufacturers guard their secret recipes carefully.
Red Lemonade
Sold under the brand names TK, Finches, Country Spring, and Nash's, red lemonade is similar to white lemonade with a slight taste difference possible due to the red food coloring added. Difficult to find outside of Ireland, the soft drink is mostly used as a mixer with whiskey, and is often mentioned as one of the op things Irish miss when they are outside of Ireland. A popular myth suggests that the dye used to color the lemonade red is banned outside of Ireland, but most of the manufacturers guard their secret recipes carefully.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Irish Thought for April 1...
Irish Etymology
Slogan: from the Irish sluagh-ghairm, which means "war cry".
Slogan: from the Irish sluagh-ghairm, which means "war cry".
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