Being Proud around St. Patrick's Day

Being patriotic isn't something I really think about. A lot of Irish culture is based on self-deprecation, so it feels odd turning around and declaring your pride and love for all things Irish when you've spend a lot time slagging it off. Though it can also be said, you know you're really good friends in terms of Irish society when you can slag the person profusely. Today I'm going to show some love for some Irish produced or based creations, and leave off the slagging for a while.

Films

Left to Right: Young Offenders, Sing Street, Song of the Sea

I think Irish film is getting a lot more attention and time to  shine, and not just thanks to our apt filming location (though we are sort of pretty). Movies like The Commitments and its spiritual successor Sing Street are great fun to watch as it mixes Irish lifestyle and culture in with songs that are hard not too sing a long with. Both films have a lot of heart and show how tough it is when you're growing up and  you're filled with ambition.

On an artistic level, Song of the Sea is a wonder to watch. Animated by Cartoon Saloon, some scenes look like moving water colour. I was lucky to see it on the big screen, so I got to appreciate all the fine details. The story,music and voice acting is all quite charming and it's great for younger film fans.

Finally if you need a good laugh, Young Offenders is a hilarious tale of two teenagers who try to chance their arm and steal a bale of cocaine that's wash ashore off the coast of Cork. It's so good that they've made it into a TV series, now airing on Irish TV.

TV

Left to Right: Can't Cope Won't Cope, Father Ted, Moone Boy

I think its part of an induction into this nation to watch at least ten episodes of Father Ted. It teaches you everything you need to know about Irish society and if you can slide a reference into a conversation (ah go on go on go on), it will surely be reciprocated.

I'm also a fan of Moone Boy, a comedy created by and starring Chris O' Dowd. I haven't seen all the seasons but the first season gives you a humorous glimpse of life in a country town, and a classic Irish family dynamic. What makes this series unique is that Chris O' Dowd is actually the imaginary friend of the Martin Moone and their exchanges are ridiculous, hilarious and quite sweet.

On Netflix Ireland and UK there's also a Irish produced show called Can't Cope Won't Cope that I tore through recently. Based around two party mad girls in their mid twenties, we see both their high jinks, and their consequences. I liked that the tone shifts through the series and we get to see both the funny and serious sides of the characters. It's six episodes in length, so an easy series to watch in a short time.

Literature

Besides our literary heavy weight champions like Wilde, Yeats, Joyce, Kavanagh etc. I wanted to mention a few authors and books I've enjoyed. Only Ever Yours by Louise O' Neill is a powerful and stomach twisting read, and may leave you feeling sad or angry when you apply it to the world today. O'Neill creates a dystopian tale, taking elements of how women are treated now in society and pushes it to extremes. I thought it was a really interesting way to look the roles women are told to fit into, either by men or by other women.

Awkwardly I have to admit I still haven't finished this book, but I love Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. The style it which it's written and the changing perspectives really work to tie this complicated micro-community based around a private boy's school in Dublin. It have such poetically funny and tragic moments, it's feel like a story with a lot of heart.

Speaking of the Commitments earlier, its original author Roddy Doyle is a definite big name in more modern Irish literature, with always a bit of humour to keep you going. I read The Snapper for the first time last year, and Doyle is excellent at capturing the speech and mannerisms of Irish life and habit. There's a play adaption coming out later this year, I think it'll make a great transition to stage.

Music

Left to Right: Conor O' Brien of Villagers, Lisa Hanningan, Delorentos

I'm sure everyone has heard of some form of Irish musicians (U2, The Script, Samantha Mumba, all the big ones), but we are bursting at the seams with excellent musicians in the country. I think as a teenager, one of the perks of being Irish was to have a lot of Irish music that was easy to access since being a small country, lots of gigs happen in Dublin and other big cities and towns. Instead of blathering on about these guys, I think I'd rather let you listen to them yourselves.
The wondrous and captivating Villagers, lead by Conor O' Brien:

 The enchanting Lisa Hanningan (who also sings and voices a character in Song of the Sea  and Steven Universe):

 Delorentos, who've got a lot of energy and upbeat sound:

Also a smaller band that I really like at the moment is Lemoncello, they've got an EP coming out soon, and I just love the harmonies they make together:

Comedians

Left to Right: Aisling Bea, David O' Doherty, Foil Arms and Hog

And sure don't we all love a good laugh? Since I've mention that we love tearing each other and ourselves down in a light hearted way, it's no wonder we have some pretty funny people standing up on stages.

I saw Aisling Bea for the first time at Electric Picnic when she was a guest on the Soundings podcast, and I've been following her since- not literally, on social media. She has wonderful storytelling and expression in her jokes, and off the comedy stage she is great for highlighting good causes.

I feel like David O' Doherty is the first Irish comedian I wanted to go see live. I'm quite jealous of his Casio keyboard, and even if he doesn't do them every year, I still love hearing his Beefs for the year in question.

Foil, Arms and Hog are a great trio for their skits and their Youtube videos highlighting even just some small but hilarious facets of Irish culture. The skit I most frequently quote is the How to Speak Dublin. because even as a Dubliner, I need a refresher on my Dublinese!


So there just some recommendations for a taste of Irish talent, the great thing is that there's tons more, I don't know where we get it all from... Maybe from sort of collective madness.

Have a nice St. Patrick's weekend,
Aoife