How EU edict could kill off the Irish wake

The Telegraph ^ | 10/04/2006 | Tom Peterkin

[managusta]

The Irish will need another reason for a weeks binge.... I am sure great minds are working on it.

[Antonello]

Are they worried that formaldehyde might be harmful to the corpse?

[Mike Darancette]

It will take time but given time the bureaucrats will suck all of the joy and humanity out of our lives.

[randog]

Mr Dimas's directive has also been challenged by Brian Crowley, the Fianna Fail MEP for Ireland South. He said: "From my reading of the regulation the embalmers may argue a requirement of derogation on the grounds of protection of cultural heritage."

Ah, but that requirement only applies to non-European cultures, you see. If you could prove that your embalming practices stem from ancient muslim traditions, however....

[TEXASPROUD]

Jaysus, the fookin EU is at it again. Saints preserve us all.

[Antonello]

Saints preserve us all.

Just as long as they don't use formaldehyde to do it, I guess.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

So how is that EU thing going these days...?

[linda_22003]

Modern embalming methods have only been around for about 150 years. If the wake tradition is "age old" how did they do it before that?

[americanbychoice2]

Soon the EU will regulate the amount of air you can breathe.
Damn EUrinals

[dagnabbit]

They are looking out for your best interests and they know best. You obedience is appreciated.

[Antonello]

Modern embalming methods have only been around for about 150 years. If the wake tradition is "age old" how did they do it before that?

It's simple - just drink enough before you die and your corpse will be nicely pickled ;-)

[rahbert]

Can't they use Bushmill's as an embalming fluid?

[linda_22003]

That describes my father in law's method perfectly; he was not embalmed after death according to Jewish tradition. Even with his own "self-embalming" taken into account, 50 hours elapsed between his death and his burial and believe me, that wasn't a moment too soon.

[dead]

"The Night Pat Murphy Died"
by Great Big Sea

Oh the night that Paddy Murphy died, is a night I'll never forget
Some of the boys got loaded drunk, and they ain't got sober yet;
As long as a bottle was passed around every man was feelin' gay
O'Leary came with the bagpipes, some music for to play

[Chorus:]

That's how they showed their respect for Paddy Murphy
That's how they showed their honour and their pride;
They said it was a sin and shame and they winked at one another
And every drink in the place was full the night Pat Murphy died

As Mrs. Murphy sat in the corner pouring out her grief
Kelly and his gang came tearing down the street
They went into an empty room and a bottle of whiskey stole
They put the bottle with the corpse to keep that whiskey cold

[Chorus]

About two o'clock in the morning after empty'ing the jug
Doyle rolls up the ice box lid to see poor Paddy's mug
We stopped the clock so Mrs. Murphy couldn't tell the time
And at a quarter after two we argued it was nine

[Chorus]

They stopped the hearse on George Street outside Sundance Saloon
They all went in at half past eight and staggered out at noon
They went up to the graveyard, so holy and sublime
Found out when they got there, they'd left the corpse behind!

[Chorus]

Oh the night that Paddy Murphy died, is a night I'll never forget
Some of the boys got loaded drunk and they ain't been sober yet;
As long as a bottle was passed around every man was feelin' gay
O'Leary came with the bagpipes, some music for to play

[Just another Joe]

If the wake tradition is "age old" how did they do it before that?

Sorta like this.

[presidio9]

Could these nitwits possibly think an organic compound like formadehyde is damaging to the enviornment?

[linda_22003]

Drinking whiskey till you can't see straight over an open coffin is honoring Christ?

[Gay State Conservative]

George Harrison summed up edicts like this around 1966:

"Now my advice for those who die

Declare the pennies on your eyes

‘Cos I’m the Taxman"

[bondjamesbond]

If the wake tradition is "age old" how did they do it before that?

By the time the body started to smell, nobody cared!