Thursday Thoughts

Let's get our Irish on. 

Saint Brendan:  One of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.  He founded a lot of monasteries.  He was also a skilled navigator famous for his 6th-century voyages.  The patron saint of sailors and travelers, and also of whales, though I'm not sure they know it.

The Great Famine:  Also known as the Irish Potato famine.  Potato blight led to mass starvation, disease, and emigration from 1845 to 1852.  Deaths estimated at a million.  The British role in the crisis led to an increase in Irish republicanism and independence for much of Ireland in the 20th century.

Oscar Wilde:  Playwright, novelist, and journalist in the late 19th century.  His notable works include The Picture of Dorian Grey (novel) and The Importance of Being Earnest (play).

Easter Rising:  Armed insurrection against British rule during Easter Week, 1916.  Also, the subject of a poem by William Butler Yeats (as read by Tom O'Bedlam).

          
Maureen O'Hara:  Actress and singer.  Her notable films include How Green Was My Valley (1941), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), and The Quiet Man (1952). She received an Honorary Oscar in 2014.

Van Morrison:  A musician who has won six Grammys.  He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  Here's "Brown Eyed Girl", from 1967.

 
Bloody Sunday:  January 30, 1972, in Derry.  Fourteen unarmed civilians were murdered by British soldiers, who also shot twelve other unarmed civilians. Many of the victims were shot while trying to flee the scene.  The British soldiers then lied about the incident, trying to justify their actions.

U2:  Rock band formed in Dublin in 1976.  They have won 22 Grammys and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
"With or Without You":

     
In the Name of the Father (1993):  Based o the true story of the Guildford Four, who were falsely convicted by the British of the 1974 Guildford pub bombings.  The film focuses primarily on Gerry Conlon and his father, Giuseppe.  Nominated for seven Oscars, including Lead Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Supporting Actor (Pete Postlethwaite), Supporting Actress (Emma Thompson), Best Director (Jim Sheridan), and Best Picture.

 
Pierce Brosnan:  Actor and film producer.  His notable roles include the title character in the 1980's TV series Remington Steele, James Bond in four films (1995 - 2002), and the title character in The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).  He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in The Matador (2005).

   

Anyway...  That's my ten.  There are a few others I considered, but I don't want to type a book here.