July 26, 2003
STORYTELLERS HAILED
My sister writes from Ireland:
Posted by Tim Blair at July 26, 2003 08:32 PMAs soon as you finish reading this e-mail, pick up the phone and book your trip. You won't regret it. I mean you could just fly over and talk to people in the pub for a week and not be bored. They are all very gifted storytellers, or full of crap. Depends on how you look at it ...
I've been to Ireland. Most of my ansestors were Irish. Let me assure, they are full of crap.
Posted by: LB at July 26, 2003 at 11:08 PMAs an aussie expat in Dublin, I see so much of the Irish influences on Australian culture. Taking the piss out of people, dry sarcasm and merciless ribbing of ones mates are certainly Irish traits that we Aussies are lucky to share.
And at some point, we need to acknowledge that AFL is a direct rip-off of Irish football.
Posted by: Tom at July 27, 2003 at 09:10 AMFortunately, the Irish don't draw silly distinctions between bullshit and a damn good story. This is to the benefit of all mankind.
Posted by: The at July 27, 2003 at 10:20 AMSounds like the blogosphere without the computers, but with lots of Guiness
Posted by: Wind Rider at July 28, 2003 at 04:05 AMPerhaps the Irish ability to bullshit on about anything and everything has led to the current Irish hegemony in the media.
For instance - the Shanahan clan, Paddy McGuinness, and the O'Rourkes - my favourite, of course, being P.J., the American humourist, who writing is often "more true than factual".
Why do Australians pay so much attention to Ireland? A backward-looking, superstitious, church-ridden, drunkard society with little to offer the contemporary world. Not dissimilar to New Zealand.
Posted by: Maxi at July 28, 2003 at 05:59 PMEven down to the sectarian violence- the native Kiwi former cannibals hate the recently arrived south Pacific former headhunters.
The Irish make much better beer, however- Kiwi beer is like having sexual intercourse in a canoe- it's fucking near water.