Éirinn go Brách !!!

If you know you know, but if your not a firefighter you might not know that the Irish have long been associated with firefighting in America. The reason is not such a great one, but when the Irish began to come to America in the middle 1700's due to famine they were not welcomed and in fact had a hard time finding work. Firefighting was a low paying, dangerous job at that time so many of Americas earliest firefighters were the Irish. With them came their traditions and culture one of which survives to this day in every fire department in the country and its called "Slagging" never heard of it? Many have not, it is the delicate art of teasing someone in such a way that they look forward to it.

Every firefighter knows this: If your fellow firefighters are making fun of you its good, its when no one is talking to you that its bad. To be clear "slagging" is a test to see how you handle "the tease", instead of saying "nice job" you are more likely to hear "it's about time you got off your ass and did something" Its a push to see if you will push back. "Slagging" exposes our soft underbellies and tells the world its ok to poke it a little bit.

Slagging is alive and well in firehouses across the country, proof that the Irish influence is strong. It’s why no one takes themselves too seriously, why humor is a coping mechanism in a profession that sees a lot of sadness, and why at the end of a long shift or fire, nothing feels quite as good as throwing an insult at your fellow firefighter as you part ways.

Slagging is uniquely Irish and if conducted properly in the most Irish way, you will be slagged your entire career then again after you die, as the only proper wake is an Irish wake, where even the dead aren't safe :)