The Black & Green
Hail, glorious St. Patrick, dear saint of our isle,
On us thy poor children bestow a sweet smile;
And now thou art high in the mansions above,
On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.
St Patrick certainly smiled down on Erin’s green isle on Tuesday. Dublin was festooned in a sea of green, bright sunshine & high spirits. Elly & I traveled in to the city by bus and it was a delight to see people of many nations, colours and creeds join us at every bus stop. All the children had some token or green decoration in honour of the day, clothing, hats ribbons or wigs! Many old and young sported painted faces.
The St Patrick’s Festival team can be justly proud of their efforts…
The 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Parade saw over 675,000 people lining the sun drenched Dublin city streets to enjoy one of the best St. Patrick’s Day Parades ever. Thousands of performers and characters joined together in a carnival of dancing and music as they wowed on-lookers with uniquely commissioned original pageants accompanied by marching bands from Ireland and across the globe
The Winner of 2009 Best Pageant was awarded to CITY FUSION with The Conference of Birds. The award for Best Marching Band in the Parade went to German band, SIMSEGRÄBSLER from Hofstetten, Black Forest, South West Germany.
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Part two of our day was at the Guinness Storehouse where the welcome was mighty and it was possible to pull your own pint! I sat and watched the fun as the young folk played at being Barman and were awarded with certificates for doing so! There were plenty of photo opportunities here but with my camera enclosed in my little hand I was rather intimidated while surrounded by camera lenses as long as my arm. :sad: No I was not sad really. No seriously! I was happy to watch and listen.
Now steph are you paying attention, a Black Velvet is Champagne & Guinness…..
Guinness mixed fifty-fifty with champagne. This famous drink was invented in 1861 at Brooks’s Club in London. Prince Albert had died, everyone was in mourning, and the story goes that the steward at the club, overcome with the emotion of the occasion, ordered that even the champagne should be put into mourning, and proceeded to mix it with Guinness. The taste was so delicious, Black Velvet became extremely popular.
But do you know what the following are or how to make them?
- Tumbril
- Midnight
- Wasp Sting
- Red Head
Now you all think I was drowning in a vat of the black stuff when in fact I was very busy. Well…. it takes time to try out all these exotic combinations! 
Go on I know you want to try them.
steph said,
March 20, 2009 at 8:32 am
Grannymar
You’re teasing me! There’s no Black Velvet left. Ask Nancy
The only place I really enjoy drinking Guinness, is in the wilds of Connemara. It’s the perfect accompaniment to all that healthy fresh air.
Nick said,
March 20, 2009 at 9:31 am
I’m glad St Pat’s Day in Dublin was a bit more peaceful than in certain parts of Belfast where they’re still clearing the burnt-out cars. I can’t stand Guinness myself, not very partial to St Pat’s favourite tipple of whisky either. I shall celebrate my birthday with some white wine.
Grannymar said,
March 20, 2009 at 9:52 am
@Steph - We have no Nancy to play with as she leaves Florida today for the 1000 mile drive back to Philadelphia. Summer must be round the corner.
@Nick - Happy Birthday Sunshine and welcome to the 62 Club! I think I’ll join you in the white wine.
I heard about the nastiness raising its ugly head once more in Northern Ireland. It is like a volcano always rumbling away underground and then suddenly Swoosh!
Magpie11 said,
March 20, 2009 at 12:57 pm
So much in one post and its comments……
Glad you had a good time.
When I worked as a barman at The Turks Head in Exeter I was introduced to the making of Black Velvet and was always told to use the sweetest champagne possible ….nowadays a demi-sec…and as cold as possible. I was also shown Calcutta Cup and told, eroniously, that the Tonic sweetened the draught Guinness for those who found the Guinness a bit bitter! (I find Tonic exceedingly bitter…un-palatable) And yes the idea of Tonic water was to administer Quinine…. seems that the parasites have developed an immunity BTW)
I was unaware that there was trouble in Belfast ……. seems that the extremist criminals on both sides may be getting their way again….
Gloriously effective understatement…nastiness..
kenju said,
March 20, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I’ve never had Guiness, but I love ginger beer, so I guess the Top Hat is for me!
Darlene said,
March 20, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Since Nancy is traveling I shall try to fill in her missing humor. My favorite joke:
Two men were sitting at the opposite ends of the bar when one noticed that the other was drinking Guinness. He came over and sat by the second guy and commented on his brew and asked him, “Sure and ye wouldn’t be from the ole’ sod, would ye?”
Second guy: “Sure and Begorrah, I am.”
First guy: “Oh what a coincidence, I am too. Lets drink to the ole’ sod.” And they toasted the ole’ sod.
First guy: What part of the ole’ sod are ye from?
Second guy: “Dublin”.
First guy: “What a coincidence, I am too. Let’s toast Dublin.” and they took another swig.
First guy: “Wouldn’t it be strange if we lived near. What street did ye live on?”
Second guy: “McArthur Street.” (You Irish can change the street name if you tell this joke. I don’t know the names in Dublin.)
First guy: What a coincidence, I lived on Mc Arthur street too. Lets toast McArthur St.” And they did.
First guy: “You must have gone to St. Mary’s then if you lived on McArthur St.”
Second guy: “Sure and Begorrah, I did. Lets toast St. Mary’s” and they did.
Just then the phone rand and the bartender answered it. He said, “Oh nothing much going on. Just the O’Shaunesy twins are drunk again.”
Brighid said,
March 20, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Ah, love the Quiness. Will have to give the Black Velvet a try.
Have been partaking of Cowcamp Mimosas of late, while missing Mac & Jack’s African Amber.
Grannymar said,
March 20, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Home Sweet Home eventually!
@Magpie - Tonic water like Guinness is an acquired taste. A G&T would not be the same without it.
Trouble in Northern Ireland over the holiday made local BBC news not sure if it had nationwide coverage.
@Judy - I was recommended to drink Guinness as a tonic many years ago. I took it for a while but only managed a half pint glass full at any one time.
@Darlene - I think we all know some one like the O’Shaunessy twins!
@Brighid - Cowcamp Mimosas are not something I have heard of before today.
Magpie11 said,
March 20, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Where else can i post this?
BBC Radio Four tomorrow Saturday 21st March
The programme Broadcasting House has an article about Toyboys for Sexagenarians!
Listen at you peril!!
Grannymar said,
March 20, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Magpie is Broadcasting House not on a Sunday Morning? 09:00 tomorrow is Saturday Live with Clare Balding.
Worry not, I’ll be listening and taking notes on both days!
Baino said,
March 20, 2009 at 9:10 pm
So where are your photos then? We had our parade last Sunday, no day off work for the wicked and as for adding guinness to champagne . . .I’m speechless! Guinness is good for gravy and as a hair conditioner . . that is all.
Grannymar said,
March 20, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Baino,
Guinness is good for the Christmas pudding!
The photos are not uploaded yet. I am only home a couple of hours… they will come.
Magpie11 said,
March 20, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Oh yes….Saturday Live…silly me..I don’t get to hear it as I’m teaching Walthamstow’s brightest the delights of maths!
Grannymar said,
March 21, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Magpie,
I listened to Saturday Live!!