Category Archives: You can take the Crone out of Ireland

Irish Much?

Tonight for dinner I made a big bowl of boiled potatoes and buttered cabbage with salt and pepper. I washed it down with a glass of port. The day is much improved.

Posted on April 8, 2013 by | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Full Irish Breakfast–Itchy Ankle Style

Posted on March 19, 2013 by

The world has been swimming in front of my eyes since St Patrick’s day. There are those who will blame my Black Velvet cocktails (Guinness, Pro Secco, and just a suspicion of  Gin)  but I attribute my seasickness to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cooking with the Crone, Crone in the Nation's capital, Culture with the Crone, food, friendship, itchy ankle, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Crocheted unmentionables and smelly sleep partners

Posted on February 23, 2013 by

For the last few nights, Peggoty has been sleeping curled up with an onion. She keeps it chopped up and in a Santa sock. She believes the onion will help her shake off the chest cold that has beset her since before Valentine’s Day. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture with the Crone, itchy ankle, Sex, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Belfast Flag Protest: Too Much Like Old Times and Old Troubles

Posted on January 8, 2013 by

January 9 –tomorrow–is Kate Middleton’s birthday and one of the 20 days of the year when the Union Jack will fly over the city hall in Belfast, and above all other municipal HQs in the UK. If you find it … Continue reading →

Posted in Crone as political commentator, Culture with the Crone, Dangerous Obsessions, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sparkly sweaters and Country Classics in Co. Donegal

Posted on January 1, 2013 by

The Contessa and I had each bought a sequinned top in Sainsbury’s which was just as well. Philomena herself was wearing sequins, and so was every other woman in the function room at the Ballyliffin Hotel. It seems everyone had shopped the major … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture with the Crone, dancing, Tales of a Belfast girlhood, The Traveling Crone, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Playing at Watercolor painting.

Posted on October 20, 2012 by

My Tuesday night painting class finishes next week and I don’t know what I will do without it. It brings a joy that I don’t ever remember feeling in art class where the emphasis was all on faithful reproduction through … Continue reading →

Posted in Crone as art critic, Culture with the Crone, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Importance of Ritual

Posted on October 5, 2012 by

I caught the bouquet at the wedding of Spud to the third Mrs Hughes. Positioning myself just inches from the bride, I  used a mixture of bulk and brass neck to elbow other, younger and more nimble hopefuls out of the way. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture with the Crone, Dangerous Obsessions, food, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Far from where I was raised

Posted on September 29, 2012 by

Disclaimer: If you were not born and raised in Northern Ireland, you will be unlikely to understand very much of this post. Don’t try to make sense of it.  It explores actions, attitudes and activities that make no sense at … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Crone as political commentator, Culture with the Crone, Tales of a Belfast girlhood, The Traveling Crone, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Leave a comment

Putting the rot in erotica

Posted on July 20, 2012 by

I have had an enthusiastic response to my offer to pen the Irish version of Fifty Shades of Gray.  (See Forty Shades of Green). I am simply waiting for both the Catholic church and the Democratic Unionist Party to come … Continue reading →

Posted in great ideas for books, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forty Shades of Green: Ireland’s answer to Fifty Shades of Gray

Posted on July 12, 2012 by

Spud Hughes is over-excited. It seems the author of Fifty Shades of Gray is married to a man from Newry, Co. Down, Spud’s home town. Spud is sure that E.L. James picked up her filthy habits from her husband, and so he is … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture with the Crone, great ideas for books, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments