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Greetings & Blessings to all
Welcome to our February/almost March newsletter.
Well, here we are in the month of romance.
Of course Bridget loved this month. We often went to a hotel for a weekend. We had to keep returming to the house to take care of the cats and dog but that was easy enough. We had expensive dinners and spent a fair amount of time in the bar. She was always dressed up and looked beautiful. I considered her the prettiest woman there. Of course, I always did. I gave her flowers but not candy; she didn't have a sweet tooth. I know I'm late. I've had a lot of computer problems since Christmas. I hope I'm past them now.
Enough of my nattering.
Again my thanks for the contributions. Please keep them coming. I would like appropriate news 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: St Valentine's Day
Irish: Lá Fhéle Vailintín
Pronunciation: law ay-leh val-in-theen
Phrase: Happy St Valentine's Day
Beannachtaí na Fhéle Vailintín
Pronunciation: Ban-ochth-thee na Fay-leh val-in-theen
Literally, Blessings of St. Valentine
Word: Card
Irish: cárta
Pronunciation: cawrth-ah
LINKS
Ireland to be hotter than city of love on Valentine’s Day - as fears grow over major weather change
Met Eireann has forecast Ireland to be hotter than 12C Paris - known as the City of Love - as temperatures soar for Valentine's Day. It comes amid fears a major weather change could be on the way towards the end of the month.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/ireland-hotter-city-love-valentines-29204439
2. Rare ‘blood rain’ weather could hit Ireland as huge Saharan dust storm to sweep across country
High pressure over central Europe looks set to drag Saharan dust north over Ireland this week. The unusual phenomenon could bring an eerie hue to the sky, as well as leave cars covered in dust.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/rare-blood-rain-weather-could-29201883
Ireland becomes hot?—Russ
3. Mixed fortunes for Ireland’s golfers
Holywood’s McKibbin produces best Irish finish of the week, McIlroy falls off No. 1
https://www.irishpost.com/news/mixed-fortunes-for-irelands-golfers-247497
4. Ireland’s oldest missing persons case finally solved after almost 60 years
Noel Clarence Hardy, born in December 1936, vanished from Dublin on September 17, 1967 when he was just 30 years old. Noel was last seen in the Grangegorman area of north inner city Dublin.
Sounds like he didn't want to be found—Russ
5. The Irish Times view on re-wetting Ireland’s boglands
This work has to be systematically scaled up to ensure a return to peat-forming bogs with a mosaic of wetlands, grasslands and native woodlands
Great, if it happens—Russ
6. Ireland's traditional matchmaker may be the country's last
The final remaining traditional matchmaker in Ireland fears he may be the country's last.
Willie Daly, 80, from Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, has been bringing couples together since he was a teenager.
He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, who operated in times when every town in Ireland would have had their own traditional matchmaker.
Lisdoonvarna holds an annual matchmaking festival in his honour every September.
Let's hope not—Russ
7. All road racing in Northern Ireland cancelled, Brexit blamed
The Motorcycle Union of Ireland has announced that all road racing and short circuit racing in Northern Ireland has been cancelled due to spiralling insurance costs.
QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS
Irish whiskey was first developed for its medicinal benefits. It's just lucky for the rest of us that the Irish are such a sickly bunch.
Indeed — Russ
A BIT OF THE WIT
"Burn everything British," he once advised his Irish countrymen, "except their coal."
Jonathan Swift
JOKE OF THE MONTH
A garda pulls over a speeding car. He says, "I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir." The driver says, "Are you sure? I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating." Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: "Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control." As the garda writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, "Can't you please keep your mouth shut for once?" The wife smiles demurely and says, "You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did." As the garda makes out the second ticket for the illegal use of a radar detector unit*, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, "Woman ,didn't I tell you to keep your mouth shut!" The garda frowns and says "And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an on the spot 60 euro fine. "The driver says, "Well, you see sir, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket." The wife says, "Now, dear, you know very well that you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving." And as the garda is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, "WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE SHUT UP??" The garda looks over at the woman and asks, "Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?" Smiling sweetly, she replies. Only when he's been drinking, sir."
*While it is legal to own a radar detector in the Republic of Ireland, it is actually illegal to use it.
DID YOU KNOW
1. John Ford, father of Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Corporation of America, emigrated to America after being evicted from a small holding in Ballinascarty Co. Cork in 1847?
2. Dublin's oldest traffic light is situated beside the Renault garage in Clontarf? The light, which is still in full working order, was installed in 1893 outside the home of Fergus Mitchell who was the owner of the first car in Ireland.
3. In 1986, a 900 year old cheese was found perfectly preserved, in a Tipperary bog?
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.
Available on Amazon. Use this Link:
THE MONTH THAT IS
1. Article: The Lenten Season in Old Ireland
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/AshWed.html
2. Article: Shrovetide - The Marrying Season
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Shrovetide.html
3. Article: Shrove Tuesday Pancakes!
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/ShroveTues.html
4. Article: The Irish Link to St. Valentine
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ASaints/Valentine.html
5. Article: The Irish In Love
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/IrishinLove.html
6. Article: The Irish In Love - part two
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/IrishinLove2.html
7. Article: The Irish In Love - Still Waters Run Deep
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/IrishinLove3.html
8. Article: The Irish in love Part 4: Tales of Romance from fact & fiction
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/IrishinLove4.html
9. The Irish Kitchen: A Romantic Irish Menu for Valentine's Day
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/rValentines.html
10. Basic Irish: The Language of Love - in Irish
https://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons1.1.html
11. Kids’ Ireland: The Nightingale and the Rose
hhttp://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/NightingaleandRose.html
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in March.
If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of December, here is your special verse:
When February birds do mate,
You may wed, nor dread your fate.
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:
Blessing for Lent
Merciful God, you called us forth from the dust of the earth;
you claimed us for Christ in the waters of baptism.
Look upon us as we enter these Forty Days bearing the mark of ashes,
and bless our journey through the desert of Lent to the font of rebirth.
May our fasting be hunger for justice;
our alms, a making of peace;
our prayer, the chant of humble and grateful hearts.
All that we do and pray is in the name of Jesus.
For in his cross you proclaim your love for ever and ever.
From Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers
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.
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
Miss O'Leary, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been married. She was much admired for her sweetness and kindness to all. The parish priest came to call on her one afternoon early in the spring, and she welcomed him into her little cottage. She invited him to have a seat while she made the tea. As he sat facing her old pump organ, the priest noticed a cut glass bowl sitting on top of it, filled with water. In the water floated, of all things, an item the menfolk use to help prevent conception. Imagine his shock and surprise. Imagine his curiosity! Surely Miss O'Leary had lost her senses! When she returned with the tea and scones, they began to chat. The priest tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its unusual contents, but soon it got the better of him; he could resist no longer. Miss O'Leary," he said, "I wonder if you would tell me about this?" (pointing to the bowl). "Oh, yes, Father," she replied, "Isn't it wonderful? I was walking in the village last October and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to put it on the organ, keep it wet, and it would prevent disease. And you know... I haven't had a cold all winter.
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 this 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
