What is the luck of the Irish? Many people think it is a good thing to have. I asked one of our commenters ( Paddy ) what it meant and he said to me " Well, my old Gran used to say that if it was raining soup, we'd be carrying forks. "
Imagine a world where the forecast predicts a downpour of steaming soup instead of rain. While most people would be scrambling for umbrellas or ducking for cover, the Irish would be out in the streets, forks in hand, grinning like they've just discovered a new national pastime.But joking aside...
The Irish have been renowned for their gift of seeing the funny side of life during times of adversity. They have borne the brunt of many a joke at their expense and seem to take it in their stride. Something that gays, lesbians, transgenders and left wing activists have not been able to do.
In fact, being offended is almost a badge of courage these days. It is the catch cry of so many and the art form of being offended has been crafted into a political statement.
The Irish have long been celebrated for their uncanny ability to turn life’s hardships into laughter. Centuries of navigating adversity, from historical struggles to everyday challenges - have given rise to a rich tradition of witty storytelling and self-deprecating humour. This knack for finding levity in the darkest of times isn't just a coping mechanism; it's woven into the fabric of Irish identity, celebrated in literature, music, and even casual conversation. In essence, the Irish approach to adversity is a masterclass in resilience, proving that sometimes the best way to face a storm is to dance in the rain, with a joke and a smile.
So what has happened?
Read more: The Luck of the Irish. Heritage is Alive and Well All Over the World.. or is it?
In history, certain dates carry weighty significance, their very mention evoking a sense of foreboding or consequence. Among these, the Ides of March stands as a reminder of the impulsive and unpredictable nature of fate and the tumultuous currents of human affairs.
Originating from ancient Roman traditions, the Ides marked the midpoint of the month in the Roman calendar, typically falling on the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of other months. However, it is the Ides of March, particularly in the year 44 BC, that has become immortalised for its association with betrayal and political upheaval.
The most enduring event tied to the Ides of March is the assassination of Julius Caesar, one of the most influential figures in Roman history. On that fateful day, Caesar, entered the Theatre of Pompey, unaware of the conspiracy brewing against him. As he took his seat, a group of senators, led by Brutus and Cassius, struck him down, plunging Rome into chaos and altering the course of history.
But what led to this momentous day in history?
Read more: Unraveling the Legacy of a Fateful Date - The Ides of March
In these dark days of misery in many parts of the globe, it is often pleasant to hear a story that has a happy ending. For me, such an event came to pass some time ago. No, I did not win the lottery.
In fact, it would have been strange had I done so as I never take a ticket. No, my happy ending came because a lovely lady, very close to me and my family won a battle by following the wisdom of Sun Tzu.
Sun Tzu was a Chinese military strategist, philosopher, and author of "The Art of War," an influential work on military strategy and tactics. Little is known about his life, and even the exact dates of his birth and death are uncertain, though he is believed to have lived during the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China, around the 6th century BC.
He wrote a book called " The Art of War. "
I want to tell you a tale about stout. As St Patricks Day approaches again, I cannot help but think back. There’s a moment, when I'm sitting under the wide Australian sky, that an old Paddy finds his mind drift homeward.
The sun beats down, the land stretches endless and dry, yet here on the coast it is green and wet, but in my heart, I can still hear the rain pattering against the old stone walls of home. It’s in those moments that I remember the simple things - the warmth of the kitchen, the smell of the soup, and the sight of my Gran, sitting by the fire, sipping her nightly glass of stout. “Good for the blood,” she’d say with a knowing nod, as if the deep, dark drink carried the very essence of Ireland itself. And maybe it does. Because wherever you find a pint of Guinness, you find a bit of home.
So here is my story about Guinness. And it might not be the record book, but it has its own fair share of record breaking stuff.
As our world becomes more corrupt, complicated and seemingly hopeless, we need to use our minds to seek hope from those who have proven, beyond shadow of doubt, that good can triumph.
I saw an image some time ago that struck me as being quite profound. I called it " white privilege. " Perhaps it should have been pioneer spirit and that, is something that new " migrants" seem to lack these days.
It made me wonder how our countries have travelled so far from reality that we are now expected to believe in this myth that we are thinking ourselves superior?
The countries that gave us birth were apparently founded on so called "white privilege". Our ancestors arrived in our nations with wealth of knowledge.
That is true. The knowledge of hard earned skills and generations of hard learned lessons.
The Castle Hill Rebellion, also known as the Second Battle of Vinegar Hill, occurred on March 4th and 5th, 1804, in New South Wales, Australia. It was a pivotal moment in Australia's early colonial history, driven by a mix of political unrest, social inequality, and the desire for freedom among the oppressed convicts and Irish political prisoners.
The catalyst for the rebellion was the oppressive conditions endured by convicts and the lack of rights they faced under British rule. Many convicts were transported to Australia for petty crimes, yet they were subjected to harsh treatment, limited freedoms, and forced labor. Additionally, Irish political prisoners, who were often leaders in rebellion, added fuel to the growing discontent.
Under the leadership of William Johnston, a former Irish rebel, and Philip Cunningham, a convict, a plan to overthrow British authority was devised. The rebels aimed to seize control of key locations, including Parramatta and Sydney, and establish a free settlement.
Read more: The Castle Hill Rebellion - and the Battle of Vinegar Hill
There is a rare kind of magic in Detectorists, a show that invites us to slow down and appreciate the world in all its quiet wonder. On the surface, it is a series about two men wandering fields with metal detectors, but beneath that lies a profound meditation on time, memory, and the delicate balance between progress and preservation. With its gentle humour and understated storytelling, the show offers a glimpse into the beauty of history and nature and serves as a reminder of what we stand to lose if we are not careful.
It is, in my opinion, a masterclass in subtle storytelling that delivers a significant emotional and environmental message without ever feeling preachy.
Read more: Detectorists: A Gentle Show That Unearths Something Much Deeper
Read more: Our Money, Their Duty: Entrusting Government to Spend Wisely and Honestly
Why wasn't Breaker Morant’s poetry taught to us oldies in school? Is it fair to say that this talented Bush Poet, Harry Harbord (Breaker) Morant, was thrown under the bus by Lord Kitchener?
Kitchener sacrificed Breaker ( and Handcock) in order to mollify the Germans over the killing of a German missionary and to shift the blame of all the death and destruction from himself and the British. As a result, Breaker's remarkable legacy as a poet was lost because of political scapegoating.
His gifted work as a bush poet is largely unknown and therein lies a great tragedy.
But what really happened? Following is an in-depth look at the man, the story and lead-up to an execution that is now part of Australian history.
Read more: Breaker Morant - " Shoot Straight You Bastards! " The Execution - 27 February 1902
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