Today, March 17, is being celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day this year and US president, Donald Trump decided to mark the day.
All well and good to celebrate a day set aside to remember a saint who ministered Christianity to the Irish around the fifth century.
That’s until Trump decided to share what he said is a popular Irish proverb.
The proverb reads, ‘Always remember to forget the friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember those that have stuck by you.’
Great words. Problem is, its origin isn’t Irish; not even nearly. Rather, they are words written by a Nigerian.
Awkward!
The Nigerian, a Katsina-based banker by name Albasheer Adam Alhassan, got wind of it when his sister informed him.
‘My sister just brought the news to me. I didn’t want to believe what she said initially,’ Alhassan said in an interview.
His sister was referring to a luncheon Trump had with the Irish prime minister, Enda Kenny on Thursday.
It was there Trump said, ‘As we stand together with our Irish friends, I’m reminded of that proverb — and this is a good one, this is one I like. I’ve heard it for many, many years and I love it. ‘Always remember to forget the friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember those that have stuck by you.”
Turns out, many Irish have not heard of this ‘Irish proverb’ and were quick to point out so.
With all due respect to the president’s reputation for scrupulously checking his sources, I don’t think this is an Irish proverb. https://t.co/1EvGGMsE9r
— The Irish For (@theirishfor) March 16, 2017
Have literally never heard this in my entire life. https://t.co/3gSBhbvdl2
— Christine Bohan (@ChristineBohan) March 16, 2017
So, trust the Internet to become curious. And curiosity brought forth Alhassan’s poem on a poetry platform.
OK I’ve found trump’s ‘irish’ proverb. pic.twitter.com/ZsWPUvqDDL
— cólz (@colz) March 16, 2017
According to Alhassan, ‘I posted those things when I was back in school, over 10 years ago. I never thought it would get to this level.’
And with all that’s become of it lately, he says, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have been a banker, maybe I should have been a poet all my life!’
You can’t blame him now, can you?
No Fields Found.
