A few months ago, we got a class email from our daughter’s Kindergarten teacher, inviting us to come in and share our family’s traditions or cultural practices with the class, “in order to celebrate the rich diversity of the classroom”.
Saw my first corpse at about six years old, went to a wake of a distant relative with my Dad. No preparation, no discussion afterwards. Got a glass of Club Orange and a pound coin from someone. Was thrilled.
I remember the Gardaí raiding a lock in I was at when I kid you not I was 7! My older sister told me to say my name was Anne O’Brien when asked. This totally confused me and so instead I climbed out an open window and walked around the pub slap bang into the Gardaí and proceeded to cause a ruckus as a small child was out on the road on her own. This gave them something else to do and the crowd in the pub got away with it. I should tell you that was a particularly egregious lock-in occurring as it it did on Goof Friday and this happened in the afternoon!
Aisling! I relate to so much of this. My mum hails from Mayo, Dad came from Cork. I’ve had that very same comment made to me re. the famine by an ignoramus gobshite - “it’s an island, why didn’t they just fish?!” Ffs.
Re. Irish traits, my husband claims that “the Irish don’t grass people up” - I’ve absolutely no idea what thats rooted in (he hasn’t got the same Irish credentials as me, God love him - a wannabe paddy for sure.)
Funny you say that. My daughter has a crush on a little boy at school and we were walking home together and my daughter climbed up on a water fountain that is on our way home and the little boy immediately ran to the security guard of the park to tell on her for being on the fountain. I never insert myself into kid arguments but as we walked home, I felt compelled to say "See how the boy told on you? That wasn't very nice, was it?" I've totally ruined her crush but...snitches get stitches
I grew up in an Irish American family in NY and many of my early memories of extended family gatherings are of wakes. I laughed out loud several times reading this piece.🤣☘️
The best times!! My Granny always said she much preferred a funeral to a wedding. Actually you know what cultural difference shocks me every time I see it on TV? When people refer to being "invited" to a funeral. What do you mean invited? You just show up!
hahaha do you know I nearly threw in a reference to the rosary in this. At my granda's wake my mother had to lead the rosary (is that what you call it? what is the word?? you know what I mean) and the priest had to help her out cos she kept forgetting the Hail Mary and afterwards we were all Mam! what the hell, do you not know the Hail Mary? and she was like I got stage fright! It was the PRESSURE!!!
Aisling you have me laughing so hard, "why are you speaking Spanish!!"
Saw my first corpse at about six years old, went to a wake of a distant relative with my Dad. No preparation, no discussion afterwards. Got a glass of Club Orange and a pound coin from someone. Was thrilled.
And the altar boys loved a funeral as they got ‘paid’ more than for a wedding
I'm laughing out loud!!!
This is brilliant. Cried laughing at ‘the blight is here’ 🤣
He's so convinced I've almost started to believe him!!
I remember the Gardaí raiding a lock in I was at when I kid you not I was 7! My older sister told me to say my name was Anne O’Brien when asked. This totally confused me and so instead I climbed out an open window and walked around the pub slap bang into the Gardaí and proceeded to cause a ruckus as a small child was out on the road on her own. This gave them something else to do and the crowd in the pub got away with it. I should tell you that was a particularly egregious lock-in occurring as it it did on Goof Friday and this happened in the afternoon!
Aisling! I relate to so much of this. My mum hails from Mayo, Dad came from Cork. I’ve had that very same comment made to me re. the famine by an ignoramus gobshite - “it’s an island, why didn’t they just fish?!” Ffs.
Re. Irish traits, my husband claims that “the Irish don’t grass people up” - I’ve absolutely no idea what thats rooted in (he hasn’t got the same Irish credentials as me, God love him - a wannabe paddy for sure.)
Funny you say that. My daughter has a crush on a little boy at school and we were walking home together and my daughter climbed up on a water fountain that is on our way home and the little boy immediately ran to the security guard of the park to tell on her for being on the fountain. I never insert myself into kid arguments but as we walked home, I felt compelled to say "See how the boy told on you? That wasn't very nice, was it?" I've totally ruined her crush but...snitches get stitches
Happy St Patrick's day Aisling to you and yours great stories worries me to hear Bertie being clapped on the back 😠
Your husband’s potato story is everything to me. EVERYTHING. Please let it be true
It absolutely is true!
love this
Thanks Maja!
I grew up in an Irish American family in NY and many of my early memories of extended family gatherings are of wakes. I laughed out loud several times reading this piece.🤣☘️
The best times!! My Granny always said she much preferred a funeral to a wedding. Actually you know what cultural difference shocks me every time I see it on TV? When people refer to being "invited" to a funeral. What do you mean invited? You just show up!
My father referred to the obits as the ‘Irish sporting pages’.😂
Hilarious!
☺️Make them say the Rosary with interminable trimmings.. maybe in Irish for extra kudos/hate?
hahaha do you know I nearly threw in a reference to the rosary in this. At my granda's wake my mother had to lead the rosary (is that what you call it? what is the word?? you know what I mean) and the priest had to help her out cos she kept forgetting the Hail Mary and afterwards we were all Mam! what the hell, do you not know the Hail Mary? and she was like I got stage fright! It was the PRESSURE!!!
Haha! Also knowing the names of the decades too. Or at a funeral & in the front row and not being sure when to stand, sit or kneel 📿✝️🇻🇦
I laughed at your description of the wakes! All true too.
Mam didnt remember me at a lock in. But she wasnt overly defensive. She thinks it might have been Italia 90.