This way to Brazen World

Posts Tagged ‘St Patrick’s Day’

LET’S CLAIM BACK THE ST GEORGE FLAG FROM THE RIGHT WING

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

The English rate themselves the least patriotic nation in Europe, a new poll suggests in advance of St George’s day.

Almost half of us believe our country has lost its identity in the face of European interference and political correctness.

The poll also reveals that two thirds of Brits don’t even know St George’s day is on April 23 – this Friday.

The shame.

I suspect the whole national identity crisis is really more about being too embarrassed to display our patriotism because of potentially being labeled right-wing or racist.

The BNP and its right-wing crew-cut-sporting supporters have hijacked our national day.

Can we not take it back? It’s ours after all. It’s not supposed to be a reactionary statement against immigrants is it?

St George, if you believe the historians, was Turkish, for goodness sake. He was, apparently, born in Nicomedia, which is in modern day Turkey and died in the year 303 near modern day Tel Aviv. He was almost certainly of Islamic stock.

About as far from the right-wing skinheads who promote right-wing facism and racism under the guise of ‘nationalism’ as you’re ever likely to get.

So, it never was the BNP’s day to steal in the first place. Most of them probably don’t even get the irony of a bunch of racists singing ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ in celebration of an Islamic saint.

Let’s have the day back shall we? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being patriotic and proud and waving the English flag.

We all celebrate St Patrick’s Day don’t we? It’s about time we took back our own flag.

It doesn’t mean we are racists.

By Adam Moss, Brazen News Editor

HAS THE BLACK STUFF HIJACKED ST PATRICK’S DAY?

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

It used to be the most Irish of days – a day for everyone in Eire and Irishmen elsewhere to celebrate everything and anything to do with their beautiful homeland.

No more it seems.

These days St Paddy is almost an afterthought and it’s truly the Black Stuff, or at least its brewers, who are doing the real celebrating.

It’s a world event too. Can there be that many Irishmen alive on the planet at the same time? Really?

I very much doubt it.

Everyone with any distant Irish link, and millions without the semblance of an Irish heritage, claims they are Irish for one day a year these days.

It’s ridiculous.

Don’t get me wrong, I love any excuse to party and will no doubt be found at the end of tonight wearing a ridiculously oversized green ‘pint of Guinness’ shaped hat, singing B*witched songs and swearing I am the new Michael Flatley to anyone within earshot.

It might well make me look drunk and stupid but it doesn’t make me Irish does it?

And that’s my point.

This is no longer a celebration of Irishness – it’s just an opportunity for most people to put on fake Oirish accents, dress like a Leprechaun and drink millions of gallons of Guinness.

And Guinness are the only real winners in all of this, aren’t they?

Do they really need any marketing when Ireland’s national day has become a celebration of their drink at the expense of the Saint who lends his name to the occasion?

St Patrick’s Day? Don’t make me laugh – they should rename it St Guinness Day.

By Adam Moss, Brazen News Editor

Why Do People Say Guinness Tastes Better In Ireland?

Friday, March 13th, 2009

As a non Guinness drinker, even I have heard the myth that a pint of Guinness served in Ireland tastes much better than a pint served in the UK.

Some say it tastes creamier, some say that it tastes smoother and others say that they won’t even touch the stuff in England as it tastes dirtier.

I’ve got two questions:

1. Is the myth a reality? Or is it just that when in Ireland the flow of the ‘craic’ is matched by the flow of the black stuff and everything seems better when accompanied by a good laugh?

2. Do I even care? Well why not hey? If I get the opportunity to try Guinness from Ireland and Guinness that’s been exported to England then why not indeed!

The Printworks in Manchester has gone all out in preparation for Paddy’s Day this year and managed to get the Guinness head honchos involved to try and dispel this urban myth.

Yesterday the Quality Director of Guinness escorted a barrel destined to be drunk in Ireland, over to Waxy O’Connor’s in The Printworks to setup a taste test between a keg destined to be drunk in the UK.

I, for one, went along to find out for myself and see if there really is a difference or whether it’s all a load of blarney!

Why not go find out for yourself this St Patrick’s Day? Sláinte!

Does any one know why Guinness is black but the head is white?

By Robbie Platt, Account Executive