On Friday Arne and I went with Torsten, Nicolas, Elizabeth and Melissa to St. George's Market in the city center. The Market is open on Friday and Saturday mornings, with all kinds of different things to buy. Bread, clothes, tools, jewelry, freshly ground coffee, priginal paintings, whole fish slapped on layers of melting ice. I bought two silver rings for £5, which I'm still trying to get used to wearing, and had some coffee with Torsten and Nicolas.
Elizabeth and Melissa left early, but I went with the others on a little shopping trip and bought a black shirt displaying the Ireland shield/coat of arms. While we walked around downtown, I was surprised how many empty shop windows greeted my eyes. Whole blocks were out of business. Seems like the worldwide economic crisis is really getting bad.We went back to the market before it closed, bought some really expensive fresh scallops, stopped at Tesco for some groceries, and walked back to Mount Charles to cook up a hearty lunch.
I wanted to be able to explain the symbols of the coat of arms, so I did a little research. The shield is separated into four quadrants representing the four traditional provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.
This is the flag of Connacht. "The origin of the two elements displayed on the arms and flag of Connacht is obscure, but it is likely that the arm and sword derive from the arms of the O'Connors, the ruling family in the province before the Norman invasion, and that the black eagle derives from the arms of the Browns, one of the 'tribes' of Galway city. If this derivation is correct, the flag would be a symbol of the 17th-century unity of Gaels and Old English." (Irish Rugby Legends)
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This is the flag of Ulster, with the Red Hand of Ulster. Legend has it that in 504 BC, two Viking warships were rushing to claim the land. One of the captains, in his eagerness, cut off his own hand and threw it to shore, thus securing his claim.
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This is the flag of Leinster, whose capital is Dublin. The harp has long been a national symbol of Ireland (and of Guinness). "The flag was previously used by the United Irishmen in 1798, Daniel O'Connel's Repeal of the Union campaign in the 1830s and 1840s, and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB)." (Irish Rugby Legends)
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Finally, this is the flag of Munster. "Three gold crowns on a blue field were the arms of Ireland before the adoption of the harp in the 16th century. The symbolism of the crowns on the Munster flag is not certain, but one possibility is that they may represent the three most important medieval lordships in the province - viz. those of the O'Briens (Thomond), of the Butlers (Ormond) and of the Fitzgeralds (Desmond)." (Irish Rugby Legends)
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This is the flag of Ulster, with the Red Hand of Ulster. Legend has it that in 504 BC, two Viking warships were rushing to claim the land. One of the captains, in his eagerness, cut off his own hand and threw it to shore, thus securing his claim.
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This is the flag of Leinster, whose capital is Dublin. The harp has long been a national symbol of Ireland (and of Guinness). "The flag was previously used by the United Irishmen in 1798, Daniel O'Connel's Repeal of the Union campaign in the 1830s and 1840s, and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB)." (Irish Rugby Legends)
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Finally, this is the flag of Munster. "Three gold crowns on a blue field were the arms of Ireland before the adoption of the harp in the 16th century. The symbolism of the crowns on the Munster flag is not certain, but one possibility is that they may represent the three most important medieval lordships in the province - viz. those of the O'Briens (Thomond), of the Butlers (Ormond) and of the Fitzgeralds (Desmond)." (Irish Rugby Legends)
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