Enda Stevens

[dave shelley]

It's quite a middle class thing here to give your child an authentic Gaelic name. You don't see too many people called Niamh, Ferdia, Stiofán, Ailín or Risteard in working class areas!

As well as sending your kids to the local Gaelscoil (Irish speaking schools) just so they don't have to mix with kids of different ethnic backgrounds.

cynic alert and urban myth - the gaelscoileanna also tend to be secular which is a big reason why they are popular. People from places like the Netherlands can easily speak two languages so I dont think the rise of the Irish speaking schools is some middle class conspiracy anyway.

The hardcore gaelic names might be the preserve of the Gaeilge snobs but names like Sean, Enda and Niamh are as common as muck in Ireland.

think thats 5 Irish players at Villa now.

Hands up on the cynic call I'm very good at it and sadly the thing about cynics in my humble opinion, that I've learned over a lifetime is that they're seldom wrong.  It comes from being lied to by so many different people about so many different things.  Back to to real reason for posting about the Gaelscoil thing whilst agreeing that they tend to be secular in the main it's a contentious subject where I live.  I have friends and relatives that are teachers in mainstream schools and my daughter is a teacher in an underprivelaged area in Dublin, and while I accept your opinion on the urban myth scenario most of the people I have spoken to around here are of the opinion that I have quoted.  I'm sorry if I can't see it your way but as you quite rightly point out I'm a cynic.  At my age I think I've earned the right.

[Bernie]

Why do I keep seeing the name Edna whenever I see the title of this thread?
I know nothing about the lad but would like to wish him all the best for the future.

...and hopefully he's of higher than everage ability.........

[The Laughing Policeman]

Six pages and he's not even here yet...........he'd better be good.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

think thats 5 Irish players at Villa now.

Given, Dunne, Clark (sort of), Ireland, Lowry (sort of) and now Stevens = 6!

I think we also have a few more youngsters who are Irish - Devine, Burke and Drennan and possibly others.

[kipeye]

Gaelscoil - Good band-whatever happened to the heavy metal gals?

[Neil Hawkes]

Is Enda really that uncommon a name over there? That said, I've lost count of the amount of people who've had problems with my name........

Is it Ger with a soft G - as in jer.
OR
Ger with a hard G - as in Grrrr?

[Ger Regan]

Right first time!

And as a matter of interest, who on here thought it was the latter?

[PeterWithesShin]

Right first time!

And as a matter of interest, who on here thought it was the latter?

Must admit, I thought your first name was Regan and you were a Rangers fan. Shows how on the ball I am at times!

Oh and Welcome Enda Wiggin.

[VillaZogmariner]

Right first time!

And as a matter of interest, who on here thought it was the latter?

I thought it was short for Gerard, and therefore Jer. Although that doesn't stop me reading it as Ger!

[timeoutbigbar]

Every time I see the lads name I think of Edna Krabappel from the Simpsons.  Certainly hope he's a better footballer than her though.

[Neil Hawkes]

Right first time!

And as a matter of interest, who on here thought it was the latter?

I wasn't sure either way,  but howdy Jer!

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Definitely Jer. Grrr would have been distinctly odd!

[gervilla]

Aussies also cant pronounce Ger properly. I settled for being called Jarred over there. It was close enough for me.
I usually tackle it by saying its Ger, short for German. That normally does the trick.I have also been questioned about being a Rangers fan on here, considering my location says Co. Cork does make me wonder a little do people know anything about Ireland and Irish politics ?
I'm not a Celtic fan either by the way.

[eamonn]

Maybe ''Ger'' is phonetically too close to ''Jerry'' (as in ze Germans) for the name to have caught on too much in Britain?
Ger (Regan) you should have pronounced ''Germany'' with a hard 'g' anytime the country came up in conversation when working in London.

[Clampy]

I read somewhere as part of the deal, we're playing Shamrock at their ground at some point, presumably pre-season. Not sure how true it is though.