The land of Scholars and Saints

How much has Ireland changed? Can you still get away from Political Correctness, down country lanes and byways. Or has Ireland gone the way of the rest of the lunatic countries. I am looking for a biking holiday where I can savour a pint or two in good company without the hastle of modernity and bureaucracy. Jesus, I spelt it write I think. (notice the rong spelling of right).

Any information from likewise folk would be appreciated, can you still reek a living singing songs in Ballyvourney and Ballybunion. It is a about fourty years since I enjoyed the green land. Thanks for your interest.

"A free born man"

I am not sure what you mean by PC, only because it has different meanings. For example, 'PC gone crazy' in the Daily Mail and Sun usually means someone has been racist and/or sexist and pulled up for it ('It was just a joke,' said some stupid fat shaven headed George cross wearing thicko.). Whereas I might see PC as being a stand against discrimination and hatred in support of inclusiveness.

However, rural Ireland is more conservative than most palces and you will find less red tape than in some other parts of Europe. I remember sitting in a pub in Galway while locals held forth about gypsies in a way that would not have been out of place in the beer halls of Munich 70 years ago. Get used to slow moving tractors on B roads but most of the big cities are modern and the place, I understand, looks a lot different to what it was even 20 years ago. I don't think people make a living as a travelling troubadour anymore.

If you are looking for some psuedo-Stepford Wives rural idyll where farmers roam the streets with lambs over their shoulders and signs on pub doors say 'no blacks, dogs welcome' then you will be disappointed. If you are in search of small villages where things are bit quieter and you can strike up a conversation with locals in front of a smokey fire over a guinness then you are in luck, that can be found.

You will notice a huge change if you haven't been here for 40 years. The country has gone from a largely agricultural-dependent economy to one based on finance, light specialised manufacturing (particularly computers and components). Agriculture is still important but not the sole means of supporting the economy.

The major cities reflect the changes most with new, dazzling banking sectors replacing the sometimes dreary past. You will find the 'real' Ireland in the more remote parts; in my opinion the north-west of Ireland is the most untouched by Ireland's progress, particularly Counties Donegal and Mayo. County Clare (Ballyvourney and Ballybunion) is still a far cry from the hectic activity of Dublin or Cork, but I doubt whether you can "reek a living" through your singing - but I might be wrong!

The short answer is that you can still escape the evil ways (!) of PC - while we have stupidly followed the UK down this path, particularly with health and safety, there is still some common sense being applied when interpreting PC and other EU legislation. I might be so bold as to say the the UK interprets EU law to the letter, whereas everyone adapts it to their own benefit and circumstances, including the Republic.

Always follow the ancient Irish advice for keep friendships healthy when talking to Irish people - "Never discuss religion and politics with your friends".

I'm not sure how much relevance the two newspapers mentioned by #1 will have to Ireland (although they do publish Irish editions, they tend to be adaptations of their English editions). If you want an impression of modern Ireland, then check the websites of the Irish-owned and run newspapers:

The Irish Independent group
The Irish Times

I hope you decide to visit and have a great time when you do!

Edited by: beefyboy

#2 I probably wasn't clear, I was referring to the English papers and their atttitudes to PC since that is where I live (although I am in Dub every three or more weeks and other place sin Ireland was well but less regularly).

What do you hope to achieve in a place without PC (whatever the hell that means)?

Impressed that you can spell bureaucracy but not hassle or forty. ;)

reek a living singing songs in Ballyvourney and Ballybunion
How the hell do you reek a living by singing songs anywhere? Do you mean "eke (out)" or do you really mean stink?

make a living sweetheart, away from boneheads like you. Get back in your car and drive over the nearest cliff. PC, if you think that is fine, then let me know where you live so I can stay away from the neighborhood, I didn't think one had to hve a degree in English to post on this site. But thanks for the spelling corrections. Have you nothing better to do than criticise.

Sheez, #7. I suspect we have a failure to communcate here - anti-PC rubbish is normally led by the rightwing brigade as a method of sending asylum seekers home, removing human rights and oppressing progressiveness. I guess the concern from some is that you may be part of that mob and in which case Ireland and much of Europe is possibly going to disappoint. I think we can reasonably agree that there is little work to be found in playing music (according to posters here) and if you are looking for the Ireland of decades ago it may be pretty much gone.

Thanks for a good reply. Taken. I haven't lived in Europe for 30 years, and hear that PC is, and, has destroyed the old way of life. I thank you for your articulate response. Thanks, really appreciate it. So when I see 'Ballykissangel" that is life a decade or two back. Correct. Thanks anyway. Cheers, I may still venture to ride me bike over there and seek out a pint or two of Stout. Thanks. Seems like JP Donleavy's "Ginger Man" exists no more. Thanks for the sad news. What would Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly say aboout it all.

Nothing to stop you enjoying your music in the west of Ireland - in fact it is often a good way to know the natives. As posters have said, you won't earn a living from it but if you're good, you might get a free pint or ten.

I am not quite sure anyone can say that the old Ireland is dead and gone, but it is certainly much harder to find. However, the thrill is in the chase, as they often say about love and other things!

Sounds like you're pining for the back story of Me Mammy+ rather than +Ballykissangel+, or even +Father Ted.

Stop watching Darby O'gill and the little people

Ballyvourney is a gaeltacht in Co. Cork half way between cork city and killarney,not in county clare.it is more commonly known in the area Baile Mhuirne.