The Fightin' Irish
Tally-Ho! With St.Patrick's Day nearly upon us, how could I not bring up the Great Fightin' Irish! And I'm not just talkin' about those gridiron giants out of the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana. I'm talkin' about all of the great Irish heroes, from Brian Boru who first fought the Scandinavian hordes, to the thousands of Irishmen who fought the Kings of England for independence. From the regiments of Irish-Americans who fought on both sides of the American Civil War, to the Irishmen who fought each other in their own civil war, and gained partial independence from Great Britain while fighting with England and America against Germany in WWI. The U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry uses the horseshoe as its emblem and the motto "Gerry Owen!", to commemorate its Irish-American roots. I had the honor to serve in, and fight for this historic unit for five years, and was one very proud Irish-American! The Tri-Color hung proudly within my M2A2 Bradley's armor. The Irish people have always been a bare-knuckles, brawling crowd, and have fought hard and fiercely for independence and respect throughout history.
Combat sports have been favorite of the Irish culture for centuries. Gaelic Football is the most popular team sport in Ireland, followed closely by Hurling. Gaelic Football is like a combination of soccer, rugby, and Aussie-rules Football. 15 players par side fight and brawl to get a soccer-like ball into a goal-net for a score. This battle-field, rough and tumble sport has been around since the 1500's. Hurling, a stick and ball field hockey-like team sport, has been around since the 1400's, and also pits teams of 15 against each other to fight to score points by batting the ball through the goal "H"-posts. Both sports draw blood, inflict bruises, break bones, and cause general mayhem in the crowd at times, such is the passion the Irish have for these home-grown sports. And after the final whistle, they shower up with Irish Spring, dress up, and the pubs for a pint and sing songs a tell tales of battles fought on the fields of pitch! All in a day's combat!
Here in the Great United States, we have teams that celebrate our Irish heritage, but they are a pitiful few. The most well known of all is the Golden Domers, The Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame. The most celebrated of all University gridiron teams. Of course, they field teams in all of the collegiate sports, with basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball the most commanding. None, however, draw nearly the attention the football does at any time of the year, let along during the fall football season. Notre Dame Football is in a league of its own in this world.
Other Irish-themed teams in the U.S. are the Boston Celtics of the NBA and with their horseshoe helmets drawing on the Luck of the Irish, the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. You would think, with the long history of Irishmen in baseball, that there would be a ball club with an Irish-related nick-name, and yet there isn't any.
Boxing is ingrained in every Irish lad who ever had a brother. From day one he was in training, fightin' over every little thing in the house, the yard, the barn...Bar brawls are nothing more than another training event for the Middle Weight bout! A good Irish fight usually ends up with everyone lying on the floor, bleeding and exhausted, laughing, and reaching for a fresh pint. That's how you know you've been in a good old Irish brawl!
Now that's not to say that all Irishmen (or women) are drunken brawlers. Typical stereotyping by the non-Irish masses. They'll get a busted lip if they don't watch their mouth. Even up here, things get out of hand once in a while. Mick Collins and King George V got into a row just last night in fact. Caught up in it was Alexander and his party, Stonewall Jackson, and the Headless Horseman, among others. It took quite a while, but finally the Earps and the Seven Samurai got things under control and cleared out. Unfortunately, the "Emerald Harp" pub was trashed. Arthur Guinness and the Leprechauns have their work cut out for them getting things ready for the St.Patrick's Day bash.
For me, it's time to kick back in the Great Green Recliner, grab a pint, and observe the goings-on out there in your world. After all, I am the Center of the Universe, and it's my job!
Combat sports have been favorite of the Irish culture for centuries. Gaelic Football is the most popular team sport in Ireland, followed closely by Hurling. Gaelic Football is like a combination of soccer, rugby, and Aussie-rules Football. 15 players par side fight and brawl to get a soccer-like ball into a goal-net for a score. This battle-field, rough and tumble sport has been around since the 1500's. Hurling, a stick and ball field hockey-like team sport, has been around since the 1400's, and also pits teams of 15 against each other to fight to score points by batting the ball through the goal "H"-posts. Both sports draw blood, inflict bruises, break bones, and cause general mayhem in the crowd at times, such is the passion the Irish have for these home-grown sports. And after the final whistle, they shower up with Irish Spring, dress up, and the pubs for a pint and sing songs a tell tales of battles fought on the fields of pitch! All in a day's combat!
Here in the Great United States, we have teams that celebrate our Irish heritage, but they are a pitiful few. The most well known of all is the Golden Domers, The Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame. The most celebrated of all University gridiron teams. Of course, they field teams in all of the collegiate sports, with basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball the most commanding. None, however, draw nearly the attention the football does at any time of the year, let along during the fall football season. Notre Dame Football is in a league of its own in this world.
Other Irish-themed teams in the U.S. are the Boston Celtics of the NBA and with their horseshoe helmets drawing on the Luck of the Irish, the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. You would think, with the long history of Irishmen in baseball, that there would be a ball club with an Irish-related nick-name, and yet there isn't any.
Boxing is ingrained in every Irish lad who ever had a brother. From day one he was in training, fightin' over every little thing in the house, the yard, the barn...Bar brawls are nothing more than another training event for the Middle Weight bout! A good Irish fight usually ends up with everyone lying on the floor, bleeding and exhausted, laughing, and reaching for a fresh pint. That's how you know you've been in a good old Irish brawl!
Now that's not to say that all Irishmen (or women) are drunken brawlers. Typical stereotyping by the non-Irish masses. They'll get a busted lip if they don't watch their mouth. Even up here, things get out of hand once in a while. Mick Collins and King George V got into a row just last night in fact. Caught up in it was Alexander and his party, Stonewall Jackson, and the Headless Horseman, among others. It took quite a while, but finally the Earps and the Seven Samurai got things under control and cleared out. Unfortunately, the "Emerald Harp" pub was trashed. Arthur Guinness and the Leprechauns have their work cut out for them getting things ready for the St.Patrick's Day bash.
For me, it's time to kick back in the Great Green Recliner, grab a pint, and observe the goings-on out there in your world. After all, I am the Center of the Universe, and it's my job!
posted by B.R.Dailey | 9:20 AM
1 Comments:
It's great to see an American taking pride in his Irish heritage and of course we Irish take pride in our connections with America too. As part of the 1916 proclamation says:
"Having organised and trained her manhood through her secret revolutionary organisation, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and through her open military organisations, the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army, having patiently perfected her discipline, having resolutely waited for the right moment to reveal itself, she now seizes that moment, and, supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe, but relying in the first on her own strength, she strikes in full confidence of victory."
Everybody also takes great pride in the state visit that John F Kennedy made here to Ireland prior to his death when he returned to the country of his roots.
God Bless America!
United Irelander
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