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Greetings & Blessings to all

Welcome to our November newsletter.

I don’t know how you are all fairing but winter has definitely arrived for me.

This morning the temperature was 18 degrees ƒ (that’s -7.77 degrees celsius).

So, now I have Thanksgiving to spend with my neighbors Karen and Ed. I’ll be bringing an Apple pie and mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce. Ed always does the turkey and it’s really good. A week before is my 76^thbirthday and I don’t expect any celebration which is fine with me. Of course all this is followed by Christmas. This year will be a little odd because I’m flying back to my sister’s house in Silver Spring, Maryland. The reason is to attend my nephew’s wedding on December 21^st. I come home on December 22^ndso I’ll have to scramble to put a Christmas dinner together two days later. I started doing Christmas dinner after I lost my sweet Bridget. It makes me feel better to keep the traditions going. Not too bad I only have to host dinner for 11 people. Of course I have to do as much as possible before I go. That will include two pies (Apple and Mincemeat, by the way, when I went to buy the mincemeat the girl I asked about it had never heard of it?!) and clean and set up the table in the basement. I’ll set up everything except the stemware and cover it all with a sheet.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it) and a Happy Christmas and New Years. Yikes! I still have to buy the presents for my seven grandkids.

Enough of my nattering.

Again my thanks for the contributions. Please keep them coming. I would like appropriate news or other links more than anything.

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:

The Weather

Up the minute forecasts provided by Ireland's official source for all weather-related news. Please click Met Eireann. http://www.met.ie/forecasts/

Basic Irish

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

Basic Irish

Word: Dinner
Irish: dinnéar
Pronunciation: din-ayr

Phrase: Holiday dinner
Dinner: dinnéar ócáide
Pronunciation: din-ayr oh-kaw-dje (literally: an 'occasion' dinner)

Phrase: It's fun to set a holiday table
Irish: Nach brea an spraoi é an bord saoire a chur in eagrú
Pronunciation: nahkh on burdh see-reh ah khur in ah-groo

LINKS

1.Sleet and snow forecast as temperatures set to plummet

Temperatures will fall below freezing in most places on that night and the possibility is that people will wake up on Thursday morning with a covering of snow though it is unlikely to remain except on higher ground.

Thursday will be another cold day and temperatures will again fall below freezing in many places at night with a sharp frost developing on both Thursday night and Friday morning.

Liz Walsh said the outlook for the week is “cold and unsettled” with “sharp heavy showers”.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sleet-and-snow-forecast-as-temperatures-set-to-plummet-1.4079102

It just sounds like Ireland to me—Russ

2.What impact will climate change have on Ireland in 2050?

Ahead of his documentary 'Will Ireland Survive 2050?', former weather presenter and head of forecasting at Met Éireann, Gerald Fleming, assessed the potential ramifications of climate change and warns the devil is in the detail.

Come 2050 I will be in my 93rd year, if I am spared to reach that age. My children will be looking forward to retirement, and my grandchildren possibly embarking on raising their own families.

https://www.rte.ie/culture/2019/1024/1085325-what-will-ireland-be-like-in-2050/

I don’t think I’ll be around to see it —Russ

3.Ancient secrets of the Hill of Tara revealed

An in-depth survey of the Hill of Tara in 2010 uncovered many secrets of the important ancient Irish landmark.

Funded by the Irish Heritage Council, the Discovery program (the Centre for Irish Archaeological Research) and National University of Ireland, Galway, used a non-invasive geophysical survey of the land to try and compute why the Hill of Tara had such importance to our Irish ancestors. The team of scientists was also given permission to survey private land adjacent to the monument.

https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/ancient-secrets-of-tara-hill-revealed?utm_campaign=IC+FAV+-+Nov+11+-+2019-11-11&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet

Archaeology, one of my favorite subjects—Russ

4. Irish soldiers who fought in World War I honored in Dublin

Glasnevin Cemetery commemorated the 101st anniversary of Armistice Day.

Irish soldiers who fought in World War I were honored during a ceremony at Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery in commemoration of the 101st anniversary of Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, in which World War I officially ended.

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/irish-wwi-soldiers-glasnevin?utm_campaign=IC+FAV+-+Nov+11+-+2019-11-11&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet

Bravo—Russ

5. Remembered at last: The three Irish brothers who were killed in WW2

Three Irish brothers who died while serving in the Canadian air force during the second World War have been remembered at a memorial service in Belgium.

Brothers Edward, Harry and Frank Sheehan, who were all born in Ireland, were killed in separate bombing missions during the war.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/remembered-at-last-the-three-irish-brothers-who-were-killed-in-ww2-1.4078265

About time—Russ

6. Ireland pipped at the post by Wales

Ireland’s search for a maiden November Women’s International victory continues after they suffered an agonising defeat to Wales in the UCD Bowl on Sunday afternoon.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/ireland-pipped-at-the-post-by-wales-1.4078336

Sigh—Russ

7. Ceremony honours Irish who ‘volunteered to oppose Nazism in arms’

The Irish who served in the Allied forces in the second World War were recognised at the annual Remembrance Sunday service at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. The event was conducted to mark the 101st anniversary of the armistice that ended the first World War, but also the 80th anniversary of the start of the second World War.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ceremony-honours-irish-who-volunteered-to-oppose-nazism-in-arms-1.4078568

I sure hope the wars are over-for good—Russ

QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS

It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God—the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people—kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people—no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush...
Fr. Andrew Greeley

Amen to that — Russ

A BIT OF THE WIT

From out of the mouth of a nun in Ballyragget, Kilkenny when describing a woman in high heels:
"She was like a cat on a scissors."

JOKE OF THE MONTH

Sean calls home to his wife and says, "Aiofe, I have been asked to go fishing on Lough Ree with my boss and several of his friends. We'll be gone for a week. This is a good opportunity for me to get that promotion I've been wanting so would you please pack me enough clothes for a week and set out my rod and tackle box. We're leaving from the office and I'll stop by the house to pick them up. Oh, and, please pack my new blue silk pajamas."
Aiofe thinks this all sounds a little fishy but being a good wife she does exactly what her husband asked. The following weekend he comes home a little tired but otherwise looking good. The wife welcomes him home and asks if he caught many fish? He says, "Yes! Lot's of trout, some salmon, and a few pike. But why didn't you pack my new blue silk pajamas like I asked you to do?"
"I did, Sean; they're in your tackle box."

DID YOU KNOW

1. The Popularity of Patrick as a Christian name in Ireland is due to the great 17th century general, Patrick Sarsfield, not our patron saint?

Bridget found this, I’m not sure I agree—Russ

2. According to old custom, a piece of candle, a coin and a small quantity of wine or spirits should be placed next to someone who has died? The candle was to give the deceased light, the coin was to pay the fare over the river of death, and the liquor was to sustain him or her on their journey.

This sounds Greek to me—Russ

3. Emmett Square in Birr, Co. Offaly, marks the centre of Ireland

The Republic or the entire Island?–Russ

Sponsor

I’m my own Sponsor again this month.

Announcing the Irish Culture and Customs Book of Jokes

This is the collection of our Jokes. It was built up over many years and, now, is gathered here for your enjoyment. With this in your hand, whenever the day is dull or dreary you can open it up and have a good laugh, you'll feel better.

Available on Amazon. Use this Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Irish-Culture-Customs-Book-Jokes/dp/1986506800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524578623&sr=8-1&keywords=irish+culture+and+customs+book+of+jokes&dpID=31oLHT0zknL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

THE WEEK THAT IS

1. Article:The Irish Soldiers in the American Civil War

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/VetsCivilWar.html

2. Article: The Irish Soldiers in WWI

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/VetsWW1.html

3. Article: It's a long way to Tipperary

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/VetsTiperary.html

4. Article: Danny Boy

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/VetsDannyBoy.html

5. The Irish Kitchen: Preparing the Puddings

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

6. Basic Irish: Advent and Christmas

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/AdventXmas.html

7. Kids’ Ireland: Midnight Visitor

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

So there you have it until we write again - sometime in December.

If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of November, here is your special verse:

If you wed in bleak November,

Only joy will come, remember.

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:

A Blessing for Advent
On this first Sunday of advent
May the coming light that is our Lord
fill you and yours with joy and peace

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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The 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. Use this link: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Potion-Pope-Perfidy-ebook/dp/B07BBVST69/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1531576170&sr=1-2&keywords=russell+haggerty&dpID=61BzUIHyd2L&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

If any of you bought and read the first version, I don’t want you to pay the higher price for the second. So, send me an E-Mail at the address below and I’ll buy one for you at my author’s price and mail it to you (and, yes, I’ll sign it). Even with the postage it will save you a bit of money.

Bless you all,

Russ Haggerty

LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING

A curious fellow died one day and found himself waiting in the long line of judgment. As he stood there he noticed that some souls were allowed to march right through the pearly gates into Heaven. Others though, were led over to Satan who threw them into the burning pit. But every so often, instead of hurling a poor soul into the fire, Satan would toss a soul off to one side into a small pile. After watching Satan do this several times, the fellow's curiosity got the best of him. So he strolled over and asked Satan what he was doing. "Excuse me, Prince of Darkness," he said. "I'm waiting in line for judgment, but I couldn't help wondering, why are you tossing those people aside instead of flinging them into the Fires of Hell with the others?" "Ah, those ...Satan said with a groan. "They're all from Ireland. They're still too cold and damp to burn."

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 Irish Culture and Customs Homepage 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