Sláinte! For our first "episode" of Slainte! I bring you a quote from Niall Ó Dubhthaigh about the word slainte, which is more appropriately spelled with a á, the lyrics to the song Johnson's Motor Car , what is tradional in Ireland for the celebration of someone's birthday, in honor of yesterday being Robbie's birthday, and finally, a traditional Irish toast suitable for a birthday celebration. Sláinte!

Sláinte!

In my young days, when two or three men went in for a drink together, it was the custom for them to go into a back room -- a snug. They never stood at the counter. Each of them would strike three hefty blows on the table, and in a flash, the barmaid would be in to see what they wanted. She would be ordered to bring them a half-pint of whiskey and, in due course, she would return with a jug and a glass. Should there be ten men in the company, they would still only have the one glass. The man who had ordered and paid for the drink would then stand up and hand a glass of whiskey to the man nearest to him, who would then say 'Here's health' (Seo do shláinte) to which the first man might answer, 'God grant you health' (Sláinte ó Dhia duit). That's the kind of toast they used to drink and it was always with a blow of the ash plant that they summoned the barman or barmaid.

Editor's note: Seo do sláinte is pronounced shuh duh slancha, and Sláinte ó Dhia duit is pronounced slancha jeeuh ditch.

Johnston's Motor Car

lyrics by William Gillespie
tune by Jonnie Long

This song is about the I.R.A. commandeering Doctor Johnston's car. They trick him with a telegram of a "medical emergency" and the good doctor jumps in his car to head there. As he heads over the railway bridge, the rebels are lying in wait and take his car. The song was first performed in 1919, the year that it happened.

It was down by Egan's corner
One morning I did stray
I met a fellow rebel there
And this to him did say
We have orders from the Captain
To assemble at Drumbar
But how are we to get there
Without a motor car

Well Barney dear be of good cheer
And I'll tell you what we'll do
The Specials they are plentiful
And the I.R.A. are few
We'll wire into Stranorlar
And before we'll get that far
We'll give the boys a jolly good ride
In Johnston's motor car

When Doctor Johnston got the news
He soon put on his shoes
He said, This is an urgent case
And there is not time to lose
He then put on his castor hat
And upon his breast a star
You could hear the din going through Glen Fin
Of Johnston's motor car

But when he got to the Reelin Bridge
The rebels he saw there
He knew the game was up with him
For at him they did stare
He said, I have a permit
To travel near and far
You can stick your English permit
We want your motor car

What will my loyal brethren say
Whene'er they hear the news
My car it has been commandeered
By the rebels at Dunluce
We'll give you a receipt for it
All signed by Captain Meagher
And when Ireland gets her freedom
You'll get your motor car

They set the car in motion
And filled it to the brim
With rifles and with bayonets
This made old Johnston grim
And Barney hoisted the Sinn Fein* flag
And it fluttered like a star
And they gave three cheers for the I.R.A.
And Johnston's motor car

*The Sinn Fein is the oldest political party in Ireland, whose objective is to end British rule in Ireland. Their name comes from the Gaelic expression for "We ourselves". They were founded in 1905. The "Sinn Fein flag" is the tri-coloured flag that is now the international flag of Ireland, which replaced the green flag with the golden harp in the period between 1922 and 1937, and became the offical flag in the Constitution of 1937, Article 7, which states "The national flag is the tricolour of green, white and orange."

Also, the most heard version of the song, popularized by the Dubliners, misnames many of the places. The actual correct version of the song, as written by Willie Gillespie follows. Click the link to see an actual picture of Doctor Johnston himself, and read more about this song's history.

Down by Brockagh Corner one morning I did stray,
When I met another rebel bold, who this to me did say:
I've orders from the Captain to assemble at Drumbar
But how are we to reach Dungloe without a Motor Car?

O Barney dear, be of good cheer and I'll tell you what we'll do.
The Black and Tans have plenty guns altho' we have but few.
We'll wire down to Stranorlar before we walk so far,
And we'll give the boys a jolly ride on Johnston's Motor Car.

When Johnston got the wire then he soon pulled on his shoes.
He says this case is urgent, there's little time to lose.
He wore a fancy caster hat and on his breast a star.
You could hear the din going through Glenfin of Johnston's Motor Car.

When he came to the Reelin Bridge, he met some rebels there.
He knew the game was up with him, and at them he did stare.
He said I've got a permit for travelling out so far
You can keep your English permit, but we want your motor car.

What will my loyal comrades say when I get to Drumboe.
To say my car was commandeered by rebels from Dungloe.
We'll give you a receipt for her, its signed by Captain Maher,
And when Ireland's free, then we will see to Johnston's Motor Car.

They put the car in motion, they filled it to the brim.
With guns and bayonets shining, while Johnston he did grin.
When Barney waved a Sinn Fein flag, she shot off like a star
And they gave three cheers for freedom and for Johnston's Motor Car.

When the loyal crew they heard the news, it grieved their hearts full sore.
They swore they'd have reprisals before they would give o'er.
In vain they searched through Glenties, the Rosses and Kilcar,
While the I.R.A. their flags displayed on Johnston's Motor Car.

Birthday Tradition in Ireland

In a varation of the spanking we usually give the birthday boy or girl here, in Ireland, the lucky child is turned upside down and bumped on the floor once for every year of their life... plus one for "good" luck.

Editor's note: Robbie declined his "birthday bump". Oh well.

A Traditional Birthday Toast May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.