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From: Asa Daniel <>
Subject: Re: [FOLKLORE-L] Irish Hospitality
Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 05:38:08 -0500

Janice Walker wrote:

>
>
> 'If you're Irish come into the parlour' goes the old song
> and Irish hospitality to strangers, especially if they can
> claim an Irish ancestor (and most people can) is well
> known. Step over an Irish threshold on a social visit
> and the kettle will go on, the biscuit tin will emerge and
> if it's evening and you're particularly welcome, the
> whiskey will be taken out. You will be offered at least
> a 'cup of tea in your hand' meaning a casual cup of tea
> rather than a more formal sitting down to a bread and
> butter type of cup of tea.
>
> The tradition of keeping open house to visitors goes back
> to medieval times and one of the stories associated with
> Grace O'Malley, the pirate queen, is that when she called
> at the castle of Howth on her way back to her native Galway
> and was refused entry she took offense, kidnapped the heir
> to the estate and gave him back only on the understanding
> that the gate would always stand open and a spare place be
> laid at every meal. Brehon Law demanded that every village
> keep a guest house ready for passing travellers and that they
> be shown every hospitality.
>
> Janice

Janice

My ancestor, John D. Adams, upon returning from the War between the
states maintained just such a house (called a wayside house) in Elbert
county Ga. for many years to accomadate the returning Confederate
soldiers for many years...

And Lore has it that the soldiers continued to return long after the war
was over and even into the 20th century..........

Asa D..............LOLASAS

This thread:

• [FOLKLORE-L] Irish Hospitality by "Janice Walker" <>

  • Re: [FOLKLORE-L] Irish Hospitality by Asa Daniel <>