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After downloading and watching the 6 Nations rugby match between Ireland and England, it looks like England is still in the same funk despite the recent coaching change. It just seems to me that England didn't have the same fire and desire to win that Ireland did. It looked like most of the time England were kind of just going through the motions.

And what an historic venue Croke Park is in Dublin. The download included a somber history of the grounds, and got me to do some additional reading about Bloody Sunday. It was nice to see the Irish crowd showing a great amount of class during the pre-game ceremonies with applause for the Brits when they came onto the field, and after their national anthem. I hope this can only lead to more healing of the past between Ireland and England.

i,d like to laugh, but i just seen the score for scotland v italy . oh well theres always curling.

I watched the game at the Gaslight, an awesome Irish pub out in Queens. I already knew the history, so I jumped at the chance to witness history in the making (even though the Setanta network had a rep. there charging a $20 cover). Me and a few of my friends used the game as an excuse for a 32 hour bender to celebrate Ireland's victory.

Ahh....its good to see the Irish trash the Brits...a little payback for ole Cromwell and hundreds of years of .....

Rugby injustice. (not to mention the tater famine)

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I hope this can only lead to more healing of the past between Ireland and England.

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Amen to that. But i think there is a different level of respect in rugby. You would not get this at an International Soccer match between the two nations.

I hate to admit it, as most of you know my love for soccer, but there is a different mentality between the average soccer fan and rugby fan.

What an odd post Brummie, even if done in jest. You do realize that during the Irish potato famine in the mid 1800s approximately 1 million immigrants from Ireland landed in this country. And did you also know that ~70% of those people went to New York City. It takes no stretch of the imagination that there truly are millions of people in this country that can claim Irish heritage. And it's perfectly fitting that there would be an "Irish pub" in New York City.

From the Irish Diaspora entry at Wikipedia: "Irish Americans number over 44 million, making them the second largest ethnic group in the country, after German Americans." So you might be right, if Irish descendants the world over moved to Ireland it just might sink.

I have the greatest respect for Celtic history in particular as my maternal ancestors came to Wales from Ireland during the famine to work on building the railroad to London. My paternal ancestors are Cornishmen who emigrated to Wales when the tin mines were closing around about the same time. Some of my late wifes family are first generation Irish.

I am well versed on Irish history and am aware of the mass migration from Ireland to New York in particular, and know that a Paddy could get into the country one day and be a New York cop directing traffic the next ! (maybe an apocryphal story but a good one )

I am also aware of the large number of Irish volunteers to the British forces during both world wars. They didn't have to come in 1939, they were an independant Nation and neutral, but they did, and we as a nation are forever grateful to them.

Birmingham, apart from Liverpool (which is called the capital of Ireland) has probably got the highest Irish community in the UK, In fact one district, Digbeth is know as the Irish quarter. They say that you can tell a true Brummie because he has a shamrock in his turban !

My point about 'Irish' pubs is that there are very, very few REAL Irish, Austrailian, English etc etc etc pubs outside of their country of origin. The exception is where they are run by ex-pats and attract a predominantly ethnic clientel.

Here you will find 'The Dubliner' - well you could have a few months ago before it got burnt down ! An Irish pub? - about as Irish as spahgetti. There is an O'Neils - Irish ? - nah about as Irish as Escargot ! The Anchor - good old English pub name - IT'S A REAL IRISH PUB !! owned and run by Paddies !

Another one of the few I know of is in Edgeware London (possibly a lot like Queens with a huge first and subsequent generation Irish community). It is owned, run and staffed by Irish people. It stands between a Sushi Bar and an Indian restauraunt. Me, an Englishman from Birmingham was having my pint of porter in an Irish bar in London, when a Japanese man came up to me and asked me if it was the indian restaurant ! Now that's cosmopolitan !

My comment about Ireland sinking is an old joke made by ex-pats who have settled in their new countries and use it as an excuse to stay put.

My American Indian comments were to highlight the fact that if there is a celebration on offer, I'll find the connection to join in !

Of course it is natural for the non committed to support the underdog, but as an Englishman, my shoulders are broad enough to bear the strain. Revenge will be sweet !!!!!

As an aside, the St Patricks Day parade in Brum in 2002 was lead by the NY Police and Fire depts as guests of the Irish community and a show of solidarity after 9/11. We have a parade to rival the one in Dublin !

As my County Cork born Great Grand Dad use to say 26+6=1. He was an IRA member who fought against the English in the 1910’s, but then in 1917 after coming to states he joined the US army and requested to be sent to England to help defend her. He said he did not want the Germans in England any more than he wanted the English in Ireland.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. I will be celebrating it at Red Hughes Irish Pub in Augusta, Ga. It is my brother-in-law’s place. He is the Grandson of a Kelley from Arkansas.

And a side note thanks to the US government my Great Grand Dad went from being Fabus O’Toole with no middle name to being Fabus O. Toole.

Just thought it was a bit harsh is all. I've been to an "Irish Pub" in Sachsenhausen, Germany so I know where you're coming from. I don't think I saw a single person of Irish heritage...unless they were in the US Army. But that's a bit different than an Irish Pub in NYC.

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Of course it is natural for the non committed to support the underdog, but as an Englishman, my shoulders are broad enough to bear the strain.

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And I'd imagine it'll hurt even worse if the French beat England at Twickenham in the next 6 Nations match.

At least you have the prospect of redemption rooting for England. There is no hope if your team is the USA Eagles. A couple of weeks ago I was watching the rugby sevens tournament that was in San Diego(I was shocked to even see rugby on TV over here). When the USA beat Kenya, the announcers said it was their first pool win in over 3 years.

ps. I've heard the sinking island joke. I think I'll pull out my Boondock Saints DVD tonight in honor of this thread.

Happy St. Patrick's Month!

Don't forget Dewi Sant! Don't think the Welsh go in much for "theme" pubs, tho I've heard there's decent one in Patagonia. Nor do the Scots come to think of it...A pub's a pub, some are a home from home, others are not - only as good as the beer, the food and the folks that frequent it. Wonder what it is about these Irish theme pubs tho, must be that it's easier to pour a shamrock on a pint of Guiness than it is to pour a leek or a thistle on a normal pint of ale
As for the Rugby, well for the Welsh it's certainly not 2005 is it Be interesting to see how it turns out tho and for the rest the home countries...France - NOOO, can't be happening again?!

In the Dubliner the only thing they could put on a Guinness was a price hike !

A related story... a lot of my mates are big horse racing fans and used to go to the Cheltenham festival (in England). This is the first major meet of the year and attracts tens of thousands of Paddys. They set out an area on the course for the Irish 'Travellers' to set up camp for the duration. As well as these, there are thousands of corporate guests and race fans making accomodation both rare and expensive.

To combat this, my mates decided to go to Dublin for the week, knowing that they would get to see the racing on TV in the pubs, there is usually a betting shop close by, and accomodation would be readily available and (reasonably) cheap. The Saturday at the end of the week was St Patricks day with the Birmingham parade ( and the Dublin one ) on the Sunday.

After a great week there they set off to the airport by cab on the Friday. Making small talk, the driver asked them what they came to Dublin for. " To watch the Cheltenham Festival" they said. After a long pause the driver said " And why are you going home today? " To get to Birmingham for Paddys day" they replied. After an even longer pause the driver said " We go to Cheltenham for the Cheltenham Festival, and Dublin for the St Patricks day celebrations. You go to Dublin for the festival and Birmingham for St Patricks - and they say Paddys are slow on the uptake !"

I dont know if it is true not. But the story is told in my family, that a second grade school teacher changed and "Americanized" my grandfathers last name, because she could not pronounce the Original, problem is no one in the family knows what the original was.I know his parents spoke Polish and settled in Springfield Mass (heavy Polish population at the time).

Also know there is a Badrick family in England, but dont know if there is any connection there, or just an odd coincedence.

Hi,

all getting a bit serious don't you think, I have been to serveral games in Dublin and have always shouted long and hard for England - as usual very much in the minority but still enjoyed it all including the remorsless (mutual)****** taking for hours on end. I expected nothing short of the great dignity shown by the Irish.
We are English not just British and we enjoy that no one likes us - its all part of the fun. Good luck to Ireland in there remaining games. Our next game against the French (now we really do have some history with them !! ) are next - bring it on !!
Have a good one - England World Champions

... and what an experience drinking in a crowded bar in Dublin on a match day. The guy standing on the bar asking for your order as you squeeze in the door and shouting it across to the bar staff. The strict order they start pulling the order i.e Guinness start first (slow rate) Kilkenny next (medium rate) and lager last (fast rate) all drinks arriving to the customer in order and by the time you get to the bar. ! Over there a Bar Tender is a respected job and they do it with style and panache.