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

 

Greetings & Blessings to all

 

Welcome to our March newsletter.

We are in the month of St. Patrick’s day but it won’t feel like it this year. All (well most) of the celebrations are being cancelled due to the corona virus. I certainly hope they are over-reacting but better safe than. What it means to us is no parade for St. Patrick this year not even in Dublin. The last few year’s parades looked like Mardi Gra to me but this year, no parade at all. That’s a shame. I will have articles from previous years, of course and we’ll just have to look back at the festivities of yesteryear. We can still celebrate St. Patrick for ourselves though. I put out my Irish flag on the garage to show the Irish are still here and proud. I hope you will do something similar yourselves.

In addition to it being the month of St. Patrick it is also Women’s Month so I have a couple of articles about women. I love women and it’s not just because I adored my wife, Bridget. I feel that it would be a dull, gray, ugly world without women. Whether you are a man or a woman I hope you feel the same.

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:

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: St Patrick's Day
Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig or Lá 'le Pádraig
Pronunciation: law ay-leh paw-rig or law leh paw-rig
Note: The first is used in writing, the second in conversation, literally 'Patrick's Festival Day'.

1.From Ireland to Boston, coronavirus shuts down St. Patrick’s Day parades

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/10/ireland-boston-coronavirus-shuts-down-st-patricks-day-parades/

Sigh—Russ

2.Coronavirus: Grogan’s pub among several to close for two weeks

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/coronavirus-grogan-s-pub-among-several-to-close-for-two-weeks-1.4203438

And so it goes—Russ

Here’s a specific mark of Brexit issues—Russ

4. Ireland and Britain added to United States travel ban

Speaking in the White House, vice-president Mike Pence announced the decision to expand the list, after US president Donald Trump implied at a press conference on Friday that he could do so. 

Mr Trump also confirmed that he had been tested for coronavirus, as he took to the podium at the White House press room in Washington.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/ireland-and-britain-added-to-united-states-travel-ban-1.4203468

What was the result of the test?—Russ

5. Coronavirus: Republic of Ireland to close schools and colleges

And more to come, I think—Russ

6. Irish Cheltenham racegoers will not be tested amid Coronavirus panic

Several thousand Irish people are currently attending the festival which concludes today at around 5:30 p.m. local time. 

Despite concerns over an outbreak of Coronavirus at the festival, Cheltenham has drawn crowds of more than 65,000 people since Tuesday, prompting fears that the virus will spread like wildfire. 

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/irish-cheltenham-racegoers-self-isolate-coronavirus

The Irish won’t let anything get in the way of their horse racing—Russ

7. Here’s to Ireland’s unofficial ambassadors flying flags around the world

Ireland has a network of diplomats working hard for the country all around the world, but ahead of St Patrick’s Day this year, even though events and celebrations have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis, we are tipping our caipíní to Ireland’s unofficial ambassadors, to share the stories of just some of the men and women wearing green jerseys and flying flags for Ireland wherever they live

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/here-s-to-ireland-s-unofficial-ambassadors-flying-flags-around-the-world-1.4195307

I’ve got mine up—Russ

QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS

A BIT OF THE WIT

Who cares? When autumn birds in flocks 
Fly southward, back we turn the clocks,
And so regain a lovely thing 
That missing hour we lost in spring.
Phyllis McGinley 

Well, we lost it again—Russ

JOKE OF THE MONTH

"Which is the first and most important sacrament?" asked the Catechism teacher. "Marriage", avowed Moira. "No, baptism is the first and most important sacrament," corrected the teacher. "Not in our family," retorted Moira, in a haughty voice. "We're decent people!"

DID YOU KNOW

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

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWomen/PwrfulWoman.html

2. Article: A Notorious Woman

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWomen/GraceOMalley.html

3. Article: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Old Ireland

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

4. Article: St Patrick gets the party, but there are many saints to honour in Ireland

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

5. Article: A Visit to St. Patrick’s Well

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

6. Article: Madness in Melaque – Saint Patrick’s Day Mexican Style

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

7. The Irish Kitchen: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With A Real Irish Feast!

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

8. Basic Irish: Saint Patrick's Day

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons7.html#StPatricks

9. Kids’ Ireland: New St. Patrick's Day Custom for Children

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

 

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

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

If you wed when March winds blow,

Joy and sorrow both you’ll know.

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:

St. Patrick's Blessing
As he brought new faith to Ireland
So may he bring out in you 
A touch of Irish kindness
in everything you do.
And through the good St. Patrick
May your home and life be blessed
with all the special favours
That make you happiest.
Adapted from a blessing by the Norbertine Fathers

 

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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LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING