It is a bit early to be celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day but such is the Irish presence on the world stage it seems every day is an occasion for Irish celebration. Despite being one of the world’s smallest nations the Irish presence punches well above its weight. Ireland sets an example of what any small country can achieve.  In the United States the Irish are said to be second in terms of wealth and influence.

The Irish loomed large in English literature. Many great literary figures, commonly thought to be English are Irish. Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw and Bram Stoker (Dracula). Listening to Chopin’s nocturnes is one of life’s greatest reveries but it was Irishman, John Field who is the father of the piano nocturne.

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Seamen visiting Valparaiso or Santiago in Chile are bemused to discover that the South American nation’s national hero is Bernard O’Higgins. The Irishman’s name adorns mountains as does Hollywood in Beverley Hill. streets, esplanades and public parks are named after O’Higgins. Many brands such as beer carry his brand name.

Sure, Bernard O’Higgins was a Chilean but he was the illegitimate son of Irishman Ambrosio O’Higgins. Ambrosia had settled in Spain and later served Spain. He militarily consolidated much of what the conquistadores had won. He must have been a wise dad as his son is revered as the father of Chilean Independence.

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In the Great War (1914-1918) 37 Irish fighters were recipients of the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest war honour.  During World War II there were eight Irish nationals who were recipients of the Victoria Cross. Not bad for a neutral country. Off the field of battle, the Paddies entertain us: Peter O’Toole, Pierce Brosnan, Richard Harris, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell and others. America’s J. F. Kennedy dynasty was of Irish origin and entitled to Irish passports. Henry Ford, Arguably the world’s most successful and well-known industrialist was entitled to an Irish passport.

Most nations have a reputation for inclinations one way or another. When it comes to orchestral music the Germans strut their stuff. The Italians are untouchable where opera is concerned and in ballet, the French are without equal. The Spanish, like the English, have certainly left their mark on history. Their talent when it comes to stealing that which isn’t theirs is truly the stuff of legends.

Between the 12th Century and 1925 the Spanish spent 67% of their time at war England could manage only a piffling 56% of their time at war whilst the United States is playing catch-up. The Swedes find war revolting but grow fat on manufacturing arms for warrior nations. It’s just that the Irish quietly go about penetrating and running everything and don’t make a River Dance spectacular out of it. They are even running the airlines. Ireland’s Willie Walsh is the Chief Executive of British Airways and Spain’s Iberia. 

MICHAEL WALSH THE THINKING MAN’S VIEWS

Michael O’Leary runs Europe’s most popular (I didn’t say liked) airline. Qantas boss was Irishman Alan Joyce and they’re joined by Irishmen in senior positions in Brunei, Singapore and Mexico national airlines. Guinness Peat Aviation’s CEO, Tony Ryan founded Ryan Air and heads the world’s second-biggest airline leasing company.  Joyce puts it down to something in the water – or the Guinness. The Irish don’t have it all their own way. In 2009 German Christoph Mueller was appointed CEO of Irish national airline Aer Lingus.

When I was a child of ten, I went on my bare knees by my bedside one night and promised God that I should devote my life to an effort to free my country. I have kept the promise. I have helped to organise, train, and discipline my fellow countrymen to the sole end that, when the time came, they might fight for Irish freedom.

‘The time, as it seemed to me, did come, and we went into the fight. I am glad that we did. We seem to have lost, but we have not lost. To refuse to fight would have been to lose; to fight is to win.’ ~ Pádraig Pearse, President of the Provisional Government of Ireland and Commander of the Irish Volunteers, at his court-martial almost a century ago. PLEASE SHARE STORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA