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Greetings & Blessings to all
Welcome to our April newsletter.
Of course, this is the month of Easter. Well, the Irish Flag is down; shame really. Of course, we have a lot of rain; April showers. That rain comes with warmer temperatures and I’m not complaining. The party for St. Patrick was wonderful craic and I didn’t have too much Guinness so I was all right. Now it’s time for me to think about the garden. We had a beautiful blue Hydrangea (two actually) for Bridget’s funeral. They faded away last Autumn. I had to put one in a pot because I didn’t have enough room in the flower bed. The pot was in my garage all winter. It has restarted already and even has some flowers coming. They’re small and green but they’re there. I hope they come back blue. That was Bridget’s favorite. Those blooms make me think of Bridget coming back in the spring. I think I’ll call it ‘Bridget’. It’s not as pretty as she was but it is pretty. Of course, she wasn’t blue.
We’ve had so much cold and even snow I’ve been yearning for spring for a while. It can’t be far to go now, can it? I hope for spring for all of you.
Once again my thanks for the contributions. Please keep them coming. I would like appropriate news or other links more than anything. My thanks in advance.
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
Last Words
LINKS
1.Thinking about moving to Ireland? Life in Galway City is full of arts, culture, delicious food, and lots of craic.
Galway City is a stunning oasis dating back to the medieval era, on the harbor where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of just under 80,000, Galway is Ireland's fifth biggest city and the perfect place for anyone looking for charming environs and a tight-knit community that has lots going on. https://www.irishcentral.com/travel/moving-to-ireland/moving-ireland-living-galway. Galway city is beautiful and full of fun—Russ2. Ireland will bask in sunshine this week, with Met Eireann predicting that parts of the country will be warmer than Malibu.
An ‘African air plume’ will arrive from North Africa midweek, with the best of the weather reaching Ireland on Thursday, bringing temperatures well above April averages.
That’s about 65 farenheit, it makes me chuckle—Russ
3.Ireland’s once tallest building to be recognised
It was Ireland’s tallest building for years, much to the satisfaction of Corkonians everywhere, and now Cork County Hall’s status is to be recognised with the unveiling of a plaque to mark its 50-year existence on the banks of the Lee.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-s-once-tallest-building-to-be-recognised-1.3462347
I was in Cork for three days and don’t remember seeing it
—Russ
4. How do you pronounce Taoiseach, the Irish prime minister?
The Prime Minister of Ireland has a Gaelic title that leaves many tongue-tied and may require some pronunciation practice. Leo Varadkar is the Taoiseach of Ireland, a Gaelic title which amounts to the Irish equivalent for Prime Minister. The word often stumps non-Irish people, who can sometimes struggle to pronounce Irish names. So how do you pronounce it? And what is the term for the deputy prime minister?
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/946356/Ireland-news-Taoiseach-Irish-prime-minister-Leo-Varadkar-how-to-pronounce
I always thought it was apprx “tea-sack”—Russ
5. Three great driving holidays on the Emerald Isle
Time was when a sailing ship could take days, in the teeth of contrary winds, to make the sea crossing from Britain to Ireland. Today’s travellers have it rather easier: you can hop from Cairnryan to Belfast and Holyhead to Dublin in a little over two hours, and from Fishguard or Pembroke to Rosslare in four hours.
And there are other reasons to opt for a sail-and-drive trip across to Ireland. You don’t have to weigh your suitcases or wearily fill those miniature plastic airport bags with shampoo and moisturiser: instead, you can fill the car with suitcases and sail west, on one of an increasingly sophisticated fleet of ferries.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/ireland/articles/great-drives-in-ireland-ferries/
And read my article “Driving in Ireland”—Russ
6. Baby boxes for parents of every newborn: Ireland's strategy to increase birth rate revealed
The Government is developing a first-of-its-kind 'baby boom strategy' aimed at increasing birth rates to counteract the increasing economic demands posed by the country's ageing population, the Sunday Independent can reveal. A high-level taskforce led by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone is examining a wide range of new policies to encourage families to have more children. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/baby-boxes-for-parents-of-every-newborn-irelands-strategy-to-increase-birth-rate-revealed-36807832.html At least they’re not leaving as fast as they used to—Russ7. 150 years of Irish history in photos goes online
More than 120 striking images have been collated in collaboration between Getty Images and the genealogy website, to provide historians and history enthusiasts alike with a new range of resources. Images now available digitally include scenes from over 150 years of Irish history - including scenes from significant events like the 1911 rail strike, the 1916 Rising, and the Land War. https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/new-getty-images-irish-history?utm_campaign=Best+of+IrishCentral+-+2018-04-14&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet This looks like fun—RussQUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS
I love every thing that is old; old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines.
From She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith. The play was performed for the first time at Covent Garden Theatre, London on March 15th, 1733
From She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith. The play was performed for the first time at Covent Garden Theatre, London on March 15th, 1733
I agree with Oliver—Russ
A BIT OF THE WIT
They invented the three-day bank holiday weekend because you can't lump all the bad weather into just Saturday and Sunday.
JOKE OF THE MONTH
This is an old one but a good one. I just realized it’s not on the Irish Culture and Customs website. I’ll fix that soon.
An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman go into a pub. They all order Guinness. After the pints are on the bar three flies come down and dive into the Guinness; one for each pint.
The Englishman pushes his back and orders another one.
The Scotsman reaches in and picks out the fly, throws it on the floor and drinks normally.
The Irishman reaches in, picks out the fly, holds it up and says,
“Spit it out you bastard.”
DID YOU KNOW
1.Before he became a folk/rock singer-songwriter, Dylan liked nothing better than to hang out in Greenwich Village with the Clancy Bothers and Tommy Makem, learning Irish songs?
Figures—Russ
2.Twenty-eight Irishmen who were killed in the Korean War were made posthumous citizens at a special ceremony held in Washington, D.C. on October 30, 2003? One by one the names were called and in answer, sisters, brothers, nephews, nieces and cousins stood up to accept the specially framed certificates of posthumous citizenship made for the occasion by the U.S.
Hum, I doubt that would happen under the current administration—Russ
3.For centuries, an unholy ringing sound coming from a gnarled old oak tree on windy nights terrified the people of the County Down village of Kilbroney? In 1885, the tree was blown down and the source of the ghostly noise was discovered - a golden bell hidden in the hollow of the trunk by a monk hundreds of years before.
creepy–Russ
THE WEEK THAT IS
1. Article:Beltane Bonfires and Nettle Soup
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Beltane.html
2. Article: The May Day Dew - Should you roll naked in it?
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MayDew.html
3. Article: How to prevent Mayhem...
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Mayhem.html
4. Article: May - the month of mirth and merriment!
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MayMonth.html
5. Article: The Bright Flames of May
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MayFlames.html
6. Article: Marry in May and Rue the Day
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/MarryMay.html
7. The Irish Kitchen: Simnel Cake
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/rMothersDay.html
8. Basic Irish: Spring Cleaning
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons7.html#Gael30
9. Kids’ Ireland: How The Causeway Came to Be
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/Causeway.html
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in May.
If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of April, here is your special verse:
Marry in April when you can,
Joy for maiden and for man.
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:
May love and laughter light your days,and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours! 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. DID SOMEONE FORWARD THIS ISSUE TO YOU? Subscribe for FREE! Send an email to: rhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com OR click on this link: http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Newsletter.html
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING
After just a few years of marriage filled with constant bickering, the Kerry couple decided the only way to save their marriage was to try counseling. When they arrived at the counselor's office, the counselor jumped right in and opened the floor for discussion. "What seems to be the problem?" Immediately, the husband held his long face down without anything to say. In contrast, the wife began talking 90 miles an hour, describing all the wrongs within their marriage. After 15 minutes of listening to the wife, the counselor went over to her, picked her up by her shoulders, kissed her passionately and sat her back down. Afterwards, the wife sat speechless. The marriage counselor looked over at the husband, who stared in disbelief. The counselor said to the husband,"Your wife NEEDS that at least twice a week!" The husband scratched his head and replied, "I can have her here on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
Last WordsThe Book
Potion, pope and perfidy
The second and final version is complete and available on Amazon.
Don’t order through ‘Marketplace’ or you’ll get the first version which is incomplete.
Bless you all,
Russ Haggerty
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
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—Russ
