Is Irish Comedian Ed Byrne the Snow Queen?

I got this clipping out of the South Wales Evening Post, one day last week.

I always thought Ed Byrne was a bit "frosty" and his stint as the Snow Queen explains why!

Or are we dealing with identical twins separated at birth here?

The world needs to know! What is the truth? I will tweet Dara O'Briain and demand the truth! Unless he too has a secret double life (widow twanky). I did shout out and ask the comedian Greg Davies (at his show in Swansea) if Dara was the world's worst transvestite, which seemed to make him smile. I think he said that was the sickest thing he'd heard! ;-)

Oh what tangled lives these comedians lead - all to gain more filthy lucre and lord it over us and be able to buy such frivolous items as gold taps, Freshsco's finest gravy granules and two (or even three!) Sunday papers, every week!

Defend the Seal of Confession

Some Irish politicians are ranting against the Seal of Confession. They claim it is used to stop crimes being reported to the police. In truth this is an age-old argument. I am sure similar spin was used in Napoleonic France, Hitler's Germany, various Communist states, Masonic post-Revolution Mexico and in many other times and places.

The church may be many things at the moment but for thousands of years it was not stupid. Confession is a Sacrament.It is a gift from God. Take away the Seal of Confession (which basically prevents the priest repeating anything said in the Confessional or using info thus gained in any way) and people would stop going to Confession.

The priest is acting as Christ (as when he stands at the Altar at Mass) and one cannot imagine Christ repeating sins told to him to anyone. The priest may well tell the penitent that in order to be absolved of a heinous crime the penitent himself must make restitution - e.g. tell the police or replace some stolen item or its worth.

But the idea of breaking the Seal of Confession would break Confession itself. We are all failing humans, falling far short on many occasions, and so when we go to Confession the act itself can be far from glorious, even if the outcome is. It is vital therefore that the transgressions Confessed to God (large or small, and with most people I am sure it is a litany of personal faults and shortcomings that Our Lord has heard a thousand times), are retained by God only.

Otherwise we risk the State gaining information and using/misusing/abusing said information for its own nefarious ends. We may not live in France 1789, but who knows what is around the corner?

So please, don't believe the hype! As we have seen in more recent weeks much of the media cannot be trusted. It is not (always) altruistic. It has an agenda.

Confession is good for the soul. Break the Seal of Confession and it will be terminally undermined.

To St Peter's (Roath)! It may be a long protest - so feel free to bring a keg of Brains and some reduced 10p bags of doughnuts. I'll bring the fat rascals.

Tara Hill - Seat of the Ancient High Kings of Ireland - Songs and Protest

One of my favourite songs is Tara Hill by the the Fureys. OK, its an old romantic song, in the sense of idealised Ireland and historic romanticism, but it's still wonderfully evocative.

We all have a place we remember with fondness, a place that we'd long to go back and see perhaps for personal memories, for associations with times past, or because they link in with our national psyche.

It could be the pub where you first met your sweetheart, a park where you used to ride your bike as a child, or a windswept ancient building which speaks to you of the stories of the people who lived, fought, or died there.





And sometimes, people just don't realise what treasures they have:



And look: Even the apostate King Henry VIII is out for saving Tara Hill! ;-)



And to think I was happy to see Roath Park after a few years away! ;-)

OBama's Irish Gift Hurley Stick

The Irish Teashop - sorry Taoiseach - Enda Kenny gave President Obama a Hurley stick today on his last day in Ireland, before he left to visit the UK (slightly earlier for fear of another Icelandic volcanic ash cloud).

Yes, we Hurleys know that our name comes from an implement that is quintessentially Irish, so much so that it was the obvious choice as the ultimate gift from the Irish leader to the American leader.

According to the Belfast Telegraph:

Holding the stick with two hands, Mr Obama said: "If members of Congress aren't behaving, give 'em a little paddle, a little hurl."

So raise a glass fellow Hurleys! Our name, our heritage and our fame spreads far and wide once again.

We all know that Obama is in Ireland to garner Irish-American votes for when he stands for reelection, but the image of an American president waving a Hurley stick will stick in many peoples' minds. And that can't be a bad thing.

Irish Education: Fine Men Taught by the Finest Priests

St Nathy's College, Co Roscommon

A fair few weeks ago, I was pointed to this Blog called "Maria Stops Abortion" which had an entry on St Patrick's Day about years gone by in Ireland and the upbringing of Irishmen 'back in the day.'

I read it and, as my own grandfather came from Kinsale, it was a great comfort to read of how Irish education wasn't one long story of abuse, hatred, evil monks etc. etc. -- which is the over-riding impression we get from the British media, the organised atheists and so many others with an axe to grind.

The hero of the piece, Stan McCarrick who I did meet some 10 years ago, looked back on his college days in Ireland, which despite being "blisteringly poor" he had the fondest memories of:

for the rest of his life he referred back to that college [St Nathy's] as a perfect environment, where boys were brought up to behave honourably and justly. He regarded the teachers in that school – all Priests - as the finest men he met in his life. And his fellow pupils, shaped by those men, as not far behind them.

Not always the picture of bliss (I'm being ironic) we know of UK state schools especially in the big cities, nor even the poshest public schools or boarding schools; let alone council-run orphanages or care homes in the UK.

Might Stan McCarrick's view of the Irish school system and of Irish priest teachers make it to the mainstream media?

Don't hold your breath. Catholicism isn't supposed to be known for running some of the finest educational establishments open to come of the poorest children.

Why Do the Irish Sing Two 'Anthems' at the Rugby? After Tomorrow Will I Care?

And you thought my post on the English singing God Save the Queen before their Six Nations matches was controversial.

An Irish acquaintance (through work) sent me this reply when I asked him about the Irish national anthem (I always wondered why the Irish got to sing two songs - was this a ruse to unnerve the opposition, an aural war of attrition?).

He replied:

The second song they sing is We'll Answer Ireland's Call or something like that. It's about the same as the English supporters singing Swing Low, Sweet FA.

I'll leave you to take in those words as I use the defence of Pontius Pilot (moral cowardice) and wash my hands of all responsibility. 

I am, of course, part Irish and so (as opposed to last weekend) I will be supporting Ireland tomorrow, for its own sake, but also because if the Irish win (however against the odds that seems) the Welsh have a slim chance of still winning the Six Nations championship.

I know I'm clutching at straws, but while there is life there is hope.

Come on Wales! Cymru am Byth! Come on Ireland! Eirinn go brach!

A few years ago (1999) I was living in Scotland and the only chance Scotland had of winning the Six Nations was if Wales beat England, which they went and did. That very evening I think I was the most popular man in the bar and didn't have to pay for any beers. Ah! Sweet memories.

If Ireland did the same for Wales (and France continue with their abysmal style from last weekend) tomorrow, then I would think an errant Irishman in a Welsh pub might well find himself in the same situation... Now where did I put my Irish rugby top... ;-)

And do you know what, if Ireland do Wales this favour tomorrow I would petition the president of the Irish Rugby Union to allow them three anthems: even Brian Moore's favourite, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, if they wanted to! ;-)

St Patrick's Day Greetings to all Nigerians

For those who don't know me, I am Welsh with a bit of Irish thrown in for good measure (the best bit as my local postmaster keeps reminding me).

So today I have lots of reasons to celebrate St Patrick.

It's not known from which area the young Welshman was taken circa the age of 16. It may have been Wales as we know it today, it may have been from the Welsh kingdom of Strathclyde or somewhere in-between.

Other Saints and holy men went to Ireland before and after Patrick, yet it is Patrick the young Welsh shepherd and slave that we remember.

The Welsh retained the Faith that the Romans had brought, even after the Empire fell, took it to Ireland, where the monasticism of Patrick spread. Years later that monasticism was re-introduced to Europe proper, and post-Reformation, the Catholic Faith was re-introduced to Britain by the waves of Irish settlers who came here, including my own grandfather.

So, we have:

• The Romans convert the Britons/Welsh (Welsh being old Saxon for foreigner/Roman) to Roman Catholicism.
• St Patrick the Welshman takes the Catholic Faith and Monasticism to the Irish.
• The Irish take Monasticism to Mainland Europe to reinvigorate the whole Catholic Church even to its heartlands in France and Italy.
• The Irish come to Wales (and England) to reinforce the few native Catholics (recusants) left after penal laws etc.

It's almost like a large wonderful circle of history. If those Romans hadn't converted the Welsh, and St Patrick hadn't converted the Irish, I may not be a Welsh Catholic today.

So lift a glass to St Patrick, the Welsh-Irishman. I know it's Lent (and I know you have all been keeping your Lenten fast!), but we are allowed an exemption for special Feast Days. I'm sure St Patrick knew this when his number was called on the 17th of March (subsequent calendar changes notwithstanding), which just goes to show he must have been well acclimatised with the natives by then.

Nigerian Bishops: "Hey! It's our day too."

Let me close by asking you to say a prayer for Nigeria and her people.

You see, Nigeria's Patron Saint is St Patrick, so it must be tough for them as I bet nobody ever thinks of Nigeria on St Patrick's Day (apart from Nigerians of course).

So a big cheer for the Nigerians, and a polite clap for the Irish.

As the natives might say: Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! (ban-ock-tee na fay-lah paw-rig ur-iv), St Patrick's Day Blessing Upon You.

The Story of Ireland on the BBC

Fergal Keane: Good Job... So Far.

There's a great programme about the history of Ireland put out by RTE and the BBC.

I've missed it on telly, but it is on BBC I-Player and well worth a watch (I just watched the first episode: where they said St Patrick was Welsh. Back of the net!).

If you get the chance have a look at it, the first episode was very interesting (that's not to say later ones won't be controversial, as they are taking quite a "revisionist" line).

Just search for Story of Ireland on BBC I-Player. It's presented by Fergal Keane (didn't he sing for the Undertones, of no I'm thinking of someone else - perhaps he played for Man United?) and well worth viewing.

Just goes to show the BBC doesn't need to make Eastenders and other brain dead drivel.

Greg Mulholland MP and the Call for English Anthem Usage

500 AD and Glastonbury is still held by "Welsh" tribes

After a minor kerfuffle from my last post, it seems that at least one MP agrees with me, that God Save the Queen is indeed the anthem of the UK and not of England.

As Wikipedia says:

On 20 April 2007, Greg Mulholland, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds North West, introduced an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons, proposing that England have its own national anthem. The EDM called for all English sporting associations to "adopt an appropriate song that English sportsmen and women, and the English public, would favour when competing as England."^[3] There has also been an EDM calling for "Jerusalem" to be given official status as the national anthem of England, proposed by Daniel Kawczynski, the Conservative Party MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham on 18 October 2006.^[4]

In April 2008 Greg Mulholland called for the England national rugby league team to replace "God Save the Queen" with an English national anthem at the Rugby League World Cup (RL World Cup) to be held in Australia in autumn 2008^[5] and on 28 April he put forward another EDM in the House of Commons, noting that Scotland and Wales who are also taking part in the RL World Cup, will all have their own national anthems, and therefore calling on England to use an English national anthem rather than the British national anthem, with the proposal that English rugby league fans should be given the chance to choose an English anthem.^[6] However, God Save the Queen was used.

On St George's Day, April 23, 2010, the Commonwealth Games Council for England launched a poll to allow the public to decide which anthem is to be played at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. Voters could choose between God Save the Queen, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory with the winning song being adopted as the official anthem for Team England. ^[7] Jerusalem was declared the winner on 30 May 2010, securing 52% of the vote. ^[8]

If the English wish to have Jerusalem as their anthem who am I (Welsh, part-Irish and so devoid of any rights on such matters apparently) to say otherwise. It is certainly very stirring (moreso than God Save the Queen may I dare to opine?)

Of course, if Our Lord Jesus Christ did indeed come to the West Country, brought by Joseph of Arimathea so folk-tales say, then of course it was still part of Welsh Britain, where the native tribes would have spoke ancient Welsh, perhaps intermixed with some Latin).

The arrival of the English was some 400+ years away, apart from some mercenaries fighting for the Romans as the Empire crumbled, to protect the East Coast of what became England from raiders. Some historians say these mercenaries became the settlers that the "invading" Germanic tribes came to join - I believe it's a moot point. The West Country itself remained "Welsh" for much longer of course (eventually only Wales and Cornwall as we recognise them today were left separate of Anglo-Saxon tribal kingdoms and their vessel fiefdoms)

Still it's nice to think that Jesus Christ may have come to these islands and met the natives later called Welsh (or "foreigner" in old Anglo-Saxon English, they gave similar names to peoples in what would become Belgium and Italy). If only because the Welsh kept the Roman and Christian Faith, and via the Welshman St Patrick exported it to Ireland where monasticism really took off and thrived as Europe as a whole entered what has been called the 'Dark Ages.'


P.S. I don't know if Greg Mulholland is English or not. Does that negate his argument for asking for an English anthem as opposed to the British one?

Link:
Britannia After the Roman Withdrawal

Mr & Mrs Daniel Hurley, Cork City.

This photo of my grandfather and grandmother, Daniel Hurley and Ann Hurley, is undated. My father believes it was taken in Cork City when they stayed there on holiday.

Hurley's Bar, near Kinsale

"The Hurley's" of Ballinspittle, Co Cork.

Doing a search for Hurleys in Kinsale I came across a Hurley's Bar in listings for Kinsale, though in fact it's in a village just outside called Ballinspittle.

A link to the official site of the Bar is now in the side bar under the Irish sites grouping.

But I also found this blog on Bugbitten which has lots of photos from the bar, including this one of the Hurley's (I don't know if that means the staff of the bar, or the family that run it...).

God Bless Denis Donovan - and His Hurley Stick!

Denis Donovan began life in Cork, Ireland and ended up in Australia after moving there in 1958.

Here he is pictured with his Hurley stick which he took all the way to Australia.

In his own words:

"My hurley stick is used in the Irish game of hurling. It is made of wood and is similar to a hockey stick. I brought the stick with me as a reminder of playing sport in Ireland."

The hurley stick is a great sporting and cultural icon to many Irishmen and people of Irish descent.

Denis's Irish grandfather - like mine! - had been in the British Army (remember that this was pre-partition, pre-1916/1921 and Ireland was officially still part of the UK).

To read more of Denis's story go to Belongings - Denis Donovan.

Kinsale Military Re-enactment

This video is of a re-enactment event in Kinsale, which seems to span the centuries from Celts to the 20th Century.

There seems to be some items related to either the 1916 uprising or the 1921 civil war.

The chap filming it lacks a certain gravitas in his commentary (he's seems to not-know more than he knows!) and his camera-work is... interesting.

Yet for all that you get a good glimpse of the events, and another view of Kinsale.

So, enjoy!

GAA Caused 'Irish' Hurley Sticks Row

OK, so this is an old news story, he said clutching at straws, but this is a wonderful way of showing where the Hurley name comes from.

The sticks used in the sport of Hurling are known as Hurley sticks. So I guess somewhere down the line some ancestor of mine was either a good Hurling player or a maker of fine Hurley sticks.

Great sportsman or skilled craftsman. In all humility, as I fit both criteria (stop laughing) I don't mind which. Perhaps my studies and meandering will confirm which it is...

As for the row itself, I think as Hurling is an Irish sport, and as the GAA was brought into existence (as I understand it from Irish friends) to promote Irish sports and culture, then it's only right that the Hurley stcks should be Irish.

No big deal really.


Link:
BBC Story on GAA Hurley Sticks Row


For those interested, here's a video on the making of a Hurley stick:


Irish Guild of Ash Hurley Makers - Ear To The Ground from Irish Guild Of Ash Hurley Makers on Vimeo.


And here's another Irish Hurley sticks story - linked with the TV show Dragon's Den:

Link:
Irish Hurley Maker on Dragon's Den

History of Penal Times in Ireland

This is the best article I have foundf thus far, which explains the history of the times in relation to Bl. Dermot O'Hurley's martyrdom at the hands of Elizabeth I (boo).

It's well worth a read, as are many of his other essays (eg. Return to Chesterton) - just follow the link through to his other works.

This aerticle originally appeared in Homiletic and Pastoral Review, July, 2002.

Link:
It Is the Mass that Matters by Fr TJ McGovern

The Hurley Chalice, Cork City

This is the famous Hurley Chalice, a relic of Blessed Archbishop Dermot O'Hurley, held at St Mary's Cathedral, Cork City.

I found this picture at:

The Road to Kilomonogue

where the lady researcher wrongly refers to him as Bishop Hurley.

Her page is worth a look though as she does track down some possible members of her Hurley family in County Cork.

Blessed Dermot O'Hurley, Archbishop and Catholic Martyr

Further to my last post it turns out that the Hurleys don't have their own Saint. But as a Blesséd, the good Archbishop is just one step away (like Cardinal Newman) from being a Saint.

St Kevin's Church, the burial place of Bl. Dermot O'Hurley

I've put the Wikipedia page about him in the Hurley site links, in the right hand column.

Here's Archbishiop Diarmaid Ó hUrthuile - Dermot O'Hurley's - final address at his execution by that wicked witch Elizabeth I (feel free to boo at her name):

"Be it therefore known unto you...that I am a priest anointed and also a Bishop, although unworthy of soe sacred dignitites, and noe cause could they find against me that might in the least deserve the paines of death, but merely for my funcon of priesthood wherein they have proceeded against me in all pointes cruelly contrarie to their own lawes..and I doe injoin you (Deere Christian Brethren) to manifest the same to the world and also to beare witness on the Day of Judgment of my Innocent death, which I indure for my function and profession of the most holy Catholick Faith."

Here's what the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913 had to say about the good Archbishop:

"Archbishop of Cashel, Ireland; died 19-29 June, 1584. His father, William O'Hurley of Lickadoon, near Limerick, a man of substance and standing, holding land under the Earl of Desmond, secured him a liberal education on the continent. He took his doctorate in utroque jure, taught first at Louvain and then at Reims, and afterwards went to Rome. Appointed Archbishop of Cashel by Gregory XIII, he was consecrated on 11 September, 1581, per saltum, not having previously taken priesthood. Two years later he landed at Drogheda, stayed a short time with the Baron of Slane, and proceeded for his diocese, expecting protection from the Earl of Ormonde. Loftus, Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, and Sir Henry Wallop, then lords justices, having secret information, so intimidated Lord Slane that he hastened to Munster and brought back his guest. The archbishop was committed to Dublin Castle in October, 1583, while the justices, dreading Ormonde's resentment and his influence with Queen Elizabeth [boo], obtained authority to use torture, hoping that he would inform against the Earl of Kildare and Lord Delvin. Still apprehensive, they suggested as Dublin was unprovided with rack, that their prisoner could be better schooled in the Tower of London. Walsingham replied by bidding them toast his feet in hot boots over a fire. The barbarous suggestion was adopted, and early in March, 1584, the archbishop's legs were thrust into boots filled with oil and salt, beneath which a fire was kindled. Some groans of agony were wrung from the victim, and he cried aloud, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!," but rejected every proposal to abandon his religion. Ultimately he swooned away, and fearing his death, the torturers removed him; as the boots were pulled off, the flesh was stripped from his bones. In this condition he was returned to prison, and the Justices again sought instructions from England, reporting what had been done, and intimating the lawyer's opinion that no charge of treason could be sustained in Irish law against Dr. O'Hurley. Walsingham, having consulted the queen [boo], wrote back her approval of the torture, and her authority to dispatch the archbishop by martial law. He was secretly taken out at dawn, and hanged with a withe on the gibbet near St. Stephen's Green, 19-29 June, 1584. His body was buried by some friends in St. Kevin's churchyard.
CHARLES MCNEILL"

Hurleys in Ireland - More Info

This is quite an interesting website if, like me, you are a Hurley:

Link:
The Hurley Family Tree

Not least because it tells us that:

"Ballinacarriga [tower house - but look, it's a castle to me!] was built in 1585 by Randal Hurley (Muirhily)"

and

"In 1631 Randal died and was succeeded by his son Randal Oge, who was one of the first to take up arms in the rebellion of 1641. One of the most interesting aspects of the Hurley Family is that the women fought alongside their men-folk, up to and including 1641, the family was indicted of high treason following that rising, was outlawed and lost everything."

Riches to rags. That sounds typical!

But then there's:

"Dermot O'Hurly, Archbishop of Cashel, suffered martydom in Dublin,

THE HURLEY CHALICE,
St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Cork.
and was buried in St. Kevin's Church, where his body bore the repute of many miracles."

Could the Hurleys have their own Saint...

Kinsale 1601, Spanish Armada, Charles Fort & the Plantation of Ulster

William Wallace Was Welsh

Cymru Am Byth? Wallace the Welshman

I have long told anyone who will listen of the Welshness of St Patrick.

You see, the Briton (i.e. Welshman) Patrick was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave, where he (to cut a long story short) later returned as a Priest to convert the Irish.

Well, now I can add another national hero to my long list of Welsh heroes: William Wallace!

The name Wallace means 'Welshman' and as the link below shows, the Kingdom of Strathclyde and the Cumbrians spoke a dialect of, or a language akin to Welsh.

When Strathclyde was 'absorbed' into Scotland many of the ruling class moved down to Wales and were known as the 'Men of the North' and even today many Cumbrians share genes with the Welsh.

I knew that the Irish name Walsh meant 'Welsh' but had no idea of the name Wallace meaning the same in Scotland.

So there we have it: the Welsh gave Christianity and the Catholic heritage to Ireland, and the Welsh gave freedom and nationhood to Scotland!

It's a great time to be Welsh! ;-)

Link: The Cumbric Language