Midweek Irish Craic Delivered ☘️📬
Dec 18, 2024 10:01 am
Here's your weekly dose of Irish for December 18th 2024...
Did you know? Did you know that Christmas in Ireland was traditionally celebrated with a lighted candle placed in the window to guide strangers and the Holy Family to shelter? This tradition dates back centuries and still brightens homes today.
Latest updates:
Trying a new format this week on the weekly dose of Irish; thank you all for the wonderful emails I received last week. As promised, the weekly dose of Irish will be back in your inbox every Wednesday.
We are officially one week to Christmas! This week, we have a new email supporter, which you can see below.
Looking for that perfect Irish gift? I have put together ten perfect Irish gifts on Amazon. Just double-check the shipping time before you order.
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Irish Trivia: Christmas Edition
Question:
What is the name of the traditional Irish Christmas bread served with dried fruit and spices? Answer at the end of the email.
Christmas at the Cliffs of Moher
Christmas at the Cliffs of Moher is nothing short of magical. Though the weather can be brisk, the cliffs are often quieter, allowing visitors to soak in the beauty of one of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks.
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This week's Irish jokes
An Irish dad calls his son in Australia two weeks before Christmas and says,
“I hate to ruin your day, but your mother and I have decided to divorce.”
“Dad, what are you talking about?” the son exclaims.
“We just can’t stand the sight of each other anymore,” the dad replies. “And I’m not discussing it further. You call your sister and let her know.”
Panicking, the son calls his sister in Leeds, who loses it.
“Divorce? No chance! Leave it to me.”
She calls their dad straight away. “You are NOT getting divorced! Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother, and we’ll both be home tomorrow. Don’t even think about signing a paper!”
The dad hangs up the phone, turns to his wife with a chuckle, and says,
“Well, that’s Christmas sorted. They’re coming home—and paying for it themselves!”
So, what is this week's top Irish poem?
A Cradle Song by Padraic Colum is a tender and lyrical Irish poem that beautifully reflects the spirit of Christmas. It captures the simplicity of rural life while evoking the quiet reverence of the nativity, where Mary wraps the Christ child in her mantle of blue. Perfect for this festive season, the poem reminds us of peace, love, and the gentle magic of Christmas. ☘️🎄
A Cradle Song
By Padraic Colum
O men from the fields,
Come gently within.
Tread softly, softly,
O men coming in.
Mavourneen is going
From me and from you,
Where Mary will fold him
With mantle of blue!
From reek of the smoke
And cold of the floor,
And the peering of things
Across the half-door.
O men from the fields,
Soft, softly come through.
Mary puts round him
Her mantle of blue.
About the founder of Irish Around The World:
Okay, some of you might be wondering.
Just who runs this Irish Around The World website??
Or maybe you don't care, haha.
My name is Stephen Palmer from Co. Cork, and I have been involved in many Irish-related projects over the years.
While it may seem this website is run by a whole team of highly skilled Irishmen, it is just run by myself.
So, I want to thank you again for taking the time to subscribe and participate in the community.
So, how did you start a website about Irish people around the world, Stephen?
Where it all began:
I created a website in 2013 to help Irish people who are moving to Australia, and recently, a new group to help Irish ex-pats who are returning to Ireland.
I have always enjoyed reading about Irish heritage and how connected Irish people are around the world.
However, I felt that the websites did not connect the people to the information. Instead, they just published daily articles regardless of whether people cared about them or not.
So, I decided to change it and create my own Facebook community called Irish Around The World.
It expanded to an Irish Around The World group, now with over 70k members!
Many of you have probably seen me popping in and out of our Facebook group. It has been amazing to see the interaction with each member.
There have been many ups and downs in the groups. Laughs and tears but every day, it continues to move forward. Thanks for being a part of it.
Sign up here if you haven't joined yet and don't know what you are missing.
Thank you again for being a part of Irish Around The World.
Have a great day!
All the best,
Stephen Palmer
P.S Invite your friends or family to this weekly newsletter. Just share this link with them: Irisharoundtheworld.com/join.
