What do you think of when you think of Ireland? The colour green? shamrocks? Guinness? Hopefully you think of literature, art and music too. More often than not I’m reminded at this time of year that we’ve got a long way to go in changing the perspectives on Irish culture and it’s people outside our little island.
“Is that an Irish accent I detect?”, said the retail assistant in his best (worst) Irish accent at a shop this week. “You must be planning a big day on the Guinness tomorrow?” he said, to which I answered no. He went on to tell me his “best Irish stories” which were in fact, awful jokes about stupid drunk Irish people. He told me about how the store, a charity shop, run by a Christian charitable organisation, had crafted a St.Patrick's Day display of “Irish pub” to sell off their pint glasses. I sighed and nodded and made polite listening noises. When he’d finished I said I hoped that one day we’ll be known for more than being ignorant drinkers. He blushed, realising his mis-step. Despite being polite, I was annoyed. He was probably well-meaning trying to make a genuine connection, but so often being Irish abroad evokes a tired stereotype.
There isn’t a week that goes by here where I don’t get asked about my accent and while most of the comments are complimentary regarding the accent the conversation often quickly turns to the topic of alcohol. It gets tiresome. Cultural stereotypes usually bear some truth and that is certainly the case for Ireland but there is much greater depth to our heritage than a culture of booze. The recent Oscars ceremony was a case in point with the host insisting on revisiting the same cliched jokes not just once but throughout the night.
Other Irish voices have shared their notions around what it means to be Irish these days, while Irish creatives, cultural advocates and ecologists are helping me remember all the beautiful parts of Ireland that I miss, especially our landscape and nature.
READ: Irish language advocate Kathy Scott unpacked the Oscars and St. Patrick's day brilliantly here on the Trailblazery.
LISTEN: Áine Tyrrell also dives into the issues with St.Patrick's Day, Irishness abroad and the role of drink in Irish culture here in this great podcast episode.
LISTEN: Another great reflection and discussion on Ireland’s identity now which I thoroughly enjoyed recently was this conversation with Fintan O’Toole and Richard Fielder on Australia’s Radio National.
LOOK: Cliodhna Prendergast’s imagery is always beautiful, her scenes of the West Coast of Ireland make me want to hop on a plane immediately.
LOOK: I’m a sucker for the West, Cormac is a geology, zoology and all round nature nerd, my kinda nerd. His photographs and insights into our coastal landscapes and ecology in the west are spectacular.
LEARN: Gaeilgeoir and writer Manchan Magan is helping to preserve and revive the Irish language and does so in an accessible and thoughtful way. He shares and collaborates on his Instagram offering rediscovered words and snippets of our beautiful teanga/language.
LEARN: If you followed Manchan, you’ll know our language is directly linked to the land and if flowers delight you as much as they delight me then you must check out @blathannafiaine who finds the most beautiful native Irish flowers, and teaches us their Irish names.
Natures notes is proudly written on and inspired by Dharawal Country.
I recognise the Dharawal & Wodi Wodi custodians and ancestors who have an enduring connection to land, water and skies. I give thanks for reciprocity and acknoledge that this Always Was and Always Will be Aboriginal Land.