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Greetings & Blessings to all

Welcome to our October newsletter.

This is finally Autumn and the temperatures have dropped accordingly. It is quite chilly in the morning and the highs are comfortable. I’m still not getting rain but the weatherman says it will rain tomorrow night (not that I believe him).

The end of the year is crowded with events including weddings and sadly a funeral at the end of this week. A sad funeral because it’s one of Bridget’s best friends. I think of Bridget and that stings. Although, I may not go. Last Friday I fell and bashed my head on a concrete pillar. I ended up at a hospital emergency room and got 12 stitches. Even now I get dizzy spells and loss of balance spells. I don’t think it would be good for me to fall again in the church. So, if I look forward I have thanksgiving, my birthday and Christmas followed by New years. I think I’m going to be tired by next year.

I hope you all have nothing but happy times ahead and I hope none of you fall and hit your head.

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

It's Trick or Treat in the USA and Help The Hallowe'en Party in Ireland, but wherever you are, this week's lesson focuses on words and phrases associated with the day before the Celtic New Year - Samhain (sow-en).
Word: Hallowe'en
Irish: oíche shamhna
Pronunciation: ee-heh how-nah
Word: Ghost
Irish: púca or taibhse
Pronunciation: pookah or thyve-sheh

LINKS

1. 325 million-year-old fossil discovered in County Clare

The fossilized bones of a tiny amphibian-like creature that scurried around the shores of Co Clare 325 million years ago have been discovered by Dr. Eamon Doyle, geologist for The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and Clare County Council.

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/fossil-co-clare?utm_campaign=Best+of+IC+-+Oct+10+-+2019-10-10&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet

There must be many multimillion year old fossils in Ireland —Russ

2.Was your family shanty or lace curtain Irish? It’s important

So which Irish are you? Shanty or lace curtain; narrow back or donkey; Mick or Paddy?

The Irish in America did not come in one size fits all. While they might have all been equal off the Famine boat, they soon moved in different classes after they arrived.

All Irish started as shanty Irish, a term for a one-room cabin really. Five Points in New York and South Boston teemed with them.

https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/shanty-lace-curtain-irish?utm_campaign=Best+of+IC+-+Oct+10+-+2019-10-10&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet

Bridget worried about this but her father said she was a princess- I agree —Russ

3.Ireland thrash Samoa to ease into last eight despite Bundee Aki red card

It is not often a coach begs for leniency on behalf of another team’s player but in as gracious a press conference as you could witness, Samoa’s Steve Jackson pleaded for clemency on behalf of Ireland’s Bundee Aki after the centre’s World Cup was potentially ended by a red card.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/12/rugby-world-cup-2019-ireland-samoa-match-report

Sportsmanship is so rare, it’s good to see—Russ

4. Trump’s Doonbeg golf resort granted planning for €38 million expansion

Clare County Council has granted planning permission to Donald Trump’s Doonbeg golf resort to build a new ballroom/function room, leisure facilities and 53 more holiday homes at a cost of €38 million.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/trump-s-doonbeg-golf-resort-granted-planning-for-38-million-expansion-1.4046377

Doesn’t stop the deportation of Irishmen from the U.S. though—Russ

5. EuroMillions results: Lucky Irish punter scoops €500,000 as player wins €190million jackpot

A lucky punter in Ireland is €500,000 richer after scooping the top prize in Tuesday's EuroMillions Plus draw.

The winning ticket was sold in Dublin. Over 203,000 people in Ireland won prizes.

Meanwhile, a Lotto player in the UK has just won the record-equalling €190million jackpot.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/euromillions-results-ireland-numbers-tuesday-20539989

Nice—Russ

6. Heuston trains running on time again after thieves tried to steal copper wire

Thieves caused €4,000 worth of damage and disrupted the travel plans of thousands of commuters in an attempt to steal copper wire.

An Irish Rail employee disturbed a number of men who were attempting to remove signalling wire on a stretch between Newbridge and Kildare town.

They failed in their attempt, but 350 metres of signalling wire made from copper was damaged and had to replaced.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/heuston-trains-running-on-time-again-after-thieves-tried-to-steal-copper-wire-1.4044963?localLinksEnabled=false+delivers+cautious+budget+amid+no-deal+Brexit+fears

Copper has become very valuable—Russ

7. Graham Norton: When I found out how much the Telegraph paid Boris Johnson, I just thought, No

Graham Norton has said he stopped writing for the Daily Telegraph because its recent “toxic” political stances increasingly made him feel “nauseous”.

The BBC presenter, whose Friday-night chatshow has just begun a new series, wrote the newspaper’s advice column for 12 years before stepping down without explanation at the end of 2018. Norton now says he decided to leave after the Telegraph defended the likes of Brett Kavanaugh after his nomination to the United States supreme court and published articles by the future prime minister Boris Johnson containing falsehoods.

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/graham-norton-when-i-found-out-how-much-the-telegraph-paid-boris-johnson-i-just-thought-no-1.4042435?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Donohoe+delivers+cautious+budget+amid+no-deal+Brexit+fears&utm_campaign=morning_briefing_digest

I guess Boris has to make a buck—Russ

QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS

"Midnight has come and the great Christ Church bell
And many a lesser bell sound through the room;
And it is All Souls’ Night.
And two long glasses brimmed with muscatel
Bubble upon the table. A ghost may come;
For it is a ghost’s right..."
William Butler Yeats, in All Souls' Night

I guess I should find some Muscatel — Russ

A BIT OF THE WIT

"Give an Irishman lager for a month, and he's a dead man. An Irishman is lined with copper, and the beer corrodes it. But whiskey polishes the copper and is the saving of him."
Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

How did Mark Twain know that?—Russ

JOKE OF THE MONTH

A woman goes to the post office to stock up on stamps. She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 stamps please? The clerk says, "What denomination?" The woman says, "God bless us, has it come to that? I'll have 18 Protestants, and 32 Catholics."

DID YOU KNOW

1. Dublin was originally called Dubh Linn meaning Black Pool? The pool to which the name referred is the oldest known in Northern Europe and currently forms the centre-piece of the penguin enclosure in Dublin Zoo.

2. The jawbone of St.Patrick was preserved in a silver shrine and was often requested in times of childbirth, epileptic fits and as a preservative against the evil eye?

Was there a fee?—Russ

3. Ireland's largest 'Chinatown', with a community 5,000 strong, is in the Botanic area of Belfast?

That number is, likely, higher now–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:Something wicked this way comes...

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

2. Article: The Legend Of The Churchyard Bride

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

3. Article: The Dullahan – Ireland’s headless horseman

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

4. Article: A Triple Treat for Halloween

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

5. Article: Creepy Irish Creatures

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

6. Article: Creepy Irish Castles and Houses

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

7. Article: An Irish Halloween - Part 1

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Halloween1.html

8. Article: An Irish Hallowe'en - Part 2

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Halloween2.html

9. Article: How the Irish invented Hallowe'en

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

10. Article: Ghosts

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

11. The Irish Kitchen: Barm Brack.

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

12. Basic Irish: Halloween and Samhain

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

13. Kids’ Ireland: The Changeling

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

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

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

If in October you do marry,

Love will come but riches tarry.

I can attest to this—Russ

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:

From tinker and pooka and black-hearted stranger
From harm of the water and hurt of the fire
From the horns of the cows going home to the byre
From teasing the ass when he's tied to the manger
From stones that would bruise and from thorns of the briar
From evil red berries that waken desire
From hunting the gander and vexing the goat
From depths o' seawater by Danny's old boat
From cut and from tumble, from sickness and weeping
May God have your loved ones this day in His keeping.
Edited and adapted from the poem "A Prayer for a Child" by Winifred M. Letts

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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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

Sean is walking through the park and notices an old lady sitting on a bench sobbing her eyes out. He stops and asks her what is wrong. She says, "I have a 22-year old husband at home. He kisses and cuddles me every morning and then gets up and makes me eggs, bacon, black pudding, toast and tea." Well then," Sean says, "Why are you crying?" She says, "He makes me homemade soup for lunch and then kisses and cuddles me for half the afternoon." Perplexed, Sean says, "So, why are you crying?" She says, "For supper, he always makes me my favourite meal and then kisses and cuddles me until 2:00 a.m. Astonished by now, Sean says, "Why in the world would you be crying, then?" Says she, "I can't remember where I live!"

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