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Dominic's avatar

Hi Katya

As one of your Irish fans it was an interesting read. Living in Berlin ‘89 - ‘95 I always found getting sublets easy, people were delighted to have a real live Irish person to live with. I felt at that time that the Germans of my milieu were uncomfortable with German nationalism so often adopted another country to be passionate about - often Ireland.

I have an originally East German friend who cycled all the way to Ireland when the wall fell, and has lived here ever since!

There are many here who went native up hills and hidden in valleys becoming potters, weavers and cheese makers - fierce protectors of Irish craft.

I think Heinrich boll is partly responsible.

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James McNeill's avatar

Good read Katja. I have Irish ancestry on both sides of my family, even participated in the Irish civil war. Despite that I have never visited.

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John Bissett's avatar

After Ireland itself, the first country in which the Irish band Clannad became popular was West Germany. That was in the 1970s. Some years later, Enya joined Clannad before embarking on her extremely successful solo career. She is now the owner of Manderley Castle in Killiney, on the other side of the hill from Dalkey.

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Dave's avatar

Love the Irish , they are everywhere, never been a better football banner which was made after the euro crisis that bailed out their economy “Angela Merkel thinks we are at work “ 🤣

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Brad Lewin's avatar

I’ve only been to Ireland once, back in 2009, but I love it. It’s beautiful. Can’t wait to go back.

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Eoin Ronayne's avatar

Well I simply can't believe it - I've missed your talks in Dalkey again - second year running - out of town this time - the sessions looked hugely interesting and very pertinent .. do hope you manage to get to other parts of the city or even come for longer to explore outside of Dublin - (Dalkey is very nice indeed but dare I say it is a bit rarefied). While Ireland may hold a fascination for Germans its a two way street - many Irish especially, those on the left, have a strong interest in Germany pre and post WW2. The DDR was a beacon for many and I know a number of people who visited during that time. Of course since our embrace of the EEC /EU many see our future more tied to Berlin than Boston .

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kayla's avatar

Is your photo from the little park in Dalkey with the hill that takes about five minutes to climb? I was in Dublin in March and stopped in Dalkey on my way to Killiney. It was a lovely little viewpoint.

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Adie Bond's avatar

It's 2026 and Katja has been invited back to the Dalkey literature festival its all going swimmingly until ,'may I introduce to the cast of Mrs Brown's Boys '

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GMan's avatar

Welcome to Ireland. Maybe next time you can visit Northern Ireland where I could bring you to my son’s house which is on the site of the Battle of Benburb, one of the lesser known battles of the War of the Three Kingdoms, aka the English Civil War.

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