St. Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son – Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit. Today, it’s a symbol of Ireland and of good luck and fortune. It’s a three leafed clover.
Category Archives: Northern Ireland
Saint Patrick Kidnapped at Sixteen
Saint Patrick was born on the west coast of Northern England in 386 AD to a wealthy Protestant family. When he was 16, Irish pirates kidnapped him and took him to County Antrim in Northern Ireland. They enslaved him for six years. God spoke to him in a dream about escaping. He did escape butContinue reading “Saint Patrick Kidnapped at Sixteen”
Interesting Sight of the Giants Causeway
That’s me pretending to hold up the Giants Causeway’s columns. A legend is told of how the stepping stones were formed. It involves a funny story about two giants, one from Northern Ireland, another from Scotland. I don’t want to spoil it for you if you ever have a chance to visit this interesting sight.Continue reading “Interesting Sight of the Giants Causeway”
Northern Ireland Menu
The first photo is of a dish called Ulster Fry. It consist of potato pancakes, fried soda bread, eggs, bacon, tomatoes and black pudding (blood sausage made from pork or beef blood). The second photo is called a Pastie. It is made of minced pork, onion, and potato formed into a round pattie. Then it’sContinue reading “Northern Ireland Menu”
The Irish Lilt in Song
One of the characters in “Trapped” sings with an Irish lilt, a springy buoyant movement in some of the words. Here’s an example with the Gettys from Northern Ireland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QCcwgb817s. Scotland’s, George Donaldson, from Celtic Thunder also sang with a lilt. His lilt could be heard in other random songs as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbHC_gaJ8Zs
Interesting Words in Northern Ireland
Pictured above is the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (NI) badge. Sergeant Shay Maguire’s badge in “Trapped.” Some interesting words spoken in NI are: “I didn’t just float up the Lagan in a bubble.” It means “I’m not stupid.” The Lagan is a river that flows through Belfast. “Off their trollies” means drunk. “Does myContinue reading “Interesting Words in Northern Ireland”
Northern Ireland’s Orange Order Parade
July 12th every year Protestant Unionist hold their flags high as they march. Sometimes their march borders a Catholic street. When Kathrin asked Shay what the Orange parade was about, he answered, “It’s a celebration of Protestant King William of Orange’s victory over Catholic King James in 1690. That’s when Protestants began their domination overContinue reading “Northern Ireland’s Orange Order Parade”
Irish Homes
Shay’s home looks like the one on the left. The cottage on the right was built in the 1700’s. This one room contains kitchen, bedroom and living room. Notice how they dry their socks and dish towels by the fire. Dishes sit on an open shelf. The bed is on the left, and table andContinue reading “Irish Homes”
Northern Irish Accent
The photo above is of some Irish people enjoying their day. Thought you might like hearing the Northern Irish accent. Click on these two links. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9SApeProCY and another is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEaT4W7LL60
Twenty-five Foot High Peace Walls
Above is an example of eighteen miles of -sometimes twenty-five-foot high – peace walls in Belfast. They lock the peace wall’s gates at night. Gates that separate Catholics and Protestants. In some districts, Catholics and Protestants live across the street from each other. Tension can crop up more often there, than in districts where theyContinue reading “Twenty-five Foot High Peace Walls”
Theresa Wise Author 