Barry Gibson: Who says Ulstermen have no sense of humour?

I HAVEN’T seen my friend and fellow Ulsterman Pete, mentioned above, for a few years now.

But when we do get together we enjoy what is known in Ireland as a bit of craic – that is, some banter, some joking, some wry amusing remarks – preferably fuelled by alcohol.

Richard Huddleston of West Slaithwaite may be surprised to learn this.

Last week, not for the first time, he wrote a letter to the Examiner having a go at Yours Truly. On this occasion his correspondence didn’t make it into print.

But there was one line which jumped off the page at me.

According to Mr Huddleston, Ulstermen like myself are “not renowned for their sense of humour”.

This is the first time I’ve heard this particular theory – and I would be very interested in the research behind it.

I know, at a rough count, several hundred Ulstermen. I am going to guess that is several hundred more than Mr Huddleston.

The only tendency I have discovered, from my wide research into Ulster humour, is that it is quite often dry and black.

The odd morose joke helped us through what was, if I’m honest, a tricky few decades at the back-end of the last century.

But overall I wouldn’t say that males from the North of Ireland are any more or less humorous than anyone else.

During my research I found that some sons of Ulster are hilarious, others are deathly dour but most are in the middle, capable of making the odd amusing remark.

I hate to appear all humourless here, but perhaps Mr Huddleston would like to write again explaining how he reached his conclusions about Ulster humour – and informing me of his sample size.