From: brian@tadsrc.uucp (Brian Kelly)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.celtic
Subject: Re: Horslips --- Irish Musical Tradition
Date: 29 Jul 92 20:20:03 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: Tadpole Technology plc

In article <1992Jul28.082902.2792@maths.tcd.ie> jaymin@maths.tcd.ie (Jo Jaquinta) writes:
>	Take, for instance, Sinead O'Connor. When the Irish government was 
>fumbling over the question of whether to let the pregnant 14 year old out 
>of the country for an abortion Sinead flew over from England, marched right
>into the Dail, and demanded to see the Taoiseach (Prime Minister). There was
>quite a striking picture of her in The Irish Times. She was admited and told
>him to let her go. In the end he did.
>	This action is highly reminiscent of the role of the Bard in Brehon
>Ireland. The Bards were the conscience of the Kings. Wielder's of satire and
>immune to challange they were the safeguarders of what was right. I do not
>think Ms. O'Connor's actions or the Irish government's reactions consciously
>conformed to this archaic role but they are both products of the same
>cultural upbringing where this things live on.
>	If you cannot see beyond the surface representation of the lyrics
>of a song or perceive that they are trying to convey feelings they you,
>my friend, are a Blindman.

Awwww pullleeeeez. Sinead O'Connor consistently puts her big mouth into things
with only the smallest amount of actual knowledge of the matter in hand. During
that episode she appeared on the Johnathan Ross show here in the UK and 
proceeded to "Paddy Bash" with great gusto. The figures (which unfortunately
I can't remember) she used seemed totally unreasonable. She said 
that the referendum (1983?) was held during the summer because they knew that
all the young people would be out of the country on summer working holidays. 
Really, if that were the case [held during the summer] then the percentage
of "young" people out of the country, for the summer, surely would not be that
 great. 

She came accross just like an "expert" you'd find in the pub who just
makes up figures that sound good to win their argument. Myself and my 
girlfriend (both Irish) cringed while we were listening to her. She perpetuated
a stereotyped image of "holy catholic Ireland" that may have been true once, 
but I honestly don't believe exists now.

As another example of her shallow insight into the matters she is prepared to
speak out publicly on I'll draw your attention to one of her appearences on
The Late Late Show. Gay Byrne was doing a piece on the (real or imagined)
North/South Dublin City divide i.e. North == slums, poor, lower class, 
South == affluent,  middle to upper class. She went on a little bit of a rant
about how unjust the situation was and that Dublin Corporation did nothing to
try and redress the balance and then she used a certain area as her example
(I believe it was Crumlin but my Dublin geoghraphy is a little sketchy). Gay
looked at her in astonishment and said "But that's on the south side". Very
impressive I don't think. 

BTW, I agree with Eamonn that the lyrics you quote in your .sig, quite 
out of context, could be offensive. (Haven't we at least one person here 
on s.c.c that is blind/visually impaired but still reads/posts here? I seem 
to remember this from some time ago but I may be wrong). And as for dressing
them up in politically correct speak, what's that meant to achieve?

>The traditional music of Ireland has been sung and enjoyed throughout
>the world.

Exactly. It's been sung, from beginning to end, songs in their entirety, not 
just out of context soundbites.

Brian