17th Mar - Top o' the mornin' to ya!



Today's post is sponsored by St. Patrick's Day, a patron saint who we - as Englishmen - celebrate more than our own. Does anyone even know when St. George's Day is? I certainly don't. But quite frankly, that's as a direct result of our own conservatism. It was Cecil Rhodes who once famously said, "To be born English, is to win first prize in the lottery of life". I'm not sure I agree. 

Don't get me wrong, there are numerous elements of our heritage I'm immensely proud of. Mainly sporting achievements, in all honesty. For example, no other nation on Planet Earth has won a World Cup in both Football and Rugby. But overall, when I think of England, I think of corruption and racism amongst both our politicians, and monarchy, and the infamous 'stiff upper lip' attitude which can be mistaken for unfriendliness, or borderline arrogance. 




The Irish, however... Take a much more relaxed view on life. I once went to Dublin on St. Patrick's and the 'craic' is absolutely unrivalled. The streets are awash with green, as revellers stumble out of Temple Bar and the dimly lit pubs on O'Connell Street. There are fabric leprechuan-hats a-plenty, a-top every fiery red-head, all branded by the Guinness logo. Guitar and folk music fills the air, amid the hearty waft of traditional Irish stew, packed with potato, and other root vegetables. 

So this one's for you, Brian O'Driscoll. For you, Shay Given. For Eamon Holmes, and Roy Keane, for Brian McFadden and Liam Neeson. For Jonny Sexton and Oscar Wilde. For Graham Norton and Niall Horan. For Bono, for Ronan O'Gara, for The Corrs, and Orlaith from Big Brother 6. Above all, for St Paddy himself... 



... Top o' the morning' to ya!





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