(AH vlee-ihn fwee WAH-shuh Heev)

 

This is how you would say Happy New Year to more than one person and with nearly 5000 loyal readers  on our list, it’s supposedly the proper way  to say it. If you were saying it to one person, it would be  "Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duit 

(AH-vlee ihn fwee WAH-shuh wich).

 

Not being native Irish speakers, we’re always a wee bit uncertain when it comes to sharing phrases,  so please let us know if we need to make any corrections -  go raibh maith agat!

 

Onwards...  

A few New Year’s Links for your enjoyment:

 

We have this on a CD called Celtic Christmas by Toot Sweet; while we prefer that particular arrangement, we couln’t find it on line - so, next best thing is this version by  Paul Hyde, Tom Cochrane and Murray McLaughlan which is quite good.  It’s the lyrics that are important . Hope you enjoy them as much as we do:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWRFY71jnWI

 

What do people do? Find out here:

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/ireland/new-year-eve

 

Spectacular illumination on the facade of Trinity College from last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwoDfkF7AVg

 

Sung by Anne Malone from In The Spirit of Peace: An Irish Holiday Celebration, it’s a very pleasant rendition which includes the words to all the verses  so you can sing along. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDmRwVaOfZQ

 

This video is from Hogmanay in Edinburgh, 2008. Made us wish we could have been there! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMk-j0vkmGo

 

Looks like just as much fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijy6KC_VVJ4

 

And last, but defiinitely not least - the first cut from our favourite Christmas CD “The Bells of Dublin” which begins with the bells Christ Church chiming before it eases into a festive Christmas tune.  

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NntWFDQxoY4

 

We’ll take our leave with this traditional but somewhat somber Irish toast; given yet another tough year many of us have been through, it seems appropriate:

 

 

Until next time,  may the Good Shepherd of us all enfold you and yours safe  in the mantle of His love...

 

and, as they say in Ireland, mind yourself.

 

Slan agus beannacht,

 

Bridget & Russ