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Welcome to the Irish Culture & Customs newsletter which is published every weekend and sent out to more than 1400 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.yourmailinglistprovider.com/pubarchive.php?Herself
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Greetings and blessings to all,
Welcome! We hope this edition finds you fit as a fiddle and on the pig's back. As for ourselves, it was time to break out the winter woolies as low temps and high winds combined to bring us a harbinger of what lies ahead. But, we were spared the foot of hail that fell on the Watts area of LA a few days ago. Do you think they'll blame it on global warming?
For all the sports fans, it's been a grand weekend: Notre Dame beat Brigham Young in their 2nd straight win at home; the first time this season. Here in the Queen City, Bengalmania is starting to take hold as the stars in stripes spoiled the Chief's no-loss record. And, in Margate, England, Irish athletes dominated the International cross country meeting with Catherina McKiernan and Seamus Power winning the senior women's and men's races.
In news from Ireland:
Co. Dublin: The hall of residence run by the Jesuit order in Dublin for almost a hundred years is to close at the end of the present academic year. Hatch Hall in Hatch Street opened its doors to third-level male students in 1913 but financial pressures and the increasing age profile of the members of the Jesuit order has prompted the decision to close the facility.
Co. Dublin: Comedian Dave Young has begun a David Blaine-style stunt on the banks of the River Liffey to raise money for charity. He is planning to spend 44 hours suspended in a box on Dublin's Sir John Rogerson's Quay. He entered the box Friday evening and will remain there until this afternoon.
Co. Galway: Ballynahinch Castle Hotel in Connemara is the only hotel in the country to be included on the list of Fodor's top twenty hotels in the world. According to general manager Patrick O'Flaherty, the hotel combines "casual country elegance with zero pretension".
Co. Kerry: A series of events will mark the 50th anniversary today of the evacuation of the Great Blasket Island off the coast of Kerry. There are about 40 books that were written about the island by inhabitants and visiting scholars. Led by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr John O'Donoghue, a library trail of the islanders books will begin at Dingle public library and proceed to the Great Blasket heritage centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid, overlooking the island.
Co. Cork: David Putnam, Tony O'Reilly and Jeremy Irons have already acquired homes in the west of the county, and now they are to be joined by television celebrity Carol Vorderman who, with her partner Des Kelly, a journalist with the Daily Mirror, has bought a waterfront home in Glandore.
Belfast: A Queen's University researcher has launched an international competition to predict the outcome of the Northern Ireland Assembly election on November 26. Visitors from anywhere in the world can forecast which parties will win seats in each of the 18 constituencies. They can do this either through
http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/
or by email to: explorers@whyte.com
News from all over:
New York: It's a little late, but Willie Farroll finally received a Catholic funeral. According to the Tully Historical Society, Willie had been traveling in the Tully area in 1820 when he was murdered, it's suspected, because of his nationality. To honour Farroll, the Central New York Ancient Order of Hibernians renovated his grave in the Tully cemetery and held a special burial ceremony for him last Saturday, more than one-hundred-and-eighty years after his death. His tombstone says "he died at the hands of violence, but his memory now lives in the hands of hope."
Boston, Mass: A DCU Alumni Boston chapter has just been formed, and founding committee members would like to hear from Dublin City University graduates living in the Boston area. For further details, please contact Clodagh Boyle at mailto:cboyle@irlfunds.org, or Triona Buckley at mailto:Triona_Buckley@spauldslye.com
From the mailbag
Jo wrote - "Well, it's a lovely day here in Mayo, bright sunshine for once, and the sea is that marvellous shade of turquoise that you only get in Autumn/Winter (when the tourists aren't around to see it!)."
Anyone else ever catch a glimpse of an aqua-coloured ocean in Ireland? Certainly something we ourselves would love to experience!
John Kelly of the Donegal_Club@yahoogroups.com kindly gave us permission to reprint the following story he received from his friend Andrew Irwin: "After the Australian v Ireland match (and the Melbourne Cup) in Melbourne, three of us decided to drive the Great Ocean Road. On Wednesday night we went to a pub in a small town called Apollo Bay. By the end of the night (1.30 am) it was ourselves, two Canberrans and a chap from Darwin singing away with a group of about 20 Irishmen, 2 Scots and a local called Wilbur who had swapped a t-shirt for an English jersey.The Irish knew heaps of folk songs and were having huge fun, particularly one chap who sung several quite haunting solos. Beautiful stuff and the kind of camaraderie that only the Rugby World Cup could bring to a small pub on the south coast of Victoria in Australia."
Links of the week:
For the price of a few cases of Guinness, Aer Lingus is offering some great fares to and from Ireland. For example, from Dublin to Chicago - 100 each way. Or Boston to Shannon, $198 round trip. http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/index.jsp
On the heels of cat bowling, we offer fly-swatting. With thanks to Hartson who says "have fun with this one and use your mouse"
http://www.shockhaber.com/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.htm
And for everyone who has ever felt intimidated by those emails that say you'll have bad luck if you don't forward this message to fifty million of your closest friends, turn on your sound and take a look at "Soapbox" sent in by Audrey in California. Thanks AG - it's priceless!
Enough of the blither and blather...on with the update:
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Remember the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes? It was replaced by the Irish Lotto in 1988. Since then it has become one of the most trusted lotteries in the world. Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday. Best of all, you don't have to live in Ireland to play and all winnings are tax-free. Do you have the luck of the Irish? Play the Irish lottery and find out! Please click here for full details:
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IN THIS ISSUE:
A Bit of The Wit
Joke of The Week
Did You Know?
Quotes & Quips
Know Your Irish Writers & Books?
Riddle
New This Week
The Week Ahead
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A BIT O' THE WIT
From out of the mouth of a nun in Ballyragget, Kilkenny when describing a woman in high heels:
"She was like a cat on a scissors."
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OUR FAVORITE JOKE OF THE WEEK
This is from our resident Irish speaker, Aideen (go raibh maith agat!)
An Irishman sees a job advert published on a building site, 'handy man
wanted apply within'. So he does and speaks to the foreman.
Foreman: Can you drive a forklift truck?
Irishman: No
Foreman: Can you plaster?
Irishman: No
Foreman: Can you brick lay?
Irishman: No
Foreman: If you don't mind me asking, what's handy about you?
Irishman: I only live five minutes down the road.
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DID YOU KNOW...
1. Donkeys were useful in Ireland because of the way they put down their hooves? They do it in a pattern different from horses which allows them to traverse bogland in a gliding movement.
2. Ireland has more tourists than residents? Visitors are now running over 5 million a year, compared to a population of about 3.8 million.
3. Much of the world's population of Greenland Whitefronted geese spends the winter in Ireland?
Source: The Truth About the Irish by Terry Eagleton. Want your own copy? Click here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=irishcultucus-20&path=tg/detail/-/0312254881/qid%3D1069053617/sr%3D1-1
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QUIPS, QUOTES & ANECDOTES - PROVERBS, CURSES AND TOASTS, TOO
Typical of a conversation you might yet hear in Ireland. Says he " I'm fifty years a Pioneer." (member of a temperance movement). Replies his friend: "Please God you'll live to break it."
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KNOW YOUR IRISH WRITERS & IRISH-RELATED BOOKS?
Last week's answers:
Wars of the Irish Kings - David Mcullough
The Irish Brigade in the Civil War - Joseph G. Bilby
The Irish Regiments - R.G. Harris, H.R.G. Wilson
A round of applause 'n pints for our literary sleuths:
Déirdre McKiernan-Hetzler
Interested in exploring "real Irish culture and history?" Take a look at our most recent tour and then request our new brochure. We'd be delighted to send you one. http://www.irishbook.com/tourinfo.htm
Hartson Dowd
A comprehensive guide to bed and breakfast in Ireland:
http://www.isearch.ie/cgi-bin/s.cgi?q=Bed+and+breakfast&cs
Helen Dowd
For a variety of reading by several authors, see: http://www.occupytillicome.com/literary.html
and to learn the real author of a poem that has been passed around as 'author unknown', "The Wreck on Highway 109" see: http://www.occupytillicome.com/poetry/messages/153.html
Patricia Edwards
Find a history of Ireland here:
http://www.questia.com gives a history of Ireland.
Marjorie Cunningham
The newest creation of Frank McNamara, best known for his work with The Irish Tenors and RTE's Late Late show, is The American Tenors - soon to be appearing in concert in Baltimore & Dublin.
http://www.theamericantenors.com
Norma Mackey
That game of squashing the cats was enjoyable by the way. But I didn't tell my two cats that I played! (If you missed it last week, here it is again:)
http://www.bravozulu.com/content/released/cat.swf
Alexis Freeman
My favorite Irish website (besides yours, of course!) is the Irish curses at: http://hermes.lincolnu.edu/~focal/scripts/mallacht.htm
It's the Irish curse engine and it's a hoot. (I'm a teacher - I need all the weird humor I can find)
Tim Shea
Great website for finding hundreds of Irish sites:
http://www.doras.ie/
Ellen Parodi
Namely Gifts at http://namelygifts.com
Personalized Name Keepsakes and Gifts
Something for every name on your gift list!
Featuring Thanksgiving Day Kitchen Prayer Special:
http://namelygifts.com/Thanksgiving.htm
Want to see your name and favorite site on our list? Try to find the following authors - we assure you, it's really easy! Who wrote:
A Celtic Christmas - Classic Tales from the Emerald Isle
Irish Christmas Stories
This Year It Will be Different - and Other Stories
Hint: All three titles can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=irishcultucus-20&path=tg/detail/-/1565540867/qid%3D1069043614/sr%3D1-1
Send us the correct answers to two out of three and the rewards are:
1. If you have a web site, send us your URL plus a short description and we'll publish it in the next newsletter. If you don't have a web site, please nominate a favorite. Also, please remember that we list our sleuths in the order of entries received.
2. Receive a correct entry into the current "So You Think You're Irish" trivia contest. (In fairness to those of you who go to the trouble of actually finding the answers to the trivia contest, you'll get a bonus entry!)
3. Click through on the Hint URL above, tell us the title and earn another entry into the Trivia drawing.
NOTE: It would be very helpful if you would send your entries to: bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
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THIS WEEK'S RIDDLE
First off, here's the answer to the last one:
Brendan stared through the dirty soot-smeared window on the 22nd floor of the office tower. Overcome with depression, he slid the window open and jumped through it. It was a sheer drop outside the building to the ground. Miraculously after he landed he was completely unhurt. Since there was nothing to cushion his fall or slow his descent, how could he have survived the fall? Brendan was so sick and tired of window washing, he opened the window and jumped inside. Congrats to John O'Callahan for being first with the correct answer.
Now for this week's head-banger - fair warning - we thought this one was really difficult: What row of numbers comes next?
1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
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NEW OR FEATURED ON OUR HOME PAGE:
We'll try to get the home-page updated as early in the week as we can - please be patient with us:
1. Home Page - See what's new at a glance:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/index.html
2. New - Irish Kitchen: Pork with cider cream sauce http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/1Home.html
3. New - Basic Irish Lesson. This time the focus is on attire
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/1Home.html
4. New - An Ulster Christmas. A warm, personal collection of holiday stories that give a look at Christmas in a simpler time.
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Libr/Home.html
5. Featured - An Advent Memory
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Advent.html
6. Featured - Irish Cards for Christmas
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasCards.html
7. Featured: Beannachtaí an tSéasúir - Season's Greetings
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasGreetings.html
8. Featured - The Weavers of Donegal
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/Tweed.html
9. Featured - Preparing the Puddings
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aXmasPud.html
10. Featured - Homeland Christmas Cake
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/XmasDesserts.html#HomelandXmasCake
11. Ongoing - Circle of Prayer: Our fifth Novena in this cycle continues through the 17th. The sixth one will begin on Tuesday. Our prayer list includes Eileen's brother Bob, her son Christopher, Debbie's friend Bertha, Rita, Lindsea, Dianne, Claire, C.J., baby Christopher, Sam, Steven & Margaret, and the Mulligan family. We also ask that you keep all military personnel in your prayers/meditations, especially those stationed in Iraq. Whatever your spiritual leanings, we hope you will join us each day
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Blessings/CirclePrayer.html
12. Ongoing - Trivia Contest: Haven't entered yet? Only two weeks left. All entries must be in by midnight, November 30th, whichever time zone you live in.
13. On-going - Irish News: Headlines for the past week
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/01News/Home.html
14. On-going -This month in Irish History:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/02Hist/aOctober.html
NEXT WEEK, GOD WILLING:
There's an old saying that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans! So, we'll just mention that the new blessing is up, a new recipe will make its appearance in the next day or so, we'll have a new quotation on Wednesday - and we'll do our best to come up with whatever else we can to keep you entertained and coming back for more.
Just a few more bits and pieces and we'll take our leave. Promise! In our weird and wacky calendar, today is Button Day, National Moms and Dads Day, and St. Margaret of Scotland's Day. On Monday, we celebrate Homemade Bread Day and National Baklava Day. The 18th is German Memorial Day and Vertieres Day in Haiti. The 19th is National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day; that's followed by National Peanut Butter Fudge Day on the 20th, World Hello Day & Community Day on the 21st, and Russ Haggerty's birthday on the 22nd. (All donations of 60 cents or more in honour of this landmark event will be gladly accepted and will go toward vitamins, iron pills and a Jameson I.V.) . If you or a loved one are also celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other important occasion, we send you our very best wishes.
Many thanks for spending this time with us - and if this is your first newsletter, we appreciate you signing up and hope you will forward our musings and meanderings on to your family and friends.
Until next week, may you and yours enjoy God's love, protection and bountiful blessings - and, as they say in Ireland, mind yourself!
Bridget & Russ
Get down on your knees and thank God you're still on your feet
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Events & Classifieds
Note: To avoid duplication, we list only those events not mentioned in the comprehensive listing put together by The Wild Geese. To check their Events Page, please click: http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/events.html
The Irish Heritage Newsletter also lists events - if you'd like to subscribe, just send a note to George at Steeler059@aol.com
And, if you're in Ireland, or lucky enough to be visiting, you can see what's on offer in November/December here:
http://www.emigrant.ie/Event.asp
Washington DC - Nov. 20
Catholic U's Center for Irish Studies will present Dr. Tom Hachey of Boston College, speaking on "Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye-Irish Sovereignty & Alienation from Irish-American Agendas," 7 pm, Life Cycle Auditorium, Catholic U. For more info contact mahonyc@cua.edu; phone 202-319-5489.
Silver Arm Performances - Greater Cincinnati area
Come out and enjoy Silver Arm at one of our upcoming performances.
Fri. Nov 21: John Sherman with Tom Paxton, 20th Century Theater, Oakley 8pm
Fri. Dec 12: Dilly Deli, Mariemont (513-561-5233) 7-10pm
Irish Writer's Centre, Dublin - November 22 and 23
The Writer's Guide To Publishing
Course Tutor: Cláir Ní Aonghusa Course Price: 110
For more details, please contact Bernadette Larkin: bernadette@writerscentre.ie
Song and Silence: A Weekend with the Celtic Saints - November 21-23
Pendle Hills, Wallingford, PA
For more information or to register, please contact our registrar, Steve Jackson, at ext. 142, (610) 566-4507 or (800) 742-3150, or e-mail him at registrar@pendlehill.org. If you have access to the Internet, please check out our website:
http://www.pendlehill.org
Huntsville, Texas - November 28-30
Huntsville-Trinity Celtic Festival & Highland Games at the Walker County Fairgrounds in Huntsville. For more information contact Jean North 936-594-0195; vjn_gram@yahoo.com or visit:
http://www.txscot.com/HuntsvilleTrinity/HT_Festival.htm.
Houston, Texas - 11/29
Damien Rice at The Rhythm Room
Irish singer-songwriter; in October he won the prestigious Shortlist Music Prize for Artistic Achievement. Tickets available at Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster outlets: Fiesta,Foleys, Wherehouse Music
http://www.rhythmroomhouston.com/rhythmroom
Beaumont, Texas - December 6 & 7
Danny O'Flaherty's Celtic Christmas, Crockett Street Entertainment District, Antone's, 240 Crockett Street, Beaumont, TX 77701
For reservations call 409-893-1818. For additional information, email danny@celticnationsworld.com/
Trinity College Dublin - Christmas Homecoming in the Dining Hall
Monday, December 22 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Admission is by ticket only, and each graduate may be accompanied by one guest only. To reserve your place, contact Norah Kelso, Alumni Relations Officer, Trinity Foundation, East Chapel, Trinity College, Dublin 2 or mailto:nkelso@tcd.ie
Include your full name, student number (if known), degree, year of graduation and address to which your ticket can be sent. Please reserve your place before Friday, 12 December.
DCU Business School 2001 reunion - December 29
A reunion for 2001 Dublin City University graduates from BBS/BSI4/IML/IBL will take place at the Sugar Club on Leeson Street on Monday, December 29. Entertainment will include a band, DJ and a late bar. Admission will be EU8 before 9.00pm. Graduates wishing to attend may contact Nicola Riordan at mailto:buzinessdcu01@yahoo.com with a "Yes" in the Subject field of the email.
Houston
The Chieftains are coming January 13!. Sponsored by the Society for
Performing Arts. Details to be announced.
Texas Dulcimer Cruise - February 5-9, 2004
Galveston to Cozumel on the Carnival Celebration. There will be workshops, jam sessions, talent show and more. These spots will go fast, so book early! Inside cabins are $430.80 pp, double occupancy and oceanview cabins are $480.80 pp, double occupancy. Ask for Marcy: 281-535-5703 or e-mail marcy@delesandri.com
Galveston, Texas
March 28, 03
Galveston 1894 Grand Opera House - James Galway, flautist Sunday March 28, 2004 3pm
Cais Conference/Reunion - May 26-29, 2004
Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The theme is "Mother Tongues: The Languages of Ireland." For details, please click
http://www.irishstudies.ca
6th Int'l McManus Clan Association Gathering May 25th through May 31st, 2004
For full details please visit our website at:
http://members.aol.com/manusclan/mcm2004.htm
or contact Phil McManus at Manus@aol.com
7th Clann McKenna Rally - June 25th through Sunday June 27th 2004
For details, please write plunkettmckenna@eircom.net
or click on the following link:
http://www.omagh.gov.uk/historypark.htm
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