Edythe Preet explores the history of Ireland's favorite bivalve, from Mesolithic times to today's Galways Oyster Festival. Opening an oyster can be a daunting task. Those little critters clamp their shells shut tight as a bank vault and don’t take kindly to being pried open with a sharp blade. Not only that, but wielding an oyster knife is an easy way to slice off a thumb, … [Read more...] about Sláinte: Oysters Galore
Slainte: Irish Recipes
Sláinte: Dublin, City of Literature
By Edythe Preet, Columnist
Edythe Preet on the history and influence of Dublin, and James Joyce-centric recipes. When I was young, my father’s oft-repeated favorite riddle was: What is the richest country in the world? The first time he quizzed me, I wracked my brain and offered a few feeble guesses. When he could contain his mirth no longer, with a grin, a twinkle, and a nudge to my ribs he chuckled: … [Read more...] about Sláinte: Dublin, City of Literature
Sláinte! Trees, Tea and ESP
Edythe Preet explores ancient traditions of fortune telling and explains how to see the future in a cup of tea. My Irish grandmother, Margaret McCaffrey, was a psychic. “Pooh! Not possible,” you say. Maybe, maybe not, but here’s the story. You be the judge. One fine May week when Dad was in first grade, his class was scheduled to have a picnic on an island in the middle of … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Trees, Tea and ESP
Slainte! Alive, Alive-Oh!
Dublin's iconic Molly Malone statue Lately, I’ve been craving oysters, crab, and mussels. I could write it off to the fact that I keep seeing rafts of the succulent treats on shopping forays. Like many things I’ve written of, however, I’m sure the shellfish love affair that began in my childhood with clams, oysters, shrimp and crab, was my father’s doing. During summer … [Read more...] about Slainte! Alive, Alive-Oh!
Slainte! Ireland’s Viking Heritage
Edythe Preet looks at the legacy of the Vikings in Ireland, including influences that linger in Irish winter holiday celebrations. One day while searching for I can’t remember what in my foot-thick Webster’s, which has been my word go-to since high school, I stumbled upon a most interesting linguistic factoid. Every single question word in the English language (who, what, … [Read more...] about Slainte! Ireland’s Viking Heritage