The Streets of New York | Ireland vs Scotland | 15 Saint Patrick’s Day Facts | YouTube Rabbithole
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day @YouTheReader,
Today’s Irish tune is The Streets of New York by The Wolfe Tones. The song was originally written by Liam Reilly of Bagatelle, however, The Wolfe Tones cover topped the Irish Charts in 1981. For a lot of Irish Americans, you might know the song or may relate to the lyrics in some regard. Whenever I hear this song it reminds me of my dad’s story so I’ll throw in bits and pieces, but surely there are plenty of you who have your own story as well.
Liam Reilly is from Dundalk, County Louth, which is about an hour north of the city of Dublin, so at 18 the narrator of the story left home for the biggest city and capital of Ireland.
My dad is from Galway and was around 16 when he left home for London.
I’ve never really asked him how his parents felt about the move, but I’d like to think it went something like this.
Sidenote: I still remember my dad telling me the allegory of the Young Bull vs Old Bull right before I started drinking pints of Guinness for Week to Week Notes. It was New Year’s Eve heading into ‘23 and he was telling me to stop rushing like hell with the Notes. Little does he know I get whatever kind of “work ethic” that comes with typing on a keyboard from him working construction since he was 16.
Back to the narrator’s story, his dad told him to be careful about the city slickers of Dublin, it’s different from the countryside in County Louth. I’m not too sure young buck-o is used much in Irish vernacular today but mind yourself well for sure is. I promise the story picks up with this Note for the narrator’s uncle.
His uncle doesn’t live in Dublin, but in Brooklyn, New York, in the US of A. My guess is the narrator was to go to a post office in Dublin to mail internationally. This sets the scenery of his family’s farm that his dad looked after while Uncle Benji became a cop in NY. After moving to Dublin with a pocketful of money the plan was now to move to NY.
Here his father is giving him reasons for why he should move to America. He’s lived and worked his whole life on his family’s farm for some pints of Guinness. He wants him to experience new things before moving back home to take over the family farm.
The narrator here is experiencing the makings of his American Dream with excitement to see the big City of New York.
From London, my dad moved to New York in the late 80s. All I know from the stories he’s shared is that he saved up a few thousand and spent much of it at the pubs with friends he met over here in Woodside. I don’t ask too many questions about that, it’s a Davis thing you wouldn’t understand.
“You’re as free as a bird” could provide a bit of context on the time. The Beatles had a song Free As A Bird that came out in 1977…or of course, it could be a reference to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird which came out in 1973. Either way, my guess is it they would be on the New York radio in the 70s.
In classic Irish folk fashion, out of nowhere, they lay it on us that his uncle Ben had died. This was inspired by real events.
The narrator had to tell his dad that his brother passed away. Rather than tell him to go home, his father encouraged him to stick to the plan of experiencing New York, but stay true to what he was a proud Irishman.
The narrator appears to have ended up in the Bronx. It wouldn’t shock me if there was a Nelly’s Pub in Woodlawn in those days. Lifting the road likely meant he took on a construction job, but he was bitter-sweet homesick.
Even when he did get back to Ireland, it was for his father’s funeral.
He sold his family farm, but he made to take a bit of Irish bog. There’s nothing quite like it.
Sidenote: I haven’t been to Ireland in ages, but I can still remember the smell.
He’s back in business in New York, where he sorted himself out.
The kids know how to use the correct knife and fork line is what always hits me. The narrator went ahead with his father’s plan and he didn’t forget to be a proud Irishman. He raised his kids properly and his dad would be proud of him.
Just like his uncle Benji, the narrator becomes a police officer, but no matter where he ends up, he’ll remember his home.
Great Irish tune. Now that you’ve listened or read, mind yourself well, and have a few pints!
Ireland vs Scotland Notes
Pregame
- Guinness flags draped from the ceilings of the living room. It looks like a Saint Patrick’s Day pub. Have my parents gone mad?!?
- On FaceTime last night my uncle Michael Conneely recommended warming up the Jameson 30 inches from the stove. “Thomas for the perfect temperature of Jameson, what you’re going to want to do is put the bottle 75 centimeters, well I’d say 30 inches for you. Make sure to add that to your Notes.” My aunt Carmel says he also adds a quarter of a teaspoon of tap water. There you go lads, some insights from Irish on how to drink your Jam-O this Saint Patrick’s Day!
1st Half
- “Finn Russell looks nervous. He’s chewing the lip off of him.”
- James Lowe’s punt gets blocked which leads to a near Scottish try only 4 minutes in.
- Finn Russell, the half-knacker, half-chancer, puts Scotland up 3-0 on a James Lowe crawling penalty.
- Irishman Dan Sheehan scores a try on a Scottish lineout misthrow. Crowley’s extra points are good. 7-3 Ireland
- Finn Russell hits another free-kick, making the score 7-6. Scotland then commits a crossing penalty (it’s like a pick play in football). Jack Crowley misses wide left at the 35th-minute mark.
- The Irish final phases heading into half were better action, but they had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard as it’s a 1-point match at half.
Halftime
- Apologies if my 1st half-commentary is a bit all over the place. I was up until half past 7 at the top of the morning with my Dad and Aunt.
- We had some nice talks but my mind right now is mashed… Well, it always is, but now even more…Going to need a pint of Guinness to get sorted.
2nd Half
- Ireland comes out of the locker room strong. Crowley kicks one over da bar to put the Irish up 10-6.
- Finn Russell is spitting on the field. “That should be outlawed.”
- In the 45th minute, the Irish fans are singing Fields of Athenry. It is bringing a bit of zip to the start of the half.
- Tap-and-Go no-try gets reviewed and stands on the field. 50/50 call, probably should have been called a try on the field, but no bother.
- At the 50th-minute, Ireland’s scrum pulverizes the Scots. They are picking up momentum, as the Irish announcer says, “I guess Saint Paddy’s Day weekend is back on lads.”
- Andrew Porter bleeding from the forehead. Again, that man is a warrior. Baby Shane is up from his nap as Jessie is giving him unwanted kisses.
- Porter finally barges through the Scottish goal line for his 6th career Irish international try. Crowley’s kick is good. Ireland is up 17-6 as Davis’ Irish Pub of Pearl River, New York, breathes a sigh of relief.
- My aunt Carmel just told me an awesome Guinness harp fact that made it to #1 on the Saint Patrick’s Day Facts list below.
- In the 78th minute, Scotland scores a try and Finn Russell’s kick is good, to make to put the Irish on pins and needles. 17-13 Ireland
- The Guinness Man of the Match is Jamison Gibson-Park.
- Ireland wins back-to-back Guinness Six Nations!
15 Saint Patrick’s Day Facts
15. Saint Patrick was a redhead.
Okay, this is not a proven fact because the man was around in the 4th century, but since his beard is white in every glass artwork, we gingers are claiming him as our own. Glad we got that sorted.
14. Saint Patrick wasn’t born in Ireland.
Yup, I was floored when I read he may have been Welsh and got kidnapped by Irish pirates at 16 years old. Spent 6 years as a herdsman in slavery before escaping.
13. Saint Patrick's first color (or colour) was blue.
Ireland and Saint Patrick’s original color (or colour) was historically blue.
The first formal use of the colour blue was used under the reign of King Henry VIII in 1542 as he split from Catholicism and declared Ireland a separate kingdom. This formal creation of an Irish kingdom meant that Ireland was granted its own coat of arms - a golden harp placed against a blue background - one that still stands today. (Source: Irish Poet)
Saint Patrick was said to use the iconic Shamrock leaf as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity.
10. 1st Recorded Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.
The first recorded Saint Patrick’s Day Parade took place in New York City on March 17, 1762. That would be 14 years before when the Yanks decided to sign the Declaration of Independence. (Source: 6 Sq Ft)
9. Guinness Circus Campaigns.
In the 1930s and 1950s, Guinness had special edition campaigns that featured circus animals. In 1935, Irish artist John Gilroy created the legendary Guinness campaign artwork. The circus animals featured were lions, bears, kangaroos, ostriches, pelicans, and of course, the famous Guinness Toucan.
8. Derek Jeter & Tom Brady
2 of the most iconic American sports stars of all time, Derek Jeter and Tom Brady have Irish blood in them. Saint Patrick’s Day is one of the only days of the year when Week to Week Notes will allow New York 🤝 Boston.
7. Corned Beef and Cabbage
This one might get me in trouble but according to the History Channel, corned beef and cabbage was an American innovation. While ham and cabbage were already eaten in Ireland, corned beef offered a cheaper substitute for impoverished Irish-American immigrants. It was created in the slums of Manhattan in the late 19th century and early 20th.
6. Guinness was seasonal, even in Ireland.
For all the phonies getting dressed up in their green and ordering their first pint of Guinness since last Saint Patrick’s Day, I hold no contempt! I found out last night that my grandad from Ireland would only drink Guinness during the winter months. You see, back in the day (as recently as the 1980s) he would switch to Smithwicks during the summers. This was because Guinness was not served at most pubs in Ireland during the warmer months when much of the country didn’t have refrigerators for kegs and Smithwicks could be served at a warmer temperature. Thank goodness in today’s day and age you can drink Guinness year-round!
5. Baby Shane can’t hang.
4. 4 leaf clovers stats.
4 leaf clovers are different than Shamrocks, which are always 3 cloves. There are 10,000 Shamrocks for every 1 lucky 4-leaf clover. A woman in Wisconsin holds the Guinness World Record for 4-leaf clovers collected with 118,791 if anybody wants to compete with her. (Source: UPI)
3. Guinness Pints on Saint Patrick’s Day
Every year, over 13 million pints of Guinness worldwide are drunk on Saint Patrick’s Day. I hope you’ve contributed to this, you know I am!
2. No Irish Need Apply.
When the Irish immigrated through Ellis Island in droves they faced hardships from their new American countryman. No bother, they just went on to build New York feckin’ City! (Along with some Italians and African-Americans, they were largely responsible for many of the subways and the creation of the Empire State Building.)
The harp has been a national symbol of Ireland dating back to the 1400s. The Guinness logo Brian Boru's harp has been around since around the 15th century and can be found at Trinity College in Dublin. Guinness trademarked the symbol as their own in 1876. Nearly half a century later, when Ireland became an independent nation, the newly formed government decided on the harp being their official emblem. Facing trademark infringement, the Irish Free State cleverly reversed the harp to make sure the government was in the good graces of the Guinness. (Source: Guinness Storehouse)