Roger Harty: Tradition And Culture

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DID you ever hear the comment passed about someone –‘He’s a nice man but there is no real depth to him’?

What does this word ‘depth’ mean and is it important if he is a nice man? Well I suppose nice is good but if we really want to develop a proper relationship I think ‘depth’ is extremely important as well.

Otherwise the relationship will be ‘shallow’ and we know what can happen in those cases.

I think in terms of countries another word for ‘depth’ would be ‘heritage’ which is directly linked to our tradition and culture. Just like depth it is not something that you can give to a person or a country, but it is something that one could and should appreciate, foster and encourage.

In Ireland we are blessed with a very rich heritage. I have no doubt but that it is of enormous benefit to our tourism business and it is the very reason why so many of our American ‘cousins’ come home to experience the wealth of customs, culture and traditions that are freely on offer.

This culture and tradition is so readily accessible that the only fear is that we might take it for granted. We should really appreciate it and it is incumbent on every one of us to keep it alive.

A classic example of this is the St Stephen’s Day ‘Wren’ back in Dingle. Thousands of people from all over the country dress up in traditional garb and march behind fife and drum celebrating this wonderful custom of honouring the simple but beautiful bird called the wren.

It is especially important for locals to meet up and join together in friendship and revelry particularly if they are visiting home from far off lands.

“The Wren, the Wren

The King of the Birds

On Stephen’s Day

He was caught in the furze.

Up with the kettle

And down with the pan

Give us your answer

And let us be gone”

Another great tradition ‘Back West’ is that of cooking ‘Ling’ around Christmas time. Ling is a very ‘little known’ fish but was extremely popular long ago. It was traditionally preserved in salty brine and was hung up to dry out.

There are great stories of publicans purposefully hanging it outside their doors so that customers would cut a skelp off it leaving the unfortunate and unsuspecting thief with a thirst that could only be cured by a copious amount of drink.

I had the pleasure of sampling some traditionally cooked ling recently – it is cooked in white sauce with onions and garlic, a secret touch, fine mashed potatoes in real butter…. Heaven to behold and all I can say is ‘Bring on next Christmas’.

• Next week I am going to say – Thank You