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Greetings & Blessings to all
Welcome to our May newsletter.
Of course, this is the month of Mother’s day in the US. I apologize for missing Mothering Sunday in the UK. I promise I won’t forget next year. Mother’s day for me is a heart plucker. Every mother’s day my sons would bring flats of flowers for Bridget. She would order me out to the patio and tell me what to do as she filled flower baskets to hang around the roof of the patio. The boys don’t associate me with flowers so there won’t be any flowers this year. Still, I think I’ll get a basket of flowers and hang them up in her honor. Don’t forget your mother all of you (if you’re in the US and I hope you didn’t forget your mother in the UK). Last month I mentioned the Hydrangea that was starting its blooms and I hoped they come back blue. It’s still hard to tell but they appear to be blue – hooray. That was Bridget’s favorite. Those blooms make me think of Bridget coming back in the spring. I have called it ‘Bridget’. It’s not as pretty as she was but it is pretty. Of course, she wasn’t blue.
Spring is coming in with rain storms. Ah well, I can’t have flowers without rain.
Once again my thanks for the contributions. Please keep them coming. I would like appropriate news or other links more than anything. My thanks in advance.
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:
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
LINKS
1.Irish weather: Heavy rain showers set to drench Ireland and temperatures plunge as warm spell ends
Ireland has been basking in the sun for the past few days but unfortunatelythe warm spell is set to break today, with heavy rain showers and windy conditions forecast. Met Eireann say Wednesday morning will start off dry in the east but rain will spread across the country from the west. https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/newsireland/irish-weather-heavy-rain-showers-set-to-drench-ireland-and-temperatures-plunge-as-warm-spell-ends/ar-AAwZvxJ Sounds like Ireland to me—Russ2.Walk for the Weekend: A tantalising taste of Aran Island
Rutland Sound was deep and still under a hazy sun this early March morning. We were gliding past the smoothened granite sides of this narrow channel out of Burtonport, and admiring the well built houses on the Rutland Island shore, each with its own tiny access quay. But it was the larger island, Aran Island, and its extensive way-marked Slí Arainn Mhóir, that was our objective this day.
I never got to the Arans, I really regret it—Russ
3.100-year-old woman's secret to long life? A Guinness a day
For over 70 years, UK woman Doris Olive Netting has put back a glass of Guinness every day. She thanks the Irish stout’s old marketing campaigns for helping her discover that “Guinness is good for you.
https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/food-drink/guinness-good-for-you-100-year-old?utm_campaign=Best+of+IrishCentral+-+2018-05-09&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet
Well, of course (I have two)—Russ
4. How to trace your roots in Ireland - tips on finding your Irish ancestors
The Irish love to claim their own. And boy, they love a welcome home party. So you can imagine the ‘craic’ in the west of Ireland the day some years ago when Muhammad Ali dropped in on Ennis, Co Clare.
The greatest sportsman of the twentieth century, no less, ‘The Greatest,' in Ireland to discover his Irish roots.
https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/trace-roots-ireland?utm_campaign=Best+of+IrishCentral+-+2018-05-09&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet
I just thought everybody was Irish—Russ
5. When Ireland was Pirate Central
St Patrick was Irish pirates’ most famous captive. 1,400 years later we were still at it. When I first revealed my plan to travel all around the Irish coast in search of true-life pirate stories, many of my friends thought I’d been overdoing it on the Captain Morgan Rum down at the Admiral Benbow Inn.
Hmmm, I don’t think Johnny Depp is Irish—Russ
6. Concern at wild goats ‘procreating like there is no tomorrow’ in Ennis
A Fine Gael councillor has called for castration to be considered to deal with a herd of wild goats that is roaming free and “procreating like there is no tomorrow” on the outskirts of Ennis, Co Clare. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/concern-at-wild-goats-procreating-like-there-is-no-tomorrow-in-ennis-1.3488257 Well, if they think there’s ‘no tomorrow’ that explains it—Russ7. Wow Air announce super cheap summer flights between North America and Ireland
Icelandic air carrier Wow Air has announced a summer flight extravaganza,kicking off the sunny months with incredible low fares between Ireland and the Northern American cities of Chicago, New York, Toronto, Washington DC, Cleveland, and Boston via Reykjavik. Flights start from as little as $149.99 one-way to fly from the US to Dublin (via Iceland’s capital Reykjavik) throughout May, June, September, and October, taking advantage of the airline’s basic fare which doesn’t include booking and baggage fees. https://www.irishcentral.com/travel/travel-tips/wow-air-summer-flights-north-america-to-ireland?utm_campaign=Best+of+IrishCentral+-+2018-05-08&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet Ooo, and notice the cities they fly from—RussQUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS
Irish poets, learn your trade,
sing whatever is well made,
scorn the sort now growing up
all out of shape from toe to top.
W.B. Yeats
sing whatever is well made,
scorn the sort now growing up
all out of shape from toe to top.
W.B. Yeats
A BIT OF THE WIT
True friends stab you in the front.Oscar Wilde
JOKE OF THE MONTH
A young lad had just gotten his provisional license. (learner's permit) He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss his use of the car. His father said to him, "If you bring your marks up, study your bible, and get your hair cut, we'll talk about it." A month later the boy came back and again asked his father if they could now discuss his use of the car. His father said, "Well, son, I see that your marks have improved, you've studied your bible diligently, but you didn't get a hair cut!" The young man waited a moment and then replied, "You know dad, I've been thinking about that. Didn't Samson have long hair, Moses have long hair, Noah have long hair, and even Jesus himself have long hair?" His father replied, "They did so, and they walked everywhere they went!"
DID YOU KNOW
1. The world's most northerly vineyard is in Mallow, County Cork?
I didn’t know they had any vineyards at all—Russ
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.
Hum, and still working? That one was well made—Russ
3.Over half a million Irish homes now have a computer, and 80 per cent of those have internet access?
I’ll bet those numbers are much higher now–Russ
This is not part of the normal newsletter. I received it from Joe McTiernan (thank you Joe). I’ve heard the story before but it’s too good not to share it.I hope you all agree.
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.'
'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.
'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill . His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
Sponsor
I’m my own Sponsor 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: ICC Book of Jokes
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:Mothering Sunday in Old Ireland
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MothersDay.html
2. Article: The May Day Dew - Should you roll naked in it?
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MayDew.html
3. Article: How to prevent Mayhem...
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Mayhem.html
4. Article: May - the month of mirth and merriment!
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MayMonth.html
5. Article: Poems & Lyrics in honour of Irish Mothers
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MothersPoems.html
6. Article: Marry in May and Rue the Day
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MarryMay.html
7. The Irish Kitchen: Simnel Cake
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/rMothersDay.html
8. Basic Irish: Spring Cleaning
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons7.html#Gael30
9. Kids’ Ireland: How The Causeway Came to Be
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/Causeway.html
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in June.
If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of May, here is your special verse:
Marry in the month of May,
You will surely rue the day.
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:
God made a wonderful mother,A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And He moulded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.
Please god, He will bless her and keep her
though far from me now she is gone
And God willing I’ll once again feel her
loving arms around me once more.
Edited and adpated from the poem
Wonderful Mother by Pat O'Reilly 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. DID SOMEONE FORWARD THIS ISSUE TO YOU? Subscribe for FREE! Send an email to: rhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com OR click on this link: http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Newsletter.html
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 WordsThe 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.
Bless you all,
Russ Haggerty
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
