It wasn’t Saint Patrick that kicked the snakes out of Ireland

We had an abundant supply of snakes in Ireland until 1972. We had Adders and Vipers, Asps and Constrictors, Rattlesnakes and Cobras. You couldn’t turn over a rock without disturbing a snake. Every patch of long grass contained a hiss or a rattle.

It didn’t matter very much because the Irish people were immune to the poison from snakebites – we had weathered invasions, famines, plagues, storms and the Catholic Church – a bite from a snake was nothing compared to a hammering from a Christian Brother!

In the early 1970’s Irish politics entered a new phase – the idealists and visionaries from the early part of the State were slowly dying off and a new generation of Men in Mohair Suits were starting to emerge.

These gentlemen were more interested in self enrichment than in the welfare of all our citizens. There was no act too low or deed too drastic they would not undertake.

Before long, if you lifted a stone or entered the long grass there would be an aspiring politician competing with the snakes for space. The snakes held a meeting and decided they were no longer in a position to occupy the lowest place in society and their position was no longer tenable.

They left on the Rosslare to Le Havre ferry in September 1972 after watching the All Ireland Final in the Horse and Hound Pub in Ballinaboola. Our politicians have continued to occupy the low ground ever since and are regularly seen slithering their way around the country. Their barks are extremely ferocious but their bites are very harmless. Saint Patrick did a lot for Ireland and his feast day is celebrated on the 17^th March every year.

Some (a lot of) green is worn and people sport all sorts of paraphernalia – check out our website www.galwaybaygifts.com if you want help in celebrating the Big Day.