How others see us

An article by London travel writer Dea Birkett in the current issue of Scanorama, the Scandinavian Airlines inflight magazine…

An article by London travel writer Dea Birkett in the current issue of Scanorama, the Scandinavian Airlines inflight magazine, gives some interesting and previously unknown facts about Dublin. Contemplate the following? The Pogues wrote Dirty Old Town about Dublin. There were no cappuccinos in Dublin 10 years ago, just Guinness. The Book of Kells is known in Dublin simply as "The Book". It was people that did well in Dublin who emigrated in the past. Until recently Ireland was known only for its dairy cattle and sentimental songs.

Dublin is known as the Celtic Tiger. The Guinness Brewery is the largest in the world. It's difficult to find condoms in chemist shops because this is Catholic Ireland. There's a cast-iron bridge in Dublin called the "haipenny bridge" but its official name is the "Liffey Bridge". Oh yes, and when the Irish raise their glasses to each other they say the word "schlonte" which means "cheers".

Schurely schome mischtakes.