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The Weather
Basic IrishIrish: 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
LINKS1.Biden inauguration: Irish cousins celebrate with champagne and cake
Mr Biden's heritage can be traced back to Ballina in County Mayo and the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth.2.What can Ireland expect from Joe Biden?
The new US president will defend the Belfast Agreement against any undermining by Brexit
He will rival John F Kennedy as the most Irish-American president ever. Indeed, Biden may be more typically Irish-American than the patrician JFK. His Finnegan and Blewitt forebears toiled in the factories and mines of industrial America where many working families wore their Irish identity as a badge of pride.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/what-can-ireland-expect-from-joe-biden-1.4462417
This is smart before we sink back into the Brexit swamp —Russ
3.North ‘slowly becoming part of united Ireland’, says former British chancellor
The former British chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne has said Northern Ireland is “heading for the exit door” from the United Kingdom.
Writing in the London Evening Standard, where he is now editor-in-chief, Mr Osborne said the North was “slowly becoming part of a united Ireland” and most people in England “will not care”.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/north-slowly-becoming-part-of-united-ireland-says-former-british-chancellor-1.4463045
I can’t tell whether this will help unite Ireland or not—Russ
4. First Look: Ireland’s new tiki bar gears up for opening
“I’ve been waiting years for the spike in demand. Every drink has a cycle.” Doug Leddin is talking about a shift towards rum. Vodka, whiskey and gin have all had their runs in the sun, and he believes rum’s time has come.
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/drink/first-look-ireland-s-new-tiki-bar-gears-up-for-opening-1.4140583
Whoa, Ireland copies Tahiti? The weather doesn’t match - yet—Russ
5. WATCH: Aer Lingus unveils new crew uniforms for the first time since 1998
Aer Lingus has revealed their new cabin crew uniforms, designed by Louise Kennedy, as the final piece to their brand refresh which began in 2018.
https://www.irishcentral.com/news/aer-lingus-uniform?utm_campaign=IC+FAV+-+Jan+15+-+2020-01-15&utm_content=Story1&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet
Have a look they’re not very different to my eyes—Russ
dance?utm_campaign=IC+F
6. Ireland awarded over €1bn from EU fund to offset Brexit impact
Ireland is set to be awarded more than €1 billion as part of a European Union fund to offset the impact of Brexit.
The State’s allocation is around one quarter of the total amount to be paid out of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund this year.
Ireland’s allocation is the largest in the bloc, followed by a proposed €757.4 million for the Netherlands, €455.4m for Germany, €420.8m for France, €324.1m for Belgium and €247.6m for Denmark -- the countries that trade most closely with the UK
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-awarded-over-1bn-from-eu-fund-to-offset-brexit-impact-1.44567717. Ireland embarks on first week as new member of UN Security Council
Ireland, who officially began its new two-year, nonpermanent term on the UN Security Council on January 1, 2021, engaged in a meeting on chemical weapons in Syria on January 5 and will later this week take part in an open debate on maintaining peace in fragile contexts.QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGSThey invented the three-day bank holiday weekend because you can't lump all the bad weather into just Saturday and Sunday.
A BIT OF THE WITHugh Leonard
JOKE OF THE MONTHDID YOU KNOW1. An Irishman, Jimmy Kennedy, from Co. Tyrone, wrote the song Red Sails in the Sunset?
And many others we never realized were written by an Irishman—Russ
2. The crocus, which flowers about this time in Ireland, is St Valentine's Flower?
I think the only one that blooms sooner is the snowdrop—Russ
3. According to Irish folklore, it's bad luck to take the Christmas decorations down before January 6?
That must be where Bridget got it. I’m happy if I take them down before the end of January—Russ
Sponsor
Available on Amazon. Use this Link:THE WEEK THAT IShttp://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/BigWind.html
2. Article: Irish Superstitions for the Christmas Seaso
3. Article: The Turning Of The Sovereign Seal
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in February.May the new year bring
The warmth of home and hearth to you.
The cheer and goodwill of friends to you,
The hope of a childlike heart to you.
The joy of a thousand angels to you,
The love of the Son and God's peace to you.
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 LAUGHINGTwo Irish women walking through the forest one day hear a voice coming from near a log "Help me." They lifted the log and underneath found a frog. "Help me " said the frog "I am an investment banker turned into a frog by an evil curse. I need to be kissed by a woman and I will turn back into an investment banker." One of the women grabbed the frog and stuffed it into her handbag. Aghast, her friend said, "Did you not hear the frog? He needs to to be returned to being an investment banker." "Listen", her friend said, "these days a talking frog is worth a lot more than an investment banker."
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
