Dia dhuit, a chara! ☘️
Happy New Year to you and yours! 🎉 May your 2025 be as full of cheer as a packed Irish pub on a Friday night. Let’s dive into the first Weekly Dose of Irish for the year—brimming with laughter, history, and a touch of craic.
Get your weekly dose of Irish sent straight to your inbox at irisharoundtheworld.com/join
1. Irish Joke of the Week 😄
A new man is hired at a building site. Every day he arrives in a top-spec Mercedes. The other builders are wondering how he could afford it and start hassling the foreman, thinking he must be getting better pay. After a few days of hassle, the foreman decides to ask him what the story is.
Foreman: How can you afford that car?
New man: I’m a gambler. I’d gamble on two flies going up a wall if I thought I’d make money.
Foreman: But how can you make money? Surely you must lose every now and then?
New man: Nope! I always make money. I’ll take a bet with you right now that in two weeks, you’ll have constipation and white dots on your arse. €200, what do you say?
So the foreman takes the bet. And he’s careful. He uses the double velvet toilet role, has an extra scrub in the shower, makes sure he isn’t sitting on any dodgy surfaces. After the fortnight is up, he goes to collect his money.
New man: I have to check don’t I? Can’t just take your word for it.
The foreman isn’t pleased, but he wants the €200 so he allows an inspection. The new guy uses a trowel to part the arse cheeks while he is investigating. After an inspection, he agrees there is no constipation and no white dots, so he pays up the €200 as agreed.
Foreman: How do you make money??!! Taking a stupid bet like that. How the fuck does that work?
New man: I didn’t tell you this, but I took a bet with every man on the site I’d have your arse on a trowel today……!
2. Did You Know? – Irish New Year Traditions 🎆
Ireland has some unique New Year traditions that are steeped in history and folklore:
- Banging Bread on Walls: In olden times, people would take a loaf of bread and whack it against the walls and doors of the house to banish evil spirits and ensure plenty of food for the year ahead. (Let’s hope it wasn’t the same bread they had with breakfast!)
- First Footing: Similar to Scotland, it’s considered good luck for a dark-haired man to be the first person to cross the threshold after midnight. Some families even kept a lump of coal near the door to symbolize warmth and prosperity.
- Opening the Door: At the stroke of midnight, doors were flung open to let the old year out and the new year in. If your granny opened every window in the house, now you know why!
Do you follow any of these traditions in your home?
3. A Quiz for You – Test Your Irish Knowledge! 🧠
Let’s see how well you know your Irish history and geography:
Question 1:
Which Irish city is known as the “City of Tribes”?
A) Cork
B) Galway
C) Limerick
D) Dublin
Question 2:
Which Irish county is the only one without a coastline?
A) Carlow
B) Laois
C) Longford
D) Offaly
Question 3:
What is Ireland’s oldest city?
A) Waterford
B) Kilkenny
C) Dublin
D) Cork
Scroll down for the answers!
4. Quote of the Week 🍀
“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.” – Traditional Irish Proverb
Here’s hoping your troubles fade away quickly and your blessings stick around all year long!
5. Irish Fact of the Week 📜
On this day in 1801, the Act of Union officially came into effect, merging Ireland and Great Britain to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
This act was highly controversial at the time. Many Irish people opposed it, seeing it as a loss of sovereignty. It wasn’t until 1922, after years of struggle and the Irish War of Independence, that most of Ireland regained its independence, leading to the establishment of the Irish Free State.
Interestingly, January 1st, 1801, was marked with a mix of celebrations and protests. In Dublin, British soldiers paraded in full regalia, while many Irish people silently mourned the loss of their parliament.
History tells us that every step Ireland has taken, even through hardship, has been a step toward the Ireland we know and love today.
Answers to the Quiz
Q1: The “City of Tribes” is B) Galway! 🌊
This nickname comes from the 14 merchant families, or “tribes,” who dominated Galway’s political and commercial scene during the medieval period.
Q2: The only Irish county without a coastline is B) Laois. 🏞️
Tucked away in the midlands, Laois is known for its rolling hills, beautiful Slieve Bloom Mountains, and rich history.
Q3: Ireland’s oldest city is A) Waterford! 🏰
Founded by the Vikings in 914 AD, Waterford is a treasure trove of history, including Reginald’s Tower and the famous Waterford Crystal.
6. Spotlight on Irish Events in January 📅
- Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) – January 6th
This special day, traditionally celebrated in Ireland, is all about honoring the women who worked tirelessly during the holidays. It’s a time for the women to put up their feet while the men do the work (at least for one day)!
- Waterford Viking Festival – Mid-January
If you’ve ever wanted to experience a slice of Ireland’s Viking past, this annual festival is the perfect opportunity. From historical reenactments to Viking feasts, it’s a must-see event for history lovers.
Aerial view of majestic Lismore Castle in County Waterford, Ireland, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun on the first day of spring, showcasing its timeless beauty and historic charm
So, what is this week’s top Irish poem?
4. Irish Poem of the Week 🎵
To add a bit of beauty to your day, here’s a classic Irish New Year’s blessing in poetic form:
“An Irish New Year Wish”
May your troubles be less,
And your blessings be more,
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.
May the friendships you treasure
Grow stronger each year,
And your dreams be fulfilled
With joy and good cheer.
Until Next Time…
Here’s to a year full of laughter, kindness, and Irish blessings! Remember, the best way to keep your New Year’s resolutions is to make ones you can actually enjoy. 😉
Slán go fóill,
Stephen
Irish Around The World 🌍
P.S.Do you Know someone who’d love a bit of Irish cheer to kick off their 2025? Share this email and spread the joy! 🎉
- Do you send money abroad often? Sign up with OFX here and get free transfers for life over $1000! They are my number 1 recommended money transfer company, and I have used them since 2013. They work worldwide! The best rates you will find online and fantastic support. Plus, with the link above, you will get an even lower rate than normal.
__________________________________
About the founder of Irish Around The World:
Okay, some of you might be wondering.
Just who runs this Irish Around The World website??
Or maybe you don’t care, haha.
My name is Stephen Palmer from Co. Cork, and I have been involved in many Irish-related projects over the years.
While it may seem this website is run by a whole team of highly skilled Irishmen, it is just run by myself.
So, I want to thank you again for taking the time to subscribe and participate in the community.
So, how did you start a website about Irish people around the world, Stephen?
Where it all began:
I created a website in 2013 to help Irish people who are moving to Australia, and recently, a new group to help Irish ex-pats who are returning to Ireland.
I have always enjoyed reading about Irish heritage and how connected Irish people are around the world.
However, I felt that the websites did not connect the people to the information. Instead, they just published daily articles regardless of whether people cared about them or not.
So, I decided to change it and create my own Facebook community called Irish Around The World.
It expanded to an Irish Around The World group, now with over 70k members!
Many of you have probably seen me popping in and out of our Facebook group. It has been amazing to see the interaction with each member.
There have been many ups and downs in the groups. Laughs and tears but every day, it continues to move forward. Thanks for being a part of it.
Sign up here if you haven’t joined yet and don’t know what you are missing.
Thank you again for being a part of Irish Around The World.
Have a great day!
All the best,
Stephen Palmer
P.S Invite your friends or family to this weekly newsletter. Just share this link with them: Irisharoundtheworld.com/join.
