9 NOVEMBER 2002
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Subject: The peat...ahh the peat. Date: 9 Nov 2002 From: James Clark
Greetings all. They may not have leprechauns, but they really do have peat, sold in compressed briquette form at cornershops everywhere. Now that the brutal irish winter is upon us, the smell of burning peat permeates the evening air. Ahh the SerenityThe Celtic tiger was pronounced dead by the finance minister last week. I can vouch for the fact that it has been shot and skinned as I have had a few weeks of underemployment. Still, underemployment = Leisure, which can only be good.I got a chance to spend a few days in the Wicklow Mountains. Co Wicklow is the first county south of Dublin, and it has the highest mountains in all Ireland, which, well after being in the Cantons of Helvetia, isn't saying much, but still they're rather impressive. People on short visits here often make a bee line for the rugged Atlantic west coast while missing this beauty at Dublins doorstep. The most visited place in the Wicklows is Glendalough. Like most places in Ireland, there are ruins, but here they have an impressive round tower still intact after 1000 years. A monastic site was founded here by St Kevin some 1500 years ago. He had a stint living in a tree, as you do, and he was so serene that birds could lay eggs in his hand. Yes to NiceIreland recently had a referendum to ratify the Nice treaty, which amoung hundreds of technical little details which no one really understood, paved the way for EU expansion into Eastern Europe in 2004.I had not seen any famous Irish people since being here. The closest I got was one day walking down the street I turned my head the other way and I missed Bonos limo passing by, so I was told. So the combination of my quest to see at least one famous Irish person and an interest in the mechanics of the European Union saw me attending a "No to Nice" public information session, with guest speaker Gerry Adams MLA. Now technically he is not Irish, but from the United Kingdom. Close Enough. The Hall was packed with his loyal followers and well as media from across the world, as Ireland was the only country that got to vote on the Nice Treaty. A young Republican sat next to me. This was an excerpt from our conversation: Young Republican: "Lots of foreigners here" James T Clark:"I'm a foreigner" YR:"Where you from?" JTC:"Australia" YR:"Ohh...you hate the Queen down there right?" JTC"I don't know, I've never met her. She maybe a nice Lady. I'm all for a republic though if thats what you mean." YR:"So do you have any Irish blood in you?" JTC:"Yeah I got family lines from county Wexford who left in the 1850's I believe." YR:"What's their name?" JTC:"Naughton" YR:"Hmm..Naughton ehh...Doesn't sound Irish. Probably a plantation* name." (*English and Scottish Protestants that were settled on land confiscated from the Gaelic Irish in the 17th C.) JTC:"Yeah whatever dude". I had to look that one up to be sure. But there it is. All those people who claim Irish heritage around the world and you still may be seen as Proddy. I may even be an unwashed one too (not baptised). Anyway, Gerry came out and spoke, and he had the audience in his hand. The man is a born statesman, and whatever your opinion of him, you couldn't help but be interested in what he had to say. As it turned out though, Ireland voted yes, and Europe will expand east in 2004. I'm back at work now, but I have no email access, so the days of leisurely replying to emails aren't happening at the moment. On the subject of famous Irish people, I wrk near the supreme court and I walked past one day to see a bunch of cameras waiting outside. I walked by, but it turns out it was Van Morrison inside, having a fight with his neighbour over the width of his driveway. Ahh yes, newsworthy material. That's all for now. I'm going to London in a couple of weeks then I start work at the Microsoft Euro branch in Dublin in December. Later, JTC |
