The Medusa Fora

Fintan wrote:...To tell ye the truth, that was one of the things that saddened me the most about my trip. The pointless, historically myopic ethnic bigotry and hostility...

i had a similar experiences in scotland when i was there in 2001 (tho they seemed to hate the brits more than "foreigners", which i found funny). i remember playing pool with some old guys, one of whom took exception to my anti racist action hat, asking me to take it off if i wanted to play with him. he told me that "we don't like the darkies here".

well, after pretending i didn't know what "darkies" meant, then questioning who "we" was, i told him the story of my grandfather & his family, who came here (to canada) in 1912 when he was just a boy. he & his family were jeered at & spat on for being scottish. this in peterborough, ontario - a town settled by mostly irish immigrants less than 100 years ealrier (1825, incorporated in 1850).

this quieted him down some, so i put my hat back on, and proceeded to have my but kicked by him at pool, get very drunk, and end up at some blues bar singing "sally maclennane " with a ship captain from vancouver (my current home town).

Low D wrote:...well, after pretending i didn't know what "darkies" meant,...

At that point, I'd have asked him if he meant Welshmen...

Low D wrote:...then questioning who "we" was...

Maybe a dose of the auld:
'Wha's like us? Damned few, an' they're a' deid..."

Sad, really...

Fintan wrote:At that point, I'd have asked him if he meant Welshmen...

funny you should say that, reminds me of another sad story whilst i was in glasgow... i caught a wolfe tones gig at the barrowlands. before playing "james connolly", the banjo player read a poem about the same written by one of the firing squad, a welsh man in the british army, who took connolly's life (he felt bad & it changed his way of thinking, to sum up). the poem was being read, said the banjo player, as a protest against sectarianism in the republican struggle.

to which the yob behind me yelled "fucking welsh!"

We're straying seriously OFF-TOPIC here, but one last burst -
This is the spot where they strapped the already mortally-wounded James Connolly to a chair, and ended his 'full life'. I almost could not complete this tour of Kilmainham at this point.



Back ON TOPIC, almost -
Sensei Philip: Whence comes your Huguenot ancestry? And are they represented in the tiny Dublin Huguenot cemetery?

Fintan wrote:

Behan wrote:I agree! I just received the CD this afternoon. A great way to start the weekend eh? I'm now listening to it. So far so good.

I've given them a few listens so far. Thoroughly enjoyed it all so far. I'm allowing time for any favourite tracks to announce themselves, but so far I like 'Huguenot', not least because I have a German friend with Huguenot ancestry... 'Heaven' is a nice tune, and I quite enjoy 'Hinterland'...

I've been listening to the album as well. I'm particularly liking 'Package from Home' and 'Joe Strummer,' and how the latter is moving and exciting all at once.

Fintan wrote:Whence comes your Huguenot ancestry? And are they represented in the tiny Dublin Huguenot cemetery?

I actually know very little about it, though my second cousin Michael O'Connor, who is a traditional Irish musician, and whose mother was a La Grue, has been trying to fill in the family tree blanks for some time now.

The Huguenot name La Grue survives in Dublin. My mother, of that ilk, had 5 fertile brothers (as well as 2 sisters) so I have numerous cousins who bear the name. As far as we know, they pitched up in Dublin during the Catholic Cardinal Richeliu's expulsion of them from France during the religious wars. Mainly tradesmen, weavers, artisans, goldsmiths etc, they colonised the Liberties area of Dublin just outside the (then) city limits around Christchurch Cathedral. People from the Liberties tend to classify themselves as Liberties folk first, Dubliners second, Irish third, and in this crowded heritage you tend not to hear a great deal about their immigrant background from them. At some point, it's clear most immigrant Huguenots converted to the oppressor Faith, probably via marriage with the natives, but It's interesting enough that they once felt they could freely practise their Protestantism in imperial Dublin, though not France.

But do you know, I've never been in the Huguenot cemetery. It's something I keep meaning to remedy and will soon.

Fintan wrote:

Back off-topic (sorry you guys). I know the feeling Fintan. I always go back to Kilmainham when in Dublin and that is definitely the most inspiring place there

"Hinterland" is currently my fave. However, I will listen to "Huguenot" again, now that I understand the origin a little better.

Thank God for Wikipedia! I probably learn more history here (The Medusa Fora) than any damn school.

I was asked to pass this along. It's from the October 08, 2006 paper. I'll assume the paper to be in Dublin.

Congratulations, Philip, on having the new release so well received by the critics and fans.

<img src=http://www.dzm.com/export_images/rads.jpg>

Fintan wrote:

philipchevron wrote:...in an era when immigration is such a volatile subject in Ireland.

The Irish have always 'prided' themselves on being the most welcoming, non-racist country in the world but I have always thought this was bascially a load of bollocks. We are more than happy to welcome you if you have money to spend, are not going to stay to long and don't look for a whole lot in return. We have for years, as Philip pointed out, relied on emigration to keep the Irish economy ticking over but now that we are on the crest of a boom we don't like the idea of anyone coming in and taking 'OUR' money away with them. Having had to emigrate to find work in the late 1980's I can fully understand the influx of people we now have and I would have to say the majority of our immigrants are hard working, and in the main in the service industry. Job's that have been very hard to fill in the past, even when unemployment was at it's highest.

Fintan, Your picture of the prison is not off topic for me. When I visited Ireland in 1987 (my one and only trip there), visiting sites like Kilmainham, I never seemed to see anyone between the ages of 15 and 45. Lots of kids and seniors. I chalked it up to a dismal economy. I understand the economy has really improved over the past 20 years. I'd bet the unlimited pints of Guinness I was able to drink at the Guinness factory back in 1987 that the immigration Ireland has seen in the past few several years is a direct result of creation of the EC and Ireland's prosperous role in that community. From what I am reading on this thread, sounds like a few folks should remember what Ireland was like before the immigration boom. Seems like us folks in the U.S. are not the only people with short memories.

That same trip I bought a three cassette collection of Christy Moore songs. The collection had Christy singing accappella, "Oh where, oh where, is our James Connolly; oh where, oh where, is that gallant man; he has gone to organize the union, that working men yet might be free" Wonder who James would have been fighting for today?

Icky Baldock wrote:...Wonder who James would have been fighting for today?

I prefer to think he continues to fight alongside all workers, oppressed and downtrodden. My friend, a man I am honoured to know, Martin Doherty - a fine singer/ songwriter, and a staunch union supporter - adds James into his renditions of 'Joe Hill'. Which I find totally appropriate.

My isn't 'Trouble Pilgrim' a FINE album, by the by?

Trouble Pilgrim is indeed a very fine album. It gets better and better with every listen. I am really trying to get to the gig on the 18th in Whelans. Not sure if I can make it yet but moving mountains to try. And then of course there is the Point in December.

johnfoyle wrote:I got my copy in Road Records. Like other shops I saw it in, a copy of the Summer Season Ep was going free with it. A first listen has me thinking of Television , Pete/Phil's crunchy guitar sound being very much the equal of the Verlaine/Lloyd sound. Along with the glue of Steve's swirling keyboard work, Johnny's rock-solid beat , Jesse subtle bass and the heartfelt vocals this is a disc I'm going to be listening to a lot. Anita Bonnie's vocals on a few tracks are very welcome, along with the restrained brass work.

Julie 'n Dave in Road were putting the disc on sale when I walked in this morning. It isn't on their site yet but I'm sure it will be soon. It might be a few quid more than the chain stores but , as they say, 'The store is run by two human beings, so you are guaranteed a personal touch. KEEP INDIE STORES ALIVE !'


http://www.roadrecs.com/index.php

Thanks for this tip-off! I ordered from Road Records and was very impressed with their service. Dave ordered the album for me, then posted it to the UK Tuesday pm. It arrived this morning (Thursday) and I'm just about to listen to it now.

Well, i've just got my copy of Trouble Pilgrim in the mail, with the free Summer Season ep. And i have just two questions, both regarding the song Hinterland:

"before he meets a friend / who's sweeter than huckleberry gin"

1. Aren't huckelberries rather tart? Is this a sarcastic comment, or are huckleberries different on your side of the pond?
2. More importantly, where, pray tell, would i find some huckleberry gin? Or must i expand my homebrew from wine and all grain beer to now include a still as well?

I like the ep, tho it was surprisingly mellow overall. Didn't get a good listen to the album yet, as the kids' violin/guitar teacher arrived, and i had to turn it down.

Well, now i guess i'll order The Television Screen 2004 EP next paycheque (i'm rationed on the music). Wait, two paycheques, i've gotta pick up Skatalites tix next cheque (poor me...)