Laurentine G Poet Free verse

the Irishnissness about me

I just looked up my DNA profile from a couple of years back to see whether I should be feeling patriotic today - apparently I'm 21% Irish and it was rather specific - 19% Leinster and 2% Munster on the maternal branch (+18% Northern Irish from the paternal side) - I could definitely justify a Guinness. 

Having traced back my family tree I think it's mostly from a poor Irish girl sent to give birth in a English workhouse, with that baby (great grandfather on my mother's side) brought up by a willing childless English family. Given the poverty and lack of opportunity, he was still a demonstrably intelligent man with beautiful handwriting (though more tradegy than celebration in his cut short life and he died when my Grandad was 4 years old). An Irish surname was on his birth certificate, which apparently has roots in Munster. I feel very English though but maybe I have Ireland to thank for my exam successes. 

My best pint on St Patrick's Day was in Prague - me and my friend had decided we were best never drinking again but then saw the date and went in the nearest Irish bar and ordered a Guinness, said goodbye to our hangovers and had a great time! Actually that might be the only time I've had a drink on St Patrick's Day, so I definitely can't call myself Irish! :)

Happy St Patrick's Day!

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John Lawless March 22, 2026 at 9:09 AM on St Paddy's day everyone is Irish... Laurentine G March 22, 2026 at 9:15 AM It's such an intense day of drinking that apart from that once in Prague I have never joined in. Even walking through the city centre on that day or the nearest weekend used to terrify me lol :) I probably drink the right amount of Guinness - but spread it over the full year haha

David Kavanagh March 17, 2026 at 10:50 AM Sorry I missed this one earlier LG, was out and about; Aye girl tis in your blood, poetry and intelligence that is lol! We have very close ties to England here, one of my best friends has a cockney accent, left London about 30 years ago and never went back, (well not permanently), you would certainly have enough Irishness in you to qualify for the Irish Olympic team in 2028 ! This was a great read through your lineage, Happy Paddy’s Day, cheers David Laurentine G March 17, 2026 at 11:11 AM Haha I managed 6 pints of Guinness once when there was a free bar, luckily I took advantage of the free food too :) I used my lunch to look up my maiden name in a little bit more detail (with AI) and it made me laugh - it's a rare Irish name and apparently historically is connected to the bardics - hilarious! I certainly never found anything like that out looking things up formally haha :) thanks for stopping by on your travels - have a good day :) David Kavanagh March 17, 2026 at 10:53 AM Oh and the best pint of Guinness is usually the sixth or eighth lol!

Tom Cunningham March 17, 2026 at 4:12 AM Back at you LG, my parents were from Clare in Munster, I was born in the uk though. Tom.. PS,they say there's a bit of Irish in everyone. Laurentine G March 17, 2026 at 4:35 AM There's no living memory of my Irish connection - so no accents or even stories to be passed down - I do wonder about what might be ancestrally embedded in the psyche though haha! It's not translated into any feeling of being connected to the land itself - I've visited several parts of Ireland and never had that coming home feeling I'm sad to say - although I love a proper Irish bar and was delighted when over there a couple of years ago and the band sang all the songs I asked for with an Irish twist :) pure joy!

Beryl Edmonds March 17, 2026 at 3:30 AM Happy St, Patrick’s day to you too Laurentine. Dance to the Irish in you, an excuse for a Guinness, or maybe two… Beryl Laurentine G March 17, 2026 at 4:07 AM I do love a jig Beryl! Thank you for your comment - happy St Patrick's Day :)

Lin Lane March 17, 2026 at 2:10 AM Well, Lass I’ll be claimin’ a wee bit o’ Irish blood runnin’ in me veins, too. Fitzhenry, to be sure and I’ll be postin’ a string o’ Limericks in a while when I get out from under me covers! Ya best be wearin’ green! Laurentine G March 17, 2026 at 2:52 AM Lol Lin Lane March 17, 2026 at 2:35 AM You must or face the wrath of a Leprechaun! Laurentine G March 17, 2026 at 2:18 AM Not a thread of green on me Lin but I'm drinking tea and eating oats :) I drank a half of the black stuff last night in the pub with my friend too! I'll look forward to your celebratory limericks and I'll ponder all the rhymes for Shamrock in the meantime and see if I can contribute ;)