Insanity At Its Finest

Anonymous asked:

So what is Ireland like? Do you know any Irish? Is it true that people will be super angry if you mistake Ireland for part of the U.K.? Sorry for harassing you but I'm from the central US so all we've got is big box stores, McDonald's, SUVs/trucks, and a shit ton of guns. 😂

harcules answered:

Ireland Is great. I love my country. Don’t get me wrong it has plenty of problems but the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful and you will not find friendlier people anywhere in the world, and we’re great fun. Yeah, I speak Irish but if you ever refer to Ireland as part of the UK, I will have to fight you. Sorry I don’t make the rules.

It’s like if I referred to the US as part of Canada. They’re two very distinct separate places. Except Canada didn’t invade the US and occupy it for 800 years and try to eradicate the culture. The English took the land off the Irish and gave it to English settlers, they outlawed our language. Irish people weren’t allowed to own land, or speak their language, or play their sports and music, or go to school or university. They weren’t allowed vote or hold seats in parliament.

Bear in mind that Ireland has had a rich culture for millennia. Irish is one of the oldest languages still spoken in the world and we have the oldest vernacular scripture in Europe. We were highly educated and skilled and were known as the land of Saints and Scholars. Like look at our manuscripts. Here’s the book of Kells (800AD) Look at how beautiful it is.

We didn’t have printing presses back then. Books like this took literal years to make. Look at the craftsmanship.

Don’t even get me started on our metalwork. Here’s the Ardagh Chalice. One of my favourites.

Like look at the filigree work. Do you know how difficult this is to make?!? I’m freaking out! Look at how intricate it is.

The Irish have been making fine ass jewellery for millennia. Look at these 4000 year old Golden discs worn by Celtic kings on their chest.

How about these 3000+ year old necklaces? The Tara Torcs

As the years went by Irish metal working got so much more opulent and uniquely Irish. Here’s the Gleninsheen Gorget, (800BC) worn around the neck also. It’s a technical and artistic achievement at the apex of goldworking in the Europe of its time

Then We have our brooches used to fasten cloaks. Here’s the Balinderry brooch, c.AD600

and as things got fancier the Tara Brooch

Yet again imagine how skilled a goldsmith would have to be to create something so intricate and beautiful. The English looked down on the Irish as backward and savages but we’ve created some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

Even look at our Ancient Architecture. How could I not mention Newgrange. It was build in 3200 Bc making it older than both the pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge. We’re not even entirely sure what it was for. It has one the most complete collections of megalithic carvings in Europe

Here’s it’s entrance showing the carvings on the entrance stone.

Here’s the best part and this fucks me up every time. See that little box above the door? That’s a roof light and on the winter solstice (that is the shortest day of the year) the winter sun aligns perfectly with that opening and illuminates the back of the chamber. DO YOU KNOW HOW MATHEMATICALLY PRECISE YOU HAVE TO BE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN?!? we’re talking about over 5000 years ago here and they fucking nailed it. I still don’t understand how.

Our ancient Ring forts or Ráths. They can be seen here in the Hill of Tara which was the seat of the High King or Ireland. The Ráths were made of wood so they’re gone now and their shape is all that remains

Our round towers were also kind of uniquely Irish. They were used for defensive purposes during viking invasions. They were usually attached to monasteries,

Also the beehive huts on Skellig Michael are uniquely Irish. They’ve very primitive but were part of a monastery so basic was seen as better and closer to god. You might also recognise them from Starwars.

Irish Sport is another thing the English tried to take way from us. We’ve also been playing sport for thousands of years. Today there are four main Irish sports: Gaelic football, Gaelic Handball, Hurling and rounders.

Hurling is probably the one that’s the most unique to us. It’s one of the fastest sports in the world. It’s sort of like Lacross without the padding and kind of like hockey mixed with murder. Google it.

And then look at the scenery. How could I not love my little country..

I just really fucking love Ireland. Sorry. Here’s an Irish proverb ‘Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin’ roughly translates to there’s no place like home. Éire Abú