The other morning I was in my doctor's office filling out the usual paperwork in the waiting room. The televisions all had on a local morning show that I find particularly annoying, and when I turned my head to see what they were talking about my readiness to be annoyed did not go unfulfilled. As this Friday is St. Patrick's Day, they predictably were doing a "segment" about Irish food and drink, as are all morning shows this week. One of the hosts, interviewing Irish chef Clodagh McKenna, (Who seems to be Ireland's version of Giada de Laurentiis with her tastefully curated website, fun recipes, and calm demeanor.) told her about her recent experience in Ireland this past summer leading with, "When I was in Ireland this summer, I told the bartender that I wanted the best Irish whiskey." ("My cat's breath smells like cat food...."- Ralph Wiggam)
My eyeballs hit the ceiling, literally. I rolled them so hard I thought I might need to visit the optometrist next. You see, this is what we always do, not just just every year around St. Patrick's day, but whenever we talk about Ireland, going to Ireland, being of Irish "heritage" which, face it, 95% of the time those claims are dubious at best. But that is the ironic thing, even though we do not appreciate Ireland in all its glory, we all still want to be Irish. Why? Because Ireland is freaking amazing, and the Irish people make Ireland, Ireland. It is hands down one of my most favorite places in the world to visit and not because of the Guinness factory, or the whiskey, or the castles, or the misplaced idea that because of a possible shared heritage I can lay some claim to their history or present day treasures. It is because the grass is greener, the sea is stormier, the fires are warmer, but most of all, the spirit of the Irish people is friendlier, deeper, more sarcastic, quick and witty. They are fast and fierce with a joke, but also quick with their warmth. It is just who they are.
You see, Ireland is more than just Jameson, U2 and potatoes. It is Edmund Burke, James Joyce, Kenneth Brannagh, and Saoise Ronan. Robert Boyle, Ernest Walton, and Robbie Keane. It is the best damn dairy out there between their butter and cheese, it is the tender lamb and abundant seafood. It is a country with an revered and ancient history that is held proudly and tight, yet it is not afraid to march forward with progress. I fear as Americans we do not acknowledge or understand their sovereignty or individual nature. That instead of a seeing a nation with a proud and hard fought past, too many of us think of it as a caricatures or the stereotypes that proliferate our ideas of the island nation. It exist in its own right, a mystical enigma of a haunting past and ever promising future. It is so much more than a leprechaun, the color green, or the St. Patrick's day holiday. (Though I admit, I love celebrating is as well.)
So the next time you are looking for a place to go, put Ireland at the top. Instead of asking the vacuous questions like, "What is your best Irish whiskey?" Ask the bartender what his/her favorite is, ask for a taste test and let the flavor roll on your tongue like it is supposed to instead of taking it as a shot. Sit with the regulars of a pub and order a Guinness instead of going to the "warehouse." Immerse yourself in everything Ireland has to offer, from the Atlantic Ocean crashing into the cliffs on the western shore, to the rocky burren, the rolling hills, and cosmopolitan Dublin. The real Ireland lies in the people. It lies in the idea history can be embraced while still looking forward. But most of all it is not in the idea of Ireland, but in Ireland itself. So, if you want to experience the real Ireland let Travel Further help you out. There is a whole world to explore, get out there and travel further.
The other morning I was in my doctor's office filling out the usual paperwork in the waiting room. The televisions all had on a local morning show that I find particularly annoying, and when I turned my head to see what they were talking about my readiness to be annoyed did not go unfulfilled. As this Friday is St. Patrick's Day, they predictably were doing a "segment" about Irish food and drink, as are all morning shows this week. One of the hosts, interviewing Irish chef Clodagh McKenna, (Who seems to be Ireland's version of Giada de Laurentiis with her tastefully curated website, fun recipes, and calm demeanor.) told her about her recent experience in Ireland this past summer leading with, "When I was in Ireland this summer, I told the bartender that I wanted the best Irish whiskey." ("My cat's breath smells like cat food...."- Ralph Wiggam)
My eyeballs hit the ceiling, literally. I rolled them so hard I thought I might need to visit the optometrist next. You see, this is what we always do, not just just every year around St. Patrick's day, but whenever we talk about Ireland, going to Ireland, being of Irish "heritage" which, face it, 95% of the time those claims are dubious at best. But that is the ironic thing, even though we do not appreciate Ireland in all its glory, we all still want to be Irish. Why? Because Ireland is freaking amazing, and the Irish people make Ireland, Ireland. It is hands down one of my most favorite places in the world to visit and not because of the Guinness factory, or the whiskey, or the castles, or the misplaced idea that because of a possible shared heritage I can lay some claim to their history or present day treasures. It is because the grass is greener, the sea is stormier, the fires are warmer, but most of all, the spirit of the Irish people is friendlier, deeper, more sarcastic, quick and witty. They are fast and fierce with a joke, but also quick with their warmth. It is just who they are.
You see, Ireland is more than just Jameson, U2 and potatoes. It is Edmund Burke, James Joyce, Kenneth Brannagh, and Saoise Ronan. Robert Boyle, Ernest Walton, and Robbie Keane. It is the best damn dairy out there between their butter and cheese, it is the tender lamb and abundant seafood. It is a country with an revered and ancient history that is held proudly and tight, yet it is not afraid to march forward with progress. I fear as Americans we do not acknowledge or understand their sovereignty or individual nature. That instead of a seeing a nation with a proud and hard fought past, too many of us think of it as a caricatures or the stereotypes that proliferate our ideas of the island nation. It exist in its own right, a mystical enigma of a haunting past and ever promising future. It is so much more than a leprechaun, the color green, or the St. Patrick's day holiday. (Though I admit, I love celebrating is as well.)
So the next time you are looking for a place to go, put Ireland at the top. Instead of asking the vacuous questions like, "What is your best Irish whiskey?" Ask the bartender what his/her favorite is, ask for a taste test and let the flavor roll on your tongue like it is supposed to instead of taking it as a shot. Sit with the regulars of a pub and order a Guinness instead of going to the "warehouse." Immerse yourself in everything Ireland has to offer, from the Atlantic Ocean crashing into the cliffs on the western shore, to the rocky burren, the rolling hills, and cosmopolitan Dublin. The real Ireland lies in the people. It lies in the idea history can be embraced while still looking forward. But most of all it is not in the idea of Ireland, but in Ireland itself. So, if you want to experience the real Ireland let Travel Further help you out. There is a whole world to explore, get out there and travel further.
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