Wednesday, March 07, 2012

call me Liam

It's March. 
St. Patrick's Day time. 
Pour me a pint and call me Liam.



stopping to enjoy the Gap of Dunloe

There are countless memories that pop up and rattle around my brain. A very fond memory is my family's opportunity to live Irish for a few months during 1989. I’m reminded of it every St. Paddy’s Day.

scenes of rolling green
traffic jams of sheep
misty rain
rainbows
castles
toe tapping music in pubs and local shows
driving on the left
B&B's
helpful friendly people
beer

You might find one of these dark tasty pints at my table:


But most often it looked more like this:



May your Guinness glass always be half full.
 
It was through I-tunes that I discovered an Irish punk band going by the name “The Tossers”.


No matter where you live, if you party too much you might get mixed up in a relationship like this guy did with Siobhan.



off the top of my head and from the bottom of my heart
I wish you a Happy St. Paddy’s Day 
Sláinte



(find more of my Irish posts by clicking the Ireland label/tag)

31 comments:

Tami Miller said...

My husband and I visited Ireland in 2002. It was gorgeous!  I'd go back again in a heartbeat.  

lisleman said...

 Did you get to travel the rural areas?  There is an amazing variety of places for a small country.  thanks

atykesprogress said...

oh sweetie are you sure you want to let people know that you associate yourself with 'tossers' ;o}. I love Ireland driving up the coast from Belfast north is fantastic it looks like they rolled the road out over the coastline. Beautiful little bays unspoilt and the people were lovely.

lisleman said...

 At least they are not called the wankers.  Since that was a punk type of band and considering the historical Sex Pistols name, Tossers is not too bad.  I never made to Northern Ireland but did drive a good part of the coast in the south.  thanks

Tami Miller said...

We stayed in Tipperary,
County Claire (I think). Saw Cliffs of Moher, rein of Kerry, Blarney Castle, a lot of other castles... And a lot of sheep and cows. I had to drive a van with stick shift. No so easy on the opposite side especially with all the turn abouts. I got used to it though.

www.ttmillersandboys.blogspot.com
Sent from Tami's iPhone

atykesprogress said...

Ah sadly my posting only included Northern Ireland. Posting as in being sent there. Wankers, Tossers, I never did really dream of the Sex Pistols. Oops that's an entirely different post.

Bearmancartoons said...

Is Liam another nickname for William?  Damn can't keep you Bills, Billys, Wills, Willys straight as it is.

lisleman said...

 Yes it's the Irish version of it.  Just the last 4 letters which makes more sense than replacing a letter as in Bill.  The most creative version I've seen is Will.I.Am.  thanks

Joanne said...

As a half Irish grandmother who never had a red headed child or grandchild, I still had a small hope of an Irish infusion when my last grandson was named William, like his father.  Who's Welsh, I think.  The parents searched for a nickname and I innocently suggested slicing off the first few letters and calling him Liam.  "How nice.  Irish," said my daughter.  They call him Francis, his middle name.  Poor kid.

Barbara said...

What a fabulous experience that must have been! My dream vacation for sure. The Shallue's came from Ireland to the US in the 1850's... we want to visit the old family stomping grounds. Happy St. Patrick's Day to you, too!

oceangirl said...

Sounds so lovely, reminds me of Sound of Music, though I know it is no where near.  I like the picture.  Quite enjoyed the music too.  I would love to have the experience of going to a place and live for a couple of months and really experience.

lisleman said...

 I thought you had an experience like that here in the US.  Maybe I misunderstood when you wrote about your past visit.  Did you keep moving around the states?  It was a great time that is now a precious memory.  thanks

lisleman said...

 It was a great experience.  It is strange that vacations can take place anywhere.  Irish go other places.  While we were in Ireland we met people vacationing from France.  I've vacationed in Texas.  I guess the important part is attitude and being able to experience something new and refreshing.  thanks. 

lisleman said...

 I'm biased on that one.  I prefer William/Liam/Bill over Francis/Frank.  It seems (from my vantage point) that parents contemplate on the names more than ever before.  Well you could probably teach Francis some Irish sayings anyway.  thanks

oceangirl said...

The longest I've been in the States was one month and one week, we crossed the States from Charlotte, NC to San Francisco and south to San Diego on coastal 101, then flew to Hawaii and stayed on the Big Island for a week.  There were 7 of us, 5 adults and 2 children.  My parents and my mother-in-law were with us.  There were many other trips but we moved.  The US is a continent to explore. I have the most beautiful of memories and I am grateful.  I want to make new ones now.

oceangirl said...

There were many trips to Chicago because some of our major products principles were in the Chicago area.

lisleman said...

 That's a good amount of time.  You saw a lot from the highway I imagine.  thanks for explaining.  Will you be able to make a long trip with your boys?

oceangirl said...

On that special US trip, we visited friends and national parks, and still did the tourist things in LA, and even attended a business conference.  But yes, it was a lot of driving, but the US is made for road trips :)  My boys returned to the US and had been on long trips without me since the passing of their father to visit and stayed with their grandma. I traveled to the US with the boys to be with my mother-in-law and I never went back.  Did not know how I made through that trip but could not do it again.  But my children were good, they were close to their grandma and made trips and stayed with her on month long period after that on their own, she died last year.

lisleman said...

 Very sad to hear your MIL passed away.  Wishing you the best no matter where your travels take you.

oceangirl said...

On question will I be able to make a long trip with them now, I guess the answer is no.  They are in college now and they don't really want to travel anymore.  Even recently when I asked them to come with me to visit our friends Joop and Hanneke in New Zealand, they kinda kindly refused.

oceangirl said...

Thank you Bill.

savannah said...

my little town is getting ready for the big day...i'll be in hiding out here on the plantation, sugar! xoxoxox

Reena Walkling said...

We were in Ireland 2 years ago.  Loved it and so ready to go back!

lisleman said...

 It has been more than 10 years ago for me.  I hope to make it back there.  thanks

lisleman said...

 Savannah knows how to party in public don't they?  thanks

Frau said...

I have been to Ireland once and feel in love with it....yeah the weather is a bit like Seattle and everyone sounds like the guy from Lucky Charms...I hope to return again some day! Happy St. Patty's Day! 

lisleman said...

 thanks - I quickly got accustomed to the accent with my daily work with them.  I've never made to Scotland but that accent is the hardest to understand in my opinion.  After our time there we noticed our younger girls sounded Irish.

Secret Agent Woman said...

We still have more than a week until St. Patrick's Day!  But I always wear green and always make sure I have a beer.

lisleman said...

 You can't start too early right?  Have a good one.

Jennifer Richardson said...

vast green spaces and tall stout ale.....wistful glad:)
nothing more beautiful than green.
a merry one to you,Jennifer

lisleman said...

 thanks for that nice thought. 

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