August and September (Lúnasa agus Meán Fómhair, Meán meaning middle and Fómhair meaning harvest.) here in Ireland are a very special time for a myriad of reasons, not least, the fact it signals the harvesting season as the end of the summer season approaches, and returning to school, the return of the sporting season for all our sporting fans. It is a time of the year that is rich in mythology and foklore.
I’m going to bookend this blog with two very traditional and niche activities. Throughout summer we harvest ‘Dillisk’ here in this part of the world. Links on this post will help readers to research this incredibly interesting and healthy seaweed. Learning to harvest dillisk is probably best done on the shoreline with someone experienced but failing this I hope this small video will help.
A (sort of) David Bowie Story
True story, a fouteen year old, mesmerised by the night sky, having witnessed a ‘perseids meteor shower’ while lying on the sea wall in Kilkee July/August 1972 and convinced we are definitely, not alone, when along came David Bowie and Starman, probably getting lots of airplay as it climbed the british charts, which blew my little mind. I spent what savings I had on a David Bowie poster, likely the first one in this collage and proudly played ‘Starman’ to death, believing the song (and David, of course) was talking directly to me. (See 1.36 of the original ‘Top of the Pops’ appearance). I now know he was, he changed my way of thinking, my way of seeing the world. I’m dedicating this little snippet to my dad, Cyril. Who calmly, disappeared the said poster in an effort to re-wall paper the boy’s bedroom. I did have long hair for a while, never the roaring red mop of David Bowie, never the ‘flash’ decal across my face but I’m still completely awestruck by this unique human being and his art. Saved from a life less ordinary by a new roll of wallpaper. Good man, Cyril.
What an Olympics. A 4.49 video produced by RTE to celebrate this extraordinary 2024 Olympics, especially for our little island, bravo to all , every participant, every olympian. The blood, sweat and tears over the decades culminating in an Olympic Dream. You will get a lump in throat, you will well up and like me shed a few tears. Go on, every participant deserves our emotional response. Sport can be so uplifting, while equally emotioanlly shattering and heartbreaking. With the incredible music of, Clair de Lune, La Vie En Rose, and Outro. Well done to all of our incredible Irish Olympians.
And one final tribute to the olympian effort that Celine Dion managed to open the 2024 Olympics with L’hymne á L’Amour (another Édith Piaf masterpiece). Celine, who is struggling with a life altering illness, Stiff Body Syndrome (SBS) made an extraordinary effort to get herself capable for a committment she made many years ago before the illness gripped her being. I am: Celine Dion. This short 2:18 video produced by Paris 2024 is … just have a watch
And to finish this August / September Blog, I did say I would bookend this blog with very traditional, niche, activities. Below is Mam’s recipe for the traditional Packet and Tripe dish we were reared on and continue to absolutely adore. I will let Wikipedia explain the origins of this delicasy, Packet (also known as ‘Drisheen’ ) and Tripe, suffice to say it is not to everyones tastes. I get my Packet and Tripe in the English Market in Cork now, but in my youth, the walk to Tracy’s, off Athlunkard Street, of a Saturday morning, was part of the fabric of my life. Later, it was Crohan’s in Killely. Only recently I got a gift of six ‘Eye bones’ from John Purcell that he got in ‘Jack Spratt’s’ Master Butchers in Janesboro, Limerick and I am reliably informed that he is still selling the ‘Packet and Tripe’
Cut tripe roughly in similar size pieces. Cover in cold, lightly salted water, bring to boil, then simmer for 20/30 minutes. If tripe, is still very firm, continue to simmer until you get a nice soft consistency (every body has differing textures tastes, so, please yourself)
Cut packet and place in pot, add boiling water, bring back to bubble and ONLY then add salt. Turn off and let sit for 10 minutes.
Chop a large yellow onion and add to a separate pot, add 3/4 Ltr. of milk, add butter and seasoning. Bring to simmer and add strained tripe and only then add salt to taste.
Thickening: Mix 1 tablespoon of corn flour / corn starch / thickening, with a tablespoon of milk in a cup and make a cornflower slurry. Add to Tripe and milk pot, and bring back to heat. Add strained Packet (Drisheen). Thicken further if required.
Fresh Batch loaf (called a Cottage loaf in Limerick) with lashings of salted butter and enjoy before any Rugby match and a second feed after coming back home full of stout and merriment.
Done
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