What would be a nice gift or thing to do for someone who desperately misses Ireland?

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Not waving but drowning

My sugggestion would to be to treat him to a fry up - 2. sod it 3 rashers, 2 irish sausages, fried egg (flipped - not sunny side up) a slice or 2 of black pudding and maybe a slice or two of white pudding, don't forget the pot of tea and 3 slices of toast.

Failing that make a slab of brown bread.
(hint - sour the milk first - leave it sit in the sun so the milk seperates - it sounds yuk, but believe me it makes the best brown soda bread ever - my mum-in-law taught me)

10oz wholemeal flour
2 oz rye flour
8oz white all purpose (non rising) flour
handfull of bran - wheat or oat - makes no difference - it;s just for ruffage anyway.
1 heaped teaspoon of bread soda - please sift as the lumps do not disperse in cooking.
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of dark brown sugar
3/4 pint of buttermilk (my preference is soured milk)

Put all the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl, then add the soured milk mix to a dough then turn out onto a lightly floured surface, roll the dough - patting it into a 2" high mound place on a floured baking tray - when placed on the baking tray then, and only then get a large knife and cut a cross (1/2" deep) and bake at 190 o C for about 25 - 30 mins (don't know the US equivalent - apologies)
A sure sign when the bread is done is to tapp the ars@ and if it sounds hollow the bread is done.

A taste of home.

Boiled egg and bown bread -yum.

Nollaig shona duit

hippo

if you could get him like some irish food. theres an irish brand crisp called tayto... its the most irish thing in the world, recognisable by an irish person anywhere in the world! if you could order him some of that would put a smile on his face...

http://www.taytocrisps.ie/

xalynn

If you can get DVDs of Father Ted, I think that would be something to cheer him up a little. You can buy them over at Amazon, and the full set is not particularly cheap ($60) but you can buy the seasons separately so perhaps you can start with season 1 first or something like that?

Ps: oooo Tayto is a nice idea indeed but I just had a look at the shipping cost - holy mackerel, are they really charging at least 27euro for a box of Tayto???!

*Update*

Daisy, oh good that you can source Tayto cheaper elsewhere. I was shocked to see that price from official Tayto site. It's a good thing I do live in Ireland so I can get Tayto at reasonable price ;)

crazygirl

Play them this single in your bar.
It is just one song

Fairytale of New York

Have a listen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff3aoSyYOVs

It is a the best Irish Christmas song Ever

Orla C

Get him a Christy Moore CD. The Pogues are London Irish - but yes, Fairytale of New York is by far the best Christmas song out there.

reginaldstower

Emerald Isle Produce - Irish Hampers, Food, Gifts, Music and Books ...
A gift for Irish breakfast lovers, featuring all the favourites such as ... Traditional old style thick cut from Galtee, a firm family favourite.

bluebell

Here in Ireland all the supermarkets are playing canned Christmas music. Not so much in the pubs, but it is not a time of year that we would expect to hear traditional music in large doses. If your has access to broadband, let him look up the latest Irish news
http://www.independent.ie/
http://www.irishtimes.com/
Believe me, it is not all good news!! He might even appreciate that he is looking back fondly through rose-tinted glasses - not necessarily the best for a realistic viewpoint. Where he is may feel okay in comparison.

mise-eire

buy him a ticket home
I feel so sorry for him in a way because i am from ireland and had to move to england when i was young, and literally nobody will ever understand what its like to miss that place. Its just the best place in the world, and irish people unsuprisingly get homesick more than anyone else.But on the other hand i think, why is he putting himself through that? I think he should move back and be with his family. Anyway, the father ted thing is a good idea. Or maybe you could cook him an irish meal like stew, or champ Yummmmmmmm

xxxxxxx

Like a Fox

As someone suggested, you could buy him a father ted dvd, that should put a smile on his face.

Maxi

A calender with the pictures of where he used to live, that way he get a 'fix' every month with a new picture

alan m

Why not get him to fly home then he will complain there is no Christmas music. He sounds the type.

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