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Welcome to the Irish Culture & Customs newsletter which is published every week and sent out to going on 2200 readers all over the world. You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up for it - God Bless you! If you'd like to read past issues, they are archived at: http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com/pubarchive.php?Herself
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Greetings and blessings to all,
Lovely to be back! It 's been another hectic and eclectic week or so in the Haggerty household, from time spent watching our grandson to spending time with our daughter. (Catherine put on a delicious birthday meal for her dad!). We also enjoyed a visit with a close friend from England who was in town on business; and we've continued our daily walks, observing in amazement the changes in the foliage around us - especially the burning bushes which are now at their peak. In a church we pass by, the bushes are interspersed with pampas grasses and the effect is just gorgeous.
Mammoth forays to the grocery store have been made in anticipation of Thursday's annual day of gluttony. Bridget is getting as excited as she always does about picking out the first Christmas song of the season to play immediately after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's been a tradition in our house ever since the kids were tots that when Santa goes into Macy's is when the season really starts - and that goes for the music, too. Russ has been getting goosebumps thinking about this particular Thanksgiving - and Bridget is beginning to feel a bit the same way. After the events of the past few months, life will never be quite the same - and more than any other year we've been together, we truly know what it means to be thankful.
Enough about us...
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Please help us keep this newsletter free - visit our good friend, Molly's Irish Imports:
Bring joy and delight this Christmas season with a gift from your Irish heart. Avoid the long lines and hassles at department stores. Find truly unique and beautiful gifts with meaning at Molly's Irish Imports. "Lovely things from Celtic lands", including finely crafted jewelry, luxurious woolen capes and scarves, tweed caps, and a wide variety of gift items, from Irish dancer dolls and shamrock rosaries to tasty Irish treats. All items are personally selected for their artistry and authentic Celtic origin and each is guaranteed to bring delight or your money back; also, your credit card purchases are absolutely secure. Shop with confidence and pleasure at Molly's Irish Imports, now offering free holiday gift wrap with handwritten note cards for all holiday gift orders through Dec. 20. Please click http://www.irishmollys.com
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In news from Ireland:
General:
The Statute Law Revision Bill will do away with a number of archaic and outdated laws that have remained on the Irish statute book for hundreds of years. A 188-year-old Act allowing "punishment of the pillory" for those "taking a false oath" is one of over 100 laws facing repeal.
Young men are among those most likely to pass the driving test, figures from the Department of Transport have revealed. Ironically, they are also the group most likely to be involved in fatal road crashes. No surprises there.
The Spire in O'Connell Street will lose its status as the State's tallest structure if Dublin City Council approves plans for a 32-storey residential building in Kilmainham. Council planners are to announce their decision on the building within two weeks.
Cork: Top golf course purchased by hoteliers
Irish hoteliers Joe and Margaret Scally have recently bought Harbour Point golf course near Little Island. The couple already own the Royal Killarney Hotel and the award-winning five-star Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork city.
Dublin: Major refurbishment for Dun Laoghaire piers
The lower level of Dun Laoghaire's east pier was closed from last week as work commenced on a major refurbishment programme, the biggest since the harbour was built in the early nineteenth century.
Dublin: Coláiste Mhuire, the former Christian Brothers' Irish language school on Dublin's Parnell Square, is set to be unveiled as the new home of the Abbey Theatre. The area already houses the National Wax Museum, the Hugh Lane Gallery and the Irish Writers' Center, while the Garden of Remembrance is across the street and the Gate and the Ambassador theatres are also in the area. The new national theatre will have two auditoriums, a rehearsal space, a restaurant/bar, an education facility and an archive.
Dublin: Pricey Leather - About 500 Irish women are on a Dublin waiting list to buy leather bags costing from 4,000 to 50,000 Euros ($5,200 - $65,000). So exclusive are the leather goods that customers are not even guaranteed one at the end of what could be a five-year wait. The waiting list is for custom-made Kelly and Birkin handbags at the newly opened Hermès store on Dublin's Grafton Street.
Galway: Eyre Square relief for Galway shoppers
Work on the roads bounding Eyre Square, which has been ongoing for some months, is to be halted for a period over Christmas to facilitate both shoppers and businesses. From December 8, the traditional Christmas shopping day, to January 5,the roads will again be open though work will continue in the fenced off area.
Louth: The end of a long Drogheda tradition
The local parish priest has blamed spiraling insurance costs for his decision to lock the gates of Cord Cemetery in Drogheda, a place used by a local rosary group on a regular basis for the past twenty-five years. Monsignor Francis Donnelly was advised by his insurance company, following a claim against St Peter's Parish, that the cemetery should be made safe, but the projected cost of 3m is beyond his resources. The rosary group is unwilling to pray "on unconsecrated" ground outside the gates and also turned down Monsignor Donnelly's offer to sell them the plot of land for 1. Others affected by the decision are those with family members buried in Cord Cemetery.
Tyrone: Ronan Keating to switch on Omagh Christmas lights
Up to fifteen thousand people are expected to turn out in Omagh on Friday night to see pop star Ronan Keating switch on the town's Christmas lights. Ronan is the latest celebrity to perform the honours at what has become an annual Christmas ritual, with previous celebrity guests including Westlife and Daniel O'Donnell.
From all over
Atlanta: Powerlifting club triumphant
The powerlifting club that started out in a garden shed in a Limerick housing estate nearly twenty years ago has certainly gone from strength to strength with its recent triumph in the World Powerlifting Championships in Atlanta, netting Ireland a total of seven gold medals. The club was established in 1985 by Tommy Dillon, who himself won two gold medals.
TCD scholarship for Texan
The 2004 US-Ireland Alliance http://www.us-irelandalliance.org
Scholarship has been awarded to Susan Ager of Dallas, Texas. Opportunities to win the scholarship were on sale at a number of festivals in the US and Ms Ager, a violinist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, purchased her ticket at the North Texas Irish Festival. The award entitles the holder to both tuition and housing at an Irish university, with the 2004 Irish Festival scholarship entitling the winner to attend Trinity College; Ms Ager's son, Forrest Wilbur, will take up a course at TCD. Information on next year's scholarship opportunity with Dublin City University will be posted on the Alliance website in January, 2005.
Washington DC: Dublin Woman nominated as US Judge
A Dublin-born attorney has said she is both excited and relieved after President Bush nominated her as a federal judge in Washington DC. Jennifer M. Anderson from Killester in north Dublin city, is set to serve a 15-year term as a Superior Court judge if her nomination is approved by the Senate.
From the mailbag:
We received a new CD to review - Mountain Road by trhe Glengary bhoys. They're a Canadian group we hadnaheard of before. Looking forward to giving them a listen.
Dorothy writes: Am trying to locate a poem of Kavanagh's called "The One". Can you help?
Jack would like all the lyrics to "Give Me Your Hand" - anyone know?
Erin is hoping we can tell her how she can order water from the Church of the Lady of Knock, She wants touse the water when she has her daughter baptised.
We're repeating this request from last time as we received no answers.
I have viewed approximately fifty websites on Irish culture and customs and was so happy to have found yours! I am hoping you can help with a question.Several years ago I was reading a decorating magazine in which the designer referred to an Irish custom of hanging a garland around the doorway at Christmas time with purple and gold cord to symbolize Christ the King. I have not since been able to find any information on this and no one in my family has ever heard of it. Do you know if this is in fact a tradition or where I might research further?
Thanks, Colleen
Links of the week:
The latest from the Irish Page
Jack & Vivian have prepared six pages for Thanksgiving this year. There's the contents page and five topics:
http://www.irishpage.com/prayers/fly-give.htm
Pictures taken in Roundstone pier, Galway
http://zattevrienden.realroot.be/depanneren.htm
Judith sent us this one about Irish ponies. Appreciate it, JF! http://www.thornapplefarms.com/IrishImports.html
Not Irish per se, but we couldn't resist sharing this one from Hartson. Thanks as always, Mr. Dowd!
http://www.vidlit.com/yidlit/yidlit.html
Family, food, friends and football - the main ingredients for a magical Thanksgiving! This greeting isn't particularly clever, but we enjoyed the music of the high school marching band in the background!
http://www.00fun.com/turkeyfootball1028.shtml
Our on-going gift to AG in California and all friends to animals, please click this link today and everyday. It only takes a second to feed an animal. Thanks!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites.woa
It only takes a second to feed hungry people, too:
http://www.thehungersite.com
Enough of the blither and blather - on with the update....
IN THIS ISSUE:
Quips, quotes, proverbs & toasts
A bit of the wit
Joke of The Week
Did You Know
Writer's Quiz
Riddle
New This Week
The Week Ahead
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QUIPS, QUOTES, PROVERBS & TOASTS
Since we're fast heading into what Russ calls the "silly season", we'll be posting a series of toasts for all those holiday dinners and doos. Here's a favorite:
May the roof over your head never fall in
and may the friends gathered below never fall out.
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Please help us to keep this newsletter free - visit our good friends, LollySmith:
Explore what we have on offer, including our great selection of authentic Irish whistles from the leading makers like Fádóg, Clare, Walton, Guinness & Clarke. One of the oldest musical instruments in Ireland. the Irish whistle is affordable, easy to learn and can be used to play music your entire family will enjoy - from haunting airs to lively reels. Come take a look - browse to your heart's content, and remember, when you buy from Lollysmith, you'll always enjoy great prices, quick shipping, and friendly, personalized service.
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?lollysmith+wSpfhS+index.html
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A BIT OF THE WIT
After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations.
Oscar Wilde
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OUR FAVORITE JOKE OF THE WEEK
This is adapted and edited from one sent in by Judith F. Thank you!
A young man named Sean received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and even profane. Sean tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and even reading him Scripture, or anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.
Finally, Sean got really fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot just yelled back. Sean shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. In desperation, Sean threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and stuck him in the freezer.
For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.
Fearing that he might have really hurt the parrot, Sean quickly opened the door to the freezer.
The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude, obnoxious language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my crude and unforgivable behavior."
Sean was stunned at the complete change in the bird's attitude! As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, "May I inquire as to what the turkey did?"
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=Help us keep this newsletter free by visiting our good friends at The Irish Lottery. Did you know that 34 Millionaires were created by the Irish lottery in 2003? You could be next! One of the most trusted lotteries in the world, drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday. Best of all, you don't have to live in Ireland to play, winnings are tax-free and checks are mailed within 48 hours. Do you have the luck of the Irish? Play the Irish lottery and find out! You can't win it if you're not in it. Please click here for full details:
http://www.irishlotto.net
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DID YOU KNOW
1. One traditional Irish cure for a hangover was to be buried up to the neck in moist river sand?
2. The Turkish Delight chocolate was first made in Cobh, County Cork, by the Hadji Bey company in the 1890s?
3. The Lough Erne Cot is the only boat in the world to be annually sunk? It is traditionally scuttled during the winter months in order to preserve the wood.
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IRISH WRITERS AND BOOKS QUIZ
To begin with, the anmswers to our last quiz:
1. The Irish Soldiers of Mexico - by Michael Hogan
2. The Wild Geese - The Irish Soldier in Exile - Maurice N Hennessy
3. A History of the Irish Soldier - A. E. C. Bredin
A round of pints and applause to our Irish literary sleuths:
Hart and Helen Dowd
If you want a place to relax, with easy reading: stories, poetry, devotionals, etc., visit my website at:
http://www.occupytillicome.com
Patricia Edwards
Check this out
http://www.madirish.com/
Rosetta Nybro
General discussion group for the excellent actor Peter O'Meara, one of the stars of Band of Brothers. O'Meara can currently be seen on the USA Networks show Peacemakers, with Tom Berenger.
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/peter_omeara/
Want to see your name on next week's list? Try finding the following. (We assure you, it's really easy) Who wrote:
1. The Giants Causeway and the North Antrim Coast
2. Old Portrush, Bushnills and the Giant's Causeway
3. Finn Maccoul and His Fearless Wife: A Giant of a Tale from Ireland
HINT: All three titles can be found here, and note that this is Bridget's "bible" - well worth adding to your library: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=irishcultucus-20&path=tg/detail/-/1856350932/qid%3D1073257674/sr%3D1-3
Send us the correct answers to two out of three and the rewards are:
1. If you have a web site, send us your URL plus a short description and we'll publish it in the next newsletter. If you don't have a web site, please nominate a favorite - peferably Irish.. Also, please remember that we list our sleuths in the order of entries received.
2. Receive a correct entry into the current "So You Think You're Irish" trivia contest. (In fairness to those of you who go to the trouble of actually finding the answers to the trivia contest, you'll get a bonus entry!)
3. Click through on the Hint URL above, tell us the title and earn another entry into the Trivia drawing. NOTE: It would be very helpful if you would send your entries to: bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com ==================================================================
Help keep this newsletter free - visit our friends at the Celtic Attic
'Tis the Christmas Season at the Celtic Attic. Place your order in November and receive a FREE STOCKING STUFFER GIFT! Jewelry, Wedding Gifts, Christmas Ornaments & Decorations, Irish Peat for your Fireplace, Celtic Sea Salt, Irish & Scottish Food and Gifts Galore await you at the Celtic Attic. To guarantee Christmas delivery place your order by the 13th of December. Visit us online at:
https://secure26.prohosting.com/a0018922/merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=CA&Affiliate=Bridget
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THIS WEEK'S RIDDLE:
To start off, the answer to our last craniun-cracker:
You use it between your head and your toes, the more it works the thinner it grows.
Q What is it?
Patience?
Towel
Facecloth?
Body Lotion?
Clothing?
What a creative group we are! We received several answers that technically are correct, but as Bill Smith from North Carolina put it so well, what is the one, true, and acceptable answer?
A. A bar of soap! Well done to all who made such a grand effort and hats off to Margaret who was first in.
And now for this week's palindromic puzzler which was sent in by Helen and Hartson. Thank you!
A word or name that is spelled backwards the same as it is forwards is a linguistic curiosity call a "palindrome." Words such as BIB, SEES, and MADAM are examples of ordinary palindromes. Many everyday words happen to be palindromes. Listed below are the definitions of 10 such words, with the numbers of letters in each palindrome shown in brackets after the definition. How many of these commonplace palindromes do you recognize?
from their definitions?
A) a notable achievement (4)
B) not sloping (5)
C) more blood-colored (6)
D) 12 hours after midnight (4)
E) males and females (5)
F) one who resuscitates another (7)
G) narratives of heroic deeds (5)
H) pertaining to public affairs (5)
I) made wet with dew (5)
J) a mechanical part that causes rotation (7)
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Please help us to keep this newsletter free - visit our good friends, LollySmith:
Explore what we have on offer, including our great selection of authentic Irish whistles from the leading makers like Fádóg, Clare, Walton, guinness & Clarke. One of the oldest musical instruments in Ireland. the Irish whistle is affordable, easy to learn and can be used to play music your entire family will enjoy - from haunting airs to lively reels. Come take a look - browse to your heart's content, and remember, when you buy from Lollysmith, you'll always enjoy great prices, quick shipping, and friendly, personalized service.
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?lollysmith+wSpfhS+index.html
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THE WEEK THAT WAS
1. Article: The Weavers of Donegal
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/Tweed.html
2. Article: Artisans of Ireland - Maureen McKervey
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACraft/MMcKervey.html
3. Article: An Advent Memory
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Advent.html
4. The Irish Kitchen - Preparing the Puddings
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aXmasPud.html
5. Article: Irish Greeting Cards for a Worthy Cause
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasCards.html
6. Basic Irish - The Big Dinner
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/1Home.html
7. Kids' Ireland - How The Causeway Came to Be
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/1Home.html
8. On-going - Circle of Prayer: Our first Novena in this cycle began on November 14 and ends on November 22. The 2nd Novena begins next Tuesday. Please join us in prayer or meditation on behalf of Margaret M who is in the hospital, Mollie's son Casey, Mary from NY, Michael Davitt in Houston, Hartson & Helen, Aideen, Graine, Barbara G's mom who just had a stroke, Cheryl, little Sebastian, ,Matt Maupin who has been held hpostage in Iraq going on 8 months, the sons of personal friends Paul and Ashley, who are serving in Iraq, and all military personnel stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all over the world.
9. On-going - November Trivia Contest. Tim'es starting to run out and you can't win itm if you're not in it. All entries must be in by midnight, November 30, whatever time zone you're in.
THE WEEK THAT WILL BE - GOD WILLING:
What's cooking this coming week isn't a whole lot of new stuff on the website. We'll be busy with getting ready for a house full of people on Thanksgiving; but we'll begin recycling some of our seasonal content which many of you may not have read yet. In the meantime, we'll post a new blessing on Sunday and a new quote on Wednesday. As always we'll update the news daily - please click:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/01News/Home.html
And we keep a week's worth of history here:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/02Hist/aNovember3.html
So there's the long and the short of it except for the "essential" goings-on in our crazy calendar - many of em' frivolous, but some serious. This feature will return soon. Celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event between now and then? We hope it's a joyous occasion for you and your loved ones! Can't wait to find out what wild and wacky holidays are on tap for the rest of November? Check out:
http://www.butlerwebs.com/holidays/november.htm
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/november.htm
http://www.party411.com/holidays-funky11.html
http://www.holidays.net/dailys.htm
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Help us keep this newsletter free by visiting our good friends at The Irish Lottery. Did you know that 34 Millionaires were created by the Irish lottery in 2003? You could be next! One of the most trusted lotteries in the world, drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday. Best of all, you don't have to live in Ireland to play, winnings are tax-free and checks are mailed within 48 hours. Do you have the luck of the Irish? Play the Irish lottery and find out! You can't win it if you're not in it. Please click here for full details:
http://www.irishlotto.net
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Lá Altaithe shona daoibh! which means ---- Happy Thanksgiving to you all - and here's a very special greeting card in honour of the occasion:
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=BK12110493
Until next time, may God send you and yours a cornucopia of blessings, may He keep you from all harm, and as they say in Ireland, mind yourself.
Slan agus beannacht!
Bridget & Russ
Get down on your knees and thank God you're still on your feet
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Are you a loyal reader of our newsletter? Your voluntary donation will help us keep sending it around the world each week. Please give whatever you can to Russ and Bridget, 5670 Meryton Place, Cincinnati, OH, 45224. Donations can also be made via PayPal at
http://www.paypal.com
Our email address there is bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
FREE shamrock seeds for any donation over $25! Many thanks in advance for your kindness.
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Events & Classifieds
To avoid duplication, we list only those events not already mentioned in the Irish Heritage Newsletter - if you'd like to subscribe, just send a note to George at Steeler059@aol.com
And, if you're in Ireland, or lucky enough to be visiting, you can see what's on offer here:
http://www.irishtravelideas.com/Calender2004.asp
Hollywood, Florida - Saturday, December 11
The Irish-American Caeli Club presents its annual Christmas Caeli
For full details, visit us online @
http://www.irishamericanceiliclub.com
Hollywood, Florida - January 15
The Irish-American Club presents a New Year's Celebration:
For full details, visit us online @
http://www.irishamericanceiliclub.com
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING!
We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the special was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99. "Sounds good," my wife said. "But I don't want the eggs." "Then I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because you're ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her.
"You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" my wife asked incredulously. "I'll take the special."
"How do you want your eggs?" "Raw and in the shell," my wife replied. She took the two eggs home. 