Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-17
They Toke 1t More Calmly in Ireland
By Mory McGrory


"A exiles are calling 1t to-day In
they're marching and singing and
shouting for Ireland on st. Patrick's
Day, wishing they could live, or at least
die there. In Ireland. they're probably
taking 1t q little more calmly. @s
Visitors to Ireland. particularly those
with Irish-American ties, never quite
get over the unmilitant attitude Of
the natives. They aren't breathing fire
about the English-in fact, thousands
of Irish emigrate to the land of per
fldiouS Albion" every year AS for the
little bit Of heaven Of the exile's lament
well, sure it's home you know. and
homes best. But the natives just can't
seem to see what other people see in
it-unless maybe their relatives.
"Why do you come here at all? You
can see, there's very little here for us,
so what would there be for your" The
young man on the bus crossing Ireland
from Galway to Dublin. was plainly
mystified why any one from America
should be there It was rainy and we
were going through the central plain.
II suppose if you saw The Quiet
Man." he went on with a touch of
bitterness, you thought you'd see us
drinking and fighting and singing all
the time"
I said no, the Irish in my family
were very quiet, never drank drop and
couldn't sing note. had just wanted
to see Ireland.
looking, with very curly hair and an
open face. He was the soul Of courtesy.
He and band of about dozen men
and women were travelling down to
Dublin to cheer for Galway at the all
Ireland hurting match to be held the
end of the week.
The bus made many stops. Troops Of
school children clambered on and off.
They were all intensely rosy-cheeked
and blue-eyed. They'd smile if you
caught their eye. and blush gloriously.
They never spoke unless spoken to. A
boy carrying roSebuSh and a fishing
rod added these to the crowded baggage
rack. At almost every stop, some coun-
trywoman. all in black, would step to
the door, turn to the conductor and
with the manner and accent of
duchess say:
"Thenk you veddy much" and get of.
Christy, anxious to do the honorS for
Ireland. inquired where I had been and
what I'd seen. He was diSmayed to
hear I'd seen no dancing and heard no
Irish songs Then he frightened.
"Ah. you're in luck then" he said.
''for the finest Irish singer in all of
Ireland Is here on this very bus, up at
the front. I'll get him."
Dinny was the minStrel's name and
he was welcomed by our crowd as q
bard in the Middle Ages. Christy'S
friend Joe turned to little girl sitting
next to him. and scooped her onto his
lap. up with you now, wee little
woman" he said. Come. pet. and we'll
make a home for Dinny." Every one
gladly rearranged himself so that Dinny
could ride forward. When we were all
settled down and Dinny was about to
begin. somebody across the aisle sud-
denly remembered ceremony.
X
Perhaps the lady from America
would care to sing" said a voice.
Dinny, who had thrown his head
back. recollected himself.
The very thing" he said hastily
declined, and Dinny, who had no
upper teeth but piercing tenor which
filled the bus, again threw back his
head. In difference to me he sang an
Irish American selection. Mother Ma
chree." Then he took requests. THE
Little Orphan Boy" was the favorite
It was one of the Saddest songs !
ever heard. It began. MY mother died
when was ten," and it went on for
about 80 more stanzas, each sadder
than the last. clapped prematurely
several times. but no one was the
least impatient. When it was finally
over, a sigh ran through the little
group.
up Galway" crowed a young man
on the back row.
Dinny sang some more sad songs and
the rosebush which the boy was taking
to his grandmother in Dublin fell from
the rack on his head. 1t only added to
the good cheer of the occasion.
Then the bus drew up in Ballinasloe.
At the stop was a young couple with a
boy who looked about 10. They were
talking to another couple who were
carrying cardboard suitcases. One
Of the young men suddenly shot out
his palm, spit in it and offered it to
the man with the suitcase.
Shake now" he said, land let's say
we'll be seeing you again before very
long"
AS the bus drew away, I looked back.
The boy had tears running down his
cheeks, the woman was crying, too, and
the tall young man looked the picture
of woe
-"Ah." said Christy sympathetically,
IAN American wake. The two of them
are going of to America"
Then he told me about his own fam
lily. He was one of II children, and he
had never seen his whole family to-
gether His brothers and sisters were
scattered all over the world, in South
Africa. Canada. America. The farm was
big enough for only one brother, and
in Galway there was nothing else for
the others to do. Christy himself. to
his great sorrow, was an exile. He was