Irish Sayings: a Part of Irish Folklore
Irish sayings (like many American nursery rhymes) were often born of myths and legends, but they were often born of political and religious beliefs too. They have been carried down through generations - quite possibly somewhat altered - and will likely live for many more generations.
The Department of Irish Folklore at University College Dublin (UDC) is carrying on the work of the Irish Folklore Commission to collect stories and folk history since the 1930s. Are you a fan of Irish sayings? Research their meaning and original intent through this wonderful collection which features more than 1.5 million pages of material and thousands of hours of recordings. It also features more than 40,000 photographs that focus on:
* Settlement and Dwelling
* Livelihood and Household Support
* Communications and Trade
* The Community
* Human Life
* Nature
* Folk Medicine
* Time
* Principles and Rules of Popular Belief and Practice
* Mythological Tradition
* Historic Tradition
* Religious Tradition
* Popular 'Oral Literature'
* Sports and Pastimes
Visit the department at www.ucd.ie/ucdnews/may95/folklore.html for more information on a gateway collection that will take you well beyond a list of Irish sayings!
Irish folk culture includes the creative Irish sayings with which many Americans and other people throughout the world have become familiar. A website called Island Ireland at www.islandireland.com focuses on all Irish Folklore and features links to many Irish sayings, blessings and detailed information on Irish culture and traditions including cooking and dress!
The world knows that many Irishmen and women love to drink. Perhaps it is out of that tradition that this, one of the more popular of Irish sayings, and posted by Island Ireland was born:
"Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbor. It makes you shoot at your landlord - and it makes you miss him."
Family unity is a critical component of Irish culture. These popular Irish sayings reflect that sentiment:
"No man ever wore a scarf as warm as his daughter's arm around his neck."
"A family of Irish birth will argue and fight, but let a shout come from without and see them all unite."
The Irish have a reputation for being strong, quick-tempered, celebratory and for carrying a grudge. Those qualities are reflected in these popular Irish sayings:
"An Irishman has an abiding sense of tragedy which sustains him through temporary periods of joy."
"The Irish are a fair people; they never speak well of one another"
"The Irish forgive their great men when they are safely buried."
It is the Irish sense of humor that makes people smile when they hear certain Irish sayings, but it is important to remember that humorous Irish sayings are often spoken tongue-in-cheek and often by the very people they are about. It would be very poor judgment to categorize all Irish people by any collection of Irish sayings.
