Rolling out the barrels

Don't ever get the working-class hero talking about his ancestry.

I'm tellin' you just don't do it.

I should point out that 'the working class hero' is a nick-name I have for a very dear friend of mine and I'm not actually talking about an archetype*.He has many many positive attributes and you'd be a long time walkin' before you'd ever meet a more affable and erudite companion

but don't:

 just don't,

get him talkin' about his ancestry.

Ever

I mean it, and don't be one of these fools that thinks to themselves:

'I wonder what all the fuss is about with the working class hero and his ancestry? I'm sure it can't be that bad...Who does this interweb moron think he is!- tellin' me what to do anyway?.. d'you know what? I think the next time I meet the working class hero I will ask him about his ancestry and find out what all the fuss is about for meself!'

Please just don't do it because if you do it will be an act of gross folly and even though I warned you about it you will secretly blame me for the whole thing and never be entirely sure I didn't trick you into the whole debacle with a clever use of reverse psychology.

See?- You didn't think of that didja?


Just don't bring it up. And if the working class hero brings it up himself then just run away and tell him the next time you meet him that you're sorry about that but you accidentally set yourself on fire.

There are many reasons for this caution. Reason number one is that the working class hero knows a lot about History. History is an interesting topic of course and it's often a delight to spend a convivial evening in the company of one, such as the hero himself, who knows enough about it to bring it alive and tell you all the interesting bits, but, I'm telling you: Get that man onto the topic of his own lineage and his power to entertain and inform warps into a strange kind of conversational torture instrument. The detail and enthusiasm with which he can regurgitate the minutae of all the begats and begottens between himself and some chap who pops up on the bayeux tapestry is mind numbing in every sense. In fact,it's all over the body-numbing truth be told.

If he ever finds out that he was adopted he won't be happy.

I tell you this, because I realised today that it's not just himself. The same evil infection is in me for I've been looking through the records of Old Dublin Town and I have to say that every tiny fact about my own family is completely and absolutely absorbing and fascinating. So genealogy is like kids: you're own is great, it's just other peoples you cant stand. My point is; I get that I'm on sufferance with this topic and I'll keep it brief.

Ahem!

My great grandfather John Maher was the Cooper who made the barrels that form the back of the bar in the Long Hall in Capel St. The Long Hall in Capel St. is actually a listed building now and even if it weren't it should be, because the Long Hall is the bar that Phil Lynott sits in for the video to 'This Old Town'.
100%FACT!

I told you it was fascinating.

*Incidentally Karl Jung invented the word 'archetype' wasn't he clever? -I only found out yesterday: it's amazing what you can learn from the telly.