Your Weekly Dose of Irish ☘️ (A Day Late, But Worth the Wait!)

Well, well, well… sure, aren’t we only fashionably late this week? If there’s one thing the Irish know, it’s that good things come to those who wait (and that there’s always time for one more cup of tea or a pint!). So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s dose of Irish goodness!

Big updates: I'm finally getting back to that daily dose of the physical Irish book I started last year. I will have more information on it soon!

I was a bit late with this picture, but it made me laugh! haha

🇮🇪 Did You Know?

The word “boycott” actually comes from Ireland! Back in 1880, Captain Charles Boycott, an English land agent in Co. Mayo, was shunned by the local community during the Irish Land War. The people refused to work for him, serve him, or even talk to him. The tactic worked so well that his name became the very word we use today—boycott!

☘️ Irish Joke of the Week

Paddy and Murphy are sitting in a pub.

Paddy says, “Did you know that beer contains female hormones?”

Murphy replies, “How do you know?”

Paddy says, “Well, after a few pints, we start talking nonsense and can’t drive properly!”

(Disclaimer: We fully support responsible drinking… and responsible joke-telling!)

📜 Irish Quote of the Week

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything." — Irish Proverb

Wise words, indeed! So, if you're feeling a bit tired today, just blame it on ancient Irish wisdom and take a nap!

📜 Featured Irish Poem: "Mid-Term Break" by Seamus Heaney

This poignant poem reflects on personal loss and the fragility of life, capturing a young boy's perspective on family tragedy.

I sat all morning in the college sick bay

Counting bells knelling classes to a close.

At two o’clock our neighbours drove me home.

In the porch I met my father crying—

He had always taken funerals in his stride—

And Big Jim Evans saying it was a hard blow.

The baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

When I came in, and I was embarrassed

By old men standing up to shake my hand

And tell me they were ‘sorry for my trouble’.

Whispers informed strangers I was the eldest,

Away at school, as my mother held my hand

In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs.

At ten o’clock the ambulance arrived

With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurses.

Next morning I went up into the room. Snowdrops

And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him

For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,

Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,

He lay in the four-foot box as in his cot.

No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.

A four-foot box, a foot for every year.

For more poems like this, explore our Top 100 Irish Poems.

🇮🇪 This Week in Irish History

📅 20th February 1932 – The famous Irish leader Éamon de Valera became Taoiseach (Prime Minister) for the first time. He would go on to dominate Irish politics for decades and even draft the Irish Constitution of 1937. A true icon of Ireland’s history!

🇮🇪 The Ultimate Irish Quiz!

Test your Irish knowledge with these five fun questions! (Answers at the bottom—no peeking! 👀)

1️⃣ What is the capital of Northern Ireland?

A) Galway

B) Cork

C) Belfast

D) Limerick

2️⃣ Who was the first President of Ireland?

A) Michael D. Higgins

B) Douglas Hyde

C) Éamon de Valera

D) Mary Robinson

3️⃣ What Irish saint is said to have driven the snakes out of Ireland?

A) St. Brigid

B) St. Columba

C) St. Patrick

D) St. Oliver Plunkett

4️⃣ What’s the Irish word for "cheers"?

A) Sláinte

B) Craic

C) Go raibh maith agat

D) Ceol

5️⃣ What county is known as "The Kingdom"?

A) Clare

B) Kerry

C) Donegal

D) Tipperary

🍀 Quiz Answers:

1️⃣ C) Belfast

2️⃣ B) Douglas Hyde

3️⃣ C) St. Patrick

4️⃣ A) Sláinte

5️⃣ B) Kerry

How did you do? Let me know if you got 5/5—I might just have to send you an honorary Irish passport! 🇮🇪😂

🍀 Weekly Irish Challenge

This week, try using one Irish phrase in conversation! Here’s a handy one:

👉 “Go n-éirí an bóthar leat” – May the road rise to meet you.

Use it when saying goodbye to someone, and watch their face light up!

How to say: Guh nyeh-ree on boh-har lyat

Breakdown:

• Go → "Guh"
• n-éirí → "nyeh-ree" (like nyair-ee)
• an → "on"
• bóthar → "boh-har" (the "bh" is soft, almost like a "w" in some dialects)
• leat → "lyat" (rhymes with "cat" but softer)

It means "May the road rise to meet you", a classic Irish blessing. ☘️💚

That’s it for this week, folks! A little late but packed full of Irish charm. Sláinte, and see you next week—on time, hopefully! 😉

Cheers,

Stephen

💚 P.S. If you enjoyed this, share it with a friend who loves all things Irish! 🇮🇪✨