Begorrahs begone: Educating my Canadian neigbours about the real Ireland on St Patrick's Day
After 40 years here their imitation brogues are tiresome, but I'm glad of the opportunity to talk about Ireland
Montreal’s St Patrick’s Day parade: ‘You want to be Irish for a few hours? Sure, why not, I say.’
It’s March 15th here in Montreal and the traditional snow dump known as la tempête de saint Patrick is well underway. Worse still, for the big day (Saturday) the mercury may drop to -5C, and due to road works on the main shopping street of Ste. Catherine, the parade will make its way along drab de Maisonneuve Street. Not the best of conditions for the parade.
In the run up to the parade my well intentioned neighbours are as usual accosting me with their “top O the mornings” or “begorrahs”, in their best but cringe worthy imitation Irish brogue, which after 40 years I've grown a bit tired of. But instead of getting upset, I try to educate my neighbours about the parade, and Irishness in general.