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Greetings & Blessings to all
Welcome to our June newsletter.
As I said last month I’m working on my garden. So far, so good, my Roses have come up and bloomed beautifully and my Hostas have really done well, they are huge. I guess it’s because I’ve had so much rain. Whatever the reason, they look really good. I hope everyone of you have the same good luck. My web site visits are still low (compared to the usual months). I realized that a lot of you who have kids in the house may not get much time on you own computers and that cuts into my visits. That’s all right with me; I think the kids could use the time to learn something (I hope so, anyway). This is a sad day for me. It’s Bridget’s birthday (flag day) she would have been 73. I’m throwing a birthday party for her on the 15thbecause it’s Saturday.
Anyway, onwards.
Again my thanks for the contributions. Please keep them coming. I would like appropriate news or other links more than anything.
We’re all in this together let’s make it as good as we can. Stay with me everybody.
Enough of the blather...
Is this your first edition? Many thanks for joining us and if you like our musings and meanderings please feel free to share them with your family and friends. And do encourage them to sign up. The more of us, the merrier! And for all of our readers, we hope this issue finds you in good health, good spirits and good company.
On with the update...
IN THIS ISSUE:
The Weather
Up to the minute forecasts provided by Ireland's official source for all weather-related news. Please click Met Eireann.
http://www.met.ie/forecasts/
Basic Irish
Links
Quips, Quotes, Proverbs & Toasts
A Bit of the Wit
Joke of The Month
Did You Know
The week That Is
Leave 'em Laughing
Last Words
Basic Irish
Word: Father
Irish: Athair
Pronunciation: ah-hirr
Phrase: Father-in-law
Irish: Athair céile
Pronunciation: ah-hirr kay-leh
Word: (to) Graduate
Irish: Céim a bhaint amach
Pronunciation: kaym ah wahnch ahm-akh
*Dad’s should get attention too
LINKS
1. Summer weather: Cold, rainy spell shows no signs of ending
Ireland was basking in a six week-long heatwave this time last year. Now the country is wallowing in a cold, rainy spell that shows no signs of abating.
Temperatures along the east coast on Wednesday are expected to reach highs of just 11 degrees (about 52ƒ) as grey skies remain the norm across the country.
Unfortunately, there is no end in sight to the unsettled weather, says Met Éireann forecaster Liz Walsh.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/summer-weather-cold-rainy-spell-shows-no-signs-of-ending-1.3923100
I have the same and I’m in the Ohio river valley — Russ
2. Galway city’s old Aran ferry service to be restored
After a lengthy absence, ferries from Galway City to the Aran Islands will make their return to Galway Docks – with the announcement that Island Ferries will begin operating the service from next year.
https://connachttribune.ie/galway-citys-old-aran-ferry-service-to-be-restored-100/
I wish I’d waited on my trip now —Russ
3.Kylemore embraces new technology to tell history of its glorious past
A new €3 million multimedia visitor centre at Kylemore Abbey is expected to lure more tourists out of season to Connemara and encourage them to prolong their stay in this part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Already half a million sightseers cross the bridge to take in the view of the stunning lakeside castle with nearly three quarters of them doing so during a three-month period in the summer, explained executive director of the Kylemore Abbey Trust, Conor Coyne. An average of 300,000 pay to visit the building and the Victorian gardens.
https://connachttribune.ie/kylemore-embraces-new-technology-to-tell-history-of-its-glorious-past-156/
I thought Kylemore was worth the visit without this—Russ
4. ARRANMORE, the idyllic island 5km off the coast of Co. Donegal is looking for new residents to boost its population.
Its population has dropped to just 469 people and the island has recently written open letters to the people of the United States and Australia, urging them to relocate there.
They’re being offered the chance to swap the hustle and bustle of big cities for the calm and beauty of Arranmore.
https://www.irishpost.com/news/irish-island-arranmore-looking-new-residents-united-states-167991
Doesn’t sound so bad—Russ
5.One of Ireland’s oldest phone boxes set to be reinstalled in Dublin
The 1920s telephone box was originally on Parkgate Street, near the Seán Houston Bridge, but was moved to Dawson Street, on the city’s southside in the 1990s. When the Luas cross city plans got under way, the kiosk was placed in storage.
At a council meeting last month, councillor Ciarán Cuffe, now a Green Party MEP, asked for the kiosk to be reinstated on Parkgate Street.
Mr Cuffe said moving the phone box to the southside had been part of a pattern of relocating attractive items of street furniture from poorer parts of the city to more affluent areas.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/one-of-ireland-s-oldest-phone-boxes-set-to-be-reinstalled-in-dublin-1.3921072
Maybe, if they put such in poorer parts they wouldn’t be poorer parts for long—Russ
6. Here's to bandit country: the Irish border, writing's new frontier
Ask anyone where they think about when they think about Irish writing and they’ll probably say Dublin or Belfast. When it comes to writers from the border regions, they may mention Brian Frielor Seamus Heaney, but for most people, the border between the republic and Northern Ireland is usually regarded as an area whose existence is contentious, where terms are unfavourable and the writing is characteristically unfeminine. It is an area that Labour’s former secretary of state for Northern Ireland Merlyn Rees referred to as “bandit country” in 1974, and perceptions have been slow to shift.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/11/writing-the-irish-border-ireland-northern-ireland-brexit
This is good news—Russ
7. Ireland Road Bowlers celebrate team win in Germany
The Ireland road bowls team met teams from Germany and Holland for the mini internationals last weekend and the representation from Armagh included eight-time Senior All-Ireland champion Kelly Mallon, Thomas Mackle, multiple King of the road Champion and former All-Ireland senior champion as well as Shannon McGuire and Eugene McVeigh. From Cork there were Martin Coppinger, Aidan Murphy Hannah Sexton and Wayne Parks.
https://www.irishnews.com/sport/othersports/2019/06/11/news/ireland-road-bowlers-celebrate-team-win-in-germany-1639328/
I didn’t know they still had road bowling – I always wanted to try it—Russ
QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS
I've put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that's the only way of insuring one's immortality.
James Joyce on Ulysses
A BIT OF THE WIT
People with a culture of poverty suffer much less from repression than we of the middle class suffer and indeed, if I may make the suggestion with due qualification, they often have a hell of a lot more fun than we have.
Brien Friel.
JOKE OF THE MONTH
When my wife's sister, Patty, was very young, she was allowed to have her best friend, a boy named Rory, over to spend the night. As the children grew toward adolescence, their parents knew that someday the sleepovers would have to end. One night, when Rory and his family were visiting, everyone gathered around the television to watch the Rose of Tralee pageant. When Patty asked if Rory could stay over, the parents hesitated, wondering if the time had finally come to discontinue the tradition. At that moment, the pageant host announced a contestant's measurements: 36-22-36. "Rory," his mother asked, "what are those numbers?" The boy thought for only a moment before responding, "Ninety-four?"
Rory was allowed to stay.
DID YOU KNOW
- In Sligo, you still officially need a licence to buy molasses? It's a legal hangover from the days when the county was the poitin capital of Ireland.
- In 1986, a 900 year old cheese was found perfectly preserved, in a Tipperary bog?
I like sharp cheese, this must have been exceptional—Russ
3. Most likely, the oldest pub in the world is in Ireland? The Guinness Book of Records confirms that Sean's Bar in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, built in the year 900, is the oldest pub in Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales, and is probably the oldest pub in the world. Sean's Bar was built 300 years before Athlone Castle across the street and the building still contains a section of the "Clay & Wattle" wall with which it was originally built. The Brazen Head in Dublin has long claimed to be Ireland's oldest pub, but it is in fact 700 years junior to its Athlone counterpart.
Sponsor
I’m my own Sponsor again this month.
Announcing the Irish Culture and Customs Book of Jokes
This is the collection of our Jokes. It was built up over many years and, now, is gathered here for your enjoyment. With this in your hand, whenever the day is dull or dreary you can open it up and have a good laugh, you'll feel better.
Available on Amazon. Use this Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Irish-Culture-Customs-Book-Jokes/dp/1986506800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524578623&sr=8-1&keywords=irish+culture+and+customs+book+of+jokes&dpID=31oLHT0zknL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
THE WEEK THAT IS
1.Article:The Bloomsday Festival in Dublin
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Bloomsday.html
2.Article: Gregory Peck's Irish Connections
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMisc/GregoryPeck.html
3. Article: Joyce's Dublin
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWriters/JoyceDublin.html
4. Article: How to Savor Ulysses this Summer
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWriters/Ulysses.html
5. Article: John McCormack - An Irish legend, then and now
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/JMcCormack.html
6. The Irish Kitchen: Summery Flummery
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/rDessert3.html
7. Basic Irish: Father's Day and Graduation
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Fathersday.html
8. Kids’ Ireland: A Visit With Nessie
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/Nessie.html
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in July.
If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of June, here is your special verse:
Marry when June roses blow,
Over land and sea you’ll go.
And, if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event between now and our next edition, we hope it's an occasion filled with joy and happiness.
We’ll take our leave with this blessing:
May God bless all the dads
on this their special day.
Keep them safe, keep them whole,
and keep them from harm’s way.
The Lord delights in the way of the man
whose steps He has made firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with His hand
Psalm 37:23,24
All the best & God Bless,
Bridget & Russ
Get down on your knees and thank God you’re still on your feet.
Téigh ar do ghlúine is bí buíoch le Dia go bhfuil tú fós ar do chosa.
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The Book
Potion, pope and perfidy
The second and final version is complete and available on Amazon.
Don’t order through ‘Marketplace’ or you’ll get the first version which is incomplete. Use this link: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Potion-Pope-Perfidy-ebook/dp/B07BBVST69/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1531576170&sr=1-2&keywords=russell+haggerty&dpID=61BzUIHyd2L&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
If any of you bought and read the first version, I don’t want you to pay the higher price for the second. So, send me an E-Mail at the address below and I’ll buy one for you at my author’s price and mail it to you (and, yes, I’ll sign it). Even with the postage it will save you a bit of money.
Bless you all,
Russ Haggerty
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING
A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud pounding on the door. The man gets up and goes to the door; when he opens it, an obviously inebriated stranger is standing there in the pouring rain. The stranger asks for a push."Jam on your egg," says the husband, "it's three o'clock in the morning!" He slams the door and goes back to bed. "Who was that?" asked his wife."Just some fluthered eejit asking for a push," he answers. "Did you help him?" she asks. "No, I did not, it's three in the morning and it's lashing out there. "Well, you have a short memory," says his wife. "Remember about three months ago when we broke down and that nice couple helped us out? I think you should help him; you should be ashamed of yourself!" The man sighs, does as he is told, gets dressed, and goes out into the pouring rain. He calls out into the dark, "Hello, are you still there?"
"Yes," comes back the answer. "Do you still need a push?" calls out the husband.
"Yes, please!" comes the reply from the dark."Where are you?" asks the husband.
"Over here, on the swing!"
*Irish slang: Jam on your egg - wishful thinking; will never happen
Last Words
If you or anyone you know can benefit from advertising in my newsletter or the Irish Culture and Customs web site please contact me. My E-Mail address is: rhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
Thank you in advance
For all of you who have supported Irish Culture and Customs all these years – thank you.
When you start to buy anything on the internet don’t forget to go through the web Site. If you use Amazon, click on ‘Shopping’ at the top of the Irish Culture and Customs Homepage and the next page you see will have Amazon at the top. Anything you buy from Amazon through our site pays a (very small) commission. It beats a blank and it doesn’t effect your price. Thank you again.
—Russ