Irish Stew!

Irish stew is a very un-exotic dish and something we all grew up on in Ireland. To-day I'm not so sure if its still as relied on by the population for healthy nutrition since the arrival of the global kitchen has widened the tastes of the nation into a culinary paradise.
Yes indeed, the best restaurants and hotel food in the world is found on the Emerald Isle. Everything form the fresh sea-food restaurants in the West, to World class Indian and Chinese restaurants to be found in Belfast's fair city.
So get ready 'cause now I'm am going to give you my mothers recipe for Irish stew.
And if you're are not a good cook, this one is especially for you.
RECIPE FOR IRISH STEW.
You put potatoes, meat, potatoes, carrots, potatoes, onions and potatoes in a pot and boil it, until its cooked.
Hows that for the easiest recipe on blog land!
Slante! photoheaven7.

Learn the Irish accent.

There are many different accents in Ireland, but the main difference is between the North and the South. Check out James Young video later in this blog to see a beautiful example of the Belfast Northern accent.
Here is funny video to teach the accent heard in the South of the country. The lesson is with a local sheep farmer in a language lab.
"Top of the mornin' to ya, that's a lovely bag of potatoes you've got there"

Guinness is good for you.

In Ireland we say "a pint of Guinness and a knife and fork please". That's beacause it's so thick and creamy, like a full meal, known for its high iron content and its effect on reducing cholesterol aroung the heart arteries. It is an acquired taste and I have managed to acquire it. Yummy! It's what we Irish call "black gold" Have a look at this new Guinness ad celabrating 250 of Guinness. Amazing!
I love the drums as its representative of the Irish Boran, a circular drum played with a rounded wooden stick at both ends. However, I feel the melody in the add could have been more interesting melodically, especially at the end when the cranky electric guitar kicks in.
Irish music has a melodic richness, relecting the mists and watery landscapes.

Guinness is meant to be savored slowly over a long chat with friends or during a traditional Irish music session which usually goes on into the wee hours of the morning. I guess Saint Patrick didn't benefit from drinking Guinness but he probably drank the other more ancient national drink, "Poteen" made from potatoes. Once some-body gave me a slug of poteen at a wedding, and I could'nt speak for 15 minutes after. It could be a worldwide solution to the oil crisis as I hear cars run very well with Poteen in the tank.
Sláinte (to your health, pronounced slanche)
Irish Gaelic (Sláinte) photoheaven7

Saint Patrick driving the serpents out of Ireland.

Well there are no more snakes in Ireland
thanks to Saint Patrick. The arrival of
Christianity symbolically seen here,
as the snakes cannot survive near the
pure spirit of Patrick and ultimately, Jesus.

James Young, Forever Young. "The Real Ireland" Irish accents.

Did you ever wonder how people really talk in the North of Ireland. Well here it is.
The one and only, James Young. He was the greatest of comedians and laughed in the face, and at the face of ugly religious segregation. It didn't matter what side of the wall you were on because everyone was laughing, and the whole country came to a stop once a week to watch him on TV. I was just big enough to understand how funny he was, and I treasure these videos forever. Heres my favourite, all about two American tourists who hit the back street of Belfast in search of "The real Ireland"
and also little shoes hand made by a real Irish Leprechaun.
Wow! So funny! photoheaven7

Andreaus Vollenweider Video, Molly's Jig.

Irish music is popular all over the world, and no one better to demonstrate it than the world class fusion electric harpist, Andreas Vollenweider. I like fusion a lot and I love how he takes the traditional sounds into a modern groove. Truely an enlightened angel of music. He really looks like an angel too!
A great live concert with his band, violin, vocals, Irish whistle.
Absolutely magnificent!

Molly's Jig - Andreas Vollenweider, Santiago 1995

The Cheiftans and friends Video.

Enchanting video. I can almost taste the Guiness creamed on my lips. This video will take you right into the atmosphere in the pub and how Irish music is traditionally played.

Chieftains & Friends

The land of rainbows........... by photoheaven7

Oh great! Now I get to do a blogg all in green. "BLOG" that's an Irish word, isn't it? "Top of the blog to ya !" Only joking, the word is bog in Irish. Yes, bog is blogg in Gealic, and it also means toilet.
That's enough culture for now, lets get on with the business of Ireland. Ach! the land of rainbows. Well I come from there, born where the "Mountains of Mourne Sweep Downn to the Sea". Sadly I don't know a word of Gaelic, apart from the word bog/blog/blogg.
Only joking, it's just that google translate doesn't have the Gaelic type set yet.
Seriously though, I don't know the Gaelic language as my teacher was "Goofy Gallagher" and we learned nothing but instead laughed at her big teeth and greasy hair. She had a beard too!
Anyway, "to cut a long story short", my mother wouldn't let me go to the Irish speaking summer camps in the west of the country where young people can speak in Gealic and practice with boys. And it was for the later reason that she would'nt let me go.......hmmmmmm!
It is a truely beautiful place and so so green, due to all the rainfall. I live in Israel now and people here are very interested in the way you can see sheep and cows everywhere along the roads as you drive.....and also the contrast from the desert landscape. Although Jerusalem does get a little winter and snow and also the far North of the Galilee region, and it feels like real Irish weather
"How can people live there in Ireland", people ask me, "it's so grey".....Well it's the land of rainbows silly. If it was sunny and bright you would't see them.
So many things to tell about the place.... Keep in touch!