One of the first things my history professor iterated in his class was that Ireland has been a land for poets since time immemorial, and that the Aes Dana, the learned class of druid-bards who kept the traditions and stories and brehon laws alive, were some of the most important people in Irish society. Poets are still highly valued today, as seen by the tremendous turnout at at Seamus Heaney reading I recently attended.
I've been writing like a fool since I've gotten here, poetry mostly, but I haven't for the most part been working on my fanfiction. Mostly because I have no time, partially because I have no space in which to write and be alone, and partially because I can't bring myself to devote time.
But something's been nagging me since I got into Galway and saw several times the great Anglo-Norman names of the founders of the city, merchants and such who must have come over with Strongbow and set up shop on the River Corrib because it's a fantastic place for boats. One prominent name is D'arcy, and the other is De Burgo, or De Bourgh.
Yes, there is a Pride and Prejudice fanfic lurking in this city, waiting to be written about the Darcy family's Irish cousins. But it fits! It does! It fits so well I'm surprised no one's thought of writing it yet. I can see it now -- Elizabeth and Darcy's quiet, genteel demense in London is tumbled head over heels when Irish relations of Darcy's come to stay for the season. Are they proud of these relations? Of course not, they're Irish, one can hear Lady de Bourgh saying distastefully. They run practically wild in that country, you know. And they were in trade.
Never mind that it was back in the 12th century, Lady de Bourgh. You're titled because you married well, you twit.
What would then be done with these cousins I have yet to determine. But it'll come to me.
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Why not have them run delightfully, early-nineteenth century wild? I don;t know if you've ever seen the Aristocrats (a British TV series about a Georgian family, circa 1794 - a little out timewise, but nevertheless it features some wild Irish relatives!) Taking baths in ale and buttermilk and other such wild Georgian rake activities. perhaps Elizabeth's example can reform the hoydenish females, whilst Darcy is sorely tried by his nephews? The opportunities are endless!
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