Changes

Many things change, some more quickly than others. Four years ago the banks were filling everyone’s' letterboxes with application forms for loans. All one had to do was sign a form and you could get 10,000 Euros or more with no more questions asked. Now you have to apply, not to the local branch, but to the head office, and they require details of your employment from your boss, how long you have lived at your current address, all you 'outgoings' and everything filled out in duplicate, even for a very small loan. Very much a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.
These days I am reminded of things past. I remember my Dad telling me stories about missionaries coming to our local church. I even remember a few myself. It was always a big event. For the week or so of the visit there would be lots of religious services and people would come from neighbouring parishes also. The church would be packed with many people having to stay outside. The missionaries would be seen as mini celebrities, and people would view them with the same awe as the local bishop.
At one of these events a missionary priest went to chat with some local young men who were standing at the church. He went to one and said "Well young man, are you married?". Not sure how to reply to the question, he answered "No Father, but the dinger is! ". The dinger was the nickname of a local man.
On another occasion during a very wet day, people coming to Mass had clay on their boots and the back of the church was very dirty after Mass. At the next Mass the missionary priest declared that all the locals were animals due to the state of the floor after the previous Mass. The next day as this priest was making his way to the church, a local man went down on his hands and knees and pretended to be eating the grass. I don't know if the priest got the message but it provided some light relief for the locals who observed it.
I am not sure if this sort of humour travels well but being able to laugh instead of getting angry or upset has seen many an Irish person through some very difficult times.