Welcome to our August edition. We hope it finds you in good spirits, good health and good company . If this is your first issue, many thanks for joining us and if you enjoy our musings and meanderings, please feel free to share them with your family and friends.

 

Soo...it’s been a long time since we’ve written. Two weddings and a wake, a computer melt down, the  generosity of family which allowed us to enjoy a long vacation, and a myriad of other distractions served to keep putting off the June and July editions. Fortunately, it is the time of year when many people are super busy with summer activities, so we hope you didn’t miss us too much. In fact, we received just one message asking where the newsletter was!

 

We’re back just a week or so from nearly a month away, first in Washington, DC and then on Cape Cod. We were very fortunate that we came home well before Hurricne Irene hit the East coast. We know of many, many readers who live in the affected areas and we hope and pray you and your loved ones are safe. It was so sad to see iconic covered bridges being washed away and all of the other damage the storm caused. But, as  many people are so wisely saying, property can be replaced - people can’t. 

 

On a lighter note, we made what we hope will become an annual trip to Liam Maguire’s Irish pub in Falmouth. As with our first visit last year, it was a grand time with great music and the best fish and chips! If we are able to go again next year, we’d like to plan a get together with readers who live in the area. Tried to this time around, but it just didn’t work out. Ah well - onward.

 

If you’re a fan of Orla Fallon from Celticwoman, we’re promoting her upcoming solo US tour with free tickets and CDs! We have three pairs of tickets to give away and three MY Land CDs. Details are on the web site and the drawing will be held on September 15th - the same day we will be doing a phone interview. We also hope to do an in-person interview before or after the concert in Dayton which we will be going to on October 2nd. So we hope you will participate..just send us an email with Orla Fallon in the subject line and you will be automatically entered into the drawing.

 

Enough of the blather - on with the newsletter!

 

 

County News: The county news for August will be sent out later today or first thing tomorrow. 

From the Mailbag

Links

Quotes, Toasts, Curses & Blessings

Joke of The Week

A Bit of the Wit

Did You Know

Know Your Writers

Riddle

The week That Is

Events

Leave 'em Laughing

 

SPONSOR: Help support this newsletter and our web site by visiting our friends at The Celtic Attic:

Exclusively for Irish Cultureand Customs readers, Take 10% off your order and get FREE shipping on orders over $50!   The discount will be removed AFTER you place your order.  Just put the code IC01 in the ‘add a gift card’ section! 

Contact the Celtic Attic on line or by phone - and tell them Bridget & Russ said hello!

Tel: 1-360-286-2307

On line:

http://celticcallings.com/shopping/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=CSC&Affiliate=Bridget

 

I'm trying to find the origin/source of this expression Since God was a small boy.  Someone told me it is Irish. Can you help me please?

ED. NOTE: We don’t know - can someone help Victor?

 

 

 Patrick Meehan writes: 

I have enjoyed looking through you site but was disappointed that I could't find any trace or reference to a Gaelic poem I learned at school in Ireland about 45 years ago. The poem tells of how Fritz Kreisler the famous voilinist walks into an antique shop and, picking up an old violin, asks the proprietor how much it costs. The proprietor says don't talk about the cost, just play it first ...

I don't know the name of the poem or the author, but the first few lines go something like  (and the English translation is mine):

Do tharla la, tri shean mall De, (One day, through the slow chance of God)

I siopa seanairi, (In a shop of old things [antique shop])

Go bhfaca Kreisler sean bheidhlin, (Kreisler saw an old violin)

Fui smuit na blian 'n lui (Lying beneath the dust of years).

ED. NOTE: We took a look without success. Does  anyone know it or perhaps could direct Patrick to someone who can help? Thanks!

 

Antoinette McElroy writes

What is the Irish verse “A penny in your pocket?” 

ED. NOTE: Again, we took a look, but came up short.  

 

Brenda writes:

My son is learning Irish jigs on his violin. One jig is  called the Bully House jig. What is a Bully House, do you know?

ED. NOTE: No, we don’t but then we’re not Irish dancers. Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

Last, but certainly not least,  Sam Cambell writes:

It would be hugely appreciated if you could help me with a couple of translations from English to Irish Gaelic. After looking in internet search engines trying to find direct translations I came across a few debates between some translations of words so I thought, after having your site recommended to me from an old teacher who has moved back to Ireland, it made sense to just write a personal email . The words I would like translated are "Mind, body, soul" and "Believe the impossible"

If you could translate these to Gaelic for me it would be a huge help ...

ED.  NOTE: We know we have several Irish speakers out there, so can you help Sam? Go raibh maith agat in advance.

 

Irish writers, citizens and residents take note!: Vanessa O’Loughlin of www.writing.ie is working with the world-renowned National Folklore Collection based in University College Dublin to preserve submissions to a new area of the site that opened recently. Tell Your Own Story gives writers the chance to see their work published online, but more importantly provides an opportunity to collect valuable social history before it is lost..

http://writing.ie/meet-the-authors/tell-your-own-story.html 

Bernadette O'Shea and Mick Regan, London Irish now living Ballydehob  "...where the Sun always Shines"  West Cork invite you to visit their web site and join an on line community which features members from all over the world. 

http://www.diaspora.ie/

Take a Virtual tour of the famous Mussenden Temple and other National Trust Properties. Spectacular, especially when you make the tours  full screen.

http://www.virtualvisit-northernireland.com/gallery.aspx?dataid=72001&title=Castles%20and%20Monuments

 

Morelli’s of Portstewart

Lee and Jack Patterson sent us this link saying  that they remembered their ice-creams...they were fantastic.! http://www.morellisofportstewart.co.uk/

 

The dolmen is a group of six large standing stones topped by an even larger capstone. It is this unusual confluence of enchanted glen, fairy ring, sacred stones and magical tree which gives the team organising the watch a high degree of confidence of a sighting.

http://www.irelandseye.com/leprechaun/leprechaun.htm

In their on-going series on the Irish language, the Hennesys are featuring adjectives.

http://www.irishpage.com/talk/talk(12).htm

 

Many thanks to Pamela Boyd who sent us the following: 

If you know any woman currently undergoing Chemo, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE  housecleaning - 1 time per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service.   

http://www.cleaningforareason.org/maidservice.php

 

Do you know of a woman who can't afford a mammogram? Here's how you can help. Go to the Breast Cancer site and click on their free mammogram link; if they get 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

ED. NOTE: Maria Eryaatz advises that free mammograms are also available in all states via the VNA (visiting nurses association). 

http://www.vnaa.org/

Click on 'Find A VNA' for the your nearest location.

 

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

 

It only takes a second to feed hungry people, too:

http://www.thehungersite.com

 

 

Thanks to our good friend Joe McTiernan for sending us the complete quote that starts with Count your blessings instead of your losses:

Count your blessings instead of your crosses

Count your gains instead of your losses

Count your joys instead of your woes

Count your friends instead of your foes

Count your smiles instead of your tears

Count your courage instead of your fears

Count your full times instead of your lean

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean

Count your health instead of your wealth

Love your neighbor as much as yourself.

 

 Joe also sent us Irish Burial at Sea, God bless him!

 

Mick and Paddy had promised their Uncle Seamus, who had been a  seafaring gent all his life, to bury him at sea when he died. In due time, he did pass away and the boys kept their  promise.

 

They set off with Uncle Seamus all stitched up in a burial bag and loaded onto their rowboat. After a while Mick says, 'Do yer think this is fer enuff out, Paddy?' Without a word Paddy slips over the side only to find himself standing in water up to his knee. 'This'll never do, Mick. Let's row some more.' After a bit more rowing Paddy slips over the side again but the water is only up to his belly, so they row on.

Again Mick asks Paddy, 'Do yer think this is fer enuff out Paddy?' Once again Paddy slips over the side and almost immediately says, 'No 

this'll neva do.' The water was only up to his chest.

 

So on they row and row and row and finally Paddy slips over the side  and disappears. Quite a bit of time goes by and poor Mick is really getting himself 

into a state when suddenly Paddy breaks the surface gasping for breath.

 

'Well is it deep enuff yet, Paddy?'

 

“Aye 'tis,

NOW hand me that shovel.”

 

1. Ireland’s smallest museum is the Noracle Barnacle Museum in Galway city? Nora was the wife of James Joyce and the museum which was once her home contains exhibits, letters and photos of their life togther.

 

2. At Bellcarrick, west of Ballina in Co. Mayo there is a musical bridge? If you roll a pebble along the stone parapet, a melodic note can be heard.

 

3. Maureen O’Sullivan who played Jane opposite Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan, was born in Boyle, Co. Roscommon?

 

Source: I Never Knew That About Ireland by Christopher Winn

Available on amazon. If you’re interested in adding it to your library, please access amazon through our shops page - we will make a small commission. Thank you!

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Shop/0Amazon.html

 

First off, the answers to our last quiz

1. Irish Confederates: The Civil War's Forgotten Soldiers by Phillip Thomas Tucker

 

2. Hidden Soldierby Padraig O'Keefe

 

3. Irish Soldiers In Europe  by George B. Clark

 

A tip of the hat and a pat on the back to the following literary sleuths: 

Katrina Finn

 

Helen Dowd

ED. NOTE

Thanks to all of you who vote for Helen’s web site, she is still in the number one position on Christian sites.  Her site is well worth a visit:

http://www.occupytillicome.com/

 

Jennifer O’Neill

 

Susan Murphy

 

If  you’d like to see your name on our list of Irish bibliophiles, write and tell us who wrote the following:

 

1. Minding Frankie

2. The Last Galway Hooker

3. The Irish Way:  A Walk Through Ireland's Past and Present 

Hint: All titles are available at Amazon

 

Please send your answers to Bridget who would really appreciate it if you put book quiz in the subject line. Go raibh maith agat!

 

But first,  the solution to our previous poser:

Q. What's the difference between Christmas and Osama bin Laden? 

A. There will be Christmas in December 

 

As always our Riddle People didn’t let us down - we had the usual avalanche of correct answers, but first in was Steve Healy. Well done, Steve. 

Honorable mention also goes out to the couple  who sent us the following brilliant solution:

 

The lights are on. His lights are out. 

We lost your email in our computer meltdown, so please let us know who you are so we can give you credit next time.

 

And now for our next mind mangler

 

My first is a number, my second another,

And each, I assure you, will rhyme with the other.

My first you will find is one-fifth of my second,

And truly my whole a long period reckoned.

Yet my first and my second (nay, think not I cozen),

When added together will make but two dozen.

 

Q. How many am I? Please send your answers to Bridget and it would help if you put riddle answer in the subject line: Thank you!

bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com

 

SPONSOR: Please help us keep your newsletter coming - visit our good friends at Lollysmith: 

Great news! A limited number of genuine blackthorn walking sticks has just arrived. If you’ve had your heart set on getting one of these rare gems, stop by Lollysmith straight away as they always sell out fast. And remember, whatever the occasion,  birthdays, graduations, weddings or anniversaries, you’re covered at Lollysmith!  Stop by soon and tell them Bridget & Russ said hello. http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?lollysmith+waspish+teandgrgi.html

 

1. Win tickets to see Orlan Fallon or her latest CD. For complete details, please click

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/OrlaPromo.html

 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMisc/Lisdoonvarna.html

 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Poetry/LouisMacNeice.html

 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Poetry/LouisMacNeice.html

 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Poetry/LouisMacNeice.html

 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aGuinness.html

 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/rOysters.html

 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons3.html#Gael19

 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/Pipers_Tale.html

 

10. Music Review: This time around, our resident reviewer William Ramoutar takes a look at the career of Sharon Shannon

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AMusic/Ramoutar/SharonShannon.html

This is the last day to enter - all entries must be in by midnight tonight, whatever time zone you live in. Please click

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/TriviaContest.html

 

 12.  Circle of Prayer

Our 5th Novena in this cycle ends today. Our sixth one begins tomorrow and continues through September 9. for your convenience, a complete list of Novena dates is on our Circle of Prayer page:

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Blessings/CirclePrayer.html

 

Since last we wrote, we are sorry to report that our very close friend of many years Mickey Woods lost his  battle with pancreatitis and passed away in July. We ask that you keep his family and friends on your prayer list. 

 

On a much happier note, another good friend and valued contributor to our web site, Hartson Dowd, celebrated his 80th birthday recently - congratulations are definitely in order but we ask that you also keep him on your prayer list  that he  may look forward to celebrating many more birthdays to come.  

 

Meanwhile, whatever your spiritual leanings, please also remember the following: Judy, little Isabella,  Tara H; Patricia's daughter Heather, the family and friends of the McTiernans,  and so many others,  especially those in the US struggling in the aftermath of hurricane Irene, families struggling with job losses and  severe financial hardship; and also our military personnel serving their countries at home and abroad. Dear Heavenly Father, please keep them safe from all harm and bring those away from home back to their loved ones soon. 

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Blessings/CirclePrayer.html

 

SPONSOR: Please help us keep your newsletter coming - visit our good friends at the Irish Lottery:

In operation since 1988, it's one of the oldest online sites in the world. With subscribers in 89 countries it is also among the most reliable. 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! It’s always been a fantasy of ours that one of our readers would scoop the big prize, but you can’t win it if you’re not in it. Play from the comfort of home here: - and the best of Irish luck to you!

http://www.irishlotto.net/

 

So there you have it until we write again, God willing,  in mid September. Meanwhile,  if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event, we hope it’s an occasion filled with joy and happiness and if you tied the knot in September  or plan on saying I Do, here is your special Irish saying: 

 

 

...and as they say in Ireland, mind yourself.

 

Slanagus beannaht,

 

 

Bridget & Russ

Get down on your knees and thank God you are still on your feet

 

 

 

Cincinnati’s Irish Heritage Center located at 3905

Eastern Avenue is proud to present the Brock McGuire Band in concert .  Doors open at 6:30pm and the concert begins at 7:30pm. Admission is $20 at the door, $18 if purchased in advance. Parking is free in the IHC lot behind the building. Please call 513/533-0100 toobtain tickets. For complete details, please click 

http://www.irishcenterofcincinnati.com/

Celtic Women International meeting at Irish Heritage Center, Wed, Sept 21. The local group has had two meetings so far and they have just applied to the national organization to be listed as a chapter. Presenters are still being recruited for local meetings and the dates are tentatively on the third Wednesday of each month.  (Oct 19 and Nov 16 coming up). Not limited to women

For more details, please click 

http://www.irishcenterofcincinnati.com/

Save the date - th club will be kicking off its 40th year. Follow the club’s news and activities on Facebook! Please click:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Irish-American-Ceili-Club/148025491923355?sk=wall&filter=12

 

Celtic Spirit Culture Weeks are very carefully and sensitively designed to share with you a true and authentic Irish Celtic Experience, with most activities guided by the islanders themselves. To learn more, please click: 

http://www.irish-culture.ch/eng2/index.htm

 

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

 

First Friday of the month Céilís and ongoing Tuesday night Céilí and Sean Nós dance classes. Our season runs from October through June and next season we may be moving the dances to Saturday rather than Friday nights. For more details, please click

http://www.myspace.com/ceiliofthevalley.

 

http://twitter.com/sligoevents

 

With thanks to our good friend Char Marshall who sent us  Then Things Every Kindergartner Knows About Food:

 

If it tastes really yucky, the teacher knows a song about how great it is!

 

In a pinch, glue is an acceptable condiment.

 

Absolutely everything tastes better with chocolate syrup or  ketchup on it.

 

Most blue food you find in the fridge will make the puppy sick.

 

Mom's M&M cookies are worth two sandwiches and a dead frog.

 

Dr. Pepper supplies the best on-demand burps.

 

Most foods can be used as fingerpaints when necessary.

 

Your dog, your cat and your one-year-old brother all look the same eating peanut butter.

 

 ... and the #1 Thing Every Kindergartner Knows About Food ...

 

Happy Meal french fries last longer than the Happy Meal toys. But the toys taste better.