Yea, Ireland's golden age was funnily enough, during Europe's dark ages. It was...in an interesting twist, the Irish who brought Christianity back to England after the Romans pulled out, and much of Scotland too. Ireland was unaffected by the cataclysm that was the collapse of the Roman world, first in Britain and then later on, throughout western Europe. However, it was not Catholicism that the Irish missionaries were bringing to England, but rather...their own brand of Christianity which eventually came into contest, if not necessarily conflict, with Roman Catholicism which was making inroads into Britain from the continent. The material nature of the Roman Catholic church provided it with the wealth to eventually prevail over Irish Christianity. In a strange twist of fate, the Irish would later...along with the rest of western Europe, become Catholic, and later again, refuse to participate in the protestant reformation, and thus be persecuted for centuries by the English, for a faith they had once competed with for influence in England.

Ah fuck it! For some reason I cannot make the image below any smaller. I tried.

It was said of the Normans, that they became more Irish than the Irish themselves, by taking up Irish customs and dropping French as their first language in favour of Gaelic. As such, the Irish received much better treatment under the Normans than their recently conquered Saxon neighbours in England. The Irish and the French have had such exchanges back and forth. During a period of Irish history known as "The Flight Of The Earls", much of the Irish nobility had to flee Ireland in 1607 due to continued English encroachment into Ireland. They ended up mostly in Catholic France and Spain, and today there are more than a few French wines with Irish names, not to mention Hennessy Cognac. Interestingly, Regis Philbin is a direct descendant of "Niall Of The Nine Hostages", a well known Irish king, who once ruled over what is today, Northern Ireland. Below is a well known painting depicting the marriage of Aoife to Strongbow.

French names are common enough in Ireland, due to the Normans being invited into Ireland by the 12th century king of Leinster (Irish province) Diarmaid Mac Murrough, who had been deposed by the Irish high king Ruaidri Ua Conchobair or Rory O' Connor a few years earlier. The arrangement was, that the Normans would assist Mac Murrough in recapturing his kingdom from O'Connor, and in exchange, their mercenary leader Richard de Clare aka "Strongbow" would inherit the kingdom of Leinster from Mac Murrough upon his death, by marrying his daughter Aoife. She of course...had no say in the matter. De Clare took Leinster back from O'Connor, and didn't have to wait long for his inheritance, as Mac Murrough died just two years later. Thus began the English presence on the island of Ireland, which...with the exception of Northern Ireland, wasn't lifted until 1921. That's most likely how my ancestors ended up in Ireland.

That's interesting. I have on occasion wondered if I am in any way related to the English philosopher John Locke, only because it is my mother's maiden name. But even if I am, it wouldn't be much to lay claim to, as Locke is a common enough name in these parts. So I'd likely be one of a great many of his progeny. On my father's side, I bear the surname of a famous Irish soccer player. Famous in both Ireland and England. If I had a euro for every time I was asked if I were related to him, and another euro for every time I had to disappoint people, I'd have at least enough for a PS5. Like Locke, my father's surname is an English one, and although not entirely rare in Ireland, I wouldn't say that it's common on this side of the Irish sea.

Yea that one. Does it really come as such a surprise to people, that a bunch of pampered, incestuous, welfare recipients are racist? Never in a million years would I have thought that they are NOT racist.

As for Oprah, I didn't hear about that. I did hear that when she was in a luxury goods store in Switzerland, that she asked the store clerk if she could examine a particularly expensive bag that was behind the counter. Apparently the store clerk, not recognizing her, told her that she would not be able to afford it. Instead of getting offended and playing the race card, Oprah assured the girl that she could indeed afford the bag. But the girl wouldn't budge, and refused to show Oprah the bag. Oprah left without making a fuss, or having a Naomi Campbell moment. That being the case, I am left to wonder how the story got out, as that part wasn't clear when it was being covered by the media.

It's 6am here. I'm alright Anton, just annoyed with myself for waking up so early. I don't feel tired. But I'm up too early and I don't know what do be doing with myself. Did you happen to watch Oprah's interview with nutmeg and the prince formerly known as Henry?

Hello Anton, what time is it where you are? I'm reading your comments now.

Ah Anton, that's hard. Did you just move in with your mother, and are you her primary caregiver? If so, it's a huge adjustment, being responsible for an aging parent, especially at first. And it's stressful. You do your best but sometimes you fuck up and you just have to move on. It's a big learning curve, for sure. I've been taking care of my mother for over 4 years now and Anton, it does get easier over time. Too bad you had to start out with this damn pandemic cocking everything up, too. That just makes everything ridiculously more difficult.

Sounds like he was in complete denial, it never ceases to amaze me how some men can be.