When God Made Ireland

@JudyEv (339591)
Rockingham, Australia
May 1, 2017 8:48pm CST
@pgntwo wrote recently, and I've posted a link below, about the Irish comedian Dave Allen. He was very fond of poking fun at the Catholic faith. I remember his TV shows and we watched them religiously (no pun intended). We would often say he'd go straight to hell for some of his jokes. The 'Hole-Truth' post reminded me of the time we went to see the Irish group, the Furies when they performed in Perth, Western Australia. One told a joke about how God the Son was finishing off making the world and decided to create one last island. It was to have a mild climate with gentle mists and soft rain. There would be no snakes or other nasties. The people would be blessed with a wonderful sense of humour and great musical ability. And he'd bless them with a fine dark ale to further enhance their enjoyment of their country. God the Father was a bit worried about so many blessings. He thought there needed to be a better balance of good and bad. But God the Son had an answer: But Dad he said, wait till you see the neighbours I've given them. And the entire audience erupted in cheers. It seemed we were the only Aussies in the auditorium but we were laughing with the rest – as you would – and saying 'to be sure, to be sure', just to show we were on their side. The photo is from our trip to Ireland.
To be able to look at things from a completely different angle can be so refreshing. The Irish comedian, Dave Allen, used it to great effect. Here's his take...
20 people like this
19 responses
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 May 17
We used to watch Dave Allen, he was really funny. I envy you having seen the Fureys - The green Fields of France and Sweet Sixteen are among my favourite songs. And that's a funny joke, even though I am one of the 'neighbours'!
4 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
I was squirming just a bit as I wrote it, thinking about all the lovely English people on here. The Fureys were a rough-looking lot but boy, can they sing.
2 people like this
• United States
2 May 17
A lovely picture of Ireland, the place of my Mothers birth Judy.(Republic of Ireland too) Yes the neighbours could be damned.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
The joke got a huge response from the crowd. When we went out at interval there were Guinnesses lined up all along the bar waiting for the customers.
2 people like this
• United States
2 May 17
@JudyEv Lovely Judy..so glad you got to be there.
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@silvermist (19702)
• India
2 May 17
@JudyEv That is a beautiful photo.I have always wished to visit Ireland,especially the beaches.
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@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
3 May 17
@JudyEv And the Garda (policeman, cop) in Dublin, explaining the meaning of the single and double yellow lines along the sides of the street: Ah, we'll, on the single yellow lines, you can't park at all. On the double yellow lines, you can't park at all at all.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 17
@pgntwo Don't you just love 'em? But maybe you are a native of Ireland.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
There is some wonderful scenery there, to be sure, to be sure.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471355)
• Switzerland
2 May 17
Judy, this reminds a very similar joke that one Italian comedian told many, many years ago. God the Father decided to create a perfect country, he created beautiful beaches, mountains, lakes, great weather, everything looked perfect. The Son asked about so much perfection and God replied, "Do not worry, now I am placing here The Italians".
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471355)
• Switzerland
2 May 17
@JudyEv You are right, there must be something special. Better not to know.
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@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
@LadyDuck You're right. Best to stay well away from it!
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@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
Variation on a theme! That is pretty funny too. There seems to be lots of jokes about the Irish and the Italians - perhaps more than about other nationalities.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
4 May 17
Dave Allen was a briliant comedian. We often watched his shows.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
4 May 17
@JudyEv Some of them were but I was quite young at the time so some things I just did not get. But others of course were funny!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 May 17
@garymarsh6 I guess we were old enough to 'get' them all.
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@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 17
He was very clever wasn't he? And some of the skits were hilarious.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218548)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 May 17
Did you have to think a bit to "get it"?
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
18 May 17
Good one. Took me a minute...
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@TheHorse (218548)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 May 17
@pgntwo Me too.
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@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 May 17
We got it immediately but we weren't sure if the rest of the audience mightn't consider us as 'honorary' English so we were trying to keep a low profile.
• Pamplona, Spain
2 May 17
Dave Allen has always been one of my favourite Comedians. I have howled with laughter at most of his Stories. He had a great ability to communicate the funny side of life to all. Also loved it when his Glass of Whisky used to refill by itself at the end for the program. Spanish love his sense of humour also oddly enough. Funniest story he told everyone was when he at School in Ireland and they shoved the only bar of forbidden chocolate into his hand and shoved him to the front of the Class when the Priest asked who had got the Chocolate. He was left holding the Chocolate. Suppose we must be the would be Neighbours also?
2 people like this
• Pamplona, Spain
3 May 17
@JudyEv There i am thinking of Great Britain because that is where I am from. He must have wrote his own stuff I reckon he was one very funny, very intelligent guy. Ole, ole and ole. A Maestro.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
I doubt the Fureys would have been thinking of Spain but if the cap fits!.... Dave Allen had a great knack of seeing things from a different angle. I wonder if he wrote his own stuff?
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
4 May 17
that is a lovely photo of a bridge into a town - ha ha ha ha love the story - Ireland did get grumpy neighbours indeed.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 17
If there were any English in the crowd I bet they weren't letting on!
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
4 May 17
We put up with a lot before we snap, though. Stormy natures here go with the territory ;)
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
4 May 17
*gasp* I would like to be offended, but I can't be. Lolz. I fell in love with an Irish lad when I was at uni. I still have mostly fond memories of our brief relationship, except those moments when he got drunk and grumbled about the English, forgetting he had an English girlfriend.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 17
I was a bit hesitant about telling this but it is pretty funny. They are a great race but fancy him grumbling while you were at his side.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
2 May 17
So that's where Ireland came from. Thanks for sharing. Irreverent but funny.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
3 May 17
@JudyEv I watched a couple of his "scenes" last night. His sign off makes me question whether he is truly an atheist as he claims in one scene. Either way...I spend quite a bit of time giggling.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
@Morleyhunt I wondered that too. A bit enigmatic I thought.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
He was very, very irreverant. Maybe he went to daily confession!
2 people like this
• Australia
3 May 17
We used to watch Dave Allen too. I will always remember the lovely end to his shows. He'd always say 'May your God go with you'; a sort of recognition that not everyone saw religion in the same way. And, he had a finger that was a stump. I think.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
I like that ending too. And I remember the 'short' finger. He would often incorporate it into his jokes, making it look like he had it halfway up his nose or whatever.
2 people like this
• Banks, Oregon
2 May 17
Sounds like a pretty funny guy
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
If you YouTube Dave Allen, you'll find some of his work.
2 people like this
• Banks, Oregon
2 May 17
@JudyEv I will give it a try
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@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
2 May 17
That's funny.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
We felt like we were outsiders.
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@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
@teamfreak16 Even in England itself we didn't find a lot of people that wanted to be English. The Lakes District people called themselves 'northerners', if Cornwallians just had a few more lakes joining their existing ones, they'd be completely separate and so it went.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
2 May 17
@JudyEv - But you still got the joke.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 May 17
About the no snakes in Ireland...There is a short story by that name by Frederick Forsythe. We have jokes about the diverse neighbours in the diff states of our country too
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
I'm sure it happens everywhere. We make jokes about Queenslanders or the Tasmanians, etc. I didn't know about the short story.
2 people like this
• India
2 May 17
@JudyEv it's a good story...Part of the short story collection...No comebacks
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@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
6 May 17
that is actualy pretty funny
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 May 17
The Irish thought it was hilarious!
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
2 May 17
I have not heard that one before, very good! Thanks for the publicity on my Dave Allen piece too, appreciated Here is a pic of the Peace Bridge across the River Foyle up here in this north-western corner of Ireland, it is very picturesque! I know the photographer, he's got a keen eye for bridges, and such.
One of the iconic Peace Bridge across the river Foyle in Derry\Londonderry. Halloween is here and the Fun Fair is in town and with mild weather the city is really buzzing.
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@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
3 May 17
@JudyEv A guy had to get off his bike to let us squeeze past him in a motorhome we took to the byways of County Mayo one year. And again 10mins later as we found we had to retrace our route...
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@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 17
@pgntwo Blushing indeed! We found if we asked for directions in Ireland they were quite happy to send us any way at all. I guess maybe they didn't like to lose face. We had telephone directions from an acquaintance once but kept ending up in the centre of town instead of heading out. We went back to our starting place, then followed other cars heading out under a 'no exit' sign - and we were on our way. The lady said 'oh, no-one takes any notice of that!'
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
Thanks for the link. That's a spekky (spectacular) bridge. Your friend would have been pleased with that photo. I loved all the lovely stone bridges out in the country areas. We scraped the side of the motor-home trying to get onto a tiny, narrow one that went over a canal.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
2 May 17
I know Dave Allen. He was on German TV many, many years ago. My English wasn't as good then as it is now but it was enough to understand that Allen's quirky humour appeals to me.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 May 17
Some of his skits were very funny. We always tried not to miss his shows.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
2 May 17
I would love to hear this comic, that was funny.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
The crowd thought it was wonderful.
1 person likes this
• India
2 May 17
Good story
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 17
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
2 people like this