Drinking Habits in Ireland

Since my sister recently moved to Dublin, I have now a first hand source for all kinds of funny, intersting, strange cultural differences between us Austrians and the Irish. First thing she noticed on the green Island was that she, a lover of wine, was completely lost. Of course given the meteorologic preconditions (not so sunny, not so warm, lots of rain) she did not expect to find tons of great wines in Ireland. Unfortunatly she really despices beer and therefore she feels kind of an alien. After several weeks of drinking soda on the weekly pub evening with friends apparently some of them felt sorry for her and started a risky expedtion: finding a pub, that serves "good" wine for Anna. And look, what they found:

 

First step towards feeling at ease with the new home.

Culture Presentations

Wow! I really have to say, I was impressed by the vaste range of topics we carried together for our culture presentations. Listening to my colleagues I learned plenty new stuff.

Anita Bhatti introduced me to the art of Newgrange, the oldest artwork in the world.
From Diana Skof I got some shocking facts about Psychiatry in Ireland in the middle of the last century.
Irish Dance is no longer this big secret to me, thanks to Katharina Luttenberger.
I was stunned by the story Bianca Brandtner told about Donal Walsh's fight against suicide in Ireland.
Thanks to Carmen Loderer, I'm now jeallous of Irish students for their opportunity to do a transition year.
The stories Katja Wallner told about animal symbolism in Irish Mythology captivated me.
Until Verena Praschs presentation about Whiskey I didn't even know there is such a thing like Austrian Whiskey.
Next time I'm in Dublin I will pay the Dublin Docklands a visite, beeing curious about them since Sowannry Em introtuced them to me.
I do now have a deeper knowledge about the GAA, thanks Alexandra Perfler.
Me and my sisters will send our 40-years old single cuisine to Willie Daly, hoping he can help. Natalie Riedl
Next time I'm invited to a Dinner party in one of the southern states of the US I will bring a cake. Thanks to Julia Rauch for giving me all this information about Southern Hospitality.
Should I ever get arrested in the US, at least because of Livia Pershy I do now know which society threat group I have to become a member of, in order to not get beat up.
And the San Francisco bay arrea is no longer a stranger to me, after heaving heard Marina Margeta's presentation.

All in all it was a really fun afternoon with lots of fun new facts to learn.

The presentations which most ceptured me, which I'm really curious about and which I'm choosing to be tested on in the KGP are:


Irish Dance
Transition year.
Animal symbolism in Irish Mytholog
Whiskey
The GAA

Irish Philosophy

I found this printed on a postcard when I first went to Ireland. Ever since that moment this is kind of my pazifier. Whenever something does not work out the way I want this saying tells me not to worry about it.

I hope you like it as much as I do!

Wallis Bird - an extraordinary Irish singer

"The sheer visceral energy could kick-start an entire economy…” - The Irish Times

 I decided to start this blog with a guote because this is just the most striking way of describing Wallis Bird I have ever read. And I am pretty sure however saw her on stage just once will agree.

Wallis Bird (31) is an remarkable singer and songwriter. She grew up in Wexford, Ireland but later moved to Berlin, Mannheim and currently is living in London. From childhood on she was really into music. Nothing could stop her from going her own way and creating amazing music. Neither that she once had all the fingers of her left hand cut off by a lawnmower (four could be sawn back on, only the pinky is missing today) nor that she, a born left-hander, is playing a right handers guitar upside down. All this are feautures to her unusual, extraordinary way of making music.

Until today she has released 3 Albums (Spoons, New Boots, Wallis Bird). In all three of them you can hear and feel the many different styles she is combining. In her songs you can find traces of traditional folk music, jazz and funk but also an energetic handmade rock sound. Her extraordinary voice makes her songs what they are.

Listen yourself:

 

Thanks to the fact that her Manager is a guy who grew up in my neighbour village and studied in Graz she is in town for concerts every now and than. I'll let you know the next time she is here.

Irish Easter

First of all, welcome back after the easter break.

I am sure we all enjoyed the days off and most of us have spent the holidays with their familys celebrating easter with many traditions.

In Austria there are a number of different traditions connected to easter. Some of them are the same but of course every family has a couple additional traditions just for themselves. In Ireland I am pretty sure it is the same. Curious about Irish easter traditions here is a short overview about what we have in comon and what is different in Austria and Ireland.

As we all know easter already starts 40 days before Easter Sunday. This period is called Lent. In the traditional way one should not eat meat during this time (many people try thesedays to go without something else they really like, for example chocolate). What I did not know is, that Irish people usually eat fish every friday in Lent in some kind of fish soup and they also do not eat eggs until Easter Sunday. In both countries eggs are a symbol for easter and the will get painted in different colours.

Of course the most important week in Lent is the last week also known as Holly week starting with Palm Sunday. On Friday, Good Friday, just like in Austria people try not to do any outside work and prepare themselves for Easter. Then comes Easter Saturday with the Easter Vigil in the evening. Which is the same in both countries again. Apparently we Austrians are the more unpatient folks and so we already have our easter Dinner on Saturday. It usually consists of homemade white bread, smoked meat, horseradish, vegetables, wine and off course eggs. All this food will previously be blessed by the priest. Irish people wait patiently until easter sunday for their special Easter meal. In Ireland this would usually includes potatoes, vegetables, meat, stuffing, bread and anything else that makes up a good proper Irish feast. All together the Irish Easter is not that different from the Austrian.

I hope you all had a Happy Easter. :-)