The Irish Cassette
Issue Number 5
Community Edition
Welcome to Issue Number 5 of The Irish Cassette, our Community Edition.
For this issue, we wanted to step back from the usual political talk and game mechanics and show the world something more important. We wanted to show the people. The characters. The personalities that make up this Irish community.
We asked our members to share something about Ireland, Irish culture, or just something that represents the Irish spirit. The responses we received were honest, funny, and full of heart. Each one is completely different, but together they paint a picture of what it means to be part of this community.
First, Dempc takes us on a culinary journey with a love letter to the one true king of Irish lunch food, the chicken fillet roll. It is a tribute to freedom, choice, and the pure joy of destroying a good CF roll, even if the price has gone to the dogs.
Next, Toie shares the transition from counting pennies as an eco player to dropping 83K damage in one sitting. It is a reminder that sometimes the best thing to do is ignore the sensible advice and just see what happens.
Finally, Adathegod reflects on the fear of stepping outside the norm and how taking a chance on something unfamiliar, whether it is American football in Ireland or a silly Discord server, can lead to unexpected friendships and lifelong memories.
These are the voices of our community. They are funny, honest, and uniquely Irish in their own way.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
Slán,
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The Chicken Fillet Roll: A Love Letter to Ireland's Greatest Invention
By Dempc
Of all the things an Irishman will find himself wanting while abroad, the humble chicken fillet roll is often one of the rarer commodities to be found. But why is this seemingly basic dish so popular?
The bog standard CF roll consists of a sliced breaded chicken fillet served on a demi baguette with your choice of sauce. Basic right? Nothing too exciting. But the magic lies in the sheer combinations available to the average consumer when it comes to creating their perfect roll.
Bread: Demi Baguette, Plain Wrap, Brown Roll, White Salad Roll, Seeded Wrap, and more.
Chicken: Plain, Southern Fried, or Hot and Spicy.
Fillings: Cheese, Coleslaw, Lettuce, Tomato, Relish, and a whole bunch of other stuff I do not even look at.
Sauce: Ketchup, Brown Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Taco Sauce, Sriracha Sauce. The list goes on.
There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of possible combinations, unique to each Irishman or woman. It represents freedom. It represents the Irish spirit. And it represents a damn good time destroying that CF roll.
Sadly, in these turbulent times, the price of the humble chicken fillet roll has risen to an unfathomable €5 or more, depending on your fillings and where you buy the roll. Even my own Plain Wrap with Hot and Spicy Fillet, Cheese, and Taco Sauce runs me a good €5.25 in the local MACE. Throw in my two for a fiver Monster and my God lads, it is not looking great.
It is not all doom and gloom however. Sometimes you can get a lunch deal.
Share your own chicken fillet roll creations in the comments below.
From Counting Pennies to Dropping Damage: My First Three Months
By Toie
Jaysus, three months already.
I have spent the last three months playing as an eco player for Ireland. That has basically meant counting pennies all day, every day, and dragging 12 factories all the way to AE6.
Looking back, I am actually really happy with the progress. It has probably cost me far too many hours of my life, but we will ignore that part.
This morning I finally reskilled and joined the war side of things. Naturally, I ignored all the sensible advice and emptied my entire clip into a battle, just to see what would happen.
83K damage, in one sitting. WOW. BAZINGA.
The biggest surprise? I am not nearly as broke as I expected to be. Somehow the economy is still keeping my head above water.
Now I can't wait to try the pill tomorrow and see what this mega damage build can really do, despite the advice of the seasoned warriors of course.
This should be interesting.
Taking the Plunge: Why Stepping Outside the Norm is Worth It
By Adathegod
At the heart of this is something I think many Irish people can relate to: the difficulty of stepping outside the norm.
We are often reluctant to try the thing that is unusual, unpopular, or unfamiliar. There is always that little voice asking what other people will think, whether they will take it seriously, or whether we will look ridiculous for even trying. It is a deeply Irish instinct, but it can also be deeply limiting.
The real message is that there are countless brilliant, strange, niche, and unexpected things out there. You should not dismiss something simply because other people have never heard of it, do not understand it, or think it is a bit odd. Sometimes you just have to jump in and see what happens.
For me, that lesson came from playing American football. In Ireland.
I had played plenty of sports before, but years had passed and I wanted to get involved in something again. At first, I had all the usual thoughts: "It is not a real sport," "Nobody here cares about it," and, most importantly, "What will my friends think?"
Eventually, I took the plunge.
Not only did I fall in love with the sport, but I also made lifelong friends who would otherwise have remained complete strangers. People I might never have met became a huge part of my life, all because I decided to step outside the norm and give something unfamiliar a chance.
That experience taught me to keep taking the plunge whenever an opportunity appears. Sink or swim, either outcome gives you something. You might discover something you genuinely love, meet people who change your life, or come away with a ridiculous story. All of those are better than standing on the shore wondering what might have happened.
That change in attitude is also the reason I jumped into a silly little game called WarEar and joined a silly little Discord group. I may be something of a silent monk in the chat, but I genuinely enjoy watching the community grow, reading the banter, and witnessing Ireland's glorious journey from a Belgian colony to independence.
None of that would have happened if I had worried too much about whether it was normal, popular, or understood by everyone else.
So try the strange hobby. Join the obscure group. Play the unfamiliar sport. Take the plunge.
You may love it. You may find lifelong friends in people who were once strangers. You may sink spectacularly. Either way, you will have a better story.
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Closing Note
That wraps up Issue Number 5 of The Irish Cassette. We hope you enjoyed this community edition and got a sense of the personality, humor, and heart that makes this Irish community what it is.
A huge thank you to Dempc, Toie, and Adathegod for taking the time to share their thoughts and stories. This issue would not exist without them.
We are always looking for more contributions for future issues. If you have an idea, a story, a poem, a meme, or just something you want to share, reach out to me. The Irish Cassette is for the community, by the community.
Until next time, stay safe, stay sound, and mind yourselves.
Slán go fóill,
The Fatican,
Editor of The Irish Cassette,
Head J&R Officer,