Is it yourself?
"Is it yourself?" This Irish greeting comes from the forward-facing sheep on a charming post card I found in the shop at the Rock of Cashel, once the seat of the ancient Kings of Munster.
Sheep, horses and cattle are common features of the Irish landscape. One bizarre experience I shared with my friend as we drove the rural roads of Ireland was to watch a bellowing cow pounding along parallel to the roadside, trying to overtake a cattle lorry.
"Bring back my brother," his plaintive bellowing seemed to say. Though my friend was born and bred in the Irish countryside, she'd never witnessed such a demonstration of solidarity by a field cow for fellow cattle traveling by truck. Did this critter suspect the destination of the lorry?
Or was it just a case of the cow in the field recognizing the one in the truck, and galloping along to call out the friendly Hiberno-English greeting, "Is it yourself?"