Welcome to the Irish Culture & Customs newsletter which is published every fortnight or so and sent out to nearly 4600 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:
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Greetings and Blessings to all,
Pinch punch, first day of the month, white rabbit! It doesn't seem possible that here it is October already. But right on cue, Mother Nature has delivered a distinctive chill in the air to our Ohio Valley, fallen leaves are crunching underfoot during our daily walk and signs for Pumpkin festivals, Haunted Houses and other seasonal events are going up everywhere. Definitely the season of mellow fruitfulness is upon us. Time for picking apples , baking pies and decorating for All Hallow's Eve.
But first things first. We hope this edition finds you fit as a fiddle and on the pig's back - and if this is your first issue, fingers crossed you enjoy our musings and meanderings. If so, please feel free to pass them along to your family and friends.
It's been a somewhat tumultuous time since last we wrote - and we don't mean for us personally. All of us live in what has become a very uncertain world. It may seem a bit naive to encourage you to keep the faith and keep going. That said, Bridget's Dublin mother always worried herself ill over everything -and proceeded to justify it by saying that whenever she did, nothing terrible happened. So, might we suggest that you pour yourself a nice cup of tea - or something a little stronger - take five minutes out to fret about the financial chaos - then put it all away long enough to read the newsletter. Fingers crossed, we'll provide a few laughs, or at least a smile.
Onwards.
Here we are saying we want to generate grins and yet at the same time the news of Paul Newman's passing probably made many of you as teary-eyed as we were. How can we put a positive spin on that? Very easily. His legacy of philanthropy will go on. For not only was he a Hollywood legend - he was also an incredibly generous humanitarian and a hero to hundreds of Irish children. Following on the success of his Hole in the Wall camps in the US, he had been looking at places in English-speaking countries to set up a European camp, so the transfer of his concept would be easier. He decided to set up the camp at Barretstown Castle in the Wicklow Mountains and started the charity with $2 million of his own money. To date, the camp has served more than 12,000 children and their families from 23 European countries. If you'd like to learn more, please click
http://www.barretstown.org/content.asp?ContentId=877
Asked why the interest in this very special group, he said: "I had such a string of good fortune in my life, but these kids have been brutalized by luck and most won't get the chance to turn it around. Those who are most lucky should hold their hands out to those who aren't. "
We'll miss him very much but we have his wonderful movies to watch over and over again - and then there's that extraordinary salad dressing which has become a fixture on our table. And true to his huge humanitarian heart, all the proceeds go to charity. That said, he never took himself seriously:
"The embarrassing thing is that the salad dressing is outgrossing my films."
Enough of the blather...on with the update:
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IN THIS ISSUE:
News
From the mailbag
Links
Quips, Quotes, Proverbs & Toasts
A Bit of the Wit
Joke of The Week
Did You Know
Know Your Writers
Riddle
The week That Is
Events
Leave 'em Laughing
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NEWS
What follows are news clips from around the counties and elsewhere. Links for more news stories can be found on our web site where we post the latest headlines from Ireland every morning and we keep two week's of previous news: http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/01News/Home.html
And more county news can be found here:
http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=17
FROM AROUND THE COUNTIES
Antrim: Only one Rankin restaurant to remain
Celebrity chef Paul Rankin is in the process of selling off a number of his food outlets in Belfast, leaving just Cayenne on Great Victoria Street. According to Paul, his company went ahead with expansion a little too quickly and it became impossible to juggle managing the food outlets with his television appearances.
Carlow: Bagenalstown estate celebrates 75 years
The residents of St Brigid's Crescent in Bagenalstown are preparing for a day of celebration on October 26th to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the estate of ninety houses. When it was built in 1933 it was in the countryside but the town has gradually encroached on the area in the intervening years. Among the older residents are Jim Dillon, aged ninety-five, originally from Kilcarrack Street, and Margaret Hickey, widow of the independent councillor Thomas Hickey.
Clare: Second Burren dig proves fruitful
The second archaeological excavation to be carried out at Caherconnell Cashel in the Burren has revealed the partial remains of a young female which possibly date back to between two thousand and two and a half thousand years. Dating the remains was made possible by the accompanying artefacts including part of a stone axe and flints. According to Graham Hull, who is working with Dr Michelle Comber from NUI Galway, the bones will now be carbon-dated and if they prove to be as old as expected, then it will be a unique find for the region.
Cork: North Mon to become culture centre
The North Monastery School on the north side of Cork city, commonly known as the North Mon and the alma mater of hurler and Taoiseach Jack Lynch, is to become a cultural centre. The building, dating from the early nineteenth century, has been purchased by the City Council from the Christian Brothers for 1.25m and one of the projects under consideration is a photographic museum. The refurbishment work is expected to be completed in time for the school's bicentenary celebrations in 2011, and the green area in front of the building is to be retained as a public park.
Derry: Improved status for Prehen House
Prehen House, whose main claim to fame is its association with John "Half-Hanged" MacNaughten, has had its grade as a listed building raised to grade A. Included in the listing are a number of outhouses including a stables that is believed to predate the early Georgian house. John MacNaughten married Mary Ann Knox, daughter of Andrew Knox who owned the house. Found guilty of her murder, he survived three attempts to hang him but refused to escape execution, as was his entitlement, not wishing to be known as "Half-Hanged" MacNaughten. On the fourth attempt the hangman was successful, but it didn't prevent John MacNaughten from earning the title anyway.
Donegal: Health and Safety hits church tradition
The tradition of mourners following the hearse from Burt chapel to the parish cemetery a half mile away appears to be in jeopardy following a ban imposed on the practice for health and safety reasons. St Aengus' church, based on Grianan on Aileach fort, lies on the main Derry to Letterkenny road and the county traffic corps has described the practice of following the hearse as being both unsafe and a cause of delay to traffic. The ban has caused anger in the parish, being seen as disrespectful to those being mourned, but head of the traffic corps Inspector Pat O'Donnell hopes to see a resolution to the problem soon.
Down: Mullaghbawn man to sing in Mayo pub
John Norton from Mullaghbawn is a lifelong fan of the 1950s' film "The Quiet Man" and now he is to fulfill a long-held ambition by singing in the newly refurbished Quiet Man pub in Cong, Co. Mayo. The eighty-year-old is to sing at the official opening of the new bar and according to his daughter Evelyn Campbell it is just what he needs, since he has been seriously ill on two occasions in the past year. John is hoping to meet up with his sister, who lives not far from Cong, and when it's time for him to sing there's only one song he could possibly choose - "The Isle of Inishfree".
ED. NOTE: In our humble opinion, we think the song should be "The Wild Colonial Boy" which is what they sang at Cohan's in the movie.
Dublin: Vintage bus run to mark railway milestone
Fifty years ago CIE took over an independent transport company which at the time was providing all bus and rail services in an area covering North Dublin, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan and parts of the North. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the closure of the Great Northern Railway company, a vintage bus run was recently organised from Lissenhall in Swords to Skerries, where a talk on the history of the company was given by Skerries Historical Society. The vintage bus was an ex-GNR double decker, 438, which once ran on the Skerries route. It was the first outing in fourteen years for the bus which, after restoration, was put on public display at the National Transport Museuem.
Dublin: Renovations to be carried out at Glasnevin
Among renovations to be carried out at Glasnevin Cemetery is the restoration of the O'Connell Tower at the entrance. The tower contains the grave of Daniel O'Connell and once had a staircase running to the top, but it was destroyed during a bomb attack in the 1970s; this will now be replaced. The work on the cemetery is being carried out for completion in time for the centenary celebrations of the 1916 Easter Rising. While funding has been allocated under the National Development Plan, local historian Shane MacThomais also conducts walking tours, the proceeds from which go straight into the restoration fund.
Galway: Further development for 'parish church'
The old pro-cathedral on Abbeygate Street in Galway, popularly known as the parish church, is to undergo further development, following the granting of planning permission to O'Connor Properties to erect a new staircase and partitions in the building. Built almost two hundred years ago, the church became a pro-cathedral when Galway became a diocese in 1831. When the new cathedral was opened in 1965 the parish church was deconsecrated and alterations were carried out on the interior, which has been used since then as a commercial premises.
Kerry: Blue whales spotted off Blaskets
For the first time a sighting of blue whales in Irish waters has been validated, after two were spotted by Ivan O'Kelly aboard a Kerry Marine Tours boat. The boat had been tracking fin whales and saw the two larger creatures among a pod of fin whales. With a top weight of almost two hundred tons and a length of more than one hundred feet, the whales are an impressive sight and, according to Mr O'Kelly, one surfaced very close to the boat. A member of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, he now hopes that there will be an increasing number of blue whales in Irish off-shore waters in the future.
Kildare: Newbridge woman launches Asgard campaign
Almha Lonergan, who was a crew member on board the Asgard II on a number of occasions, has launched a campaign which, she hopes, will keep the vessel in people's memories. The tall ship, which sank off the French coast a number of weeks ago, will be the focus of a "memories book" containing photographs and recollections from all those who underwent training on the vessel over the years. From Moorefield Park in Newbridge, Almha had been part of seven voyages on the sail-training vessel and she is hoping that her memories book might also help in finding a replacement for the Asgard II.
Kilkenny: TV documentary-makers visit Kells
A documentary to be shown on RTE this autumn necessitated a visit by a television crew to the village of Kells, one-time home to Wesley Burrows who wrote "The Riordans". The series ran for fourteen years on television and many of the characters were based on people that the author met in Shirley's pub. One of those who remembers the series well is Jim O'Grady from Stoneyford. On occasion filming would take place in Kells and Jim walked into the pub one day while a scene was being shot. Undeterred he shook hands with one of the characters, Tom Riordan, and the clip was retained and Jim found himself featuring in the popular farming soap.
Kilkenny: Graigenamanagh loses two stores
Recently, two stores, one more than thirty years old and the other a part of the town for more than one hundred years have closed their doors in Graigenamanagh. While the Duiske Glass shop on High Street is to remain open, the factory is due to close very soon; it was opened thirty-four years ago by Harry and Maureen O'Shea. The second premises due to close is Joyce's Hardware, run by Arthur and Ian Joyce, which has been a feature of Graignamanagh for more than one hundred years. The first shop was in the building now occupied by Doran's SuperValu and it moved in the early 1970s to its present site, formerly both a dance hall and a cinema.
Laois: Emo philanthropist is honoured at memorial service
The Church of St John the Evangelist was full recently for a memorial service for Cholmeley Dering Colmeley Harrison, late of Emo Court. Mr Cholmeley Harrison first saw the neo-classical Emo Court in the late 1960s and, after purchasing it from the Jesuit order, set about restoring it. In 1994 he formally presented the James Gandon house to President Mary Robinson, for the people of Ireland. Attending the memorial service, which took place on what would have been Mr Cholmeley Harrison's one hundredth birthday, were his two daughters, Charlotte and Caroline, who had travelled from England for the service.
Leitrim: US visitors commend Carrigallen memorial
A group of visitors from New Orleans were in Carrigallen recently to see the work being carried out on a memorial to Margaret Gaffney, born in the townland of Tully at the beginning of the nineteenth century, who became a noted philanthropist in the US city. The group was led by Irish American musician Danny O'Flaherty, who has been involved with the story of the Carrigallen woman for more than twenty years and who described her as "the Mother Theresa of the Delta region". Member of the local organising committee Bernie O'Rourke is hoping that a Margaret of New Orleans weekend could be held in future, which would help to increase tourism in the region.
Offaly: Statue to mark Birr's place in hurling history
A statue of a hurler is to be erected on the site in Birr of the first ever All-Ireland Hurling Final played between Sarsfield's of Thurles and the Galway-based Meelick club. The match took place in April 1888, with the Tipperary side winning, and Mayo sculptor Mick Roche is creating a sixteen-foot bronze statue which will sit on a sandstone plinth, with an explanatory plaque. The statue will replicate the clothing and type of hurley used at the end of the nineteenth century. The original field at Railway Road in the town is soon to be the site of a new Tesco store
Sligo: Oyster Island to be repopulated
Oyster Island, just six hundred feet off Rosses Point, might in the future have permanent residents once again if a development company receives the planning permission it is seeking. Smeralda Coast Holdings hopes to built eight semi-detached houses on the thirty-acre island, as well as a three-megawatt wind turbine to generate electricity for the residents. The island, which includes a lighthouse, had a population of twenty-eight just before the Famine, but at present has just one habitable house, which is only used for short periods by the owner.
Sligo: Geevagh remembers eviction protesters
A plaque has been unveiled opposite the church in Geevagh, and close to the gates of the former Keogh estate, to mark the centenary of the Geevagh Prisoners, who were jailed in January 1908. Patrick McLoughlin and his sister Mae, the daughters of James McLoughlin, were among those attending, as were their cousins Henry and Mary McLoughlin whose father Edward was one of the ten. The men had acted against evictions from the land and while they were in Sligo jail some five hundred men from the surrounding parishes organised a meitheal to prepare the prisoners' land for potato planting.
Tyrone: From workhouse to townhouses in Clogher
Plans have been proposed to convert the old workhouse in Clogher into a row of eight townhouses, at the same time rebuilding it so that it looks just as it did when designed by George Wilkinson of the Poor Law Commission. The workhouse opened in 1844 and the potential developer undertook research in libraries and among old photos to ascertain exactly how the building should look, though only a section of it will be restored. This includes what was known as the "idiots' wards", a bake house and wash house, an infirmary, dining hall and chapel.
Wexford: Second memorial for Ballindaggin man
A statue of Commandant Seamus Rafter, a major figure in the War of Independence, already stands in Abbey Square in Enniscorthy, but now a second one has been erected in his home place of Ballindaggin. The memorial was recently unveiled in Ballindaggin cemetery where wreathes were laid by relatives of Comdt Rafter. The gathering had marched from the local community centre, led by a colour party from Wexford, with St Colman's pipe band, the 1916-1922 re-enactment group, the National Pike Association, the National Graves Association, pikemen groups and schoolchildren also involved. The oration was given by local historian Nicky Furlong.
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Boston Mass: Boston Mayo Association centenary celebrations
This year the Mayo Association in Boston celebrate their centenary On the weekend of October 17, 18 and 19 a series of events will take place in Boston with the highlight of the weekend being a banquet and dance on the Saturday night where the Mayo Person of the Year will be announced.
Minister Eamon Ó Cuív will be guest of honour at the banquet and he will be joined by Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council Councillor Joe Mellett, a council delegation, and the Mayo Associations of New York, Toronto and Philadelphia. TG4 will be filming the event.
Rome, Italy
Dublin-born Abbot is new head of Cistercians
Dom Éamon Fitzgerald, the Abbot of Mount Melleray in Co. Waterford, has been elected head of the Cistercian Order. The Dublin born monk, who joined the order in 1966, takes up his new role with immediate effect. He will be based in Rome but for much of the time he will be travelling on visits to Cistercian monasteries around the world.
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FROM THE MAILBAG
Megan Reasor writes: Just wanted to let you all know that Lillian placed third in solo harp 15-18 at the Fleadh in Tuamore. Lil was only one of eight Americans who placed in solo competitions. We had a nice time, but there was so much rain and flooding while we were there. Didn't dampen our spirits though.
ED's Note: That's quite an accomplishement! Our congratulations to Lil. If you'd like to hear this young lady play, please click here for samples of her work:
http://lillianrosereasor.weebly.com/harpist-extraordinaire.html
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LINKS
Autumn and Hallowe'en in Northern Ireland
From spooky tales to spooktacular treats, and seasonal games to comfort foods as the nights draw in, there's much to explore here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/autumn/halloween/index.shtml
Applying for an Irish passport
Did you know that if one or both parents was born in ireland you are automatically an Irish citizen. and all you have to do to get an Irish passport is apply for one? Click here for more details:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/travel-abroad/passports-and-visas-to-travel-abroad/getting_a_passport
And for more details on how to become an Irish citizen, please click
http://www.ireland-fun-facts.com/irish-passport.html
The greatest ad ever?
Judge for yourself. It's worth a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw-ngKqVm2k&feature=related
Fáilte go shee-eire.com.
Your one stop guide to The Ancient Irish World, from Arts & Crafts to Stones and Tombs
http://www.shee-eire.com/Sheehome.htm
Patrick Bergin's saucy Irish jig
It's been dubbed Riverdance on crack. Now an Irish-inspired jig set to the thudding beat of dance music is on course to become a UK number one.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/patrick-bergins-saucy-irish-jig-takes-web-by-storm-13960557.html
Learning Irish
There are many different ways that people can study Irish. This site offers details on the many options available:
http://www.gaeilge.ie/learning/default.asp?catid=7
Free online taster for Banville fans
Fans of Booker Prize winner John Banville can today read the first chapter of his forthcoming novel for free. The Irish novelist's new book, 'The Sinking City', is available to view online on a new literary journal launched by the University of Manchester. Please click
http://www.themanchesterreview.co.uk.
The Irish Page
This time around, Jack & Vivian offer an Irish song named Dark Molley of the Glen. Click below for the link.
http://www.irishpage.com/songs/molldubh.htm
Free Mammograms
Many women can't afford the test, but here's how you can help: Go to the Breast Cancer site and click on their free mammogram link; if the site gets enough clicks , they'll be able to donate at least one free mammogram a day to underprivileged women. It takes just a minute and there's no cost involved:
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com
ED. NOTE: Maria Eryaatz advises that free mammograms are also available in all states via the VNA (visiting nurses association).
http://www.vnaa.org/
Click on 'Find A VNA' for the your nearest location.
Free Pet Food!
Last but certainly not least - our ongoing 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
Free People Food!
It only takes a second to feed hungry people, too:
http://www.thehungersite.com
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SPONSOR: Please help us keep our newsletter coming - visit our friends at the Celtic Attic:
We have just finished adding 120 new items. Great new Christmas ornaments, clothing, picnic baskets and much more. From now until October 5th, get FREE or 1/2 off shipping with each and every order plus a complimentary gift and a complimentary copy of the Celtic Attic Cookbook (PDF). Spend $100 and get 10% off your order. In addition, through October 5th we'll ad a $5 gift card to each order which you can use yourself or pass along to a friend. And don't forget to enter our monthly giveaway -You could win a basket filled with treats - a $30 value:
http://www.celticattic.com/contact_us/free_giveaway.htm
Order on line or by phone - and tell them Bridget & Russ said hello!
Order by phone: Tel: 360-765-0186
Order on line:
http://celticcallings.com/shopping/merchant.mvc?CSC&Affiliate=Bridget
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QUIPS, QUOTES, PROVERBS & TOASTS
This one was sent in as part of a nice contribution.Thank you, Rose Marie, for your kindness on both counts!
We cannot share a sorrow
If we haven't grieved a while;
Nor can we feel another's joy
Until we've learned to smile.
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A BIT OF THE WIT
t's better to like what you do than to do what you like.
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
This one has made the rounds, but it's been a while since we published it. Many thanks to the "Fey Fox" for sending it in .
A young woman on a flight from Ireland asked the Priest beside her, "Father, may I ask a favor?"
"Of course, child, what may I do for you?"
Well, I bought an expensive woman's hair dryer for my mother's birthday that is unopened and well over the customs limit, and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it." Is there any way you could carry it through Customs for me? Under your cassock perhaps?"
"I would love to help you, m'dear, but I must warn you: I will not lie."
"With your honest face, Father, no one will question you."
When they got to Customs, she let the priest go ahead of her.
The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?"
"From the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare."
The official thought this answer strange, so asked,
"And what do youchave to declare from your waist to the floor?"
"I have a marvelous instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused."
Roaring with laughter, the official said, Go ahead, Father. Next!"
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DID YOU KNOW
1. According to Met. Eireann Omagh is the cloudiest place in Ireland with an average of under three and a half hours of sunshine per day?
2. The Book of Kells is sometimes called the Book of Columbia?
3. Mick O'Connell, one of Co. Kerry's gaelic football heroes of all time, lived on Valentia Island and often rowed to the mainland for a game and then rowed home again?
Source: The Real Ireland
http://www.realirishfood-recipes.com/index.html
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KNOW YOUR IRISH WRITERS
But first, the answers to our last quiz:
1. An Irish Book of Shadows: Tuatha de Danann. by Katharine Clark
2. The Names Upon the Harp - Irish Myths & Legends by Marie Heaney
3.An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor
A round of pints and applause for the following Irish literary sleuths:
Heather Morgan
One of my favorite websites would be www.freerice.com its actually a vocabulary building website that a teacher friend of mine introduced me to. For every word you get right, 20 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Program, so the more you play and learn, the more they donate.
http://www.freerice.com
ED. NOTE: A worthy cause indeed, Heather!
Ryan F. Gowing.
I have no favorite web site, anything Irish will do .
ED. NOTE - Well then, how about this one Ryan? This one link will take you to literally hundreds of Irish sites. Enjoy browsing!
http://www.mystart.ie/
Want to see your name and favorite web site in our next newsletter? Who wrote:
1. Notes from a Kerry Village
2. Close the Wicket Gate
3. House, Don't Fall On Me
Send your answers to Bridget:
bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
Don't forget to nominate a favorite Irish site and it would be helpful if you put Know Your Writers in the subject line of your email. Thanks!
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RIDDLE
To begin with, the answer to our last brain bruiser
Q. Six glasses are in a row. The first three are filled with Guinness and the last three are empty. By moving only one glass, can you arrange them so that the full and the empty glasses alternate?
A. Take the second glass, pour its contents into the fifth glass and then replace the second glass in its original location.
We thought this one might be a stumper, but our brilliant Riddle People proved us wrong. We had a keg full of correct answers - as well as some very witty ones, but first in was Chris Byrne of St. Louis, MO. Well done, Chris!
Honourable mentions go to the following for making us smile:
From Bill Smith in North Carolina: At first, I had thought to drink the second full glass, thus alternating only the first four and, maybe, smashing the last two empty ones without actually moving them, then thought better of it. Actually, I'm pretty sure I could have drunk the second full glass without moving it, too, but I'm told drinking beer through a straw gives one a pretty quick and wicked buzz. I'll have to test it out with Guinness, just to be sure I'm not lying to you.
Jim in North Bend Indiana says: My guess is that you would pour the second glass into the fifth glass, but that would be difficult to do without taking a bit of a taste from the second glass leaving nothing to put in the fifth glass thereby disrupting the sequence entirely.
Mike says: Of course if it was me and I faced with the challenge, I would've drank the three beers and requested the the empty three be filled up, and I'd repeat the process.
John C. Laney (Lynaugh in Donegal) says I believe I'd take the middle glass of Guinness and pour its contents into the middle empty glass, then put it back in its original spot. The glasses would then alternate: full-empty-full-empty-full-empty. After that I'd invite a couple of friends and we'd enjoy a pint o' Guinness together.
ED. NOTE: Russ would be over in a heart beat John, but Bridget can't stand the black stuff. Her dad used to give it to her and her brothers when they were sick. She still thinks of it as medicine!
And now for our next skull scrambler:
You can find me in darkness but never in light.
I am present in daytime but absent at night.
In the deepest of shadows, I hide in plain sight.
What am I?
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friends at Lollysmith:
It's never too early to start the holiday shopping and there are a good many advantages in getting a headstart - you can be sure what you want is in stock, your gifts will arrive in time, and you won't feel rushed and frazzled. Come take a look at what's in store and start making those lists now - you'll be glad you did. For example, we have Jacob's Chocolates, genuine Blackthorn Walking Sticks, Hanna Hats & Caps, Connemara blankets and much, much more!
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THE WEEK THAT IS - but hurry to see what's on offer - we'll be changing it in the next day or so:
1. Article: The Galway International Oyster Festival
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aGalwayOysters.html
2. Article: Celebrating St. Michael's Day in Old Ireland
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Michaelmas.html
3. Article: John McCormack - And Irish Legend Then & Now
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/JMcCormack.html
4. Article: Sleabhac - Manna from the Seashore
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aSeaweed.html
5. Article: Matchmaking in Lisdoonvarna
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMisc/Lisdoonvarna.html
6. Article: Who was behind the doors of Dublin?
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMisc/Lisdoonvarna.html
ED. NOTE: We continue to leave this article on the home page to draw your attention to a very generous offer by Bob Fearon, the man behind the original poster officially sanctioned by Bord Fáilte - Bob will donate 50% of all profits from the sales of the posters and puzzles to Irish Culture and Customs.
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALandmks/DoorsofDublin.html
7. Irish Kitchen: Michaelmas Goose with Potato Apple Stuffing
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/rPoultry.html#MichaelmasGoose
8. Basic Irish: Oysters - in celebration of all the months with a R
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Oysters.html
9. Kids' Ireland: Learning Through Film
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/learningFilm.html
10. Music Review: Our resident reviewer William Ramoutar's latest offering focuses on Mary Lamond's CD Stòras
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/Ramoutar/astoras.html
11. Trivia Contest. The September contest is over and the winner will be announced in the next newsletter. The contest for October will be posted asap. All entries must be in by midnight, October 31 whatever time zone you live in.
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/TriviaContest.html
12. Circle of Prayer: The fifth Novena in this cycle began on September 30 and ends on October 8. Whatever your spiritual leanings, please keep the following in your prayers or meditations: Joe Colum, Patricia's daughter Heather , the family and friends of the McTiernans, Pauline Dewberry, our daughter Catherine, Cyndi, Mickey, Hartson, Laureena Blankenship, Sierra Mitchell, Michelle Lester, Katie Lacinak and so many others including all military personnel serving their countries all over the world. Dear Heavenly Father, please keep them safe and bring them home soon.
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Blessings/CirclePrayer.html
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So there you have it until we write again. If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other important event between now and next time, we hope it's an occasion filled with joy and happiness. If you're getting married in October or tied the knot this month, here's your special verse:
If in October you do marry
Love will come but riches tarry.
We can certainly attest to that - but only if you count riches in terms of money, jewels or gold. We have been very blessed with many riches far more precious than material possessions.
We take our leave with this appropriate old blessing
May God bless you
with love and health
for these are the
true measures of
joy and wealth.
...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!
Celtic Blessing - sung by the St. Coca's Choir, from Kilcock, Co. Kildare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrS3kYW6du4
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS
Please check with the Wild Geese - they have a huge listing of events and we don't want to duplicate their efforts:
http://www.thewildgeese.com/
If we receive a unique event not mentioned there, we will be happy to list it here.
Sea Isle City, NJ - Every Friday this summer
Fintan Malone, Irish traditional musician extraordinaire from Milltown Malbay, Co. Clara and Pete McDonald will be teaming up on Friday evenings at Kix McNulty's, 6400 Landis Avenue from 5 5 to 8 p.m.
For changes and updates, please check the website schedule page, http://www.petemcdonald.com/schedule.html
Los Alamitos, California -1st Tuesday of every month
Friends of Ireland of Southern California Monthly Breakfast. Events are held on the 1st Tuesday of the month. Please call in RSVP to one of the contacts below, one day in advance so we can accommodate you.
Barbara Walsh (714) 739-4195 Kathy Wisdom (714) 572-8277
Tom Kennedy (562) 425-2636 Jim O'Dea (626) 965-0307
Portland, oregon - 1st Friday of the month
Ceili of the Valley Society - First Friday of the month Céilís and on-going Tuesday night Céilí and Sean Nós dance classes. Our season runs from October through June and next season we may be moving the dances to Saturday rather than Friday nights. For more details, please click
http://www.myspace.com/ceiliofthevalley.
Eastern Caribbean Irish Genealogy Seminar Cruise - January 09
The Irish Ancestral Research Association is organizing an Irish genealogy cruise in January 2009 on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. Speakers include our friends Eileen & Sean O'Duill from Dublin. For complete details, please click
http://home.netcom.com/~megrogan/irishgenealogycruise/
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LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING
This one was sent in to us just today by our good friend and subscriber Mary R aka "Irish Royal". We couldn't resist passing it along.
Investment tips for 2008
With all the turmoil in the market today and the collapse of Lehman Bros and acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America this might be some good advice. For all of you with any money left, be aware of the next expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and make some BIG bucks.
Watch for these consolidations in later this year:
1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W R. Grace Co. will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.
2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers join forces and become: Poly, Warner Cracker.
3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become: MMMGood.
4.) Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become: ZipAudiDoDa .
5.) FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS, and become: FedUP.
6.) Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become: Fairwell Honeychild.
7.) Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become: PouponPants.
8.) Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become: Knott NOW!
And finally...
9. Victoria 's Secret and Smith &Wesson will merge under the new name:
TittyTittyBangBang
STOP GROANING! YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO FORWARD THIS ONE!
