GIRDLE

A girdle is a kind of belt or waistband.

It gives a more slender appearance to the human body.

Up to the 1950s, women used to wear girdles as an undergarment.

Today it's a historical curiosity - something your grandmother might have worn - not a modern garment.

Heracles' ninth labour was to steal a woman's girdle.

The problem, however, was whom the thing belonged to.

The lady in question was no less than Hippolyte, the Queen of the Amazons.

There was no joking with the Amazons, a tribe of wild, warfaring warrior women.

The golden girdle embodied their power and indomitable spirit.

Heracles dipossessed Hippolyte of garment and government,

and he did so either by killing her (Rambo version)

or seducing her (Don Juan version).

A possible third storyline might be:

Hippolyte having Heracles' guts for garters.

But this prospect wasn't even contemplated by the Greeks.

They seem to have taken a dislike for strong women with garters.

Now, back to Ireland.

This lesson is about THE CRAIC.

The craic (pronounced 'crack') is Ireland's collective passion.

Irish people love nothing better than warm company and a good cheer.

The craic is entertainment: clustering together, having a chat, a laugh, music, dance...

It's an active kind of entertainment -very different from just watching TV or going to the pictures.

The craic binds people and gives them a sense of community.

Talking in Ireland is the national passtime, and 'slagging' is a part of it.

The pub is the craic's natural environment, and talk is the essential ingredient in social life.

Music also takes an important part in pub life.

Beyond the Pale - outside Dublin- you hear mostly traditional Irish music.

'comely maidens dancing at the crossroads'

1. Name and describe the instruments which are playd in traditional Irish music.

2. As a ladies' undergarnment has given rise to this lesson,

watch Father Ted's tribulations in the lingerie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foFXj7pEj4g

and comment on it.

2. The next task is a challenging one:

You are to emulate the fearlessness and also the charm of the Amazons by shaking a leg.

Dance to the catchy tune of'GALWAY GIRL':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3V-oXwCWL4&NR=1

You can create your own choreography or take the steps from other dancers.

Here you have some examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyJlOifeKj0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YDk0050NXs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvDLZahzDcQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgJKPtlaHvw&feature=related

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7JyFPNWYKo&feature=related

Register your performance on video.

3. Another version of the song is great gas:

'GALWAY GIRL WITH A DIFFERENCE'.

Listen to both versions, and compare the lyrics.

Galway Girl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpsyzmZQ7KI&feature=related

You can find the lyrics of this version on Google.

Galway Girl with a difference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQDwd6IP57E&feature=related

The difficulty of the task lies in understanding the parody version. But it's worth trying.

4. Listen to the song 'SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS'

by The Dubliners, and comment on it.

5. Listen to the song 'FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK'

by Kristy MacColl and The Pogues.

Comment on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv0hlbWpa1w&feature=related

6. Select a song by any Irish band and comment on it.

7. 'THERE'S NO ONE AS IRISH AS BARACK O'BAMA'

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HplZ_taHXLM&feature=related

Listen to the song by The Corrighan Brothers and write a comment.

Lovetthe craic!!

“All keys hang not at one woman’s girdle."
 Danish Proverb

BLARNEY’S CORNER:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craic

http://www.ireland-fun-facts.com/craic.html

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=craic

http://www.ireland-fun-facts.com/craic.html

http://www.ireland-fun-facts.com/craic.html

Tony Hawks: Round Ireland with a Fridge. London 1999 (Ebury Press)

Martin Hughes: Irish Language & Cuture Travel Guide. Victoria 2007 (Lonely Planet)

Colin Irwin: In Search of the Craic. London 2003 (André Deutsch)

Marc McCrum : The Craic: A Journey through Ireland. London 1998 (Phoenix)

Pete McCarthy: McCarthy's Bar: A Journey to Discover Ireland. London 2001 (Sceptre Lir)  

Marc McCrum : The Craic: A Journey through Ireland. London 1998 (Phoenix) ish Language & Cuture Colin Murphy & Donal O'Dea: The Book of Fecking Irish Slang... Dublin 2004 (O'Brien Press) )

Joseph O'Connor: The Secret World of the Irish Male. London 1995 (Robson Books) ide. Va 2007 (Lonely Planet)Search of the Craic. London 2003 (André Deutsch)