Welcome to the Irish Culture & Customs newsletter which is published every fortnight or so and sent out to over 4200 readers all over the world. You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up for it - God Bless you! If you'd like to read past issues, they are archived at:
http://www.ymlpr.com/pubarchive.php?Herself
If, for any reason, you wish to unsubscribe, instructions are at the very end - but we do hope you'll stay with us. And if you need to update your info' or change your email address, you can do that at the end, too.
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Greetings and Blessings to all,
We hope this edition finds you and yours in good spirits, good health and good company. As for ourselves, we're still in the midst of moving. We should have anticipated that dismantling an accumulation going on 35 years couldn't happen overnight. But we're getting there. And hopefully, within the next week or so, we'll be back on a fortnightly schedule for the newsletter, and might even consider our former once a week missive in the new year? Hmmm...better not make any promises!
The Celtic New Year has come and gone and here we are with the holidays looming once again. The signs are everywhere and have been as soon as the Hallowe'en witches took flight. Ah, for the old days when there'd be a bit of a breather between the celebration of Samhain and Bringing Home the Christmas. Of course, you can always decide for yourself which clock tocks for you and mercifully we hope you'll lean toward slow time. That's when you remove yourself from the mainstream and eschew the midnight or dawn madness of rapscallion retailers. Just how many TVs can one household possibly want or need? Alternatively, if you are blessed to be in a climate of changing seasons, you could do as we have done and marvel at the leaves. We thought this year was going to be a less than spectacular display but we didn't give Mother Nature enough credit. A few cold nights; another warm spell and then some more chilly temperatures - Brilliant.
Well now, dear readers in the USA, are you ready for what Russ playfully calls the national day of gluttony followed by the national frantic Friday? We'll be heading over to our daughter's house as we did last year and we'll probably stay over so Russ can indulge a wee bit and not worry about driving, But we won't be getting up at the crack of dawn to get mauled at the mall which has become the custom all over the country!
When we can afford to buy Christmas gifts which has been a bit iffy the last few years, we like to go online and shop at leisure - and we just discovered that amazon will be having a special "Black Friday" sale! Might we suggest you avoid those cold dreary parking lots waiting for the doors to open and check out this link:
http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=irishcultucus-20
They will be offering hourly deals from 6am to 6pm PST along with thousands of products on sale for a limited time. Also, you can get gift wrapping for $.99 per item and you can enter a drawing to win a $10,000 shopping spree. Plus, when you buy anything on amazon, we make a small commission which helps keep your newsletter coming. Go raibh maith agat in advance!
Enough of the blather, on with the update:
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SPONSOR: Please help us keep our newsletter coming - visit our friends at the Celtic Attic:
The Christmas Season is upon us. Shop now and avoid the holiday rush, plus keep in mind that orders can be delayed as we get closer to the big day. So avoid disappointment - shop now and save! Plus, we have free shipping on orders over $125.00 and every order will get a free gift during the month of November. And just when you think we were totally crazy for all the goodies we are offering, you can get a FREE PDF copy of the Celtic Attic Cookbook with each $50.00 order placed. Finally, if you order something from our new Going Green pages, you will get a free Christmas Ornament. Remember, the more you buy the more free goodies you get, so do all your holiday shopping now. Order on line or by phone - and tell them Bridget & Russ said hello!
Tel: 360-765-0186
http://celticcallings.com/shopping/merchant.mvc?CSC&Affiliate=Bridget
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IN THIS ISSUE:
News
From the mailbag
Links
Quips, Quotes, Proverbs & Toasts
A Bit of the Wit
Joke of The Week
Did You Know
Know Your Writers
Riddle
The week That Is
Events
Leave 'em Laughing
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NEWS
What follows are news clips from around the counties and the world. Links for more news stories can be found on our web site here
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/01News/Home.html
And more county news can be found here:
http://www.emigrant.ie/summary.asp?iCategoryID=18
GENERAL
Ministers told to use Irish in EU business
Government ministers have been reminded to use the Irish language when possible on EU business. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, briefed the cabinet on the serious problem of getting qualified legal translators to translate European legal documents. He said that it is an issue that needs to be addressed. The minister also reminded the cabinet that a service is available for them to use Irish at EU meetings and this facility should be used when possible
Be Part of Ireland's Biggest Collective Art Exhibition- An Post C Both Sides
The postcard art initiative is a 12 month programme asking the public to design a postcard. This will be followed by a country wide exhibition of selected entries during 2009, recording and communicating to the public a time in Ireland's collective social history. The campaign celebrates postcard design and the skill of handwriting. Anyone can take part in the project to make a personal statement, depicting a favourite memory, a special place, someone important or even a secret. There is no set theme, just the criteria to communicate for the price of a stamp and use a postcard as the medium.
For complete details, please visit:
http://www.anpostcbothsides.ie
New Bishop of Achonry appointed
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Monsignor Brendan Kelly as Bishop of the Diocese of Achonry. Monsignor Kelly, who is currently the Parish Priest at Spiddal in Co Galway, will succeed Thomas Flynn. Bishop Flynn is the longest serving member of the Irish Hierarchy and has been bishop of the diocese for the past 30 years. Achonry Diocese includes parts of Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon.
A date for the ordination has not yet been set.
FROM AROUND THE COUNTIES
Armagh: Old Mill heritage centre opened
The official opening has taken place of the refurbished Old Mill in Keady, which has now become a heritage centre featuring an eighteen foot high water wheel. An exhibition at the centre contains artefacts dating from the time when linen production was first established in the area in the mid-eighteenth century. "From Till to Mill" also includes a Butterworth and Dixon loom which has been fully restored.
Carlow: Nineteenth century building to be museum
The former Presentation Convent on College Street in Carloe Town is to be refurbished and some five thousand artefacts are to be housed in the building. One of the main features of the new building will be a full-length stained glass window designed by Thomas Early, who was a contemporary of Harry Clarke.
Cavan: Kilnaleck man is King of the Culchies
Paudie Clinton from Kilnaleck was recently crowned King of the Culchies. The Lisduff man was one of fourteen contestants which included a wellie-throwing competition in Dublin's Moore Street. On being crowned King Paudie also received a trophy featuring a Wellington boot with turf set into it from eighty-six-year-old Moore Street trader May O'Gorman. Next month all thirteen of the other contestants will be converging on Kilnaleck where they will centre their celebrations at Pius Denneny's pub.
Clare: Four decades of Clare lives
Some forty years of lives in North Clare are documented in an exhibition which opened in Ennistymon last week. "Life in North Clare Through the Lens" is the work of Michael John Glynne, the renowned Ennistymon freelance photographer who died in 1998. The photographs mostly cover a period from the 1950s to the 1980s and are on display at the Courthouse Studios in the town until the end of November. Glynne was at one time a photographer for the Clare Champion newspaper in addition to being a commercial photographer, and travelled around to all the major events in the area on his bicycle.
Derry: Long-time Creggan resident reaches landmark birthday
Next February it will be fifty years since Ellen Gallagher and her family moved into a house in the Creggan estate, so it is fitting that her one hundredth birthday celebrations took place in Creggan Community Centre. Though born in Gweedore, Co. Donegal, the Dunmore Gardens resident has lived in Derry since she was three weeks old and attended Waterside Girls School before starting work at Bryson Weston's shirt factory on the Strand Road. Joining Nellie, as she is better known, at her birthday celebrations were her extended family and a host of friends.
Dublin: New sculpture for inner city
Recently, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paddy Bourke, performed the official unveiling of a new sculpture in the newly opened Store Street Plaza. The sculpture, entitled "Scathan" or "Mirror", was designed by Robert McColgan. The Plaza, a central space enclosed by Busaras, the Coroner's Court, Store Street Garda Station, Hotel Isaacs and the Luas stop, has been developed in a bid to enhance the area. It includes supplementary lighting, Chinese silver granite paving and the planting of five evergreen trees.
ED. NOTE: No word yet on whether creative Dubs have come up with an alternative name.
Donegal: Drung chapel to close for renovations
St Columba's Chapel in Drung, set on a hill on the Derry to Moville road, is to be closed from next Easter while major renovation work is carried out.Built built in 1871 and one of the oldest churches in Inishowen, is it us to have a new roof, a new heating and electronics system, new flooring and a new sacristy. In addition, the sanctuary area is to be extended. While the chapel is closed Mass will be celebrated at Quigley's Point Community Centre.
Fermanagh: Gala ball crowns centenary celebrations
A gala ball and auction held at the Lough Erne Golf Resort in Enniskillen was the culmination of the Jones Memorial Primary School's centenary celebrations. The evening included entertainment by the children of the school and an auction hosted by the BBC's Derek Thornton who is himself a former pupil
Galway: Christmas lights as Gaeilge
Greetings such as "Nollaig Shona", "Beannachtaí na Nollag", Beannachtaí na Féile" and "Oíche Chiún, Oíche Mhic Dé" will greet shoppers in Galway this year, through the collaboration of Gaillimh le Gaeilge and the Galway City Business Association. It is anticipated that the lights, which will hang in Eyre Square, Shop Street, High Street and Dominick Street, will enhance Galway's standing as a bilingual city.
Galway: A watery Christmas for Ray
One Galwayman who has been rowing since his secondary school days will be spending Christmas on the Atlantic, taking part in what he hopes will be a record-breaking crossing. Ray Carroll from Salthill will embark on the fifty-foot boat which has already broken the record, carrying a French crew, and this time he, along with another Irishmen and an international crew hope to row from Gran Canaria to Barbados in thirty-three days; the current record stands at thirty-five days and six hours.
Kerry: Derrynane resident protests new walls
The concrete barriers placed in front of the traditional stone walls along the road between Sneem and Waterville have caused Derrynane woman Jean Byrne to write to both the Minister for the Environment John Gormley and Transport Minister Noel Dempsey. Ms Byrne is protesting at what she describes as the sacrificing of "part of Ireland's national landscape heritage". The National Roads Authority has defended its solution to the problem of a narrow road bearing a good deal of traffic, and a local councillor has suggested they might at least face the concrete with traditional stone.
Kildare: Blathnaid one of favourites for Miss World
Blathnaid McKenna, the current Miss Ireland who is from Tullyeast in Kildare town, has risen up the ranks to be the bookies' third favourite to win the title of Miss World. Blathnaid beat twenty-four other contestants to take the national title and her rise in the rankings follows the placing of a bet of £1,000 by someone in Britain as yet unidentified. The twenty-one-year-old graduate is now lying just behind Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Dominican Republic, and will compete for the Miss World crown in Beijing at the beginning of December.
Kildare: Parishioners to return to Derrinturn Church
Parishioners of Derrinturn Church in Carbury will be looking forward to being able to use their church from next weekend, with the renovation work almost complete. The work started in June of last year and the pews were placed into position last week, with this week seeing the installation of a new church organ. Although Mass will again be said in Holy Trinity Church from next week, the official opening will take place on the first Sunday in December, when Bishop Jim Moriarty will be the chief celebrant. To accommodate the expected large congregation a marquee is to be erected close to the church.
Kilkenny: Local trees prompt major festival
The village green in Freshford is surrounded by fifty-two horse chestnut trees and some years ago local resident Grace Kearney came up with the idea of using the conkers generated by the trees as the basis for a festival. Now in their eighth year, the Irish Conker Championships took place recently with more than six hundred competitors gathering in the village. The contestants used conkers selected by the Conker Committee from among the thirty thousand conkers collected by children from St Lachtain's School.
Kilkenny: Landmark hotel on the market
After forty years in the city, the Kerr family is to sever its links with the Newpark Hotel. Opened by Bobby Kerr in 1966 in partnership with Aidan Prior, the running of the hotel was taken over by Bobby's son Robert after his father's death six years ago. Now, however, Robert finds that his position as chairman of the Insomnia chain of coffee houses has left him insufficient time to concentrate on the hotel business and he has decided to hand over to someone else.
Laois: Donncha visits Cromogue's well
Local historian Tony Delaney was the guide as RTE radio presenter Donncha O Dulaing toured sites associated with St Fintan as part of a nationwide tour of holy wells. A number of local people had gathered at the well, between the villages of Raheen and Shanahoe, for the broadcaster's visit, and Father John McEvoy, a native of Ballyroan, led the prayers. Also on the itinerary for the "Fáilte Isteach" programme were the monastic settlements in Cromogue and Clonenagh, the latter in the parish of Mountrath. It was here that St Fintan established a school and seminary in the sixth century.
Leitrim: National title for Drumsna
The village of Drumsna has been named as the winner of the All Island Pride of Place Award in the category of villages with a population between five hundred and one thousand. The village was presented to the judges by means of a powerpoint display in the Community Resource Centre by Councillor Sinead Guckian. However they were particularly struck by the walking tour of the "Living History of Drumsna", with more than one hundred people helping to take the village back one hundred years to the time of Anthony Trollope, Michael Davitt and the Devonish family.
Limerick: Dooradoyle restaurant says, "Bring your own wine"
A restaurant in Dooradoyle has increased its business by the simple expedient of allowing patrons to bring their own bottles of wine to the table. In addition, Fables restaurant charges no corkage to the clients. According to manager Bryan Greene, the idea came from a restaurant in New Jersey which didn't serve wine but which allowed patrons to go across the road to an off-licence to purchase their own and bring it back to drink with their dinner.
Louth: Stand-down parade for Captain Dullaghan
A stand-down parade took place recently at Aiken Barracks in Dundalk, marking the end of the army career of Captain Terry Dullaghan, who has been serving at the barracks since he joined the local A Company 8th Infantry Battalion almost forty years ago. During his long military career Terry became a crack shot and competed in all the army shooting competitions; he was a member of the rifle team that won the inaugural FCA Falling Plates Competition in 1976. Now a manager with eircom in the town, he hopes to have more time to spend with his wife Lillie and their family.
Louth: Dundalk girl celebrated in new book
A new book for children which had a novel launch last week was originally a birthday present for a nine-year-old girl from Dundalk. "The Most Beautiful Letter in the World" was written by Karl O'Neill for his niece Sheena's ninth birthday and it was arranged that her parents would take her for a walk and she would 'find' the book on a park bench. Her father, Simon, encouraged her to open the 'envelope', which was addressed "To You", and Sheena was so delighted with her present that Karl arranged for the book to be published and, as part of the launch, two hundred copies were distributed in public areas around Dublin.
Mayo: Best in Ireland award for Westport bar
Cosy Joe's bar on Bridge Street in Westport has been voted the Best Bar in Ireland in the Hospitality Awards 2007. The bar owner, Joe O'Malley, was presented with his award at a ceremony in the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin. Having undergone an initial unannounced visit by the judges,Cosy Joe's was deemed the best. The judges particularly remarked on its friendliness, the blend of the new and traditional, and the constant stream of clientele it attracts.
Mayo: Exhibition on life of Castlebar diva
An exhibition is to be mounted at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar to celebrate the life of locally-born opera singer Margaret Burke Sheridan, the fiftieth anniversary of whose death will be recorded next year. In addition, the county council is to provide an initial fund of 5,000 to encourage the formation of a project committee who will organise a major celebration of the world famous soprano. Among items to be on display are tickets to performances at La Scala, where Ms Sheridan performed, and some of the singer's stage gowns which have been lent by her biographer, Westport author Anne Chambers.
Offaly: O'Donoghues' record run
The eight brothers and seven sisters of the O'Donoghue family from Birr have run their way into the record books by completing the Dublin City Marathon, all of them in a time under the eight-hour limit set by the Guinness Book of Records. First over the line at Fitzwilliam Square was Cronan O'Donoghue, whose time was four hours fifteen minutes, and he was followed by Willie, Kieran, Theresa, Joe, Pat, Robert, Mary, Margaret, Noel, Adelaide, James, Brenda, Kevin and Louise.
Tipperary: "Messiah" to be aired in Clonmel
The traditional December performance of Handel's "Messiah" will take place at St Mary's Church, Irishtown in Clonmel on the second Saturday, with four Tipperary singers taking leading roles.
Tyrone: Time capsule marks anniversary of patron saint
As the final part of the celebrations for the fifteen hundredth anniversary of St Macartan, patron saint of the Clogher diocese, a time capsule has been buried in the grounds of Fivemiletown Round Lane Playpark. Some eighty children from three local schools, Fivemiletown, Clogher Valley Integrated and St Mary's primary schools, attended the event, as did Church of Ireland Bishop Michael Jackson and local members of the clergy, Rev. Kyle Hanlon and Father Terence Dolan. Among items included are artwork created by the children, class photographs and personal profiles, and the children have pledged to unearth the capsule in twenty-five years' time.
Waterford: Tap switched off in Lemybrien
The last fill of petrol has been dispensed by a filling station in the village of Lemybrien, which last week closed after forty-two years in business. Andy Power from Kilrossanty began running the Lemybrien Service Station and garage in 1965 and holds it on a lease; the land has now been sold for development by Pat McCoy, who is to build a new filling station with a shop, restaurant and motor repair shop. Until the new facility opens there will be just one filling station on the stretch of road between Dungarvan and Waterford city, Walsh's which is located just across the road from Andy's premises.
Waterford: Two Waterford premises in Eurotoque awards
This year's Eurotoque awards for outstanding contribution to Irish food, presented at a ceremony in Dublin by chef Neven Maguire, featured two members of the food industry from Waterford. Michael McGrath from Lismore is the third generation of his family to run the butcher shop, which was established on its present site in 1900 by his grandfather. The second local winner was Flahavan's, where the sixth generation of the Flahavan family now runs the mill at Kilmacthomas, which employs a total of forty-five people. The company also sources all its material from local growers.
Wexford: Dance record broken in Enniscorthy
A new entry into the Guinness Book of Records is on the cards after a couple completed the longest continuous stretch of Ballroom/Latin American dancing at The Baily. Beating the record of thirty-six hours set eighteen years ago in America, Alan O'Brien of the O'Brien School of Dancing and his partner Katie Crofts from Andy Doyle Close completed fifty-three hours; after Katie withdrew Alan continued for another seven hours but has registered the lower figure for record purposes.
Westmeath: Spook hunter visits Kilbeggan
TV medium Derek Acorah, of "Most Haunted" fame visited the Old Distillery in Kilbeggan to investigate a number of reported sightings. According to Bernadette Quinn the distillery, which dates from the mid-eighteenth century, is haunted by a monk and by one of the original owners. The reports, from both staff and visitors, feature a person in a hooded robe, as well as the sound of chains rattling.
Wexford: Tara Hill school says farewell to Tadhg
The community in Tara Hill attended a special Mass in St Kevin's Church last week to mark the retirement from teaching of Tadhg Kelly, who has been principal of Tara Hill National School for forty years. The chief celebrant at the Mass was Tadhg's brother Father Artie Kelly, and he was joined by Father Odhran Furlong, Father Jimmy Moynihan and Father Barry French.
FROM ALL OVER
Providence, Rhode Island, USA: Unveiling ceremony for Irish famine memorial
Several of the state's Irish organizations are unveiling a bronze sculpture on the city's Riverwalk that marks the event. The memorial will also have a commemorative wall explaining the potato famine to visitors.
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SPONSOR: Please help us keep the newsletter coming - visit our good friends at the Irish Lotto.
The Irish lotto has been in operation since 1988 and is one of the oldest online
lottery sites in the world. With subscribers in 89 countries it is among the most reliable lottery sites on the web. Jackpots are never lower than US$1,500,000 and are frequently worth in excess of US$5,000,000 Here's the best part - you don't have to live in Ireland to play and all winnings are Tax Free!
Latest results: There was NO winner in last Saturday's drawing That means the jackpot could be in excess of 4 million Euro! It's' always been our fantasy that one of our readers will win; but, as they say in Ireland, you can't win it if you're not in it. http://www.irishlotto.net
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FROM THE MAILBAG
Harry Keogh writes about Charles E. Cassidy Phila Police Officer Badge #2342
Chuck Cassidy was mortally wounded in the line of duty on 10.31.07. He was a member of our extended family through marriage. Chuck was a wonderful man with a pure heart. He never said a bad word about anyone. I will surely miss seeing him at the Thanksgiving day parade and forever after. I am including a web site made in his honor:
http://www.rememberchuck.org/
Please keep him and his family in your prayers and I am sure any donations would be welcomed.
Muriel has a poetry request:
My paternal grandmother Mary Margaret Breen Marrinan, when she came to America from Ennistymon, Co. Clare in the 1800's, brought with her an album in which a poem was written that I want to retrieve. Some of the lines I remember said, "And smite the Saxon tyrant under and claim a throne we can call our own!" Another line, "True Celts were never known to quail the lightning blast or fiery hail!" The last line reads, "And fight for God and Innisfree!" Would this be familiar to someone out there? I would be most grateful to have this poem in full.
Joan writes:
First I would like to say how much I love to get my Irish news letter as I am a irish woman living in Canada for the past 17 years. I was just reading it to day and saw "check out West life's new song," which I did. Last year here in Canada, a lovely young man by the name of Michael Buble had a big hit with the same song. So if your readers like that sort of music you just have to check out his site , it is fantastic:
http://www.michaelbuble.com
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LINKS
A Thanksgiving greeting for readers in the USA
http://www.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i=449218672&m=6019&rr=y&source=ag999
Thanksgiving Links
Here's a comprehensive collection of links that include turkey traditions, turkey fun, turkey trivia and more. With thanks to our dear friend AG who sent us a great Turkey quiz. We managed to get 14 out of 20. See how well you do.
http://home.aristotle.net/Thanksgiving/links.asp
Celtic Holiday Music
Several readers have sent us the link to AccuRadio which features an all Celtic channel for holiday music. After you click on the main URL. scroll down the menu to see what's on offer. And go raibh maith agat to all of you who sent in this link!
http://www.accuradio.com/holidays/
Christmas Countdown
Children will enjoy watching the seconds tick away until the big day.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze201j5/countdown.htm
Joshua Tree 20th Year anniversary
What makes this link to amazon special is that you can view an exclusive video of U2 performing In the Name of Love. It's as good now as it was two decades ago.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB000WTNCQS%3Fpf%5Frd%5Fm%3DATVPDKIKX0DER%26pf%5Frd%5Fs%3Dcenter-3%26pf%5Frd%5Fr%3D1K8GWT2WX7GBF2TK6TK1%26pf%5Frd%5Ft%3D101%26pf%5Frd%5Fp%3D327598901%26pf%5Frd%5Fi%3D5174&tag=irishcultucus-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325
Free Mammograms
Many women can't afford the test, but here's how you can help: Go to the Breast Cancer site and click on their free mammogram link; if the site gets enough clicks , they'll be able to donate at least one free mammogram a day to underprivileged women. It takes just a minute and there's no cost involved:
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com
Free Pet Food!
Last but certainly not least - our ongoing gift to AG in California and all friends to animals, please click this link today and everyday. It only takes a second to feed an animal. Thanks!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites.woa
Free People Food!
It only takes a second to feed hungry people, too:
http://www.thehungersite.com
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QUIPS & QUOTES , CURSES & PROVERBS, TOASTS & SAYINGS
A toast to our American readers:
May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
have nary a lump. \
May your yams be delicious
and your pies take the prize,
and may your Thanksgiving dinner
stay off your thighs!
Author unknown
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A BIT OF THE WIT
After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations. Oscar Wilde
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FAVORITE JOKE OF THE WEEK
A young boy after hearing the story of Thanksgiving and how the Indians and the Pilgrims sat down together,climbed up into his father's lap and said, "Daddy, did you know that if we were Indians, you would be a brave and Mom would be a squawk?"
"That is the best description of your mother I have ever heard," replied his daddy as he ducked.
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DID YOU KNOW
In celebration of Thanksgiving Thursday in the USA and with Christmas around the corner elsewhere, what could be more appropriate than the following bits of useless information (which might make for interesting dinner conversation!):
1. The sound a female turkey makes is called a click?
2. A wild turkey can run as fast 45 mph?
3. Turkeys are the only breed of poultry native to the Western Hemisphere?
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SPONSOR: Please help us keep your newsletter coming - visit our good friends at Lollysmith:
Not content with offering their wide assortment of genuine Irish shillelaghs, they now stock the all-important accessories including ferrules, spikes and badges! if you have an important occasion coming up for an important person in your life, a stick accompanied by accessories would make a gift they will remember whenever they go out for a stretch of the legs. So take a look and also browse a diverse range of other gifts from inspirational Rosary beads of genuine Connemara marble to Whiskey Fudge made by Connemara Kitchens.
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?lollysmith+wSpfhS+teandgrgi.html ====================================================
KNOW YOUR IRISH WRITERS
First off, the answers to our last quiz:
1. A Haunted Land: Ireland's Ghosts - Bob Curran
2. Mysterious World: Ireland - Ian Middleton
3. Famous Irish Ghost Stories - Mairtin O'Griofa
A tip of the hat and a round of pints to our latest list of Irish bibliophiles
Mary Ruggiero
I invite you to visit my Irish Pride site which is dedicated to the rich cultural heritage of Ireland and I hope you will sign my guest book.
http://members.tripod.com/ladyirish317-ivil/
Helen Dowd
A good place to see your articles get some exposure is Faith Writer's. http://www.faithwriters.com/
And If you want to read any of mine, please click on: http://www.faithwriters.com/searchresults.php?searchtext=Dowd&Search.x=14&Search.y=6
Hartson Dowd
A good Irish Site I am Enjoying at the moment is Following Celtic Ways - Ramblings and reviews by John Willmott as he travels the Celtic Ways and Waterways visiting hidden ancient Celtic temples, sacred wells, and provoking legends, plus music and theatre along the way.
http://www.celticways.com/blog/
Want to see your name and favorite web site in our next newsletter?
Who wrote:
1. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead: Irish Blessings, Toasts and Curses
2. Irish Blessings and Prayers for All Occasions
3. 'Tis a Blessing to be Irish
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SPONSOR: Please help us keep our newsletter coming - visit our friends at the Celtic Attic:
The Christmas Season is upon us. Shop now and avoid the holiday rush, plus keep in mind that orders can be delayed as we get closer to the big day. So avoid disappointment - shop now and save! Plus, we have free shipping on orders over $125.00 and every order will get a free gift during the month of October & November. And just when you think we were totally crazy for all the goodies we are offering, you can get a FREE PDF copy of the Celtic Attic Cookbook with each $50.00 order placed. Finally, if you order something from our new Going Green pages, you will get a free Christmas Ornament. Remember, the more you buy the more free goodies you get, so do all your holiday shopping now.
Order on line or by phone - and tell them Bridget & Russ said hello!
Tel: 360-765-0186
http://celticcallings.com/shopping/merchant.mvc?CSC&Affiliate=Bridget
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RIDDLE
First off, the answers to our previous brain bewilderer(s)
Q. What do sea monsters eat for lunch?
A. Fish and Shops
Q. What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its radius?
A. Pi
Q. What is the tallest building in Transylvania?
A. The Vampire State Building.
Well done to Barry Heywood in Australia who was first in.
And now for our next mind mangler:
The two toed turkey towed twelve times ten talking turtles.
Q. How many talking turtles did the two toed turkey tow?
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THE WEEK THAT IS
1. Article/Recipe: Preparing the Puddings
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aXmasPud.html
2. Article: In My Father's Time
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWriters/EamonKelly.html
3. Article: Sure and Begone & Begorrah to Oirish Greeting Cards
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMisc/IrishCards.html
4. Poetry Corner: Joseph Mary Plunkett
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Poetry/JMPlunkett.html
5. Book Review: An Irish Christmas
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Libr/zXmasKeane.html
6: The irish Kitchen: Guid Irish Christmas Cake
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/XmasDesserts.html#GuidXmasCake
7. Basic Irish: An Post - Mailing & Shipping
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/PostMail.html
8. Kids Ireland: The White Trout
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/WhiteTrout.html
9. Music Review: Woman of The house/Cherish the ladies; reviewed by William Ramatour
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/Ramoutar/CherishLadies.html
11. Circle of prayer - The sixth Novena in this cycle began on November 20 and continues through November 28. Whatever your spiritual leanings, please remember the following in your prayers or meditations: Kristin's new friend Dave, a terminally ill high school German teacher, Benjamin H, C.J, George, Jim Magee, Simon Shepherd, Bette & Bill, Thelma & Leo, little Bradley., Aunt Maisie, Aunt Anne, Celeste. Bobby's wife Pat, 4-year old CJ, little Dominic & Siobhan, Aunt Anne, cousin Michael, Miriam's friend, Aunt Sally, baby Joseph, RoseAnn, baby Maggie, Michael Shea and his family, Liadan, Penny, Hartson, Pauline, Heather and so many others who need our prayers or meditations, especially our men and women in the military serving their country all over the world. Please God, they will all be home safe and sound soon.
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Blessings/CirclePrayer.html
12. The contest for November is posted. All entries must be in by midnight, November 30 , whatever time zone you're in:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/TriviaContest.html
So there you have it until we write again. If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other important event between now and then, we hope it's an occasion filled with joy and happiness. And if this is your first edition, many thanks for joining us; we hope you enjoyed our musings and meanderings and if so, please feel free to pass them along to family and friends.
A safe and happy Thanksgiving Thursday to all of our readers in the USA and we leave all of you with this lovely old Irish blessing:
May the spirits of peace and tranquility call
To reside in your home, every room, every wall.
May four Angels protect eaves North South East and West.
May God's spirit of love reassure you are blessed.
May each guest you receive feel welcome and warm
And may God protect them from all harm.
And as they say in Ireland, mind yourself!
Slan agus beannacht!
Bridget & Russ
Get down on your knees and thank God you're still on your feet!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS
Please check with the Wild Geese - they have a huge listing of events and we don't want to duplicate their efforts:
http://www.thewildgeese.com/
If we receive a unique event not mentioned there, we will be happy to list it here.
Hollywood, Florida - December 15
Mark your calendar for the The Irish-American Ceili Club's Christmas gathering! For more details, please visit:
http://www.irishamericanceiliclub.com __________________________________________________________________
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING
We couldn't resist sending you a bit of Turkey humour in honour of the day that's in it. With thanks to our good friend Mary Quinn:
Why was the United Nations worried when a waiter dropped a platter of turkey? It meant the fall of Turkey, the ruin of Greece, and the break-up of China.
What does a turkey say? Gobble, gobble, gobble - Not always!
A jewelry-lovin' turkey: Bauble bauble bauble
A dyslexic turkey: Boggle Boggle Boggle
A turkey in the shoe repair shop: Cobble cobble cobble
A turkey who was an old-time movie fan: Gable, Gable, Gable
A turkey with a sore throat : Gargle Gargle Gargle
A turkey with a sore leg : Hobble hobble hobble
A football turkey: Huddle, huddle, huddle
A dieting turkey: Nibble, nibble nibble
A one-legged Cockney turkey 'Obble 'Obble 'Obble
A turkey who argues a lot: Squabble squabble squabble
A Dr. Seuss' turkey Tweedle beetle paddle battle puddle wobble hobble gobble
Then there was the Turkey who drank too much JWild Turkey and went: Wobble Wobble Wobble!
'Twas The Night Of Thanksgiving
'Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep.
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned,the dark meat and white,
But I fought the temptation with all of my might.
Tossing and turning with anticipation,
The thought of a snack became infatuation.
So I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door,
And gazed at the fridge full of goodies galore.
I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
Till all of a sudden, I rose off the ground!
I crashed through the ceiling. Floating into the sky,
With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie.
But I managed to yell as I soared past the trees...
Happy eating to all! Pass the cranberries, please!
