Dating go bragh

[Old Irish Couple, Gladys Reynell, c.1915, oil on canvas]

What a wonderful painting. I love the way the oil paint is pushed and scraped energetically all over the canvas, especially in contrast to the stolid nature of its content. The expression on the old man's face is classic, and says it all. We know who wears the pants in this relationship.

The Irish male continues to struggle. Read these recent personal ads in the Dublin News:

Bitter, disillusioned Dublin man, lately rejected by long-time fiancée, seeks decent, honest, reliable woman, if such a thing still exists in this cruel world of hatchet-faced bitches.

Heavy drinker, 35, Cork area, seeks gorgeous sex addict interested in a man who loves his pints, cigarettes, Glasgow Celtic Football Club and starting fights on Patrick Street at three o'clock in the morning.

Ginger haired Galway man, a trouble-maker, gets slit-eyed and shirty after a few scoops, seeks attractive, wealthy lady for bail purposes, maybe more.

Bad tempered, foul-mouthed old bastard, living in a damp cottage in the arse end of Roscommon, seeks attractive 21 year old blonde lady, with a lovely chest.

Devil-worshipper, Offaly area, seeks like-minded lady, for wining and dining, good conversation, dancing, romantic walks, and slaughtering cats in cemeteries at midnight under the flinty light of a pale moon.

Limerick man, 27, medium build, brown hair, blue eyes, seeks alibi for the night of February 27 between 8 PM and 11:30 PM.

Optimistic Mayo man, 35, seeks a blonde 20 year old double-jointed supermodel, who owns her own brewery, and has an open-minded twin sister.

[Ads via email from Maureen of N. California.]

[Image from Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide]