I have returned from a holiday in Spain during which I spotted one or two of these. I am just wondering if anyone else has had the pleasure?
He is a Northern European male, who tends to fly during the months of July/August to a Mediterranean climate.
It’s believed he does so to follow his mate and watch over his brood. In recent decades his brood numbers have dropped significantly from a past average of seven, to todays average of two to three.
This male can be spotted relatively easily without the need for binoculars. On a Spanish beach among the many hairless, buff, bronzed and oiled males they tend to stand out. A beacon of white.
They sport a “farmers tan” of freckled face, coated in a layer of white barely rubbed in sun cream, red neck, and arms three quarter coloured a reddish brown.
The body of this male is rarely buff or hairless and no matter how expensive the clothing they wear it never matches the look achieved by its mediteranian brother.
Perhaps in an attempt to disguise themselves, this species can also be spotted wearing T-shirts in the sea and sporting towels on their heads and shoulders.
Unlike the Mediterranean species, this white, freckled, non buff male is rarely seen lying in the sun. Instead they can usually be observed standing in the sea holding the hand of one of their brood while carrying another, or playing ball. They may also be endlessly filling buckets of water to pour into moats that disappear within seconds around sandcastles, or just generally doing all that their children ask of them.
Watching them with their brood you cannot help but see past the lack of Adonis like features and observe the gentle touch they have with their young, the endless patience they show, and the ability they have to make their children laugh out loud in obvious joy.
Yes they may not be in peak physical condition, but having spent time with one of them, I would have to concur that they are an exceptional species.
The broad term for them would be “Fathers”. However these are not ordinary fathers, but world class. To give them their correct title they are “Irish Fathers”. A species unlike any other.
So keep an eye out this Summer, there could be one coming to a beach near you.
Oh and another point of interest about this species… They always without exception pair up with stunning looking women. Fact!
photo credit: alobos Life via photopin cc
photo credit: Pami N via photopin cc
My thoughts on a page. 
Love this and proud to have one by my side lobster coloured arms and all 🙂
Hee hee. Mine is a lighter shade of pale, and thats after ten days in the sun. I’m sure you approve of the final fact too! 🙂
Absolutely! Sure you’re only telling the truth and it’s fact 🙂
Heh heh
(and congrats on your blog awards nomination)
Thanks glad you enjoyed it. Delighted with the nomination. Haven’t had a chance to look at them yet. Last year I’d no contact with Irish bloggers and the awards changed all that.
I’m about to go on holidays with one of them 😉 Love the last fact about this species. You forgot to mention the socks and sandals combo they are often see sporting 😉 (Good to have you back!)
I decided I just couldn’t cope with drawing attention to that, and there is the GAA shorts as suitable holiday attire too!
When are you off? Have a great holiday.
Thanks! Monday!
Oh enjoy. We’ll miss you. I was telling my youngest about your questions and she is busy thinking of one for you.
Great, can’t wait… tell her to have her list ready for my return 😉
Laughing and saying aww.. at the same time! Ya can’t beat those Irish men! 🙂
Agreed. They really are the best.
And welcome back!! :0)
Thanks. It’s good to be blogging again and catching up on everyone. Hope all good with you. Bet your little ones are enjoying the fab weather.
There’s always exceptions, right? Good lord that species uses sun screen, right? SPF 1000??
Well, I’ve seen your photos and to be honest you could be mistaken for one of these.
If your wife is a stunner I think you should check your parentage! 🙂
My children’s father came equipped with a beautiful tan, a South American olive complexion. I told him once my father would be jealous of his pretty legs and that he was. My father had that Irish tan you speak of. 😀
Oh we can only imagine it over here.. an olive complexion! That Irish tan is indeed a sight to behold.
My husband came home and was disgusted that on his return to work no one remarked on his “colour”. ( off white).
Ha ha ha! Your poor husband! That is too funny!
Although I hail from America, I have an Irish family history. Not that I’m biased, but the Irish are funnier, quicker, easier, and more living than any other. Someday I’ll make it over there and see it. Someday.
My children are first generation half Irish. They tan.
Loving* not living.
funny and sweet both, tric )
Thank you.
you forgot to mention a related species – scottish fathers (of a certain generation) lying on the beach, soaking up the sun, with a knotted hanky on their head and wearing a string vest
we could play naughts and crosses on my dad’s chest when he removed his string vest after a day lying in the sun ! 😆
I love this, proud to have brought my red headed Irish adonis with me on hols. 🙂
A big red Irish head on him, He must be even more perfect, and you even more gorgeous! 🙂
I’m just home from a 21st in my friends house, which was full of small red headed cousins.
Aww.I am proud mammy to a little red head too despite being quite dark myself 🙂
Hope you had a great holiday x
Brilliant Lorna, and six of us surviving without killing each other was a major achievement. 🙂
Haha! This is brilliant. Well my Irish red-head isn’t a father – yet. But he really did wonders at evening his tan on our last holiday. Too bad about the driver’s arm, though!
Those Irish men! I have three dark skinned children and one fair/porcelain white one, who is not a bit impressed. She says her only hope is to marry someone who’s black or very dark skinned in order to ‘correct’ the gene! 🙂
Very funny there Tric. I smiled all the way through it.
Great. Glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes this blog can seriously lack humour.