Welcome to the Irish Culture & Customs newsletter which is published every fortnight or so and sent out to more than 4400 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:
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Greetings and Blessings to all,
The warmest of welcomes to everyone and a special hello to our newest readers. Thanks for becoming subscribers and if you enjoy our musings and meanderings, please feel free to pass them along to your family and friends.
What a fortnight! In the past two weeks we have gone through a blizzard, the flu, internet server meltdowns, emails gone missing and the prospect of figuring out how to smoothly combine St. Patrick's Day and Easter in a newsletter and on the web site. We loved a line fed to us by an elderly wit at our local supermarket - it's not every week you get to look for leprechauns on the Monday and then the Easter Bunny the following Sunday! In fact, you'd have to be at least 95 to have Easter occur this early. The last time it was this early was 1913. And the last time St. Patrick's Day fell in Holy Week was 1940. But, for all of you chagrined by having to move parades and change other events, the next conflict with Holy Week is not expected until 2160. God willing, we'll be long gone to our reward.
Hard to believe, but this time last week, we were looking at a foot of snow! The first Cincinnati blizzard in 30 years began on the Friday and didn't let up until Sunday morning. Of course, every thing shut down. But we did not expect that to happen with our web site and our emails. Just as well in a way. After coming through the worst of the flu season unscathed, we were blind-sided by a very nasty bug that had us out of commission for several days. Bad enough we couldn't interact with you, but we also couldn't take advantage of being invited to watch the St. Patrick's Day parade in the VIP viewing stand. And you know we had to be really under the weather when we stayed home instead of attending the best party of the year, - Bridget's brother's O'Flaherty Blarney Bash! According to all reports, it all went well without us. Humph!
We ARE better, thank God. And we plan on trying to tipple a few tomorrow night at our son's pub. If you live in our area, send us a message if you'd like more details!
Meanwhile.
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ar chlann mhór dhomhanda na nGael, sa bhaile agus ar fud na cruinne, ar an lá náisiúnta ceiliúrtha seo.
Warmest St Patrick's Day greetings to every member of our global Irish family and to our many friends around the world.
We also hope that all of you in Eire are enjoying a safe and happy bank holiday weekend. All of you in Newfoundland and Monserrat as well, where St. Patrick's Day is also a national holiday. Would that it was for all of us - and even as we write, moves are afoot by one Dr. Paisley himself to make the 17th a holiday in Northern ireland. How about that!
Enough of the blitherin' ...on with the update:
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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:
Potato Is Safest Food on Menu
A new British study has identified the lowly potato as the safest food on the menu, saying it is the least likely food to cause fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, and migraine. Study spokesman Les Rowley says he believes the potato causes few problems because it breaks down easily in the digestive system, and added that the three foods which most often cause reactions are cow's milk, yeast, and egg white.
FROM AROUND THE COUNTIES
Antrim: Plaques honour two Belfast men
The Ulster History Circle has put in place two plaques to honour Belfast men who made their mark in two very different ways. At Lower Clonard Street in the Falls Road a plaque was unveiled to artist Gerard Dillon, whose works are now fetching six figure sums thirty-five years after his death. And at the Botanic Gardens a plaque was placed honouring Charles McKimm who was head gardener at a time when a number of new features were introduced. These included a fountain, an exhibition hall and the Palm House, but he is most remembered for the Tropical Ravine which opened in 1889.
Carlow: Leighlinbridge makes an appropriate choice
At a gala event held at the Lord Bagenal Hotel in Leighlinbridge last week the town chose its representative to enter the Carlow Rose Festival, and it was an appropriate choice. For the Leighlinbridge Rose for 2008 is herself a Rose, Rose Buggy. (Yes, that is her real name!)
Carlow: Rath woods to be extended
A meeting was held recently in the hall in Ballyconnell to disseminate information on the sixty-five acres of woods at Rath, on the main Tullow to Shillelagh road, for which there are extension plans. Initially planted in the 1950s, the woods adjacent to the Rathwood Home and Garden Centre have been used by local residents for walking and cycling for a number of years. Last weekend the first two new walks, both wheelchair and pram friendly, were officially opened by Junior Minister Dick Roche. Known as the Molloy and the Lake walks, they are accessible through the Rathwood car park or from the old forge building.
Clare: Rare wooden bowl goes on display at Clare Museum
A wooden bowl uncovered during excavations prior to the construction of the Ennis Bypass and Western Relief Road has gone on display at Clare Museum. The partially complete bowl, dating from the Iron Age, was found at Killow near Clarecastle and it is accompanied in the exhibition by a replica of the entire bowl created by Mark Zdepski, a woodturner from New Jersey. The two and a half thousand year old bowl is unusual in that most artefacts from this period are made from alder, but the bowl is made from ash. The original bowl will remain on display until the end of April, when it will be moved to the National Museum in Dublin.
Cork: Well Day* in Tullylease
The annual Well Day took place recently in Tullylease where, before the celebration of Mass, children from the local national school gave a presentation on the life of the sixteenth century Saint Berehert.
*ED. NOTE : A Well Day in Ireland has nothing to do with health! See our article on Holy Wells for more details:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALandmks/HolyWells.html
Cork: Old village discovered during roadwork
During work being carried out by the county council on the road between Twopothouse and Doneraile part of a mediaeval village has been uncovered. When test trenches were dug by archaeologists at Caherduggan a number of artefacts were uncovered including corn-drying kilns, weapons and pottery. According to local folklore a large village once occupied the site, remaining in use until the twelfth or thirteenth century, and the archaeologists believe they have revealed only a fraction of what the site contains. In addition to houses, they will also be searching for evidence of a church and a fort in the immediate vicinity.
Derry: Perusal of map reveals Derry citadel
While examining a seventeenth century map of Derry in the British Library, archaeologist Dr Brian Scott discovered the existence of a citadel in the Cathedral area of Derry city. The annotation on the map described the area as "The Church formerly a Cittidell" and it is believed to have been destroyed in the middle years of the seventeenth century on foot of a warrant issued by the Lord Lieutenant, since it was becoming a nuisance to the church. Citadels were not only put in place as a means of defence against outside insurgents, they also served as a protection for a garrison against the inhabitants of the town.
Donegal: Oyster first for Donegal shellfish farmer
Edward Gallagher, a shellfish farmer whose beds are in Traigh Eanna Bay, Lettermacaward, is about to become the first to provide the Japanese market with oysters. It takes less than forty-eight hours for the oysters to reach the dining tables of Japan from the Donegal oysterbeds, and in a sense the shellfish are returning to their roots - some of the seed oysters are imported from France, where they are known as Japanese oysters since they have been developed from a strain brought from Japan some forty years ago.
Dublin: Dublin venues become attractions for film fans
A number of places in the city and county have been attracting visits over the past few months from fans of the film "Once", which was shot on location here. A particular attraction has been the Hoover Centre in Harold's Cross, owned by Fergus Doyle, which was used for filming after a request from a friend of Fergus' nephew Rory. American, Swedish and Japanese fans of the film have also been visiting Walton's music shop on Grafton Street and some have travelled out as far as Howth to the north and Killiney Hill to the south, both used as locations for the film.
Fermanagh: Derrygonnelly post office to open once again
After sixty years serving the community the facility closed at the end of July of last year when the subpostmaster resigned, and a group of local residents began campaigning for a replacement. Among those leading the campaign was Molly Cassidy, who has welcomed the opening of the new branch at the Costcutter Supermarket in the village.
Kerry: Listowel residents oppose Clare developers
The residents of Charles Road and Library Road in Listowel are unhappy at the proposal by a developer from Clare to demolish a house near the old library and to replace it with a mixture of sixteen apartments and retail and office space. The listed building was formerly the Kennedy Nursing Home and spokesperson for local residents Eamon Dillon is hoping the council will not allow the development to go ahead.
Kildare: Choice award for Newbridge band
A band from Newbridge was named as the winner of the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year. Super Extra Bonus Party was selected from a shortlist of ten.
Kildare: Athy students exploit double festival
With St Patrick's Day and Easter Sunday falling within the same week this year, a group of fifth year students in Ardscoil na Troinoide in Athy decided to exploit the coincidence with special greetings cards. According to their teacher John Watchorn the students came up with the idea themselves of combining an Easter card with a St Patrick's Day card and selling them as a fundraising venture for St Vincent's Hospital in Athy. The bilingual card, produced with the support of local Irish language group Glor Atha I, has been on sale for the past ten days and is selling well.
Kilkenny: Come back St Patrick, all is forgiven
Last year the city of Kilkenny held a street festival to mark St Patrick's Day on the grounds that the traditional parade had become somewhat jaded. However the venture was less than a resounding success, due to some of the acts not turning up, poor organisation and too few stewards. Now the deputy mayor of the city, Seán Ó hArgáin, has called on the citizens to offer their support to the reinstated St Patrick's Day Parade which will take place this year.
Laois: Sadness on all sides as trees are felled
The owner of the land along the old coach lane off the Stradbally Road in Portlaoise has expressed regret, and those whose houses back onto the lane are also saddened at the felling last week of a number of trees. Mary Fingleton, daughter of the owner James Tyrell, confirmed that the family had sought the advice of tree surgeons before felling more than one hundred trees, some of them over two hundred years old. They are to be replaced by five thousand beech trees. (?)
Limerick: Limerick proving too lucky for bookmakers
Spokesman for bookmakers William Hill Tony Kenny has suggested the chain might decide to close its Limerick outlets since Limerick people are proving too lucky. One local man in his fifties, a regular in the Parnell Street office, placed a thirty-five cent bet on the Euromillions lottery numbers last week and walked away with 10,500. In January the Limerick branch paid out two sets of winnings, 300,000 on a Euromillions bet and a further 27,000 on the numbers coming up in the Irish Lottery.
Louth: Olympic role for Carlingford
The organising committee of the London Olympics has included in its list of six hundred official locations for pre-games training Carlingford Lough, which will be used for sailing competitors. The inclusion of the lough in the official list is a result of Oriel 2012, a cross-Border initiative involving local authorities in Louth and Newry and Mourne district. Although there is no guarantee that Olympic athletes will decide to use the location, its inclusion will promote Carlingford as a sailing venue and will also promote the area as a tourism destination.
Mayo: Vatican invitation for Mayo grandmother
Catherine Wiley, who organised the inaugural National Grandparents' Pilgrimage to the shrine at Knock last year, has received an invitation from the Vatican Council. The grandmother of ten from Castlebar has been invited to take part in a plenary session of the Pontifical Council for the Family. The theme of the session is to be Grandparents: Presence and Testimony in the Family, and Catherine's invitation was prompted by the success of her venture. The pilgrimage is now to become an annual event and this year it will take place on September 14.
Mayo: Young Achill writer makes his mark
A fifteen-year-old student of Scoil Damhnait in Achill is one of twelve young writers, and the only one from Ireland, to have his work included in a publication to mark World Book Day. "Times Two" by Gareth McNamara was one of three thousand short stories entered into the competition, which was open to school students in Britain and Ireland. Gareth's story for the competition is also reflected in a novel he has been working on for the past couple of months and which he hopes to complete by the end of this year. He writes mostly at weekends using an old manual typewriter given to him by his grandmother.
Monaghan: County receives funding to preserve its heritage
Awards from the Heritage Council to a number of projects within the country have totalled 150,000. Among sites to benefit from the funding is Monaghan County Museum, which has received 4,000 to be put towards the conservation and display of a set of maps relating to Clermont Estate, also known as Rossmore Park. A similar amount has been awarded to Tydavnet Tidy Towns Committee to enable them to erect signage and information displays at the old graveyard. And in an individual allocation, local vintage enthusiast Patsy Connolly will receive 5,000 for the conservation of a flax mill.
Monaghan: Carrickmacross band in Savannah Parade
An Lóchran Linn Band from Carrickmacross took part in the second largest St Patrick's Day Parade in America, now in its one hundred and eighty-fourth year. The band members set off early on Wednesday morning to jet off from Dublin to Savannah via Philadelphia, taking with them a new and lighter uniform to cope with the warmer Georgian weather.
Offaly: Launch of Slieve Bloom music event
The drawing room of Kinnitty Castle was the venue last week for the launch of the Slieve Bloom music event, "Music from the Mountains" by David Kinsella, chairman of the Slieve Bloom Rural Development Society. The three-day event is to take place over the St Patrick's weekend and topping the bill will be singer Sean Keane, while Dolores Keane, Alec Finn and Scottish piper Allan McDonald will also feature in the line-up. In addition to Kinnitty Castle itself, other venues for the music will be the local national school, Dolly's Bar, Percy's Bar and Dempsey's pub in Cadamstown. Musicians both local and visiting will also be playing at two church services in the Catholic and Church of Ireland churches in Kinnitty on the Sunday morning.
Roscommon: Still cycling, at 103
Mary Casey, who is Boyle's oldest citizen at the age of one hundred and three, still undertakes three weekly cycling sessions on an exercise bike at the Plunkett Community Nursing Unit in the town where she lives. Born in Townlaura, Mary spent almost sixty years in England working as a nurse, and came back to Marian Road in Boyle some twenty-three years ago. In addition to her regular exercise, Mary helps out at the nursing home, pushing other residents in their wheelchairs between the common room and the dining room, and is now looking forward to her one hundred and fourth birthday in November.
Roscommon: Tulsk to retain archaeological integrity
The village of Tulsk, which is reputed to have been the home of Queen Maeve, is to retain its archaeological integrity following the blocking of a proposal for nine houses and a commercial building. Mentioned in the "Annals of the Four Masters" and also associated with the Flight of the Earls, the village has some sixty national monuments within a four-mile radius. Most notable of these is a ring fort which has been extensively excavated over the past four years. The actual proposed site of the development encompasses a field system, a cashel and two fulacht fiadh.
Sligo: Traffic-free O'Connell Street to be retained
A report on the work to be carried out on O'Connell Street in Sligo town, which was presented to councillors last week, was unanimously adopted. One of its main points was the retention of the pedestrianisation of the street and the removal of on-street car parking. Following the carrying out of an archaeological assessment, since the street is designated an Architectural Conservation Area, work will begin on a new stone-paved precinct with street furniture to include public art. Removable bollards will be placed at either end of the street to allow limited access to service vehicles.
Tipperary: Axes, ring forts and fulachta fia found near Roscrea
During excavations before work begins on the Castletown-Nenagh dual carriageway archaeologists have unearthed three ring forts, twenty-three fulachta fia, a seventh century burial ground and two axes. The finds were made in the Camblin area near Roscrea and of the two axes one is believed to date from the Bronze Age and the other from the Iron Age. One unusual item found was a wooden crane used for lifting water, an item known as a shaduff and usually associated with Egypt and North Africa; this is the first such find in Ireland that can be dated to the Bronze Age.
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Wales: The small community of Banwen in Wales held a St Patrick's Day parade yesterday to mark his alleged birthplace. The people there maintain that Ireland's patron saint was born in Banwen and lived in the area before being captured at the age of 16 and sold as a slave
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SPONSOR: Please help us keep your newsletter coming - visit our good friends at Lollysmith:
Happy St. Patrick's Day! And once the parades and parties are over, it's time to think about Easter - just a week away! For a wide range of lovely gifts, come explore:
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?lollysmith+wSpfhS+teandgrgi.html
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FROM THE MAILBAG
ED. NOTE: Did you write to us and we STILL haven't responded? The fun and excitement associated with crashed servers and emails sent into oblivion combined with the cold reality of sneezes and wheezes have us sitting here scratching our heads wondering what happened. We urge you to please write again if you haven't heard from us. This applies in particular to emails sent to bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
Thanks again for your patience!
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LINKS
St. Patrick's Day on RTÉ
Watch the parade live from Dublin, view highlights of prarades from all over the world, more!
http://www.rte.ie/stpatricks/
St. Patrick's Day on the History Channel's web site
You could spend hours exploring what's on offer! Featured are videos, history, a quiz, destinations and much more. http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=mini_home&mini_id=1082
Saint Patrick's Day Festival of Irish Recipes
This link takes you to the landing page for European Cuisine's second annual Saint Patrick's Day Festival of Recipes. Each day, from March 1st until March 17th, they feature a new traditional Irish recipe. Collect them all (and the ones from 2007, too!) http://www.europeancuisines.com/Ireland-Irish-Saint-St-Patricks-Day-Festival-Of-Traditional-Authentic-Recipes
St, Patrick's Day Fun for the kiddies
Games, activities, pictures to colour, puzzles, jokes and more to keep the wee ones occupied and out of mischief!
http://resources.kaboose.com/games/patrick.html
From the Hennessy Irish Page
On offer this time around is is a joke about a man trying to plant potatoes in Belfast who needs help. This tale is based upon an actual event that occurred in the 1970s. http://www.irishpage.com/jokes/potatoes.htm
"Get outa the garden ya snakes ya"
Dublin artist and one of our generous Trivia Contest supporters invites your comments on his doodle in honour of the day which he says he always thought was all to do with drink and a day off school and work, pubs closed and a dog show in the RDS in Dublin....but Nooo...
!!http://www.flickr.com/photos/artroger/411350554/in/set-72057594069494987/
If only every day could be St. Patrick's Day!
We don't know when Guinness produced this very funny ad, No matter, it's timeless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8ZEpFgdWGk
Guinness ad - Player taking a free in Hurling
For all the GAA fans out there, this will give you chills and warm your heart all at the same time.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoPM4RwOCW8&feature=related
The Ireland episode of E-Verse Radio
A reading by Dr. Ernest Hilbert from the Ireland epsiode of E-Verse Radio of the classic William Butler Yeats poem Byzantuim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BDTMo-yIrw&NR=1
Internet Radio Keeps it Green
If March 17 parades by too fast for you; if you're just getting reacquainted with your love of all things Irish when it's all over for another year; then a tether to radio - at least Internet radio - may keep the heritage flowing for you throughout the year. That's the intro to a very informative article about Irish programming on the internet.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080316/ENT/803160308/1031
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, PROVERBS & TOASTS
We repeat a classic for the day that's in it:
St. Patrick was a gentleman
who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here's a toasting to his health;
Bit not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good St. Patrick
and see all those snakes again.
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A BIT OF THE WIT
Blarney, as defined by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, is flattery so thin we like it, as opposed to baloney which is flattery so thick it can't be true.
And back by popular demand in honour of the most important day in the Irish calendar:
St. Patrick's Birthday
On the eighth day of March it was, some people say,
That Saint Patrick at midnight first saw the day.
While others declare 'twas the ninth he was born,
And 'twas all a mistake between midnight and morn;
For mistakes will occur in a hurry and shock,
and some blam'd the babby-and some blam'd the clock-
Till with all their cross questions sure no one could know
If the child was too fast-or the clock was too slow.
Now the first faction fight in old Ireland, they say,
Was all on account of Saint Patrick's birthday.
Some fought for the eighth-for the ninth more would die,
And who wouldn't see right, sure they blacken'd his eye!
At last both the factions so positive grew,
That each kept a birthday, so Pat then had two.
Till Father Mulcahy, who confessed them their sins,
Said, "Ye can't have two birthdays, unless ye be twins."
Says he, "Don't be fightin' for eight or for nine,
Don't be always dividin'-but sometimes combine;
Combine eight with nine, and seventeen is the mark,
So let that be his birthday." "Amen," says the clerk.
"If he wasn't a twins, sure our hist'ry will show
That, at least, he is worth any two saints that we know!"
Then they all drowned the shamrock-which completed their bliss,
And we keep up the practice from that day to this.
(Edited and adapted from Dick's Irish Dialect Recitations, Wm. B. Dick, Editor, New York, Dick & Fitzgerald, Publisher, 1879)
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
A group of Americans was touring Ireland. One of the women in the group was constantly complaining. The bus seats are uncomfortable the food is terrible, it's too hot, it's too cold and the accommodations are awful.
The group arrived at the site of the famous Blarney Stone. "Good luck will be following you all your days, if you kiss the Blarney Stone," the guide said. "Unfortunately, it's being cleaned today and so no one will be able to kiss it. Perhaps we can come back tomorrow." "We can't be here tomorrow," theshrewish woman shouted. "We have some other boring tour to go on. So I guess we can't kiss the stupid stone." "Well now," the guide said, "it is said that if you kiss someone who has kissed the stone, you'll have the same good fortune." "And I suppose you've kissed the stone," the woman scoffed. "No, ma'am," the frustrated guide said, "but I've sat on it."
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DID YOU KNOW
1. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day was largely a religious holiday until 1903 when it was made a national holiday in the Republic?
2. It wasn't until 1931 that the city of Dublin held its first parade?
3. In the old days, on Easter Sunday evening a "pruthog" or dance was often held at the crossroads and a cake was awarded to the best dancer? Supposedly, this is where the saying "That takes the cake!" comes from.
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KNOW YOUR IRISH WRITERS
To begin with, the answers to our last quiz:
1. Mothers & Sons by Colm Tóibín
2. Mothers: Memories from Famous Daughters and Sons
by Niamh Malone
3. Mother Ireland - A Memoir - by Edna O'Brien
A round of pints and applause to our latest literary sleuths:
Hartson Dowd
A good Irish web-site is Traditional Irish Tunes
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/9969/miditable.html
Helen Dowd
Thank you for voting for my site. I'd also like to invite you to check out the new Daily Bible Quiz on the front page.
http:// www.occupytillicome.com
John C. Laney (Lynaugh)
S/V Manannan
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Mary Ruggiero
I'd like to nominate my site, Mary's Irish Pride Site. And I hope people will sign my guestbook -- I love hearing from new friends!
http://members.tripod.com/ladyirish317-ivil/
Pauline Dewberry
Cats are angels sent by God Himself to grace your hearth and bless your
health.
http://www.thedailymews.com
Patricia Edwards
Another great Pilgrimage site that I used to visit annually with the school I attended was Aylesford Friary:
http://www.thefriars.org.uk/
Want to see your name and favorite web site in our next newsletter?
Who wrote:
1. Essays on the Early Irish Kings
2. Welcoming the Stranger: Hospitality in Contemporary Ireland
3. Roddy Connolly and the Struggle for Socialism in Ireland
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RIDDLE
First off, the answer to our last mind mangler:
Two mothers and two daughters go to a pet store and buy three cats. Each female gets her own cat.
Q. How is this possible?
A. There is a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter.The grandmother is also the mother's mother, so there are 2 daughters and 2 mothers, but only a total of 3 people.
Once again, our riddle people were the cat's meow! But while we had a slew of correct answers, there was a three-way tie for first place - Bill Smith from North Carolina, Hartson Dowd from British Columbia. and Lisa from we don't know where. Well done to the three of you!
And now for our next cranium cruncher:
An easy one - or may be not, if you bend your elbow too many times on St. Patrick's Day!
What is a nuahcerpel?
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THE WEEK THAT IS
1. Article: Palm Sunday in Old Ireland
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/PalmSunday.html
2. Article: Madness in Malaque - St. Patrick's Day Mexican Style
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/StPatsMalaque.html
3. Article: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Old Ireland
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/StPatsDay.html
4. Article: I, Patrick, a Sinner
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ASaints/Patrick.html
5. Article: Corned Beef & Cabbage - The Feeding of a Myth
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aCBeefCabge.html
6. Article: Your St. Pgtrick's Day Party - Irish or Oirish?
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/StPat_Party.html
7. Article: O'Reilly Introduces the Russians to a St. Patrick's Day Parade
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMisc/ReillyinRussia.html
8. Article: Francis O'Neill - The Man who Saved our Music
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/FrancisONeil.html
9. Irish Kitchen: Celebrate St. Ptrick's Day with a Real Irish Feast
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aStPatFeast.html
10. Basic Irish - Words and phrases for St. Patrick's Day
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons7.html#StPatricks
11. Kids' Ireland: A Fireside Story - How St. Patrick Banished the Last Serpent
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/1Home.html
12. CD Review: Our music reviewer William Ramoutar introduces us to Kate Rusby
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/Ramoutar/KateRusby.html
13. The March contest is posted. Give it a go - it isn't hard. All entries must be in by midnight on March 31st whatever time zone you're in:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/TriviaContest.html
Congratulations to our February winner: Maria Eryatmaz who chose for her prize the Celtic Warrior Pendant generously donated by our friends at the Celtic Attic.
14. Circle of Prayer The first Novena in this cycle begins today and continues through March 24. Whatever your spiritual leanings, please keep the following in your prayers or meditations: Kim, a young wife and mother who is severely brain damaged after a fall; Jane F; Cherie; Baby Brenna, Liam Nolan, Hartson Dowd, and little Isabella. Also Randy, Donna and their children; Ergin, Josie and her family; Kathy, Celeste's husband Gene, Pauline Dewberry, George Reynolds, Mickey, Benjamin, and so many others 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
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SPONSOR: Please help us keep the newsletter coming - visit our newest sponsor: St. Patrick's Day and Irish T-Shirts.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY AND IRISH T-SHIRTS, SWEATSHIRTS & GIFTS are made with you in mind. I *Irish Drinking T-shirts, St. Patrick's Day shirts or Proud to be Irish T Shirts. We have over 100 designs. We have designs for the whole family and all the relatives, too. Irish Dad T-Shirt, Irish Mom, Irish Grandpa, Grandma, and even t-shirts for the new Irish baby. We even have Saint Patrick's Day greeting cards.
CLICK HERE for St. Patrick's Day T-Shirts and Funny Irish T-Shirt Designs:
http://www.cafepress.com/shirt_gift_shop/464878
NOTE: Made in and shipped from the USA
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So there you have it until next time. I f you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other important event between now and then, we hope it's an occasion filled with joy.
We began this tome with greetings for St. Patrick's Day and we'll end it with all good wishes for a safe and happy Easter:
Phrase: May the blessings of Easter be on you
Irish: Beannachtaí Ná Cásca ort (singular) or oraibh (plural)
Pronunciation: Bann-akh-thee nah caw-skah urth (singular) or ur-iv (plural)
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!
Celtic Blessing - sung by the St. Coca's Choir, from Kilcock, Co. Kildare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrS3kYW6du4
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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.
Bellevue KY - March 17th
The place to be - the B List - Ben Haggerty's pub; open from 8:00 am until 2:00 am; music, food, the best of Irish libations and more.
For details, please email :
bnhaggerty@cinci.rr.com
Crestview Hills Hills KY - March 18
Thomas More College presents I am Ireland - Padraic Pearse and the Easter Rebellion of 1916 . 7:00 pm. For more details, please click
http://www.thomasmorecollegeinfo.com/?q=tmore_gpds_brdcol2-g
Hollywood, Florida - March 29
Irish-American Ceili Club Saturday, March 29, 7pm-11pm American Legion Hall 211 North 21 Avenue, Hollywood-FL Music by Noel Kingston
Complimentary Tea / Coffee & Cake Admission $12 [members] & $14 [guests] Call 954-522-4948 or
Email Patrick @ irish32@aol.com
More info @
http://www.irishamericanciliclub.com
April, 12th, April 13th - Covington KY
The Irish American Theatre Company will perform A Little Like Paradise by Niall Williams at Molly Malone's on4th Street. Originally performed in Dublin at the Abbey, this play depicts with hope and humor the regeneration of a small Western Irish town unknown to the European community and ignored by Dublin. Tickets on sale now Question? Write or call Maureen:
E-mail: IrishAmericanTheaterCo@fuse.net
Tel: 513-225-6915
Los Alamitos, California
Friends of Ireland of Southern California Monthly Breakfast. Events are held on the 1st Tuesday of the month. Please call in RSVP to one of the contacts below, one day in advance so we can accommodate you.
Barbara Walsh (714) 739-4195 Kathy Wisdom (714) 572-8277
Tom Kennedy (562) 425-2636 Jim O'Dea (626) 965-0307
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LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING
As always, it's the kids that make us laugh the longest and heartiest. Here are some great lines out of the mouths of babes:
Five year old old Caitlyn was asked to say Grace before the Easter dinner. Here's what she said: Bless us Oh Lord for these thy gifts from thy bunny."
Four year old Lynsi told her grandmother, "You smell so good! Is that Oil of Old Lady?"
On the way to preschool, the doctor had left her stethoscope on the car seat, and her little girl picked it up and began playing with it. Be still, my heart, thought the doctor, my daughter wants to follow in my footsteps! Then the child spoke into the instrument: "Welcome to McDonald's. May I take you order?"
A woman was trying hard to get the lid off a jar of pickles. During her struggle the phone rang, so she asked her four-year old daughter to answer it. "It's the minister, Mommy," the child said to her mother. Then she added, "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."
Every evening, a mother and her young son, knelt down beside his bed so he could say his prayers. One night, obviously bored with the same old prayer, the little boy said this: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake......can I have breakfast with you in the morning?"
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm wasting my time," she says to her mother. I can't read, I can't write-and they won't let me talk!"
little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, "Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit." "And why not, darling?" "You know that it always gives you a headache next morning."
At the beginning of a children's sermon, one girl came up to the altar wearing a beautiful dress. As the children are sitting down around the pastor, the pastor leans over and says to the girl, "That is a very pretty dress. Is it your Easter dress?" The girl replies almost directly into the pastor's clip-on mike, "Yes.... and my Mom says it's a b*tch to iron."
A Sunday school teacher: was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."
Did you enjoy this edition of our newsletter? Fingers crossed you did and you'd like to keep it coming. A tangible way to do that is with a small voluntary donation. Any amount is welcome. And go raibh maith agat in advance for your kindness!
Bridget & Russ
5814 Blue Spruce
Cincinnati, OH 45224
USA
Or you can make a contribution on PayPal to this email address:
bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com.
God bless you for your kindness and generosity!
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