You have Irish and Boston Irish here.Probably not that much different. Getting rip-roaringly drunk and crazy is a long tradition in Irish songs- consult Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers.Not to mention Irish life. Just applied to the holidays here.
Regarding Dropkick Murphys, it seems to me I have read enough novels and memoirs of the Boston Irish which mirror the dysfunctional family in the video. At the same time, the Boston Irish I have known have not been dysfunctional. My uncle by marriage, no Boston Irish but Midwest Irish, whose father came over from the Old Sod, liked his drink but he was able to keep working as a consultant in his profession until he was 87 and his body wore out. This makes me think that there is a bit of literary convention in writing about the dysfunctional Irish.
The Pogues made their video with Kirsty MacColl, the daughter of folksinger Ewan MacColl. Kirsty MacColl was a Fidel fan, which did not endear her to me, though I grant she had a good voice. She was killed by a powerboat at an expensive resort in Mexico, which was a bit of cruel irony. I knew Latin America too well to fall for the likes of Castro, and didn't patronize the luxury hotels that Kirsty MacColl did. I have little tolerance for the celebs who make their pilgrimages to worship the Latin American despot de jour, be he Fidel or Daniel Ortega or Chavez.
Holymarymotherofgod it's the feckin' Boston and New York Irish, which are a thing unto themselves--If you don't live in the Northeast, just ignore it and be glad, because if you do live here, they'll end up intruding in your life one way or another, whether you end up marrying one, or your mayorcongressmanpolicefireconstructiontrades-man is one.
You have Irish and Boston Irish here.Probably not that much different. Getting rip-roaringly drunk and crazy is a long tradition in Irish songs- consult Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers.Not to mention Irish life. Just applied to the holidays here.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Dropkick Murphys, it seems to me I have read enough novels and memoirs of the Boston Irish which mirror the dysfunctional family in the video. At the same time, the Boston Irish I have known have not been dysfunctional. My uncle by marriage, no Boston Irish but Midwest Irish, whose father came over from the Old Sod, liked his drink but he was able to keep working as a consultant in his profession until he was 87 and his body wore out. This makes me think that there is a bit of literary convention in writing about the dysfunctional Irish.
The Pogues made their video with Kirsty MacColl, the daughter of folksinger Ewan MacColl. Kirsty MacColl was a Fidel fan, which did not endear her to me, though I grant she had a good voice. She was killed by a powerboat at an expensive resort in Mexico, which was a bit of cruel irony. I knew Latin America too well to fall for the likes of Castro, and didn't patronize the luxury hotels that Kirsty MacColl did. I have little tolerance for the celebs who make their pilgrimages to worship the Latin American despot de jour, be he Fidel or Daniel Ortega or Chavez.
Holymarymotherofgod it's the feckin' Boston and New York Irish, which are a thing unto themselves--If you don't live in the Northeast, just ignore it and be glad, because if you do live here, they'll end up intruding in your life one way or another, whether you end up marrying one, or your mayorcongressmanpolicefireconstructiontrades-man is one.
ReplyDeleteMuch like the holiday, though, the little grandchild kissing grandpa on the cheek at the end redeems it all.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that too.
ReplyDelete