Kräftig-oranger Körper mit einer weißen Schaumkrone oben drauf.

500 years of purity law for beer

It is one of the main reasons why Bavarian and German beer is so popular at home and abroad. At the same time, it is the oldest food and consumer protection law that is still valid today. The purity law for beer (called Reinheitsgebot in German) from 1516. Today, it celebrates its 500th birthday.

Father Ray Kelly sings Hallelujah and smiles.

A very special Hallelujah

Two years ago to the day, Father Ray Kelly gave a remarkable performance in his parish that significantly influenced his life and touched the hearts of millions of people worldwide. I’m delighted to commemorate this illustrious event here with some of his thoughts and experiences that he shared with me especially for IrishBayrisch.

Cover detail of book Echolocation. Cover design by Olaf Hille. Rainbow-coloured sound wave on a black-grey-white background.

Echolocation

23 December 2015. The day before Christmas Eve. I’m in Castlebar in County Mayo. My passion for bookstores leads me to Eason in Main Street. In the Irish corner, I spot a thin, white book: Echolocation from Terry McDonagh. The first sentence on the back immediately arouses my interest:

Shiny green field. Dark trees and hills on the horizon. Strong clouds in the blue sky.

Green Christmas

One week until Christmas Eve. There is no snow in and around Munich. On the Christmas markets, I’d rather have a cold beer than a hot mulled wine. It reminds me of Christmas 2012. After a few weeks in Ireland I came back to Bavaria. The winter was almost as mild as this year. And I realised how green Bavaria is.

The eight musicians of Da Huawa, da Meier und I and Na Ciotogi are standing and sitting on the stage playing an Irish-Bayrisch song

That’s how Irish-Bayrisch sounds

A music experience from 21 October 2015 at the Schlachthof in Munich

Anacrusis

“We play in flat keys, they play in sharp keys. That doesn’t really fit.” This statement is from somebody who knows what he’s talking about: Siegi Mühlbauer. And that’s exactly why I’m here tonight. I’m curious to find out how it sounds when the Bavarian music comedians Da Huawa, da Meier und I and the traditional Irish band Na Ciotogi present their first joint CD together. Of course it is entitled Irish-Bayrisch.

Die bayrische, irische und deutsche Flagge vor einem bewölkten Himmel

Welcome to IrishBayrisch!

The idea for this blog has been on my mind for a long time. I can’t even remember when it first emerged. I only know that I had to summarise all my thoughts in a first little concept at some stage. That was in October last year. Since then, the idea has been growing and growing and growing. And now it’s time to turn this idea into reality.