newcritics - Latest Comments in Shep’s Ireland

Re: Shep’s Ireland

Accommodation — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:39:55 -0000

I didn't know either that Shepherd was part Irish.

Re: Shep’s Ireland

Mark J. McPherson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:17:18 -0000

Thanks so much for this post, and the link, which I will also listen to when I get home. I loved Shepherd's work, and his persona, no matter how fabricated it may or may not have been.

I have only been to Ireland once, for 2 weeks nearly 20 years ago, but the excerpt brought it back so vividly. When we landed in the early morning in Shannon Airport, we were immediately confronted by silence, which we thought was just the early morning and the let lag. We stayed that first day, in a B&B in Limerick, if I'm recalling correctly, and broke the traveler's rule by napping for a good part of that first day. When we woke and went out to the business part of town to find a place to eat, that same hushed, near-silence was everywhere. And it was that way the entire 2 weeks, in every town, city or village we visited.

We thought initially that the Irish people's reputation for hospitality had been exaggerated, as it felt almost as if everyone was retiring, withdrawing to themselves and away from us, into their own secrets. Of course, 30 seconds into our first Irish pub proved otherwise. The pubs were full of smoke and talk and laughter, and occasionally music, but even there, the Irish were more conversational than we were used to, being then veterans of loud, music-blaring bars in the US, shouting ourselves hoarse to be heard within arm's length. The wood, and smoke, and stone and ale made every night a family gathering in Ireland, but so did the pitch and volume of the talk. Opening that door each night to head back to our B&B was like entering into a vacuum, so pitch black were the roads, and so quiet.

Re: Shep’s Ireland

oakling — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:04:45 -0000

Thank you for bringing the Irish this week! I love it! I'm really excited about being able to listen to this once I get off work :)

Re: Shep’s Ireland

Ralph DeMarco — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:14:07 -0000

Wait, don't we get two grandmothers? What about his other one? Near the end of the broadcast, his Rafferty heritage is mentioned again at the pub.

Looking forward to the new edition.

Seltzer Bottle!

Re: Shep’s Ireland

Eugene B. Bergmann — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:56:29 -0000

It's been years since I've heard this Shepherd broadcast so I'd forgotten that he claimed he had Irish blood. Maybe he had and maybe no. He made lots of stuff up and one has difficulty deciding on a particular statement without other confirmation. He might just have said it because it was St. Patrick's Day. I can neither confirm nor deny--especially as my research and my book are mainly concerned with his art rather than biographical details of his life. There is info (1930 census)that her maiden name was Hetrick and her family came from Germany, despite Shep's agreement with his friend during his narration that his mother was a "Raferty." As with so much other biographical trivia about Shep, we may never know the "truth." By the way, I'm working on a follow-up book now to include lots of material that has surfaced since my book came out 3 years ago. Jean Shepherd has taken over a good part of my life.

Knees Loose!

ebb

Re: Shep’s Ireland

Ralph DeMarco — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:07:23 -0000

Sorry, actually, it's 15 minutes into the show that he talks about having Irish blood (30 minutes are left in the broadcast). It's been a long day.

Re: Shep’s Ireland

Ralph DeMarco — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:59:47 -0000

Hey Gene! I read your book and really enjoyed it. I must admit, I am rather confused. Fast forward to about 30 minutes into the show, right after the commercials in the 3/17/67 broadcast that I uploaded and linked to this article and you will hear Shep himself state that he has Irish blood, and that his grandmother was a Rafferty. Now, maybe Shep was just wanted to be Irish like Norman Mailer, I don't know. If its not correct, I will post an erratum. Cheers!

Re: Shep’s Ireland

Eugene B. Bergmann — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:32:23 -0000

I was not aware that Shepherd was part Irish. Where did that info come from?

I'm the author of the only book about him, EXCELSIOR, YOU FATHEAD! THE ART AND ENIGMA OF JEAN SHEPHERD, and I'd like to see any available proof of this.
Excelsior
EBBergmann