http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/index.html
Greetings & Blessings to all
Welcome to our September newsletter.
Technically, it’s just become Autumn. Well, there’s a few days left before the “first day” but the children are back in school and the parents lives have changed accordingly. My ‘children’ are all much older so the ones back in school are my grandchildren. Even so, the changes are there. To me, this means I’ll be seeing more visits to the web site. That’s because the kids are no longer monopolizing the computer. Oh, and the vacations are, pretty much, done for this year. So, everyone is back ‘in harness’
Although the calendar disagrees, the weather still thinks it’s summer and my temperatures have been in the 90’s ƒ interspersed with thunderstorms. Yesterday I got four inches of rain in less than one hour. I thought I should build an ark.
I hope all of you are having better weather and I hope you all had a very enjoyable summer. Now, we have to plan on an enjoyable Autumn before the ‘silly season’ envelopes us.
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
Irish: Níl Gaeilge agam
Pronunciation: kneel gway-il-geh ah-gum (literally 'I don't have Irish')
LINKS
1.Ireland’s Aran Islands, Hiding in Plain Sight
Just as in the days of J.M. Synge, who wrote his celebrated plays there, the Arans can feel like a place lost in time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/10/travel/aran-islands-ireland-jm-synge.html
I didn’t see the Arans and I’m sorry for it —Russ
2.480 people from 68 countries became Ireland's newest citizens today
The majority of these new citizens (85) come from Poland, with people from the UK (47), Romania (41), China (15), and Pakistan (13) and more, forming the remainder of the diverse group.
Nobody from the US?, I am surprised —Russ
3.Irish households now officially wealthier than during boom
Irish households in the 35-44 age cohort remain highly indebted, whereas younger generations have lower debt levels relative to the rest of the euro area.
The young ones haven’t had enough time to build their debt—Russ
4. Weather forecast Ireland: Long range forecast predicts early winter freeze could grip Ireland with sub-zero temperatures and frosty winds
While Met Eireann, Ireland's national forecaster, do not give long range forecasts, some weather experts in the UK have made the chilly prediction. The Mirror UK reports that long-term models suggest that things could take a turn for the worse later in October with a possible Arctic blast bringing freezing temperatures, strong winds and frost to parts of the UK, heralding an 'early' start to winter.
I’ll bet it won’t be as cold as here in the States—Russ
5. Ireland weather forecast: Climate one of the main reasons Irish people decide to emigrate
Ireland may have basked in a prolonged heatwave during our glorious summer.
But the usually damp climate and lack of sunshine have been singled out as one of the biggest reasons why so many Irish people decide to emigrate.
According to a new study, nearly three in five (57%) of Irish nationals who relocate abroad have cited climate and weather as one of their main causes for leaving.
The figure, part of the findings in the newly-published Expat Insider 2018 Survey, compares to a global average of just 45 per cent.
Irish emigrants are also more likely to remain permanently in their adopted countries than most other nationalities, the findings reveal.
After the ‘long-term’ forecast above there may be even more—Russ
6. Glory days of blazing camogie finals well and truly over
Camogie can’t keep having finals like this. For the second year in a row, Cork beat Kilkenny by a point in a tight, nervy game where no goal was scored and the overwhelming majority of the points came from placed balls. Orla Cotterand Chloe Sigerson landed a free each – both questionable – in the dying minutes from opposite sides of the pitch to buy the reigning champions a 0-14 to 0-13 victory in front of a crowd of 21,467. Cork won’t care how it was done, only that it was.
I don’t understand Camogie but I know it’s very important to the Irish—Russ
7. Fishermen Haul in Monstrous Skull and Antlers of Extinct Irish Elk
Fishermen in Northern Ireland pulled in the catch of a lifetime on Wednesday (Sept. 5), when they caught an enormous Irish elk skull that's estimated to be more than 10,500 years old. The impressive specimen is about 6 feet (1.8 meters) across and is almost fully intact.
We saw one very like this in Bunratty Castle when we went to the medieval dinner. It was found in the moat—Russ
QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS
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
I know I can use it — Russ
A BIT OF THE WIT
He was a bold man that first ate an oyster
Jonathan Swift
I never worked up the courage myself—Russ
JOKE OF THE MONTH
The Monsignor greeted Paddy and said "Congratulations on your 50th wedding anniversary"! Have you any plans made on how to celebrate?"
"Well," said Paddy, "on our 25th Anniversary I took Mary to Ireland."
And what are you going to do on your 50th?" asked the Msgr.
"Well," said Paddy "I think I'll bring her back."
DID YOU KNOW
1. St. James's Gate Brewery is built on the site where, since medieval times, Dubliners held an annual drinking festival every 25th July to celebrate the feastday of St. James?
There’s a traditional venue for you —Russ
2.Every spring, more than twenty million eels swim into the River Bann to breed?
I won’t be swimming there—Russ
3.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
If he hadn’t we’d have a lot fewer cars–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.
Available on Amazon. Use this Link: Book of Jokes
THE WEEK THAT IS
1. Article:Galway Races - Where the Pint is the Unit of Currency!
2. Article: The Galway Races - Enough Raw Material for A Trilogy of Novels
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/GalwayRaces3.html
3. Article: Ladies' Day at the Galway Races
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/GalwayLadies.html
4. Article: The Galway Races - A Winning Bet Every Time!
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/GalwayRaces4.html
5. Article: The Galway International Oyster Festival - a joyous celebration of a native aristocrat
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aGalwayOysters.html
6. The Irish Kitchen: Irish Oyster Recipes
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/rOysters.html
7. Basic Irish: Oysters
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Oysters.html
8. Kids’ Ireland: The Countess Kathleen O'Shea
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/CountessOShea.html
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in October.
If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of September, here is your special verse:
Marry in September’s shine,
Your living will be rich and fine.
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:
Bless us oh Lord, You who are
the peace of all things calm
the place to hide from harm
the light that shines in dark
the heart's eternal spark
the door that's open wide
welcoming all to come inside.
We ask this blessing
God be willing.
Adapted from the Celtic oral tradition - 1st millennium
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
The BookPotion, 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
A farmer finally decided to buy a TV. The store assured him that they would install the antenna and TV the next day.The next evening the farmer turned on his new TV and found only political adverts on every channel. The next morning he turned the TV on and found only political dverts again. When he came in to eat dinner he tried the TV again but still only found political adverts. The next day when he still found only political adverts he called the store to complain. The owner said that it was impossible for every channel to only have political adverts, but agreed to send their repairman to check the TV. When the TV repairman turned on the TV he found that the farmer was right. After looking at the TV for a while he went outside to check the antenna. In a few minutes he returned and told the farmer he had found the problem. The antenna had been installed on top of the windmill and grounded to the manure spreader.
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
