A Guide to Ireland

Rabies

Link

It is a long read but there is some funny stuff in there. Bit of a piss take about Ireland for a tourist. But when you sit back and think about it, its all true.

The Irish facility with words is an invaluable asset in broadcasting, especially useful in times of cockup and technical breakdown. While commercial radio has recently become a reality in Ireland, such enterprise is, by and large, a local phenomenon, with limited-range stations located in the larger population areas. Broadcasting across the island is mainly the province of Radio Telefis Eireann or RTE, which stands for Reception Terrible Everywhere.

The Irish generally deny the existance of rain, but they do own up to the occasional "soft day" or "touch of mist". Most times, the mist comes bucketing down. The bogs of Mayo, for instance, annually receive more than 50 inches of rain, which is bad news for anyone 4 feet tall or under.

Mists and legends pose a problem for modern historians trying to separate fact from fiction. There is plenty of evidence, both geological and archaeological, to prove the existance of the giant Fionn Mac Cumhail (pronounced Finn McCool, as a general rumhail). The deeds of legendary heroes like the men of the Fianna, Big Jack Charlton and The Mighty Cuchumber, are recorded in tales from the Ulster, Fenian and Raleigh Cycles, all of which have stood the test of time. Tír na nóg (The Land of Youth) was a magical place to the west of Ireland, where the flowers always bloomed and the women never aged; nowadays, we call it California. However, question marks still hang over the Children of Lir, who were changed into swans for 900 years. Let alone Niall of the Nine Noses.

Karoma

Friendly by nature, the Irish welcome foreigners with open arms and massive hangovers.

&

Sudden disappearance of the hind legs is a source of constant worry to Irish donkeys.

keu

Ireland is well and truly spattered with lakes. It also has plenty of rivers, most of which usually turn out to be the Shannon. This mighty river sets off on its 214-mile journey from a small pot in Co. Cavan.

Severing its last links with Britain in 1949, the Republic has developed its own system of government, headed by the Teashop. MPs are called TDs and meet in the Dáil Éireann. There are four main political parties: Fianna Fáil ("soldiers of destiny"), Fine Gael ("wee Gaels"), Sinn Féin ("wee Oursels") and The Irish Labour Party, formerly known as Dick Spring.

I laughed and cried

Stephen

Oh, yes, the islands. Set like a precious jewel in a cluster of smaller gems, the Great Emerald of Ireland is encircled by a multitude of lesser isles, from Great Blasket in the west to Great Britain in the east.

hah, made me laugh.

Mossy Monk

thats link is brilliant

Lump

He he, made me giggle.


john

byte

/me roffles

Great linkage!