“Our next speaker plans to deliver a topic that has captivated our imaginations for centuries. So hold onto your shillelaghs, (shil-lay-lees) because we’re about to embark on a satirical journey through the mystical lands of leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, and the horrible history of the Irish. With her speech entitled The Luck of the Irish please welcome Laura McHarrie“

When we think of Ireland, we often picture lush green fields, quaint little villages, and happy-go-lucky leprechauns. And to be sure – we got all of that on our trip to Southeast Ireland, last year.  But let me tell you, we also uncovered horrible histories.

Mr President, Mr Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, top of the evening to you all!  This is not a definite list of Irish history, just what I gathered in the 10 days that travelled around the emerald isle in Fran the Van visiting historical sites and … their pubs of course.

No trip to Ireland would be complete without a visit to Blarney Castle with its druid folklore stories dotted around the gardens and of course the home … of the Blarney Stone. 

The Blarney Stone is famous in that if you kiss it, it is said to give you the gift of gab. Or maybe it’s just a clever ploy by the Irish to test the pockets of the tourists, not just their flexibility and bravery!   Was it worth it?  It has taken me almost a year to find the words to deliver this speech; so you tell me – sigh!

Next stop! Waterford’s Reginald’s Tower. During the 8th and 9th centuries, the Vikings invaded Ireland. Picture this: burly, red-haired, horn-helmet-ed Vikings storming the shores; their long ships causing waves of panic. But hold on! Those Vikings encountered the locals, known for their wit, charm, and of course the “blarney.” Suddenly, Vikings found themselves more interested in settling down to a good chat and chuckle down the pub.

Moving onto Kilkenny.  Whilst there, we stopped for supper at the 13th Century Ky-teler’s Inn on Kilkenny’s medieval  mile.  The Ky-teler family arrived with the Normans, where the moneylending profits of the banker, led him to open the Ky-teler Inn.

His daughter, Alice took over when he passed on, marrying four wealthy men who all died under mysterious circumstances. Dah! Dah! Dah!  Accused of heresy and witchcraft, she fled to England, whilst her poor old maid (on trial as an accomplice) was burnt at the stake. The Inn is said to be haunted but … we couldn’t verify that!  

On our way through Wexford, we popped into the JFK Arboretum. Kennedy’s eight great-grandparents all migrated to Boston, during the devastating Great Hunger of the late 1840’s.  The potato crop, which was the main source of food for the Irish, failed, and millions of people were left starving. To make matters worse, the British government did little to help the Irish. In fact, they continued to export other consumables from Ireland.  

The Irish worked hard in North America and prospered with JFK becoming the first Irish catholic president of the USA.  Not bad huh?  Although, now, of course, the proud Irish Americans have yet to solve their current problem … Biden or Trump?

And last but by no means least, a three night stop over in Dublin where we found the beautiful St Stephen’s Green, the site of the 1916 Easter Rising.  There, we spotted the limestone statute of Countess Markievicz one of the leaders of the 37 rebels. 37 rebels!  Turns out, not all Ireland, was that interested on the overthrow. Planned uprisings in other counties in Southern Ireland, petered out.  What’s more the leaders, desperate for freedom, were mostly members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. A secret society founded in the land of opportunity itself, the USA. 

Whilst most of the leaders were executed in the coming months, Markievicz was not and went on to take quite a role in politics when independence was gained some five years later.   I so wonder what she’d have made of being tied to the European Union in todays times????

So, what can we learn from the luck of the Irish??? We can learn that no matter what life throws at us, we can always find a way to persevere.

Invasions and famine, a plight,

The Irish faced many a fight,

But they never gave up,

Their Guinness they’d sup

And Craic with a leprechaun sprite.

Published by TheHiddenEdge

I love words - they communicate so much or so little depending on how you use them. Come and explore my thoughts with me in this, my learning journal. View all posts by TheHiddenEdge