Greetings & Blessings to all
Welcome to our January newsletter.
Well, the silly season is over. I did Christmas dinner and everyone liked it (I was a little surprised at that). The New Year’s eve was a little painful for me. Bridget and I always had a good time then. We gave presents to the kids (my grandkids) on epiphany (January 6th). That’s been true for years now. We thought what was good enough for the three kings was good enough for us. Of course, this meant everyone had more time and after Christmas bargains as well. I recommend it to everyone.
Here in our Ohio river valley we finally have snow and ice (not that I missed it). I don’t take morning walks in below freezing temperatures. I don’t have any reason to cook; except for myself and I’m easy to please. Once again my thanks for the contributions of jokes and everything else. Please keep those contributions coming. The one best source of my jokes is Joe McTiernan; thanks again Joe.
We’re all in this together let’s make it as good as we can. Stay with me everybody.
Enough of the blather...
Is this your first edition? Many thanks for joining us and if you like our musings and meanderings. please feel free to share them with your family and friends. And do encourage them to sign up. The more of us, the merrier! And for all of our readers, we hope this issue finds you in good health, good spirits and good company.
On with the update...
IN THIS ISSUE:
Links
Quips, Quotes, Proverbs & Toasts
A Bit of the Wit
Joke of The Month
Did You Know
The week That Is
Leave 'em Laughing
LINKS
1. China announces plans to plant a forest the size of Ireland
Forests the size of Ireland, a country which takes approximately eight hours to drive from tip to top, will be
implemented in China this year. For the context of US readers - that's about the size of the entire state of Indiana.
https://www.irishcentral.com/news/china-announces-plans-to-plant-a-forest-the-size-of-ireland 2. More people want Irish passports in Britain than in Northern Ireland for the first time everThe demand for Irish passports from people living in Britain has exceeded demand from Northern Ireland for the first time.
3. From Craic to Kerrygold – Irish people living abroad reveal the ‘little things’ about Ireland they miss most
Judging by a thread posted to Ireland’s Reddit page this week, living abroad isn’t always what it’s craic’d up to be, if you’ll forgive the pun. The Irish abroad were asked to name the ‘little things’ about the Emerald Isle they miss most, and they didn’t disappoint.
I was only there for a short while but I can understand completely.—Russ
4. Storm Fionn snow cause havoc in Ireland as another arctic blast enroute
Only a fortnight after Storm Eleanor left some 50,000 people in the Republic without power, some are suffering déjà vu after 2,000 homes in Cavan and Monaghan awoke to find they couldn’t turn on the lights or boil a kettle.
5. Only in Ireland? Irishman strips and sits in chair on roundabout during Storm Fionn blizzard
Storm Fionn hit Ireland this week leaving many of us grumbling and trying to keep warm as temperatures plummeted.
But the weather didn't faze one man, who took to a roundabout to enjoy the best of the, eh, winter evening.
6. IMBOLC Festival 2018 – an opportunity to learn and participate!
IMBOLC Festival 2018 offers a large variety of workshops and masterclasses in music and dance for people of every age. Be
it Sean-Nós dance, arranging and playing traditional music or songwriting, there is a workshop for everyone and all interests.
http://imbolcfestival.com/root/the-festival/workshopsQUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS
I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts. I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer
distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings. I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all eternity.
St. Brigid of Ireland
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts. I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer
distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings. I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all eternity.
St. Brigid of Ireland
A BIT OF THE WIT
My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic.
Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
JOKE OF THE MONTH
Irish Confession
I went into the confessional box after many years of being away from the Catholic Church. Inside I found a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On one wall, there was a row of decanters with fine Irish whiskey and Waterford crystal glasses. On the other wall was a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates. When the priest came in, I said to him, "Father, forgive me, for it's been a very long time since I've been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be. He replied, "You moron, you're on my side.”
Thanks and a tip of the hat to Joe McTiernan—Russ
DID YOU KNOW
1. Until the 1920’s, on St. Brigid’s day (February 1st) at Teltown, Co. Meath, couples could legally marry by simply walking toward each other? If the union didn’t work out, they could ‘divorce’ by walking away from each other at the same place exactly a year and a day later.
OK everyone whose single, you missed your chance.—Russ
2. Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, took a supply of Guinness with him on his travels to Samoa?
I’ll bet they have it available there now—Russ
3. The first casualty of the Irish Civil War (1922-23) was a free state sniper who was smashed over the head with a teapot by an elderly Irish woman.
Probably for disrupting her dinner preparations–Russ
THE WEEK THAT IS
1. Article: The Turning of the Sovereign Seal
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/1.21GreatSeal.html
2. Article: Oiche na Gaoithe Moire
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/BigWind.html
3. Article: Celebrating Candlemas in Old Ireland
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Candlemas.html
4. Article: St. Brigid – The Giveaway
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ASaints/Brigit.html
5. Article: Irish Landmarks: The Abbey Theatre
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALandmks/AbbeyTheatre.html
6. Article: Butter
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACustom/Butter.html
7. The Irish Kitchen: A Taste of Ireland: The potato
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aPotato.html
9. Basic Irish: A New year
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Newyear.html
10. Kids’ Ireland: Sean and the Selkie
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/Selkie.html
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in February.
If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of December, here is your special verse:
Marry when the year is new,
Always loving, kind and true.
And, if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event between now and our next edition, we hope it's an occasion filled with joy and happiness. We’ll take our leave with this blessing:
St. Brigid’s Blessing
Through her holy intercession
With our Father in heaven,
May St. Brigid bless
You and make you
Generous in your giving,
pleasant in your greeting,
honest in your speaking,
loyal in your loving,
clear in your thinking,
strong in your working,
and joyful in your living.
And when it’s time
for your homecoming,
may there be peace in
your passing and a warm
welcome in heaven.
All the best & God Bless,
Bridget & Russ
Get down on your knees and thank God you’re still on your feet.
Téigh ar do ghlúine is bí buíoch le Dia go bhfuil tú fós ar do chosa.
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LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING
Sitting by the window of her convent, Sister Barbara opened a letter from home one evening.
Inside the letter was a $100 bill her parents had sent.
Sister Barbara smiled at the gesture.
As she read the letter by the window, she noticed a shabbily dressed stranger leaning against the lamp post below.
Quickly, she wrote, "Don't despair. - Sister Barbara," on a piece of paper, wrapped the $100 bill in it, got the man's attention and tossed it out the window to him.
The stranger picked it up, and with a puzzled expression and a tip of his hat, went off down the street.
The next day, Sister Barbara was told that a man was at her door, insisting on seeing her. She went down, and found the stranger waiting. Without a word, he handed her a huge wad of $100 bills.
"What's this?" she asked.
"That's the $8,000 you have coming Sister," he replied. "Don't Despair paid 80-to-1."
Thanks and another tip of the hat to Joe McTiernan—Russ
Last Words
If you or anyone you know can benefit from advertising in my newsletter or the Irish Culture and Customs web site please contact me. My E-Mail address is: rhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
Thank you in advance
For all of you who have supported Irish Culture and Customs all these years – thank you.
When you start to buy anything on the internet don’t forget to go through the web Site. If you use Amazon, click on ‘Shopping’ at the top of the page and the next page you see will have Amazon at the top. Anything you buy from Amazon through our site pays a (very small) commission. It beats a blank and it doesn’t effect your price. Thank you again.
—Russ
