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Greetings & Blessings to all

Welcome to our August newsletter.

I’m ready to face the rest of the summer. My weather is still very hot and I have to get to Autumn. What’s hot? Almost 90 farenheit (that’s a little over 32 Celsius) just like last month. The rain has slacked off so I still have to water my roses (Bridget’s roses, actually). I fixed the car and it wasn’t too expensive. As to my teeth, I think I’m going to have them all pulled and get dentures. If I can afford that I won’t have to go to the dentist anymore. I’m not looking forward to it though.

I hope all of you are doing better than I am.

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

Phrase: Irish Dancing
Irish: Rince Ghaelach
Pronunciation: ring-keh gway-lahkh

Word: Dance (social event)
Irish: Céilí
Pronunciation: kay-lee

Word: Dancer
Irish: Rinceoir
Pronunciation: ring-kee-oh-ir

Links

1.Bovine surprises Irish beachgoers as it appears to emerge from sea

Bathers at County Donegal's Bunbeg Beach spotted the bovine on Saturday in the midst of the surf, making its way toward shallower water.

Video captured of the event shows the cow wading out of the water and onto the sand while spectators watch from nearby. It is unclear where the bovine came from.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/bovine-surprises-irish-beachgoers-as-it-appears-to-emerge-from-sea-1.5066406

2.Irish women saved clinging to lobster pot after 15 hours at sea

DUBLIN, IRELAND -- Two cousins who were blown out to sea paddle boarding off Ireland's west coast were found clinging to a buoy on a lobster pot after a 15-hour ordeal, media reports said.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/irish-women-saved-clinging-to-lobster-pot-after-15-hours-at-sea-1.5064315

3.GRAVE WARNING

Close contacts rise to six for confirmed Irish Covid-19 cases as doc warns social distance now to stop second wave

PEOPLE need to social distance and limit their social contacts now if they want to stop a second wave of Covid-19, a top doc has warned.

Dr Maitiu O Tuathail has issued the stark warning as the number of average close contacts for every confirmed case rose to six - with 200 new cases reported today.

https://www.thesun.ie/news/5787428/coronavirus-ireland-doctor-warning-second-wave-case-rise-distance/

4. Ireland's oldest pub calls for 'support not sympathy' on five-month closure anniversary

Ireland's oldest pub, Sean's Bar is one of Athlone Town's most popular attractions. However, as with many other pubs across Ireland, they've been closed for an unprecedented number of months. Five to be exact.

https://lovin.ie/news/irelands-oldest-pub-calls-for-support-not-sympathy-on-five-month-closure-anniversary

I love this kind of story—Russ

5. Second largest species on Earth captured on camera off Cork coast

Second in size only to fellow mammal the blue whale, the fin whale is capable of reaching up to 65 feet in length.

The largest ever spotted in Irish waters, this most breathtaking of mammals made a surprise appearance off the Irish coast this weekend.

https://www.irishpost.com/news/second-largest-species-on-earth-captured-on-camera-off-cork-coast-190980

I wish I’d seen that—Russ

6. Taxi driving: ‘Now I’m deciding where I’m going to park’

In the taxi-waiting area at Dublin Airport on a recent Sunday morning drivers were playing cards, reading newspapers and walking lengths of the bay for exercise until called up to the rank at Terminal 1 for a fare.

Taxi drivers countrywide have reported slow business. Even though the most severe coronavirus restrictions have lifted in most counties, the closure of pubs, tourism, events and working from home means business has declined.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/taxi-driving-now-i-m-deciding-where-i-m-going-to-park-1.4329729

This doesn’t sound that different—Russ

7. Ireland's imports, exports show month-on-month recovery in Q2

DUBLIN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ireland's goods imports and exports showed a month-on-month recovery in the second quarter of this year, according to figures released by the country's Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Friday.

In April, Ireland's goods exports fell to 11.46 billion euros (about 13.56 billion U.S. dollars) after hitting a monthly record high of 17.02 billion euros in March when the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was yet to be felt in the country.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/15/c_139291600.htm

This is a chinese source, so I Think it’s reliable—Russ

QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS

It is Ireland's sacred duty to send over, every few years, a playwright to save the English theatre from inarticulate glumness.

A BIT OF THE WIT

I think there's a bit of the devil in everybody. There's a bit of a priest in everybody, too, but I enjoyed playing the devil more. He was more fun.

Gabriel Byrne

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

1. George Bernard Shaw bequeathed one third of his estate to the National Gallery in Dublin, claiming that he received his education there?

Of course—Russ

2. In 1948, Harry Truman was the first American president to attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City?

3. Louis H. Sullivan, the Boston-born son of an Irish immigrant is said to have created the modern skyscraper?

I don’t think you would recognize it as a skyscraper though—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: Lughnasa - Celebrating the Harvest

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACustom/Harvest.html

2. Article: Haymaking in Ireland long ago

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACustom/Haymaking.html

3. Article: Season of the Corn

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACustom/SeasonCorn.html

4. Article: Galway Races - Where the Pint is the Unit of Currency!

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

5. Article: Ladies' Day at the Galway Races

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

6. The Irish Kitchen: A Taste of Ireland...Soda Bread

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

7. Basic Irish: Summertime

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

8. Kids’ Ireland: The Remarkable Rocket

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/Rocket.html

So there you have it until we write again - sometime in September.

If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of August, here is your special verse:

Whoever wed in August be,

Many a change are sure to see.

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 love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

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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http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Newsletter.html

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

A lady is having a bad day at the roulette tables. She's down to her last 50 Euros. Exasperated, she exclaims, "What rotten luck I've had today! What in the world should I do now?" A man standing next to her suggests, "I don't know... why don't you play your age?" He walks away. Moments later, his attention is grabbed by a great commotion at the roulette table. Maybe she won! He rushes back to the table and pushes his way through the crowd. The lady is lying limp on the floor, with the table operator kneeling over her. The man is stunned. He asks, "What happened? Is she all right?" The operator replies, "I don't know. She put all her money on 29 and 36 came up. Then she just fainted!"

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