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Basic IrishIrish: Lá Fhéile an Mháthair
Pronunciation: law ay-leh on waw-hirr
Phrase: Mother's Day (spoken)
Irish: Lá an Mháthair
Pronunciation: law on waw-hirr
2.Explained: The Irish are repaying a 173-yr-old ‘debt’ to Native Americans during Covid-19; here’s why
According to a study conducted by various US government agencies in 2009 following the H1N1 flu outbreak, reports suggested that death rates were higher among Native Americans in the country. This was in part due to high rates of poverty and high-risk health conditions like diabetes, heart diseases and asthma that were prevalent among Native American communities.
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-irish-are-repaying-a-173-year-old-debt-to-native-americans-during-covid-19-6418555/
Bless the Irish—Russ
3.Irish pol gives thanks for Ireland Famine medics
Madigan hailed the medical workers of the Famine who served Ireland during a time of national crisis, drawing a comparison with the frontline workers of today.
"As we confront a pandemic today, let us recall that the Great Famine was a public health emergency in its own right. We think of the many heroes of the Famine years,” she said.
https://www.irishcentral.com/news/thanks-ireland-famine-medics
Yes, Indeed—Russ
4. Ireland ‘on track’ to further ease restrictions in May, says Varadkar
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar moved to offer reassurance to the public after a turbulent 24 hours of news on vaccines with both insisting the rollout targets here remain achievable.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-on-track-to-further-ease-restrictions-in-may-says-varadkar-1.4537493
Let’s hope so—Russ
5. Irish researchers study effectiveness of blood thinners on coronavirus
Irish researchers are taking part in a large international study to determine if blood thinners could help change the progression of coronavirus and prevent patients from requiring intensive care, a leading professor in clinical medicine has said.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/irish-researchers-study-effectiveness-of-blood-thinners-on-coronavirus-1.4244070
Hmmm—Russ
6. Paying back Great Hunger kindness, Irish support Native Americans struck by COVID-19
The donations are directly related to the Famine in 1847 when the Choctaw Nation heard about Ireland's plight and generously donated $170 (around $5,000 today) to the cause.
https://www.irishcentral.com/news/irish-payback-great-hunger-kindness-native-americans
There are a lot of nice people out there—Russ7. Forcing airlines to police hotel quarantine rules ‘simply mad’
Making airlines responsible for policing Ireland’s mandatory hotel quarantine rules is “simply mad”, according to Europe’s largest airline association, which expressed surprise at the Government’s https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/forcing-airlines-to-police-hotel-quarantine-rules-simply-mad-1.4537603QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS"I have never seen a West Cork farmer with an umbrella, except at a funeral. His father or grandfather, who went to the creamery with an ass and cart, insulated himself against the vagaries of the heavens with a thick woolen overcoat and slightly greasy flat cap. Little rain permeated the oxter or the headgear. Beneath the outer layer, which could weigh a hundredweight when well soaked, the man remained dry and warm."
- Damien Engright, "A Place Near Heaven - A Year in West Cork"
A BIT OF THE WITPeter O'Toole. (b. August 2, 1932)
JOKE OF THE MONTHMike wakes up at home with a huge hangover. He forces himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees are a couple of aspirins and a glass of water on the bedside table. He sits up in bed and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and ironed. He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotless. He takes the aspirins and sees a note on the table which says "Breakfast is on the stove, dear. I left early to go shopping. Love you!" He goes to the kitchen and sure enough, there's a hot breakfast waiting for him, and also the morning newspaper. His son is sitting at the table, eating. Really curious by now, Mike asks, "Son, what happened last night?" His son says, "Well, Mam said you came home after 3 a.m, you stumbled in the door, threw up in the hallway, and passed out half-way up the stairs. Confused, Mike asks, "So, why is everything in order and so clean, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me?" His son replies, "Oh, that! Mam dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your trousers off, you yelled "Leave me alone woman, I'm a married man"
DID YOU KNOW1. Mass has been celebrated every Sunday at Ballintubber Abbey in Co. Mayo since 1216?
2. Dublin's O'Connell Bridge was originally made of rope and could only carry one man and a donkey at a time? It was replaced with a wooden structure in 1801. The current concrete bridge was built in 1863 and was first called "Carlisle Bridge".
I walked over that bridge when I took Bridget there in 1996.
3. Singer, Eyna's real name is Eithne Ní Bhraonáin
She started with the Irish group ‘Clannad’— they are mostly Brennans—Russ
Sponsor
Available on Amazon. Use this Link:THE WEEK THAT IS1. Article: Beltane Bonfires and Nettle Soup
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in May or June.God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And He moulded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.
Please god, He will bless her and keep her
though far from me now she is gone
And God willing I’ll once again feel her
loving arms around me once more.
Edited and adapted from the poem
Wonderful Mother by Pat O'Reilly
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 LAUGHINGThis is adapted from one sent in by "Morgana" in England. Thanks!
A garda pulls over a speeding car. He says, "I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir." The driver says, "Are you sure? I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating." Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: "Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control." As the garda writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, "Can't you please keep your mouth shut for once?" The wife smiles demurely and says, "You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did." As the garda makes out the second ticket for the illegal use of a radar detector unit*, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, "Woman ,didn't I tell you to keep your mouth shut!" The garda frowns and says "And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an on the spot 60 euro fine. "The driver says, "Well, you see sir, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket." The wife says, "Now, dear, you know very well that you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving." And as the garda is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, "WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE SHUT UP??" The garda looks over at the woman and asks, "Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?" Smiling sweetly, she replies. Only when he's been drinking, sir."
*While it is legal to own a radar detector in the Republic of Ireland, it is actually illegal to use it. —Russ
Last Words
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—Russ
