The Irish and the British will always have issues because the British never remember, and the Irish never forget.

It’s a hot button issue in Ireland.

At the time, and now to an extent, many feel that the over 5,000 Irishmen who left Ireland to fight against Nazi Germany in World War II were  and are criminals, or deserters.

They left the Irish Army, leaving Ireland who was neutral, to fight to stop the Nazi’s in World War II.

Today, there is a possibility they may be pardoned.

The Starvation Orders were the orders to blacklist those 5,000 troops upon their return. They could not get jobs, welfare, pensions or any assistance what so ever, some of them made a go at it. Others left the country yet again. Whats more the orders extended beyond just the individuals, but their families as well. It’s how my own family ended up in America.

Five thousand Irish soldiers who swapped uniforms to fight for the British against Hitler went on to suffer years of persecution. They were formally dismissed from the Irish army, stripped of all pay and pension rights, and prevented from finding work by being banned for seven years from any employment paid for by state or government funds.
One of them, 92-year-old Phil Farrington, took part in the D-Day landings and helped liberate the German death camp at Bergen-Belsen – but he wears his medals in secret. Even to this day, he has nightmares that he will be arrested by the authorities and imprisoned for his wartime service.

“They would come and get me, yes they would,” he said in a frail voice at his home in the docks area of Dublin.
And his 25-year-old grandson, Patrick, confirmed: “I see the fear in him even today, even after 65 years.”

Mr Farrington’s fears are not groundless.

 

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Tags: Army, Family, Ireland, Military, pardon, Starvation Orders, Technorati, World War II

People who count their chickens before they are hatched, act very wisely, because chickens run about so absurdly that it is impossible to count them accurately.

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde (Oscar Wilde)

And some Dropkick Murphy’s to get the day started jammy

Tags: Dropkick Murphys, Ireland, irish, Oscar Wilde, Quote, Quote of the Day, Shipping Up to Boston, Technorati

“The immigrant’s heart marches to the beat of two quite different drums, one from the old homeland and the other from the new. The immigrant has to bridge these two worlds, living comfortably in the new and bringing the best of his or her ancient identity and heritage to bear on life in an adopted homeland.”

- Irish President McAleese

How about a catchy tune this morning from The Irish Rovers? The Drunken Sailor

Tags: Drunken Sailor, Ireland, irish, Irish Rovers, Music, President McAleese, Quote, Quote of the Day, Technorati

The Irish don’t know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it

Sidney Littlewood

For a different tune how about a non Irish Band doing Irish music? The Orthodox Celts!

Tags: Ireland, irish, Orthodox Celts, Quote, Quote of the Day, Sidney Littlewood, Star of the County Down, Technorati

Ok Folks it’s Friday!

I’ve been an absolute bum on giving you good material this week, so I am going to try to make up for it with one helluva TGIF Quote edition

Lets start with who I consider the absolute foremost Dramatist of Ireland fair shores. If you have never read his work: you should!

Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how it’s done, they’ve seen it done every day, but they’re unable to do it themselves.

Brendan Behan

It’s not that the Irish are cynical. It’s rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.

Brendan Behan

For music, lets go with Na Casaidigh (The Cassidy’s) with a old song called The Rising of the Moon

And of course eye candy for all!

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Tags: Brendan Behan, Ireland, irish, Jack McDaniel, Lynn Kelly, Miss ireland, Na Casaidigh, Quote, Quote of the Day, Technorati, The Cassidy's, The Rising of the Moon

When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious

Richard Alfred Milliken

How about something a little more low key today eh? Work has me addled so lets go for Dick Gaughan’s rendition of Song for Ireland

Tags: Dick Gaughan, Ireland, irish, Quote, Quote of the Day, Song for Ireland, Technorati

For over 30 years, the IRA showed that the British government could not rule Ireland on its own terms.

Gerry Adams

How about The Corrs performing one of my favorite Irish tunes, Toss the Feathers?

Tags: Gerry Adams, Ireland, irish, Quote, Quote of the Day, Technorati, The Corrs, Toss the Feathers

The Irish don’t know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it

Andrew Greeley

Dropkick Murphys – The Warriors Code by KeelanEarly

Tags: Andrew Greeley, Dropkick Murphys, Ireland, irish, Quote, Quote of the Day, Technorati, The Warriors Code

V00d3w has the helm around here for today and tomorrow

As for Me? I’m out of here. Feel free to join me

See you cats on Monday!

Door hanger courtesy of Matty O’Blackfive

Tags: Blackfive, Blog Bash, BloodSpite, Ireland, irish, Motivation, Out, St Patricks Day, Technorati

I first published this at Techography on March 17, 2007. I reposted it here in 2010 for posterity and your reading pleasure! I imagine it will be a yearly thing- BS

I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a priest, of the settlement [vicus] of Bannavem Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our priests who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners.
St. Patrick, The Confessio

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The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn Succat, and he almost didn’t get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.

Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.

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Tags: America, Celebration, Ireland, irish, Maewyn Succat, Registered Evil, Saint Patrick, St Patricks Day, St. Patrick, Technorati

Ooops! Video fixed! – BS

Video courtesy of Matty O’Blackfive

Holiday courtesy of Irish men and women everywhere.

Tags: Guinness, Holiday, I think it's funny!, Ireland, irish, St Patricks Day, Technorati

No collection of quotes for the month of March would be complete without at least one from Brendan Behan, one of Ireland’s foremost poet’s, short story writer, novelist, and playwright

“I only drink on two occasions – When I am thirsty and when I’m not thirsty.”

- Brendan Behan

And like wise, of course no musical collection for the month of March would be not fully recognized without the boys from Dublin, the undeniable kings of Irish Rock: U2

Eye candy for all after the jump

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Tags: Bloody Sunday, Brendan Behan, Dermont O'Leary, Ireland, irish, Quote, Quote of the Day, Technorati, U2

I’ve mentioned before that my family hails from County Armagh. However, my family does not align itself with the Ulsters. It’s one of the reasons we left Ireland in the 1940′s my grandfather having had enough of the frictions between the North and South, “We were all Irish, dammit.” he would often curse in his latter years with a shake of his head.

This post isn’t about politics however, it’s more about a place that politics happened.

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Tags: Brian Boru, City Armagh, Cork, County Armagh, Eamhain Mhacha, Fairy, Ireland, irish, Northern Ireland, Saint Patrick, South Armagh Brigade, St Patrick's Cathedral, Technorati, Ulster

“When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious.”

Edna O’Brien

The music is from a group whom goes by the name Celtic Thunder They are a singing group composed of five male soloists who perform both solo and ensemble numbers and they are accompanied by the Celtic Concert Orchestra.

Tags: Celtic Thunder, Edna O'Brien, Ireland, irish, Music, Quote, Quote of the Day, Technorati

The Famine began quite mysteriously in September 1845 as leaves on potato plants suddenly turned black and curled, then rotted, seemingly the result of a fog that had wafted across the fields of Ireland. I have been told that the cause was actually an airborne fungus originally transported in the holds of ships traveling from North America to England. Somewhat ironic then if you consider home many Irish families in turn fled to North America because of it. Let no one say we Irish have not had a sense of humor in the annuals of history.

In Any event, The Great Famine was a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration between 1845 and 1852. Outside of Ireland it is more commonly called The Irish Potatoe Famine. Within Ireland, and amongst my own family it was referred to as an Gorta Mór or great hunger.

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Tags: an Gorta Mór, Boston, Buffalo, Emigration, England, History, Ireland, Irish Famine, Memorial, Potatoe, Potatoe Famine, Technorati

Coffin Ships are a rather sad part of Irish history. Originating during the Great Irish Famine, and of course the prison ships to Botany Bay. The first vessel with Irish convicts for Botany Bay arrived in Port Jackson on 26 September 1791.

They were called “coffin ships,” because so many poor souls had been dying on them as of late, leaving behind widows and orphans and broken families. Typically untrustworthy vessels, these ships were purchased literally from salvage yards (where they awaiting dismantling) by unscrupulous owners who had no intention of repairing them. Sailors who agreed to serve on board these floating wrecks typically knew nothing of the dangers until they were well out at sea, vagabonds, and those desperate for work (of which there were plenty) quickly volunteered.

Concerned only with profits, these same ship owners heavily overburdened the ships then insured them against expected losses of cargo. They were quite literally worth more at the bottom of the sea than upon it.

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Tags: America, Brehon Law, British North America, Coffin Ship, Daniel McDonagh, Famine, Gerard Keegan, History, Ireland, irish, New York, poverty, Quebec, Robert Whyte, Technorati

Japan is in dire need. The West Coast is under Tsunami warnings and Hawaii is currently getting the first taste. How bad will it be? Who knows. I’m a weather buff, not a meteorologist. Some folks may find my decision to go ahead and place this on the site today, tasteless. But I feel that its important that things have a sense of normalcy when the world goes to hell. Unfortunately some may be wishing Friday had never arrived. Our thoughts and prayers go with them today. So I have attempted to keep our quote and music, topical. Criticism can be directed at me. – BS

“Life has moved on but in ways which would not have been possible without the sacrifice, courage and devotion of those whose lives were taken. Let us remember with quiet pride and quiet admiration those who gave so much.”

former Archbishop of the Church of Ireland, Lord Eames

Our music for the day is Flowers of the Forest. A Traditional dirge of Scotland and Ireland. This rendition is performed by a Cathedral Bagpipe

Tags: Flowers of the Forest, Ireland, Japan, Lord Eame, Quote, Quote of the Day, sunami, Technorati

It’s been said that we Irish are blessed with the “gift of Blarney” or gift of speech. Which is why we make such great story tellers, writers, authors, poets and actresses.

Renowned for such wit and humor as that which came from the likes of Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats and others. For we Irish, words and language are so very important…My grandfather once told me that if a picture is worth 1,000 words then it takes 1,000 words to paint a picture.

But this Irish gift of wit doesn’t come out of thin air, so the legends say, but rather from solid stone!

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Tags: Blarney, Blarney Stone, Clíodhna, Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, Cormac MacCarthy, Ireland, irish, Kiss the Blarney Stone, Oscar Wilde, Queen Elizabeth I, Technorati, William Butler Yeats