County Characteristics

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: jonm
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 11:34 AM

Aly Bain tells of the Shetlander who loved his wife so much he nearly told her...

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,AEOLA
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 11:07 AM

Just seen this thread!!! Hampshire .....---- Sandy Balls!

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: alex s
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 06:57 AM

From an earlier thread:

"The Northumbrian smallpipes are the only example which, especially in their modern development, are specific to a geographical area.
Anahata"

I rest my case.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 07:15 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancashire_bagpipe

I rather like their typo "Lacanshire bagpipe". I guess "Derridown" would be one of the tunes you played on it.

Or right here:

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=75728

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 07:11 PM

A Yorkshireman is a Scotchman with the generosity bashed out.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Rozza
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 07:01 PM

What a wonderful county is Lincolnshire
Where the pigs s**t soap and the cows s**t fire.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: alex s
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 06:51 PM

santa, I've lived in Lancs for years and there's no such animal

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Santa
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 02:08 PM

Northumbria's instrument being the pipes, I presume? The claim does not stand up: somewhere I have (or had) a casette of tunes for the Lancashire pipes. From memory, they had to be played on other small pipes because no-one had any Lancashire pipes any more, but they did exist. And who knows, perhaps they do again by now, for it was a very old casette!

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Silas
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 12:25 PM

Well, Staffordshire has its famous Oatcakes, and, of course, all the best bits of Derbyshire are in Staffordshire.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: alex s
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 12:07 PM

waddya mean, "funny accent"?

Northumberland:
The only English county with its own instrument.

And thank the lord it's too cold for softie southerners....with funny accents.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 07:38 AM

You can allus tell a Yorkshireman, but you can't tell him much.

Passing through London once, with time to spare I called in for a pint at a nearby pub, a cockney geezer says to me ' you're not from round here are you ? ' I asked why, he said' ' you've taken your hand off your pint '

Dave H

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,mooman currently down in South India
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 12:01 PM

Sorry Morticia and Gareth but, having lived in rural Surrey for quite some time and having none of the characteristics you list, I cannot agree at all...

You're only about 90% accurate...

mooman (keeping an eye on things for fairness sake from a distance!)

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Paddy Plastique
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 07:14 AM

Malachy, anyone not from Dublin: culchie, mullah, redneck, bogger... should've
insulted enough of them there. 'Jackeen', I believe, derives from the word 'Union Jack' -
with the Irish diminutive. It infers that we Dubs were little Britishers - for the most part
true as The Pale had been the centre of English rule for 700 years
Now, can anyone explain to me the term 'Mayo, God help us!' Why do Mayo people call
out for divine intercession ? (I should know, as my Ma's from there)

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,Hille
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 07:44 PM

Dunno about the rest of Sussex, but here in Worthing we were known as 'Porkbolters' - now the title of the local eco-action alternative newsletter

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,Malachy
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 07:38 PM

hey Fiolar. I'm from Dublin and know the expression 'Jackeens' well.But I have no idea why the name. If you do , I'd be interested to hear. I seem to remember my Ma calling anyone who wasn't from Dublin a 'culchie'. I might just have annoyed the rest of Eire...........

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 07:30 AM

As a young person in Cleethorpes (a Meggy) I was led to believe that "Yellowbellies" were strayed sheep that brushed against certain Yellow/Orange gorse or whatever. John Connolly would know.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: IanC
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 03:51 AM

Tykes are dogs ... specifically Yorkshire Terriers.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Les from Hull
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 02:43 PM

Yorkshiremen (and women) are known as 'tykes'. No, I don't know why either!

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: IanC
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 08:57 AM

PP

Kye is the singular of Cow. Kine is the plural (see your King James bible).

:-)

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Fiolar
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 08:39 AM

In most of Ireland, (except perhaps Dublin) Dubliners are known as "Jackeens."

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Pied Piper
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 08:24 AM

Extending this slightly, people from Wigan are known locally as "Pie Eaters" and those from Westhorton as "Cie Heads" Cie being the old plural of Cow. All the best PP.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 02 - 08:34 PM

Wexford Yellowbellies too.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Michael
Date: 31 Jul 02 - 05:55 PM

Then there's Lincolnshire Yellowbellies, named, so my Granny said, (and she was one of them) after the yellow bellied frogs that lived in the Fens long before people did.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 07:23 PM

Of course in Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire, hurricanes hardly ever happen.

And in London it's not just East versus West. North London people have always tended to look a bit down on South of the river. Not really London. That applies in the poorer parts of North London too.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Gareth
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 07:16 PM

Come Friendly Bombs

Gareth

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Gareth
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 06:53 PM

No Morticia. not prejudice - observation !! Mind you the same comments were made by John Betjman in his poem " Come friendly Bombs and fall on Slough", I'll dig the words out unless some talented (and cynical) Catter can post a "blicky" first.

Gareth

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 06:49 PM

Not quite as pithy as "Cornwall:pasties". But it'll do, Morticia, it'll do.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Morticia
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 06:45 PM

Surrey.....mock tudor beams, people in puffa jackets braying loudly at one another on a Sunday lunchtime in the pub, gardens planted in pastry cutter shapes with a lot of that dreadful grassy stuff ( pampas, I think),people who work in the 'City', educate their children privately,own ponies and horses they can't be bothered to exercise and drive range rovers or land rovers in the city to 'prove' they live in a rural community...not that there really are any in Surrey any more.Sorry, is my prejudice showing *BG*?

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 04:16 PM

I'm a Yorkshire Lass, with a northern accent, living in the South. I went into the job centre and and was enquiring about something and the man sat at the desk just stared at me and pointed out the blantently obvious "You're not from round here are you?" I had to chuckle as the area is very much multi-cultural and I am sure I am not the only person he has met who is not originally from the area!

Cat

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 01:26 PM

Northern people straight and generous, no cap tippers up here. Armagh=The Orchard County, Down = The Mourne County, Fermanagh=The Erne County, Antrim = The Glensmen, Derry = The Oakleaf County, Tyrone=The Red-Hand County, Monaghan=The Farneymen, Cavan= The Lake County Donegal = The Tir Chonail Men. And there are the magnificent nine counties of Ulster. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 12:06 PM

The thick Kerry thing is modern; when I was growing up (some time around the paleolithic era), we said "cute as a Kerryman" - "cute" in Ireland meaning unpleasantly shrewd and cunning; there was another saying, that "A Corkman is a Kerryman with brains".

Cavan people - or Cyaaavan people, as they'd pronounce it themselves - are supposedly mean, all right; Northern people generally are supposedly hard-natured and gritty.

Wicklow ("Wickalla") people are disliked by all Dubliners, traditionally - in fact, by every county - which could possibly be explained by the fact that they used to have a habit of coming down out of the hills and slaughtering the Dubs.

Connemara mountainy men are supposed to be wild but loving. Waterford men ditto. But midlanders in general are seen as dull and stodgy, especially those from Mullingar: "Mullingar heifers, beef to the heels".

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 10:36 AM

Air pollution rather than river pollution makes the East End of cities less desirable. At least it does in areas where the prevailing winds are westerly or southwesterly, such as Northern Europe.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Pied Piper
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 10:15 AM

In the rhyme mentioned above I think the original word was not thick but "wick" related to "quick" meaning fast in the mental sense. I think the rhyme went from "wick" to "week" and to "thick" by association. This reverses the meaning, and makes it much more likely that people would use it about themselves. PP

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: sian, west wales
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 07:37 AM

It's difficult to do it by county in Wales 'cause whoever's in charge of that stuff keep changing the county names and borders. But, they certainly exist for regions and 'old' counties. Cardis (from Cardiganshire - ie. Ceredigion today) are supposed to be EXTREMELY careful with their money for instance. Then there are names for the populace of certain areas, like Moch Mon (Anglesey Pigs), The Down Belows (for people in south Pembrokeshire), Swansea Jacks (suave b*st*rds supposedly), St Peters Boys are from Carmarthen Town, Cofis from Caernarfon, etc.

sian

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 06:40 AM

the sewage theory doesnt seem to apply to Paris:the river runs the opposite way to London,but the common folk live in the east of both cities apparently.But the argument works for Kabul, an Afghan friend told me the other day.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Paddy Plastique
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 06:26 AM

Kerry - thick ?? Not what I heard, Declan - a Corkman will rob the eye out of your head - a Kerryman'll convince ye that ye didn't need it in the first place.. Kerry propaganda, obviously..
In Paris, Greg, it used to split roughly East-West too - 'les prolos' living in the East - never thought about sewage as the reason..

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 06:00 AM

That's interesting about Dublin, Declan. I believe it's the same in Cork, the northern louts there are called norries I think. In London, it splits east and west. Popularly supposed to be due to historical fact that the rich always prefer to get upstream of the hoi polloi's sh*t in the river.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Declan
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 05:50 AM

In Ireland, Kerry people are supposed to be thick (if you believe that you'll believe anything!) and Cavan people are reputed to be stingy - The main road to Cavan - the nearer it gets the mainer it gets. Northside Dubliners are all loutish ruffians while south-siders are all very posh and snobbish - but only in jokes.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 05:37 AM

KingBrilliant: that rhyme seems to be quite widespread. I always thought it was about Derbyshire people, then Berkshire turned up, and I have just been sent a copy of Roy Clinging's "Cheshire Born" CD and he uses it about Cheshire folk.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,KingBrilliant
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 05:21 AM

Berkshire = Berkshire born & Berkshire bred strong in the arm & thick in the head.
Also = Royal Berkshire.
Any connection I wonder?

KRis

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 03:22 AM

John from hull...I wouldnt dream of accusing the delightful inhabitants of the County of the White Rose of being rude to people, I was only discussing the public image/stereotype of counties. I am sure the honest burgesses of Hull are civil, cheerful and smiling as anyone, always whistling a jaunty tune and giving each other presents.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 08:02 PM

Well, in Scotland, Aberdeenshire denizens are reputed to be extremely thrifty.

Harry Lauder, of course, succeeded in transferring this stereotype to the Scots in their entirety. Totally unjustifiably, IMHO ...

Murray

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 07:55 PM

greg-Yorkshire peepol are not rude to peepol, if anybody thinks we are, then they can get lost.john

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: Fiolar
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 08:13 AM

In addtion to my posting of the above - the following are associated with Irish counties: Cork = The Rebel County; Meath = The Royal County; Kerry = The Kingdom.

Subject: RE: County Characteristics
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 11:04 AM

Let's not get into the Essex girl jokes, please.

Subject: RE: County Characterics
From: allanwill
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 10:32 AM

Northamptonshire's greatest claim to fame is that it is where my ancestors come from - 'nuff said!

Allan

Subject: RE: County Characterics
From: Fiolar
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 07:51 AM

Regarding Irish counties - get the lyrics of the song "The 32 Counties."

Subject: RE: County Characterics
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 07:51 AM

OK, characteristics if you want to be picky.

changed it for ease of search

Subject: County Characterics
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 07:48 AM

The current "Norfolk and Good" thread led to a little muse on how some counties have acquired snappy memorable images over the centuries, by adroit PR work. Others seem to have failed completely. Cornwall: pasties. Devon: seadogs. Zummerset: zyder. Cheshire: cheese, cats. Lancashire: humour, hotpot. Yorkshire: being rude to people. Northumberland: funny accent.Cumberland:lakes/mountains.Essex:blondes , stiletto heels. But what can you say about Northamptonshire,Hampshire, Hertfordshire etc?Any others? And how about Scottish/Welsh Irish counties: do any have special characteristcs of this nature? And American states?