Oh-oh. It’s midnight here in Ireland. I’ve been out with the NUI Galway Skeptic Society, struggling to keep up with people much younger than myself again…and with the magical infinite flow of Guinness I’ve discovered in Irish pubs frequented by college students. I’m too old for this, I think.
But wait…young people and infinite Guinness…I think I’ve discovered the fountain of youth! I’d be even more excited about this if I didn’t have to get up really early tomorrow to catch a train to Dublin.
Are you eating the young people?
I need to go back to Ireland. You’ve made me yearn for it. I spent two weeks in the Cork area. I didn’t kiss the Blarney Stone, but I went up the castle. Clonakilty was lovely, as was the Fanore area. I need to go back.
Thanks for the great talk tonight in Galway. Sorry about the crazy woman (but at least she was polite and just shut up in the end).
She’s probably sitting at home reading your thoughts right now…
Hi PZ,
Thanks a million for coming to Galway – it was a pleasure to listen to you, and be inspired. I especially enjoyed the questions and your answers. I didn’t get a chance to put my question to you – so I’ll be cheeky and say it here. What was your perception of Ireland before you came and has your visit changed it. I guess I am specifically talking about views about science/atheism/religion etc. I’d be very grateful for your thoughts!
Thanks again and please come back!
There’s nothing like a Catholic bringing to give a kid something to rebel against.
Just consider it a warm-up for what you’ll be expected to achieve in Melbourne for the GAC…
My expectation of Ireland was that I’d find a good mix of people — a rich population of rationalists and an annoying lot of believers in superstition. My perception was not changed. And I’m happy to say that Ireland has a good solid of cheerful, good-tempered, enthusiastic godless people who will change the world.
You lucky bastard, PZ.
I demand a recount.
MikeM
I wish I had been there.
You are making me feel even more homesick with every post.
Hopefully you’re actually getting up early for a train to Belfast, otherwise we’re going to be very disappointed.
Thank you for the great talk, and the great conversations afterwards! We were trying to steer the conversation away from anything involving the time, in case you just hadn’t noticed.
Well done on dealing with the strange question as well, you were probably the only person who could answer something like that so politely.
I think that was probably the most interesting and informative night out ever- thiis might be suggested to the lecturers here. The bit about the number of chromosomes in other apes was really cool.
Thanks!
We can settle this with a poll.
Ooh, a train! I remember when we had those.
Gah! PZ’s is even making me miss the oul sod; and I’m Irish and actually know better:-)
What has happened to reality?
PZ, a Dave Allen joke for your Irish friends:
Hey PZ, thanks so much for coming to Galway, I had a great time at the talk and I hope you enjoyed the Galway nightlife! Come back soon!
Also, quote of the night – re Ray Comfort’s banana: “Yes it fits perfectly in your hand, but it also fits perfectly up your butt or vagina” ahh, priceless
PZ said that ?? I blame it on Guinness.
*faints*
Thanks for the entertaining (and enlightening) talk; it was great to see you in action, after reading your blog for the past couple of years. It was worth the trip in from Kinvara on a rainy evening. Shame on the Irish media for not giving your visit more prominence; we would all have enjoyed you tackling those smarmy creeps from the likes of the Iona Institute (think Ronan Mullen from the radio piece you did) if you had been offered a proper forum. Next time! ( when you are raising your next pint of Guinness , the proper toast is – slán)
Any chance you’ll be coming past UK on the way home?
Fantastic talk last night – thanks so much! Just a shame I had nobody else that wanted to come along to such an interesting evening. As mentioned above, the comment regarding bananas and orifices was gold!
I’d like to say how brave the girl was that spoke for several minutes without actually asking a question – in a room full of sceptics it took balls to bring up something which goes so much against common sense (I’m not sure I fully grasped what she was on about, as I was on the other side of the room). She may not be rational, but she’s gutsy. And apologies to her for the guy at the back who laughed in a deliberately rude way. Not everyone is fully able to think things through sceptically and rationally, and I hope she was able to take something positive away from the lecture room, and will start to think about things a bit more deeply.
All the best PZ, from an English fella in Ireland.
Doug
Hey PZ,
Thanks a million for the talk, it felt vindicating to be in a room (mostly) full of like minded people. Keep destroying ignorance wherever you may find it, and flying the flag for us godless heathens.
Paddy
p.s. Apologies for shouting “Hey we’re going to your talk!” when you were walking into college. I felt I should say something, unfortunately I couldn’t think of anything witty.
/nitpick
This is relevant how ??
Plenty lawyers posting here who dont mention their academic credentials all the time….
/end nitpick
Thanks for the talk last night!
Very interesting. Although I voted for the creationist bashing talk, I wasn’t disappointed with the science talk :-)
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed your night in Galway. I wasn’t out in the pub, but I really enjoyed the talk. As above, I myself voted for the creationist bashing talk, and some of the biology went a bit over my head (I was in fact one of the clapping chemists, if you remember us?) but I enjoyed the evening all the same, particularly the Q&A session.
Would you be able to write down some of the names of folks you recommended we look up? I didn’t have a pen or anything on me…..
msy, PZ *is* coming to the UK – he’ll be in *Belfast* :-)
PZ, I hope you’re not reading this right now, because in 5 minutes I’ll be heading over to hear your evodevo talk (assuming you have arrived safely).
Welcome to Belfast; it’s jolly nice of you to take time out of your busy schedule to facilitate the resolution of the talks on the devolution of Policing and Justice. Now that we have completed the Peace Process, we need a PZ Process.
Re: themanchoo
I also thought that the girl who spoke for a long time (without really asking a question!) was brave to express her opinons which clearly differed from the majority of the people and I felt uneasy at the reception (tutting/sighing) given to her by the crowd as she admitted herself that she had emotional/mental problems.
However, I think there is a misinterpretation of the laughter from the audience when she was speaking. In my opinion the laughter was because she mentioned ‘going down’ with regard to meditation, and I think people picked up the sexual interpretation!
Well done PZ for treating her with care and respect and thanks for the very interesing talk!
Ps Congratulations to Skeptics Society for organising a great evening!
Stupidity and bravery are usually very hard to distinguish.
Perhaps more highly relevant is that her “emotional/mental problems” may simply have decreased her ability to be embarrassed…
:-|
Know PZ, know peace.
No PZ, no peace.
After the turnout here at Sierra College, I’m glad to see there is a decent number of Atheistic youth some where.
Hi PZ,
Aaron here from NUIG Skeptic Society. Loved the lecture and had a fantastic time afterwards with you and the rest of the society. I’m glad we could also accomodate for that infinite amount of Guinness!
Cheers and kind regards,
Aaron.
If you want to travel by train between Galway and Belfast, you have to do so via Dublin. (If you think that’s bad, pause and reflect that if you want to travel by train between Sligo and Westport, you also have to do so via Dublin. From Galway to Cork you can travel via Portarlington, which is bad enough.)
***
I like Galway. There’s something very pleasant about it. I hope PZ had a wander down Shop Street. I’ll be in McSwiggan’s in Galway on Saturday for a Discworld meetup.
TRiG.
I am really jealous. Hanging out with godless youth and drinking large amounts of good beer sounds like an awesome time.
Hi PZ,
John here from NUIG Skeptic Society. Glad you had a good time and thanks again for a wonderful talk and for accommodating us by answering so many questions! :)
Go raibh míle maith agat (thanks, basically),
John (vice-auditor, skeptic soc).
Just great …
Now I need to join Twitter.