******************************************************************
Welcome to the Irish Culture & Customs newsletter which is published every week and sent out to well over 2800 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: https://www.ymlp.com/pubarchive.php?Herself
If, for any reason, you wish to unsubscribe, instructions are at the end - but we do hope you'll stay with us.
__________________________________________________________________________
Greetings and blessings to all,
Sorry, we're so late with the next edition. We have been very busy for the past week or so getting ready to leave for Florida and making sure all is taken care of here, while we're gone.
We wish we could say it we are going on vacation, but sadly , that is not the case. This trip is for the "official interment" of Russ' mom - and also his dad. Mom has been "carrying Dad" around for years (try explaining that at airports!) and now it's time to place them side by side in their designated niches at the memorial gardens. Still makes us smile to think about her taking him with her wherever she went.
We will also be meeting up with Russ' sister and her husband Dennis so that we can decide what to do about the house and contents. The property was severely damaged by the hurricanes last year and we're not sure what we are going to do. We have seen pictures that Russ's sister took but we have yet to actually see what happened for ourselves.
As you can imagine, we're not looking forward to any of this. However, we're trying to stay upbeat - and writing to you is a good distraction. That said, please forgive us if we don't include all of our regular features. There just isn't time to do it all; we know you will understand.
So here goes with a few important items:
Last time, we had a couple of incorrect URLs. Thanks for bringing them to our attention. If you want to read past issues of the newsletter, the URL ihttps://www.ymlp.com/pubarchive.php?Herself
And if you'd like to purchase a piece of Ireland through the Celtic atticCeltic attic,
the URL is:
http://celticattic.com/merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Cod CA&Product_Code=BILBCG&Category_Code=CG&Affiliate=Bridget
Speaking of buying things, it's the last day of the month and your last opportunity to make a purchase that could help us increase our commission for this quarter. We need nearly 200 more items, so we're not too optimistic - but it's worth a try! The same goes for Google. If you would click through any of the Google ads on the site, we earn a few pennies - but every bit helps to support our efforts. Thank you!
As is usually the case in the Ohio Valley, Autumn is right on time. We woke up to temperatures in the forties this morning and it's expected to be very cool all week; which means the first frost can't be very far behind. Of course, we're heading south and to a much warmer climate. It's hard to know what to pack which we need to get on with. But before we do, we'd like to tell you about a dinner party we went to last Saturday night. Bridget asked who everyone was rooting for - Tyrone or Kerry? She was looked at as if she had two heads. It quickly became obvious that none of the guests had the slightest bit of interest into whose hands the Sam McGuire Cup would fall. Perhaps, if Bridget's brother, Chris O' Flaherty had been there, we might have had a bit of a discussion as to who was bringing what to the table. But he had to work - making sure VIPS were comfy cozy at a Cincinnati Reds baseball game. Ah well.
The big disappointment of the evening wasn't which team took home the cup. It was discovering that our Irish-American friends appeared not to have any interest in an All-Ireland Final whatsoever.
Is this true for you? ? Most of our readers are from the USA or Canada. Do you follow Irish sports? We're all about Irish Culture and Customs, and a great deal of that is tied to sports. How important is it to you?
At the same dinner party, we got to talking about a trip to ireland we and three other couples who were at the party had taken nearly a decade ago. For one couple it was a first trip to ireland. They had been to Europe before - on the continent. They were surprised that the irish had done little to preserve the old castles. Emer - a very good friend from Dublin. put it all in a perspective most of us may have not considered. "Old isn't good," says Emer.
After 800 years of invasion, repression, starvation, emigration and so on, it would seem that the inhabitants of modern Ireland want nothing to do with old Ireland. And yet, here we are, trying our best to preserve the memories of the old days and the old ways. We feel that it's the right thing to do. What do you think?
Please write and let us know, but also please do us a huge favor and hold all emails until October 10. Go raib maith agat!
Enough of the blather ...
===============================================================
SPONSOR
Please help keep our newsletter coming to your mailbox every week - visit our good friends at the Irish Lottery:
There was NO winner of Wednesday night's drawing. That means Saturday's jackpot will be at least 3.5 million Euro! All you need are 6 numbers to hit the Irish Millions. Best of all, you don't have to live in Ireland to play, winnings are tax-free and checks are mailed within 48 hours. Do you have the luck of the Irish? Play the Irish lottery and find out! If you want to win it, you've got to be in it, so visit their totally revamped web site! Please click here for full details - and best of Irish luck to you!
http://www.irishlotto.net
================================================================
IN THIS ISSUE:
News
From the mailbag
Links of the week
Quips, quotes, proverbs & toasts
Joke of The Week
Did You Know
Writer's Quiz
Riddle
The Week That Is & The Week that Will be, God Willing
Events
Classifieds
Leave 'Em Laughing
______________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
Please visit our news page for today's headlines and headlines from the past two weeks:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/01News/Home.html
FROM AROUND THE COUNTIES
For a round up pf news from Antrim to Wicklow, please visit
http://www.emigrant.ie/summary.asp?iCategoryID=18:
================================================================
SPONSOR
Help us keep your newsletter free. Please visit our good friends at Lollysmith:
Here you will find a wide range of Irish and Celtic gifts imported directly from Ireland. From Irish Jewelry and Shamrock Seed to Connemara Marble, Tin Whistles and Irish Bodhráns, and much more. Please stop by our internet shop - we're always open. We also offer Irish and Celtic themed gifts from American companies such as Russ Berrie Angel Cheeks, Silver Moon Jewelry, and Dorfman Pacific Hats. And definitely take a look at our authentic Blackthorn and Hazel Walking Sticks from Ireland. Please click:
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?lollysmith+wSpfhS+index.html
=================================================================
FROM THE MAILBAG
This will return next time. Keep those letters and queries coming - but after October 10th!
___________________________________________________________
LINKS OF THE WEEK
This will also return next time.
___________________________________________________________________________
QUIPS, QUOTES, ANECDOTES AND TOASTS
My dad is Irish and my mum is Iranian, which meant that we spent most of our family holidays in Customs. Patrick Monahan at the Gilded Balloon in Edunburgh
___________________________________________________________________________
DID YOU KNOW
1. St. Lawrence O'Toole was Ireland's first canonized saint?
2. The reputed origin of the Blarney Stone is that is Jacob's Pillow brought back from the Holy Land after the Crusades?
3 The Romans never invaded Ireland?
___________________________________________________________________________
JOKE OF THE WEEK
Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says, "Sheamus, I'm 83 years old now, and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"
Seamus says, Ah well, Liam, "I feel just like a newborn baby!"
"Really!? Like a newborn baby!?"
"Aye. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my trousers."
__________________________________________________________
IRISH WRITERS AND BOOKS QUIZ
First off, the answers to our last quiz:
Mamie Cadden by Ray Kavanagh
A Town Tormented by the Sea by John Cunningham
Vanishing Kingdom by Walter Curley
Hats off and a pat on the back to:
Eleanor O'Donnell
Déirdre McKiernanHetzler
"Glorious Ireland" - June 28-July 12 2006
Hopefully, the itinerary will be up on the website soon
http://www.tours2ireland.com or
http://www.irishbook.com/tours.htm
Hartson Dowd
A favorite Irish Site - Songs of Irish Labour
Helen Dowd
http://www.comms.dcu.ie/sheehanh/lsongs.htm
WHO WROTE:
1. Children of Eve
2. A Doctor's War
3. A Country Boy
Want to see your name in our next newsletter? Send us the names of the authors who wrote the following:
1. Children of Eve
2. A Doctor's War
3. A Country Boy
ED. NOTE: Many books have the same title; please keep in mind that we are looking for Irish authors or Irish-related books.
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 - preferably Irish. 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!)
NOTE: It would be very helpful if you would send your entries to: bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
==================================================================
SPONSOR
Help us keep our newsletter coming to your mailbox. Please visit our good friends at the Celtic Attic:
Become an Irish Land Baron! For a limited time only, the Celtic Attic is offering one cubic inch luxury sea side plots for $25.95US. Satisfaction Guaranteed! A fantastic Gift for Friends and Family! You will receive:
-Certificate of ownership ( suitable for framing and boasting)
-A personalized invitation for tea at the Old Parish Farm.
-A map showing Your Irish Estate location
Hurry - click here:
http://celticattic.com/merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Cod CA&Product_Code=BILBCG&Category_Code=CG&Affiliate=Bridget
==================================================================
OUR NEXT RIDDLE:
For the first time since we introduced the riddle feature, we do not have a correct answer to our latest poser. Bridget's a bit worried. She made this one up and thought it would be really easy. So, we're leaving it for another week or so.
Our latest brain bruiser:
On three legs with four more beside,
In good company, we shorten the road.
Q. Who or what are we?
__________________________________________________________________________
WHAT IS AND WHAT WILL BE 'TIL WE GET BACK, GOD WILLING
Please visit our homepage to see the new additions for the week.
http://:www.irishcultureandcustoms.com
So there you have it for now. Please excuse any typos and other errors.
If you'll be celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event in the coming days, we hope it's a joyous occasion. Between now and then, it will also be October 1 - so pinch punch, first day of the month, white rabbit. And if you are getting married in the next few weeks or tied the know as we did at this time of year, here's the old Irish verse:
"If in October you do marry,
Love will come and riches tarry."
We can certainly attest to that!
Until we write again, may the Good Shepherd of us all guide and protect you and yours from all harm.
Slan agus beannacht - and , as they say in Ireland, mind yourself.
Bridget & Russ
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com
Get down on your knees and thank God you're still on your feet
==================================================================
WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE GIVE A LITTLE, A LITTLE BECOMES A LOT
Once in a while, we receive a very welcome donation. Go raibh maith agat to our latest donee: Colleen Dobbs.
If you enjoy our newsletter and the website, please give us a hand and help keep them coming. Imagine if 2800 people each sent dollar? Please send what you can to Bridget or Russ Haggerty, 5670 Meryton Place, Cincinnati OH 45224. Or you can send a donation via PayPal. The URL is:
http://www.paypal.com
and our email address is this one:
bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
Many thanks in advance for your kindness
==================================================================
EVENTS & CLASSIFIEDS
This feature will return next time.
_________________________________________________________________________
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING
The Dog Rules Evolve
1. Dogs are never permitted in the house. The dog stays outside in a specially built wooden compartment named, for very good reason, the dog house.
2. Okay, the dog can enter the house, but only for short visits or if his own house is under renovation.
3. Okay, the dog can stay in the house on a permanent basis, provided his dog house can be sold in a yard sale to a rookie dog owner.
4. Inside the house, the dog is not allowed to run free and is confined to a comfortable but secure metal cage.
5. Okay, the cage becomes part of a two-for-one deal along with the dog house in the yard sale, and the dog can go wherever he pleases.
6. The dog is never allowed on the furniture.
7. Okay, the dog can get on the old furniture but not the new furniture.
8. Okay, the dog can get up on the new furniture until it looks like the old furniture and then we'll sell the whole works and buy new furniture... upon which the dog will most
definitely not be allowed.
9. The dog never sleeps on the bed. Period.
10. Okay, the dog can sleep at the foot of the bed.
11. Okay, the dog can sleep alongside you, but he's not allowed under the covers.
12. Okay, the dog can sleep under the covers but not with his head on the pillow.
13. Okay, the dog can sleep alongside you under the covers with his head on the pillow, but if he snores he's got to leave the room.
14. Okay, the dog can sleep and snore and have nightmares in bed, but he's not to come in and sleep on the couch in the TV room, where I'm now sleeping. That's just not fair.
15. The dog never gets listed on the census questionnaire as "primary resident," even if it's true. 