John B Keane on The Modern Man and Sandwiches, Ireland 1970

John B. Keane explains his theory about modern man getting smaller.
From behind his bar in Listowel, Co. Kerry, Keane tells sceptical customers about his theory that modern man is shrinking in stature. Keane is convinced that when he was a young fellow in Lyreacrompane, a man could cut more turf in a day than two men today. He puts this down to their diet and the curse of sandwiches, particularly tomato sandwiches.
Men are consistently getting smaller because of this attitude - they’re dolling themselves up going to the bog, eating sandwiches and biscuits, I see them with biscuits going to the bog! Jeepers long ago these fellas were powerful men - they could eat on average I’d say a pound of bacon for their midday meal. Nowadays a pound of bacon would do twenty or thirty of them.
This episode of Newsbeat was broadcast on 12 May 1970.

[@briansheehy1634]

A friend sent me this this morning and it really made my day. Just pure gold!

[@electricrussellette]

This is Irish Publican and writer John B. Keane. His novel 'The Field' was made into a movie in 1992 starring Richard Harris and directed by Jim Sheridan.

[@thomasgeraghty5374]

Horrible movie....

[@fergal2424]

@@thomasgeraghty5374 fucking fantastic adaptation of Keane's writing.

[@upthera-v3r]

it was a play not a novel....

[@Discover-Ireland]

When pubs were great.

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Is that a glorification of the past? You'll say it's not like that fella, but it is. Smelly old places full of smelly old men. That's the way I always saw them.

[@robwilde855]

@@daithiocinnsealach1982 At least you could hear each other. No one had to shout above the piped music.

[@silverbullet8338]

I used to love the pub. I've spent many hours in em. Then they started toasting em.

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Sandwiches lads. They added them to the bog. That's the problem.

[@thomasgeraghty5374]

And look at the bread now

[@EzEcHiEl1121]

the world is falling apart

[@georgel74]

A great story teller John B. The collection box on the counter.. 👍

[@choctaw6838]

Oh for a time machine! Great video ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@jimmieoakland3843]

I was just looking at a picture of my great uncles who were born on farms in W. Ireland in the 1890's. They were 50-60 years old when the picture was taken, and they still had impressive physiques. Big men, and you wouldn't mess with any on them. I don't know of the effect of eating sandwiches, but that generation in my family were strong people. You cut turf and milk cows by hand for 30 years, you'd be strong, too.

[@MsRichycon]

Iv watch it 4 times now it like a tarantino Scene so cool with out trying to be

[@DidYaServe]

He's basically criticising low protein sandwich meals compared to a traditional diet of pig meat, cabbage and potatoes. It makes perfect sense in the context of highly physical labour. John B. was a wise ol' hoor.

[@arkle6109]

As a Taximan once said, JBK was his own best customer.

[@panatypical]

I've been noticing the same things he's talking about, especially with people's heads, which you'd think their grandiose attitudes would cause to swell....

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Well all disappear in a few generations so...

[@panatypical]

@@daithiocinnsealach1982 That much longer? Good Lord....

[@officialWWM]

I wonder what he would think of today’s men 🤔

[@Fatfrogsrock]

'Men'

[@petemcnamara5070]

He would have to admit he was wrong as every generation has been getting taller.

[@jimohara]

Genius

[@assistantto007]

Has he been kissing that Blarney stone again?

[@Nicholas-gv8ok]

Early childhood diet is very important for a mans physical character and physiognomy. Back in the day you ate potatoes and other foods that would have been made from a local supply. The shite thats fed to kids these days and especially combined with a more sedentary lifestyle you'd wonder how they'd look 20-40 years down the line. I'd also like to add that the decline of smoking would have an effect on the shape of your face too.

[@Rog5446]

Irish Al Murray.

[@browncowmeowchow6445]

Visit Newfoundland Canada. The Irish that moved there centuries ago continue as they once were. It's the diet. I nearly killed myself on a railing after a few Guiness and Iceburgs, as it was about as high as my knee. Nearly flipped over it, and fell down a flight of stairs. The absolute lack of vegetables, or if you have veggies, they're deep fried. I ate pure spinach coming home for a week after visiting. I can only explain it by when you lack protein for a long while and bite into a steak, but the complete opposite. The lack of veggies and a diet of potatoes, fish and meat is the issue. I love Newfoundland, hate the diet outside of St. Johns area, but the culture outside of St. Johns is undoubtedly more Irish than Dublin. Or even Cork at this point of time. The yanks and paddys ruined the lovely island and the history. No more will a farmers fathers son sing a song from centuries ago, lost in the globalized bullshit world. We're ruining culture with globalism. Sad times.

[@Md2802]

Fuckin' hell... these videos are gas, but the comments are always filled with gowls.

[@Fatfrogsrock]

@@Md2802 yes, like yours

[@MsRichycon]

They haven't the teeth for the bakon they haven't the jaw 😅🤣this is beautiful..Dus any one know what yellow main bride is sounds nice..

[@RC-nk7po]

Yellow meal bread?

[@MsRichycon]

@@RC-nk7po I think your right corn bread

[@uisce_blu]

Great videos

[@user-lx5ue4wm5k]

Amagin going to bar for a beer ya would never get back to ur seat wit him lol

[@marykategraham.205]

"""The Shrinking Modern Useless Man seeks after everything in a distance. The Wise Man grows everything under his feet.."""----Go Ráibh máith agát CR's---V.V...

[@MsRichycon]

I agree with you big no no to the jibajaba.. can I ask you a question dus the word hirif in gaelic mean dream.in English please I grew up in England I have irish roots but no one speak the lingo any more I would like to learn it

[@seanh1661]

Men getting smaller Women getting taller. Just what are they putting in our food n water.

[@ShapeyFiend]

John B was protein gym maxing advocate of his day. My grandparents family used farm and live on fatty bacon most of them lived long into their 80's and 90's despite smoking a ton and there being an alcoholic or two in the mix. They had such active lifestyles they could get away with it I suppose. Now we've all transitioned to desk jobs there are other problems.

[@paulsstreetphotography]

it takes an educated man like myself , to understand his views..

[@danangland666]

you're a gom tho

[@paulsstreetphotography]

@@danangland666 hahah , why thank you kind person , i love you trolls

[@danangland666]

@@paulsstreetphotography educated men like yourself should have better things to be doing than replying to trolls

[@noelmaher4633]

Tik Tokers feverishly googling Bogs...

[@blairhatton3066]

The more things change the more they stay the same

[@mab756]

knowing what we know about bread now, your man was right

[@comingupforeire7050]

Feminisation of men was starting that time

[@EzEcHiEl1121]

these goddam sandwiches

[@finolaomurchu8217]

I'm trying to work out if that is John B. Keane? 1970 is 51 years ago, what would they make of the soyboys today. Besides less work, smart, thoughtful chat is decreasing.

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

I'm pretty sure it's him... He came from Lyracompane too. I think :-)

[@jackvanzandt900]

It is John B Keane in his pub in Listowel Co Kerry.

[@finolaomurchu8217]

@@jackvanzandt900 Thank you, and Tom above. I'm glad the women in their head scarves were there, I thought it might be a man only pub. It would be unladylike of me, but I'd guzzle a pint of Guinness no problem. And just sit and listen.

[@jackvanzandt900]

@@finolaomurchu8217 John B was a very good friend of mine and I spent many evenings with him in his pub. He would make up stories on the spot based on some hilarious theory or event, and the laughs would go on until closing time.

[@seamusburke9101]

Oh yes, thats John B and no mistake!

[@RedOakCrow]

There's truth in what he's saying, lots of fellas now would need a peer-reviewed study before they'd believe it though. You can see the decline in bone structure if you look at photos of your male relatives and neighbours from previous decades, even though there seems to be more tall lads about now.

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

It's down to daily habits. While you say that I know loads of guys who work out and train and they look like a million dollars compared to the guys I grew up with. Guys who take good care of themselves are more numerous now.

[@RedOakCrow]

@@daithiocinnsealach1982 I was referring more to the bone structure, like jaw size as Keane refers to and hand size. There's plenty of muscular and athletic guys about now but take away the muscle and I don't think they're as big as their father's or grandfather's generation, even though they may be taller. Scientists have discovered that testosterone levels are declining for some reason and testosterone has a big bearing on bone development.

[@MikehMike01]

@@RedOakCrow all that soy in the diet

[@johngill7776]

I blame the Covid-19 on Tomato Sandwiches.

[@navi3971]

Stay well away from the bog it will ruin the back of any man big or small

[@thomasgeraghty5374]

And now you wront be allowed to cut the bog...and no chimney on the houses. Just like there are no more half liter , soon no pub..only Tesco and what's the 1st thing ya see when you walk in only tomatoes. That have no taste...from Spain.

[@Paddylaur1]

E Nana

[@lmtt123]

Says a man with oil in his hair, feminine jaw, shirt and tie and small soft hands.

[@jamiedoyle7625]

The man’s right , men now with skinny jeans and hand bags

[@Droadlesstravelled]

Talking shite but great.

[@robotatomico83]

Absolutely agree, I've never heard such utter shite talked more eloquently and enjoyably though!