What It Means To be Irish

[sinik]

Alright, while we're on the topic, here's an email I got from my cousin today:


AN IRISH GHOST STORY
 
This story happened a while ago in Dublin , and even though it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's true!!!!!

John Bradford, a Dublin University student, was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a very dark night and in the midst of a big storm. The night was rolling on and no car went by. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly, he saw a car slowly coming towards him and stopped. John, desperate for shelter and without thinking about it, got into the car and closed the door only to realize there was nobody behind the wheel and the engine wasn't on.
 
The car started moving slowly. John looked at the road ahead and saw a curve approaching. Scared, he started to pray, begging for his life. Then, just before the car hit the curve, a hand appeared out of window, and turned the wheel. John paralyzed with terror, watched as the hand came through the window, but never touched or harmed him.
 
Shortly thereafter, John saw the lights of a pub appear down the road, so, gathering strength, he jumped out of the car and ran to it. Wet and out of breath, he rushed inside and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he had just had. A silence enveloped the pub when everybody realized he was crying and....wasn't drunk.
 
Suddenly, the door opened, and two other people walked in from the dark and stormy night. They, like John, were also soaked and out of breath. Looking around, and seeing John Bradford sobbing at the bar, one said to the other.
'Look Paddy there's that fooking idiot that got in the car while we were pushing it!'

not idiot , "eedjit" :-)

[shahaggy]

nice job grovester, I loved it 

[grovester]

Alright, while we're on the topic, here's an email I got from my cousin today:


AN IRISH GHOST STORY
 
This story happened a while ago in Dublin , and even though it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's true!!!!!

John Bradford, a Dublin University student, was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a very dark night and in the midst of a big storm. The night was rolling on and no car went by. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly, he saw a car slowly coming towards him and stopped. John, desperate for shelter and without thinking about it, got into the car and closed the door only to realize there was nobody behind the wheel and the engine wasn't on.
 
The car started moving slowly. John looked at the road ahead and saw a curve approaching. Scared, he started to pray, begging for his life. Then, just before the car hit the curve, a hand appeared out of window, and turned the wheel. John paralyzed with terror, watched as the hand came through the window, but never touched or harmed him.
 
Shortly thereafter, John saw the lights of a pub appear down the road, so, gathering strength, he jumped out of the car and ran to it. Wet and out of breath, he rushed inside and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he had just had. A silence enveloped the pub when everybody realized he was crying and....wasn't drunk.
 
Suddenly, the door opened, and two other people walked in from the dark and stormy night. They, like John, were also soaked and out of breath. Looking around, and seeing John Bradford sobbing at the bar, one said to the other.
'Look Paddy there's that fooking idiot that got in the car while we were pushing it!'

[kitten]

wow, i am a quarter Irish and I swear 25% of the list applies to me.

[jennymayla]

I can plead guilty to many of those on the list. I'm even engaged to a Sully.

I don't get #8 though: "8.  You have never hit your head on a ceiling." Are we Irish folk stereotypically short? I don't think that's true.

Yah, I think it's a height thing.  Which you and I are clearly not representative of.   

This is one of my faves on the list:

27.  At this very moment, you have at least two relatives who are not speaking to each other (not fighting, mind you, just not speaking to each other).

This happens ALL THE TIME in my dad's massive family.

[Case]

19.  There wasn't a huge difference between your last Wake and your last keg party.

Do the Irish get more than one? Wake, I mean.

[RB]

I can plead guilty to many of those on the list. I'm even engaged to a Sully.

I don't get #8 though: "8.  You have never hit your head on a ceiling." Are we Irish folk stereotypically short? I don't think that's true.

[Frank M]

"They say the Irish are drinkers, but nobody ever said they were good at it."

[shahaggy]

I plead guilty to the entire list

[jennymayla]

1.  You will never play professional basketball.
2.  You swear very well.
3.  At least one of your cousins is a fireman, cop, bar owner, funeral home owner or holds political office. And you have at least one aunt who is a nun, or uncle who's a priest.
4.  You think you sing very well.
5.  You have no idea how to make a long story short!
6.  There isn't a big difference between you losing your temper or killing someone...
7.  Much of your childhood meals were boiled. Instant potatoes were a mortal sin.
8.  You have never hit your head on a ceiling.
9.  You spent a good portion of your childhood kneeling in prayer (Catholic guilt forever!).
10.  You're strangely poetic after a few beers.
11.  You are, therefore, poetic a lot.
12.  You will be punched for no good reason...a lot.
13.  Some punches directed at you are from legacies of past generations.
14.  Many of your sisters and/or cousins are named Mary, Catherine or Eileen ... and there is at least one member of your family with the full name of Mary Catherine Eileen.
15.  Someone in your family is very generous. It is more than likely you.
16.  You may not know the words, but that doesn't stop you from singing.
17.  You can't wait for the other guy to stop talking before you start talking.
18.  You're not nearly as funny as you think you are ... but what you lack in talent, you make up for in frequency.
19.  There wasn't a huge difference between your last Wake and your last keg party.
20.  You are, or know someone, named Murph.
21.  If you don't know Murph then you know Mac. If you don't know Murph or Mac then you know Sully . Then you probably know Sully McMurphy.
22.  You are genetically incapable of keeping a secret.
23.  You have Irish Alzheimer's... you forget everything but the grudges!
24.  'Irish Stew' is a euphemism for 'boiled leftovers.'
25.  All of your losses are alcohol-related ( loss of driver's license, loss of money, loss of job, loss of significant other, loss of teeth from punch...) but it never stops you from drinking.
26.  Your skin's ability to tan.... not so much.
27.  At this very moment, you have at least two relatives who are not speaking to each other (not fighting, mind you, just not speaking to each other).
28.  Childhood remedies for the common cold often included whiskey.
29.  There's no leaving a family party without saying goodbye for at least 45 minutes.
30.  You met your husband/wife/significant other/accountant/lawyer/landscaper/etc. in a bar

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