Queen Victoria, still heartbroken by the death of her beloved husband Prince Albert, proclaims that Ireland will be painted black in his memory. Her vision is never fully realised and the country comes out a kind of light grey colour, much of which remains to this day.
Sir Walter Triumph, a lesser Irish noble, embarks on a voyage of discovery in the name of the Crown. Refusing to admit to the discovery of America by Columbus a century and a half earlier, Sir Walter announces that he will travel to the New World ”And difcover fabled Amurkie, thereby laying claime to alle of itf taters and baccie”. He is refused passage on four America bound sailing barques and dies in Athlone.
A Papal Decree issued by Humbug IV declares that the city of Waterford will henceforth be known as ”Arse”. The city is immediately renamed, with all signposts repainted and maps redrawn at great expense. Then, someone points out that the Pontiff’s name is not Humbug IV, but Clementine III – and furthermore that Humbug’s Decree is written on an oak leaf in mud. Roadsigns and maps are readjusted and the incident is hastily forgotten.
To celebrate the fact that with the advent of a new year we at The Emergeny now have a “last year” and therefore a deepened sense of our place in history, we have decided to share on a daily basis some historical facts about Irish people, places and events. This will give us all a better idea of who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going.
The feature begins on January 1st 2010 and runs daily.
Warning: May not be real history. May not give us all a better idea of who we are, where we have come from or where we are going. Careless talk costs lives
