Thursday, April 24, 2008

SAINTS PRESERVE US.

Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales all have their saints, Andy, Geordie, Paddy and Davy, today is St. George's day and English people all over the world will be saying 'so what' that's how much it matters, the same goes for St. Andrew's day and St. David's day. St. Patrick's day by contrast rocks the whole planet, it is a phenomenon.

Numerous attempts have been made to 'crack' America with St. Andrew, now embarrassingly called tartan day or some such, it will be a failed
re-branding. St. David is a non event and now we have St. George's day I have my doubts about it's long term future, all of this begs the question, what has St. Patrick got that the others haven't got ? It is massive in Ireland, Britain, Australia and of course the USA. I have a crowd of friends who go to New York for St. Patrick's Day 18 guys all wearing green tartan kilts.

It's the worlds greatest party according to these guys and New Yorkers line up to have their photographs taken with the 18 kilties.
I think the most obvious reason for this success is Ireland's incredible history of turbulence and tragedy culminating in the 'famine' and mass immigration, mainly to America, Irish Australians got there by a different route that was no less tragic as many of them travelled in irons.

The 4 Saints are pretty old and have many legends about them, Dragons, Snakes and blue and white flags appearing in the Sky, ex Cllr. Bill Martin SNP told us the flag thing happened at a battle that Scotland was involved in, I swear to God he was serious, those old times must have been a great gas and no mistake, like a massive dose of the DT's. and wee green men talking away to you, and no doubt 'drink was taken'

The whole lot of it is of course a load of bulldung but, if it gives us the reason for a party, why not go with it, where's the harm? I wish I could get over my horror of flying to become kiltie number 19.
A Happy St. George's Day to the English and everyone else who wants to join in, this is the right way to celebrate diversity, party away and get along with your neighbours, as someone once said "if you must fight, fight with a friend"

17 comments:

The Incorrigible Plagiarist said...


Numerous attempts have been made to 'crack' America with St. Andrew, now embarrassingly called tartan day or some such, it will be a failed
re-branding.


God love you Terry, would it be too much to ask for you to get your facts right.

Where and when have St. Andrews day been rebranded - ever?

Tartan day is an entirely different event and Tartan week is where wee Joke McConnell (how you must long for those days) made an almighty arse of himself with the grey kilt.

As for your pop at Councillor Bill Martin, the hint was in your first sentence - The 4 Saints are pretty old and have many legends about them.

Google can be your friend. Plenty of info about St. Andrew out there, if only you'd take an interest.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(The Incorrigible Plagiarist) 15:34

Try to find the bit where I said “or some such” that should have given you a hint about the seriousness of what I was writing, You are a no hoper.
Old Bill told us one day that the St. Andrew’s flag appeared in the sky at a battle, I’ve got witnesses, it was in the council chamber not late at night in the pub.

Anonymous said...

For info Terry. History clearly not your strong point.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athelstaneford

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 15:57
Are you sitting comfortably ? Good, then we will begin.
This piece of eyewash starts “ According to local legend”
There’s a touch of the William Wallace and Rob Roy about this I fear. Still it sells tea towels so where’s the harm ?

Anonymous said...

Terry you are a special kind of entertainment.

St Georges day was yesterday!!!!

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 16:24

Exactly my point, people don’t even know when it is !

The Incorrigible Plagiarist said...

Try to find the bit where I said “or some such” that should have given you a hint about the seriousness of what I was writing, You are a no hoper.

You are the one who doesn't bother to check his facts before publishing the usual drivel. St Andrews day has never been rebranded here, there or anywhere else.

Who would 're-brand' it for a start?

As for picking holes in a 'legend' (the hint is in the term), how does St Patrick chasing the snakes from Ireland hang with you?


And this classic!!!

Exactly my point, people don’t even know when it is !


You don't know when it is, is the point! As I said "Would it be too much to ask you to get your facts correct?"

Anonymous said...

You ask the question 'what has st patrick got that the others haven't'


.... Guinness ?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(The Incorrigible Plagiarist) 24/04/08

“Who would 're-brand' it for a start” Possibly the Govt. who made him patron saint anyway ? He’s a bit dull isn’t he, maybe the Irish would agree to share St. Paddy with us and then we could party, legend has it that he came from Dumbarton you know.

“Exactly my point, people don’t even know when it is” I keep forgetting about your limitations, I’ll try to avoid jokes in future.

If St. George can slay dragons then St. Patrick can banish snakes, to be sure.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 16:30

Be Jasus you’re right sir, the ‘Liffey water’

Macnasty said...

Councillor dear,
The latest poll figures show Labour support in Scotland is going down quite quickly, with SNP 35%, Labour 28% Tory 22%

Labour's only hope is a new leader, otherwise, start clearing your desk, our Terry and prepare to get a proper job.

The Incorrigible Plagiarist said...

So no evidence of any 're-branding' of St Andrews day anywhere then?

Just the usual nonsense from you that fails to stand up to the merest hint of scrutiny...

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Macnasty) 26/04/08

Why do you write this stuff ? Are you lonely or what ? are you a hermit or something ?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(The Incorrigible Plagiarist) 09:35

“So no evidence of any 're-branding' of St Andrews day anywhere then”

I was only trying to help, just a suggestion.

Let’s face it St. Andrew is about as exciting as watching the fire go out, can we not find a St. Hamish ‘or some such’ ?

Anonymous said...

"Let’s face it St. Andrew is about as exciting as watching the fire go out, can we not find a St. Hamish ‘or some such’ ?"

Saint Terry, the patron saint of idiots.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Daniel Dravot) 07:30

The league table is as follows :-

1 - St. Patrick.
2 - St. George.
3 - St. David.
4 - St. Andrew.

How dare you display such a cavalier attitude to such a serious matter.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Daniel Dravot) 07:30

The league table is as follows :-

1 - St. Patrick.
2 - St. George.
3 - St. David.
4 - St. Andrew.

How dare you display such a cavalier attitude to such a serious matter.