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Greetings & Blessings to all

Welcome to our June newsletter.

As I write this I’m recovering from staying up too late and drinking too much.

Yesterday was sweet Bridget’s birthday. My two sons Scott and Ben came over with many friends and we talked about Bridget and drank a lot. It was as pleasant an afternoon as I could expect, considering the occasion. In some nod towards the covid-19 it was held out on my back patio. Of course, we had good weather. Bridget would have never worried about it. I remember she always used to say, ‘it never rains on me’. I think it did but she never noticed. She would have been 74 years old. I know, had she been here, there would have been even more hilarity and bad jokes.

Enough of my nattering.

Again my thanks for the contributions. Please keep them coming. I would like appropriate jokes 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 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: Summertime
Irish: ráithe an tSamhraidh
Pronunciation: raw-hyeh on thow-ree

Word: Summer
Irish: samhradh
Pronunciation: sow (as in cow)-rah

Word: Holidays/Vacation
Irish: saoire
Pronunciation: see-reh

Links

1.Rats big enough for ‘saddles’ infest Dublin

A “large increase” in rats leaving the sewers and infesting city streets and suburbs has emerged during the coronavirus pandemic as pest control teams have been curtailed, Dublin City Council has said.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/rats-big-enough-for-saddles-infest-dublin-1.4278863?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=New+Government+document+sees+changes+in+environmental%2C+transport+policies&utm_campaign=morning_briefing_digest

Here’s a good theme for a horror movie—Russ

2.Met Éireann issue potato blight warning for Ireland

Having endured tropical storms, coronavirus, and lockdowns already this year, Ireland must now brace itself for the threat of potato blight, the fungus which caused the Irish Famine in the 19th century.

Met Éireann said on Wednesday that "conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will occur this weekend."

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/met-eireann-issue-potato-blight-warning-for-ireland

The more things change…—Russ

3.Coronavirus in Ireland: One more person dies and eight new cases reported

On Saturday Nphet reported a further 5 people had died in the Republic from coronavirus and 46 new cases.

However, it said 22 of the 46 samples were taken on Monday and Tuesday and would normally have been reported on Thursday and Friday but, for technical reasons as part of normal laboratory practice at the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), are being reported on Saturday.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/coronavirus-in-ireland-one-more-person-dies-and-eight-new-cases-reported-1.4278725

mmmm—suspicions confirmed—Russ

4. Queuing for sport - Decathlon opens first outlet in Republic with boundless enthusiasm

The spectacle of Irish people patiently and, of course, socially distancing in queues has become commonplace in recent days. We could enter a team in the Olympic games and stand a chance of winning a gold medal.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/queuing-for-sport-decathlon-opens-first-outlet-in-republic-with-boundless-enthusiasm-1.4278730

Sure, silver lining department—Russ

5. Ireland's first case of Zika virus confirmed in baby girl born in Dublin

The Zika virus is a congenital infection which can cause a myriad of severe health problems for developing babies in the womb, including microcephaly, and was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation in 2016.

https://www.irishpost.com/news/irelands-first-case-of-zika-virus-confirmed-in-baby-girl-born-in-dublin-186735

If it’s not one thing—it’s another—Russ

6. Links to slave trade evident across Ireland

The entrance to Trinity College Dublin through the College Green front gate is one of Dublin’s best-known images. Few know it was built with money in the early 17th century from tobacco duty, a slave crop.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/links-to-slave-trade-evident-across-ireland-1.4276650

This seems like very old news—Russ

7. Free online Irish language classes a huge success!

With funding from the Irish Government’s Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, ICUF has been supporting the development of the Irish language in Canada for over a decade. This has been done through the work of our Teagscóirí Gaeilge, our Irish Language Scholars who are awarded each year to teach Irish in our eight partner universities across Canada.

http://www.icuf.ie/free-online-irish-language-classes-a-huge-success/

I wish they’d promote in the U.S.—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

You know it's summer in Ireland when the rain gets warmer.
Hal Roach

Same here—Russ

JOKE OF THE MONTH

After just a few years of marriage filled with constant bickering, the Kerry couple decided the only way to save their marriage was to try counseling. When they arrived at the counselor's office, the counselor jumped right in and opened the floor for discussion. "What seems to be the problem?" Immediately, the husband held his long face down without anything to say. In contrast, the wife began talking 90 miles an hour, describing all the wrongs within their marriage. After 15 minutes of listening to the wife, the counselor went over to her, picked her up by her shoulders, kissed her passionately and sat her back down. Afterwards, the wife sat speechless. The marriage counselor looked over at the husband, who stared in disbelief. The counselor said to the husband,"Your wife NEEDS that at least twice a week!" The husband scratched his head and replied, "I can have her here on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

DID YOU KNOW

1. Leinster House in Dublin was originally built as a private home for the Duke of Leinster? At that time, the most fashionable part of Dublin was the North Side and he was asked why he was building on the South Side. He said "Where I go, fashion follows me" To this day the most fashionable part of Dublin is the South Side.

2. St. Patrick was the first person in history to speak out against slavery and he is the Patron Saint of the Excluded? By the time of his death, or shortly thereafter, the Irish stopped slave trading and they never took it up again.

3. Until the 1920s, on St. Brigid's Day (February 1st) at Teltown, Co.Meath, couples could legally marry by simply walking toward each other? If the union didn't work out, they could 'divorce' by walking away from each other at the same place exactly a year and a day later.

As recently as 1920’s? hmmm—Russ

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. Text Box:

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: Joyce's Dublin

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWriters/JoyceDublin.html

3. Article: How to Savor Ulysses this Summer

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWriters/Ulysses.html

4. Article: St. John's Eve in old Ireland

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/StJohnsEve.html

5. Article: St. John's Eve in old Ireland, Part 2

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/StJohnsEve2.html

6. The Irish Kitchen: The Gentleman Who Pays the Rent...

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aGentWhoPays.html

8. Basic Irish: Summertime

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Summertime.html

9. Kids’ Ireland: The Piper's Tale

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/Pipers_Tale.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:
Bless us oh Lord, You who are
the peace of all things calm
the place to hide from harm
the light that shines in dark
the heart's eternal spark
the door that's open wide
welcoming all to come inside.
We ask this blessing
God be willing.
Adapted from the Celtic oral tradition - 1st millennium

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. Text Box:

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

Sean and his wife, Aoife, had been debating buying a vehicle for weeks. He wanted a truck. She wanted a fast little sports-like car so she could zip through traffic around town. He would probably have settled on any beat up old truck, but everything she seemed to like was way out of their price range. "Look!" she said. "I want something that goes from 0 to 200 in just a few seconds. Nothing else will do. My birthday is coming up so surprise me!" Sean did just that. For her birthday, he bought her a brand new bathroom scale. Nobody has seen or heard from him since.

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