# Ask the drunken Irishman. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651 "2007-10-23T01:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/61 "2007-10-24T18:34:58Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] Monto - The Dubliners [/QUOTE] Shit, I’m going to have this repetitious damned thing stuck in my head all day now. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/62 "2007-10-25T00:15:22Z")
I’m going to see Celtic Woman (Women) in November, and I’ve listened to most of the stuff they have available on YouTube. Question: Is there any other language that can make [a song about seaweed](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6593572755073706876&q=celtic+woman+dulaman&total=11&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0) sound so pretty while not looking half bad in the process? Ok, that was a loaded question, but I have another: How do you say “Thank you, and I wish you all the best” in Gaelic? We have an Irish radiology resident that is completing her term with us at the end of the month, and I’d like to give her a card with that note when she leaves. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/63 "2007-10-25T00:40:23Z")
What can you tell me about the traditional music scene, if anything? I’ve recently moved to a place (New England) where lots of good musicians are trad sessioners, with a nice social network, and am trying for a sort of immersion in it. I’ve been dismayed to discover hints of “THIS is more trad than THAT so THAT should really be erased from memory and scorned by all right-thinking people” type attitudes. I wonder whether you get that in The Real and True Land of Eire too, or if it might be an overcompensation-for-not-actually-being-Irish sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/64 "2007-10-25T01:10:00Z")
Commenting on American university-based class distinctions, a writer once remarked, “a Yale man gets drunk in an entirely different way from a Penn State man.” Does an Irish Catholic get drunk in a different way from an Irish non-Catholic? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/65 "2007-10-25T07:23:19Z")
Why do the dancers in _Riverdance_ keep their arms down by their sides ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/66 "2007-10-25T12:00:03Z")
[QUOTE=Rysdad] How do you say “Thank you, and I wish you all the best” in Gaelic? We have an Irish radiology resident that is completing her term with us at the end of the month, and I’d like to give her a card with that note when she leaves. Thanks! [/QUOTE] “Go raibh maith agat agus beir bua agus beannacht.” or something to that effect. Pronounced “go rev moth agut awgus bear boo-ah awgus banuckt” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/67 "2007-10-25T12:08:12Z")
[QUOTE=emilyforce] What can you tell me about the traditional music scene, if anything? I’ve recently moved to a place (New England) where lots of good musicians are trad sessioners, with a nice social network, and am trying for a sort of immersion in it. I’ve been dismayed to discover hints of “THIS is more trad than THAT so THAT should really be erased from memory and scorned by all right-thinking people” type attitudes. I wonder whether you get that in The Real and True Land of Eire too, or if it might be an overcompensation-for-not-actually-being-Irish sort of thing. [/QUOTE] Ok first off I don’t know a whole lot about the trad scene. I do play ballads the odd time and have been to a trad session or two but I’m not a part of that particular scene. However, I do sometimes get the impression that _some_ people are very precious, exclusive and cliquey about it. Authenticity is a bigger factor I suppose in this scene than in others but I hate the archetypal trad “fascist” who says what is and isn’t traditional. You get the same people in other music scenes and it’s somewhat tiresome. Whether that sort of attitude is more or less prevalent here than over the water I couldn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/68 "2007-10-25T12:24:12Z")
[QUOTE=Rysdad] I’m going to see Celtic Woman (Women) in November, and I’ve listened to most of the stuff they have available on YouTube. Question: Is there any other language that can make [a song about seaweed](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6593572755073706876&q=celtic+woman+dulaman&total=11&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0) sound so pretty while not looking half bad in the process? [/QUOTE] Good Christ those Bodhran players look cheesy. She’s got a lovely voice though. If you like the song, check out Clannad’s version - it’s got a bit more verve. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/69 "2007-10-25T13:13:59Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] Does an Irish Catholic get drunk in a different way from an Irish non-Catholic? [/QUOTE] Depends on which side of the border you’re on, I’d like to think that our southern cousins can drink in whatever damn pub they feel like. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/70 "2007-10-25T13:38:14Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Why do the dancers in _Riverdance_ keep their arms down by their sides [/QUOTE] So that their cell phones and loose change don’t come flying out in the middle of the performance. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/71 "2007-10-25T14:50:11Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] Commenting on American university-based class distinctions, a writer once remarked, “a Yale man gets drunk in an entirely different way from a Penn State man.” Does an Irish Catholic get drunk in a different way from an Irish non-Catholic? [/QUOTE] I do not know the answer to this really. I do know that Polish Catholics in Ireland are as fond of the gargle as their Irish compadres. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/72 "2007-10-25T15:58:50Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] So that their cell phones and loose change don’t come flying out in the middle of the performance. [/QUOTE] I will never be able to look at them the same. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/73 "2007-10-25T16:55:50Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] I’m from Swords Is Alan’s Hot Bread shop still there on the high street? They used to do the most wonderful all-day breakfasts on a baguette … **drools, gains weight** ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/74 "2007-10-25T17:03:05Z")
Are all Irish drunks as charming and witty as Dave Allen or was he an anomoly? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/75 "2007-10-25T17:16:57Z")
[QUOTE=Daithi Lacha] [QUOTE=An Gadaí] I’m from Swords Is Alan’s Hot Bread shop still there on the high street? They used to do the most wonderful all-day breakfasts on a baguette … **drools, gains weight** [/QUOTE] Alas no. Now it’s a dodgy kebab chainstore, you know abrakebabra? I used to love getting my lunch in Alan’s. None of its competitors could match it. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/76 "2007-10-25T17:18:23Z")
[QUOTE=Scumpup] Are all Irish drunks as charming and witty as Dave Allen or was he an anomoly? [/QUOTE] Most of us are, some of use significantly less so. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/77 "2007-10-25T18:37:33Z")
An Irish friend once claimed that _Father Ted_ wasn’t as far from the truth as one might think ie parochial houses in the more remote regions often consist of an “under-achieving” middle-aged priest and a slightly clueless younger one looking after a (frequently alcoholic) elderly one. I’ve never been quite sure if I he was pulling my leg or not. Can you shed any light , or is this just one of Liam’s tall stories. He’s from Galway if that makes any difference. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/78 "2007-10-25T18:48:33Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] An Irish friend once claimed that _Father Ted_ wasn’t as far from the truth as one might think ie parochial houses in the more remote regions often consist of an “under-achieving” middle-aged priest and a slightly clueless younger one looking after a (frequently alcoholic) elderly one. I’ve never been quite sure if I he was pulling my leg or not. Can you shed any light , or is this just one of Liam’s tall stories. He’s from Galway if that makes any difference. [/QUOTE] Part of what made Father Ted funny was how believable parts of it was. I do know that alot of “defective” priests were shipped off to remoter parts but I don’t know about whether they always or often had that specific configuration. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/79 "2007-10-25T18:57:27Z")
I’ll add that the decor of the Father Ted house was _horribly_ accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651/80 "2007-10-25T19:21:49Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] [QUOTE=Daithi Lacha] Alas no. Now it’s a dodgy kebab chainstore, you know abrakebabra? I used to love getting my lunch in Alan’s. None of its competitors could match it. [/QUOTE] Damn and blast it! Yeah, I know Abrekebabra – walking back from The Golf Links in Portmarnock to my mother-in-law’s house, there was one helpfully situated exactly half-way on the lengthy walk home. All mile of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-drunken-irishman/423651.md?page=5)