Y'know, this thread is an eye opener for me, too. Paddy's something of a local character, and besides knowing all the words and tunes to everything, he can talk both hind legs off a donkey. After a bit, I often find myself glancing around and sidling off.
I felt before his need for others to hear the information he has; this thread is making me realize that they AREN'T common knowledge, a lot of the things he talks about. I am seeing that he is our local custodian of oral Irish history, and that, like many other struggles, a lot of Irish history is missing, or has been rewritten.

He tells a fascinating story of his life and travels, and I've heard people laugh and question his veracity, but while it sounds fantastical, I'm not at all sure he's making it up. He IS an Irish storyteller, and singer, and good at it. So he may very well embellish.

He's a window to another time, and another way of passing information, and one that I almost overlooked.
Blessings,
Barbara