ST. PATRICKS Day FROM THE EXPERTS

In honour of St. Patrick’s Day, we wanted to share a word from two of Tundra’s Employees who call Ireland their second (or first) home.

Over to Donna B, Tundra Marketing Manager, and Keith C, Tundra Shipper/Receiver, to answer our questions on all things… Irish!

According to Donna:

Where in Ireland are you from?

Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty. It’s a line from Molly Malone, I’m not that vain… 🙂

What do you love most about your home-town?

Apart from family and friends, I love that it’s alive, every minute of the day. There is always a buzz around Dublin. Grafton Street on a any day or night of the week is bustling with people.

What are 3 things the Irish do really well?

Make a short story very long, have a good sing song, and know someone who knows someone.

What is your favourite Irish saying and what does it mean?

‘Nil aon tintean mar do thintean fein’ (I can’t add fada’s on my Canadian PC). It means there’s no fireside like your own fireside. Essentially, there’s no place like home.

What is something that Canadians say that sounds ‘funny’ to you?

Soccer – it’s football! Or when females say that they were out with their girlfriends. I thought that there were just a lot of same-sex couples in Canada.

What sports team do you cheer for?

Dublin of course. We’ve won the All-Ireland football championship for the past 6 years. If you’ve never seen a Gaelic Football match (game) in Croke Park, go online immediately. Poetry in motion. I’m also a huge Man Utd fan, which means very early Saturday and Sundays to catch live games.

What does St. Patrick’s Day mean to you?

The St. Patrick’s Day parade, where the creativity of the Irish shines through, and we celebrate our great history. Ireland is a country of 5 Million, but about 70 million people worldwide celebrate our National holiday, and it’s something that makes me very proud. Did you know that there are only 2 types of people in the world? The Irish and those who wish they were Irish. 🙂

According to Keith:

Where in Ireland are you from?

I’m from Offaly County, which is in East Ireland, and known mainly for The Bog. We spend all summer in the bog preparing for winter in front of the fire. The area is covered in peat which turns a muddy looking field into sods of turf. It gives off mighty heat through our freezing wet winters.

What do you love most about your home-town?

I grew up in a small village where not much happens, but there’s always nature. We lived on a laneway that lead to large woods. In the evening, tens of thousands of starlings would congregate and make incredible shapes in the sky before roosting for the night.

What are 3 things the Irish do really well?

We love having the craic. This means gathering with friends and family, telling stories, singing songs, and having a good laugh. Generosity is another one. If my mother had something that she thought you needed, she’d give it to you immediately, claiming she had no use for such a thing. If you needed a bed, she’d sleep on the floor.

What is your favourite Irish saying and what does it mean?

‘Tús maith is ea leath na hoibre’. It means that a good start is half the work.

What is something that Canadians say that sounds ‘funny’ to you?

When they say “or no?”. For example: “Hi Tom, are you going to the concert on Saturday, or no?”. They could put a ‘T’ at the end to make the word ‘not’, but they would much rather appear as though they’ve stopped halfway through a sentence.

What sports team do you cheer for?

Every county has its own Gaelic football and hurling teams. There’s huge rivalry from county to county, all across the country. Being from Offaly, that’s my chosen team. Support your own through thick and thin. It’s pretty much against the law not to.

What does St. Patrick’s Day mean to you?

St. Paddy’s Day is great for colours and decorations. Everyone wearing green is a truly fun sight. There are thousands of people walking the streets banging on drums and bodhrans, playing the bagpipes, and singing away without a care in the world. A day for the country to come together and celebrate who we are and how we are.

Thank you, Donna & Keith, for sharing a little piece of your heritage, and a big piece of your heart with us – and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!