Martha and I on one of our visits to Ireland were driving around checking out the smaller country towns. We were amazed at how peaceful and quiet these areas are. Sometimes we would talk about just chucking everything and moving there. You can’t watch the movie “The Quiet Man” without having some thoughts along these lines. I know I would like to find Inishfree in my life. As the thousands of American citizens who traveled over there found out. It doesn’t exist.
However, we were enjoying our travels around the countryside and stopping in the little towns and visiting the local pubs for a brew and a sandwich and some local color. I don’t remember the name of the town, but on one of our excursions we ran into the following problem.
We were sitting at a table having lunch when a gentleman and his dog came in. He sat at the bar for a while, and then turned towards us and said, “Deanfaidh me mo mhadra a thradail chugat do do bhean cheile”. Of course I had no idea what he was saying, and just ignored him. However, he kept repeating himself a little louder. Finally, the girl tending bar ran him out of the place. I then ask her what he was saying. She said he wanted to trade me his dog for my wife. I told her I wasn’t interested, but in the future he should speak English.
Just one more of my fond memories.
Susie Hayes
Ha ha!! That’s a good one!