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			IN THIS ISSUE
~~~~~ Foreword
~~~~~ Support us for free
~~~~~ New free resources at the site
~~~~~ News Snaps from Ireland
~~~~~ Gaelic Phrases of the Month
~~~~~ Irish Heraldic Watches
~~~~~ The Traditional Irish Childhood   by Bridget Haggerty
~~~~~ An American Athlete in Dublin     by Sue Renes
~~~~~ Readers Noticeboard
~~~~~ Shamrock Site of the Month: The Irish Culture Newsletter
~~~~~ Searcher Site of the Month: The Irish at Home and Abroad
~~~~~ Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
~~~~~~~~

Hi again from a wet and windy Ireland. Very un-April-ish but
such is life! The talk here at the moment concerns the possible
corruption of certain politicians who received money in return
for favourable planning decisions for property developers (a
sin that is as old as civilisation itself).

We have a new free resource for budding genealogy researchers
this month and it is one that we are frequently asked about:
Just what do the symbols on Irish coats of arms actually
mean? Well, now you can find out!

We are delighted to be supported by advertisers this month
who keep this publication free so that we can send it to
thousands of people of Irish origin worldwide. Please support
us by supporting them. If you have a website or business then
please help to keep us free by sponsoring this newsletter.

We have teamed up with Irish craftsman Darren Ward to offer
you a very unique way to celebrate your heritage. See more
below!

Got something to say? Don't keep it to yourself!
Why don't you submit an article for inclusion
in the next edition? Email to:	

newsletterarticle@ireland-information.com

This newsletter is available on-line at:

https://www.ireland-information.com/apr00.htm

The only way that you could have been subscribed to this
newsletter is by filling out a subscription form at the site
whereupon a confirmation notice would have been issued.

If you wish to unsubscribe then go here:

https://www.ireland-information.com/newsletter.htm

......but you'll be missing out!

best wishes from Ireland,

Michael.

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SUPPORT US FOR FREE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to support us, keep us alive? Well you can and it
won't cost you a penny! 

Do the 1,2,......

1. VISIT THE LINK BELOW AND SIGN UP FOR MORE
   GREAT INFO, (ITS FREE!):


https://www.ireland-information.com/list.html

2. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US BY VISITING HERE:


https://www.ireland-information.com/tellafriend.htm

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NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE SYMBOLS OF IRISH HERALDRY EXPLAINED

Did you know that the Boar is one of the most ancient
symbols of Irish heraldry and represents a 'fierce fighter'
and was used as a charm in battle against injury?

Did you know that the open hand that appears on the Cullen
family coat of arms may represent the Gaelic Ogham language
and the sun?

Find out all about the symbols on Irish coats of arms at:


http://www.irishsurnames.com/heraldiccharges.htm

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 74 coats of arms images and family history details
have been added to the Gallery:

B: Ball Bradley
C: Caffrey Cannon Corcorran Cunningham Curley McCall McClean
D: Daily Daniels Darcy Dooley Dougherty Duck Durkin McDermott McDonough
E: Egan English
F: Feeney Flaherty Forde
G: Garvin Gilligan Gordon McGrail O'Grady
H: Hagan Haggerty Harding Harvey Hastings Hayden Healey Hobbs
   Holland Horgan Houlihan O'Hea
J: Jennings Johnson Jordan Joyce
K: Keenan Kelliher Kenny Kerr Killeen Kirby
L: Lambert Lane Leary O'Leary
M: O'Mhaille
N: Nagle Nevin O'Neil
Q: McQuillan
R: Raftery Regan Rice Ridge Roach Ross
S: Scully Sinnott Stewart
T: Turner
W: Wall Waldron Wallace Whitney Wilkinson

View them at:

https://www.ireland-information.com/heraldichall/gm.htm

Get the screensaver featuring YOUR family name (or send it
to a friend or relative as a gift) at:

https://www.ireland-information.com/irishnamescreensavers.htm

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PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celtic Golf Corporation - Custom golf clubs and apparel 
Providing golf products that bring back the spirit, tradition
and history of golf.

		http://www.celticgolf.com

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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION THRIVES IN IRELAND!

The Payments for Politicians Tribunal has recently received
testimony to the effect that 15 politicians accepted bribes
amounting to IR£112,000 for the approval of planing
permission for the Liffey Valley Shopping centre Complex
near Blanchardstown.

Fianna Fail leader Bertie Ahearn and Fine Gael leader, John
Bruton, have both instigated internal investigations to find
out if any serving members of Dail Eireann or any Councillors
who are party members are involved.

The 15 names have not yet been released into the public
domain in order to allow the individuals concerned time to
organise defence lawyers! The possibility remains though,
that the investigations by the political parties themselves
may yet unearth the culprits.

Former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, recently settled the
first part of his tax bill with the Revenue Commissioners,
and was forced to cough up over 1 Million Irish Pounds in
unpaid tax. 

IRA WILL NOT DECOMMISSION THEIR WEAPONS BY MAY 22 DEADLINE

The Easter statement from the IRA in their 'An Phoblacht'
newspaper called on the British government to bring about
the 'meaningful changes' that were necessary to achieve
peace. Tony Blair has again met with Bertie Ahearn in a bid
to breathe new life into the stalled peace process.

There is speculation that the Northern Secretary, Peter
Mandelson, may be replaced in the Summer.

STRIKE FEVER STRIKES IRELAND

The ever willingness of the typical Irish employee to
'strike' has been widely demonstrated in recent months
with the Transport sector the latest grouping to jump
on board the bandwagon carrying those employee unions
willing to engage in both official and unofficial
stoppages.

Dublin commuters were left without bus transport for days
by striking drivers who were joined by the DART (light-rail)
train drivers who started an 'unofficial' action. A deal
was eventually brokered but not before other organisations
indicated that they were about to escalate their actions.

The Nurses, Junior Doctors and Gardai are among the most
vociferous of those bodies likely to strike next, all of
which has to cast a doubt over the newly agreed partnership
agreement. Against a backdrop of ever increasing inflation
it looks as if the end might be in sight for the 'Celtic
Tiger'.

THE YOUNG OF IRELAND HAVE NO HOME TO GO TO

A recent survey by the National Youth Council of Ireland
showed that over 50% of Irish youths (18-25 year olds)
now believe that owning a home is financially beyond
them.

The huge demand but limited supply of housing is a new
experience in Ireland and it appears that there are
going to be whole sectors of Irish society who will not
be able to actually own their own home. The current
housing waiting list of 44,000 people would take more than
16 years to clear at the current rate of construction, the
report stated.

EIRCOM SHARES STUTTER

Shares in the company held by more than 560,000 Irish
people (more than any other company) have steadied at
IR£3.07 (euro 3.90) after the recent stock market turmoil.
This represents the same actual price as when the shares
were first offered. 

TD's SCRAMBLE TO REGISTER THEIR INTERNET DOMAIN NAMES

Following on from the multi-million dollar price tag slapped
on the Bertie Ahearn (the Irish Taoiseach) website, other
T.D.'s and political hopefuls have rushed to register their
own names. The Taoiseach was shocked to learn that his name
had become associated with a web site that provides 'adult'
material.

The leader of the country is said to be investigating legal
options to try to wrest the domain name from its current
owners.

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GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This new feature in the newsletter was suggested by a
subscriber so - here it is! Thanks for the feedback. We
will have five more next month.

PHRASE:		Eireann go braugh (bráth)
PRONOUNCED:	air-in go braw
MEANING:		Ireland forever!

PHRASE:		Dia dhuit
PRONOUNCED:	dee-ah dwit
MEANING:		God (Dia) be with you.
		This phrase is the equivalent of 'Hello'.

PHRASE:		Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
PRONOUNCED:	air esh day go row a ann-im
		('row' as in a fight, tiff, argument) 
MEANING:		May he rest in peace
		This is a common phrase used on funeral
		condolence cards, gravestones, etc.

PHRASE:		Go n-éirí on bóthar leat
PRONOUNCED:	go nigh-ree on boat-or lat
		('nigh' as in 'the end is nigh')
MEANING:		May the road rise with you

PHRASE:		Slán agus beannacht leat   
PRONOUNCED:	slawn og-us bann-ockt lat
MEANING:		Goodbye and blessings on you

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IRISH HERALDIC WATCHES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hot on the heels of our Ancestral Map of Ireland I am
delighted to be able to offer you another superb gift item
that features the family crest for YOUR Irish family name.

We have teamed up with an Irish craftsman named Darren Ward
to offer you a watch with a difference, available in ladies
and gents sizes and with free worldwide delivery - an absolute
bargain. I have seen these exact same items offered on some
of the most 'well known' Irish web sited for in excess of
US$80 but thanks to our arrangement with Darren you can get
them for a lot less than that. Take a look at:

https://www.ireland-information.com/heraldichall/irishheraldicwatch.htm

.......and you can view the Ancestral Map at:

https://www.ireland-information.com/heraldichall/irishheraldicmap.htm


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THE TRADITIONAL IRISH CHILDHOOD		by Bridget Haggerty

Not content with exploring the traditions of an Irish
wedding, (see February 2000 Newsletter) author Bridget
Haggerty has embarked on a new project: the traditional
Irish childhood.

The purpose of this new book is to provide information
relating to:

* naming a new-born
* learning lullabies
* teaching toddlers nursery rhymes
* telling Ireland’s most popular children’s stories
* discovering the games and toys played yesterday and today
* helping children to gain an understanding of their Irish
  history heritage  
* finding appropriate gifts for important events
* planning traditional menus and activities for important
  events
* incorporating traditional prayers and blessings into daily
  life and on important occasions.

Here is a taster!

In the old days, at the appearance of the new moon, many
Irish children would link hands and dance, keeping time to
this charming little verse:

	I see the moon, the moon sees me,
	God Bless the moon and God Bless me;
	There’s grace in the cottage and grace in the hall,
	And the grace of God is over us all.

And there’s many an Irish mother who sang the following ditty
as she bounced her baby on her knee: 

	How many miles to Dub-l-in”
	Three score and ten,
	Will we be there by candle light?
	Yes and back again;
	Hupp, hupp my little horse,
	Hupp, hupp, again. 
 
The 'cradle days’ of grandparents and great-grandparents,
when an expectant mother had to perform many a strange
ritual in order to avoid a fairy changeling ending up in
her crib. Among these odd activities were putting a horseshoe
on the doorpost, placing a prayerbook under her pillow,
cutting a notch in a black cat’s tail, and breaking a new
potato on the hearthstone!

Even after the baby was born, custom demanded that after the
infant first opened its eyes, it must gaze on a blaze of
candlelight to make certain it would prefer deeds of light
to deeds of darkness. 

'When they could create nothing else, to create a child of
their own was as precious as finding a jewel in a turnip
field.' ( From 'The Silent People' by Walter Macken)

The Author needs your help!

Bridget says: 'I'm looking for nursery rhymes, school yard
chants, games, and anything else that might be of interest
to people with Irish roots (new parents, the grandparents,
godparents, and so on). I thought perhaps, it might be fun
to ask your subscriber list to share their memories.'

OK - you have been asked! It's up to you!

You can send any contributions directly to Bridget at:
haggertyr@primax.net


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AN AMERICAN MARATHON-RUNNER IN DUBLIN	 by Sue Renes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On October 25, 1999 I completed the 26.2 miles of the Dublin
Marathon. Being born a 'Yank' a lifelong dream of mine was
to visit Ireland as my great great grandfather was born in
County Wexford.  I found a way to visit by raising $4000 for
the Arthritis Foundation here in the states.  Let me tell 
you my story.

The marathon festivities began for when my roomie and I
headed out to the Arthritis Foundation Pasta Party.  The
Irish, though not known for pasta, had great food and even
an Irish band.  I learned that night an important part of
Irish music.  It has to be LOUD!  We sat at the front, right
in front of the speakers and I can still hear it playing!

We took off early and went back to the room for marathon
preparations.  Put this here and that there and get your
number here and make sure you have an extra power bar and
make sure your bag for the finish line has different 
shoes.  It seemed like it took hours to get everything
ready.  Allison (my roomie) started getting nervous because
everyone else was nervous.  That was nice because then I
didn't have to!!  We actually did get some sleep and got 
up for breakfast at 6 AM.  We decided to eat in the
restaurant by the big ficus tree so it would give us
extra oxygen!!  After breakfast it was off to the starting
line.

Of course the porta potty line was three miles long, so I
made the decision to just wait until I saw one on the
course.  The following is what I remember from the race:

Miles 1-3:  God, I gotta pee...where are the porta potties.
Good, I am letting everyone pass me..that means I am running
my own race....run your own race, Sue...don't get excited.

Mile 3:  Porta potties.....oh good....two of them for 6500
people.  This is going to be interesting.  (At this point
one woman climbed over the short concrete fence and practiced
public urination and the rest of the women waiting followed
suit!!)  AHH yes...anarchy in a marathon.  When one woman 
became frightened that the men were starting to do it also,
I told her that if they worked this hard to see my backside
then they were welcome to it!!

Miles 4-5:  These went by in a flash.  It felt so good to run
on an empty bladder!

Miles 5-8:  Now the comments started flying about my flashy
tights. I thought everyone wore these. I appeared that I was
the only one on the course.  These used to be all the rage.
I am always about five years behind.  One 12 or 13 year old
boy screamed that he really liked my trousers.  I told him
I was giving him to his mother when I was done!

Miles 8-16:  An Irish saint took pity on me and I started
running with a 27 year old woman from Philadelphia named
Faith.  She was running for the Leukemia Association and
ran my speed.  We chatted and supported each other and
shared war stories of our training.  She wanted to walk at
16 as her training had factored that in so she and I parted
at that point.  I didn't feel that I dare stop running!

Miles 16-18: I stared feeling a bit woozy but was glad I was
getting toward the end.  I ate some GU (athletic food) and
it was a bit like squirting glue into your mouth but it
perked me right up.. I am now a definite supporter of GU!!

Miles 18-21:  I felt great....felt I could run forever.
Could hardly wait to have some more GU!!

Mile 21:  I 'bonked'  which means I could not run another
step.  So I walked and drank and drank and drank and ate a
power bar and relaxed a bit...... then at about mile 21.5 I
started running again, and felt okay.

Miles 22-26.2:  Now all of us running together had been
running more or less together for four plus hours so we had
quite a camaraderie going.  I gave away my remaining power
bars to eager recipients and supported and was supported by
the other runners.  I did have to stop two more times...but I
ran the last 2 tenths and my roomie was there to take 
pictures to prove I did finish.  I was a bit woozie when I
finished but that seemed to be gone in a few minutes.  I saw
Faith at the finish line and we hugged having just completed
an incredible feat of endurance.

Allison had completed the ten miles she wanted to do and then
was gracious enough to be there for me at the finish line...
that was great!!  We went back to the hotel room and shared
war stories and then got ready for the big post marathon
party.  I was amazed how good I felt.  I walked fine and felt 
fine, so we got all dolled up and went to the party.

The post marathon party featured Irish dancers which were so
cute and so talented.  Fortunately they didn't ask us to do
any of those high kicks as that would have been pushing it!
It was good to see that so many people had finished well and
were doing well.

Ireland is indeed a country of magic.  I am proud of my
Irish heritage and proud of my Irish ancestors.  I hope
someday to live in Ireland at least for a short time as it
has captured my heart.

Sue Renes

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READERS NOTICEBOARD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

O'Mahony gathering: The gathering of the O'Mahony clan will
be held on October 13-15, 2000 in Ottawa, Ontario.
Contact Alexandra de Grandpré for more:
grandpre@global2000.net 

Boland gathering: The next 'FestiBoland' will be held in
Argentina on July 20th, 21st and 22nd, 2001
Contact Santiago Boland for more:
sboland@criba.edu.ar

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SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE IRISH CULTURE NEWSLETER

Christina says: 'The Irish Culture Newsletter is published
monthly. It is a brief newsletter that lists the URLs to
some recently published articles about the Irish and Ireland.
I find these on the Irish sites at Suite101.com, as well as
other sites on the Net.

Another feature is called Fun Stuff. I search the Net to
find programs and sites that offer useful items for my
subscribers. Sometimes this includes the URL to a free
program to make computing easier. Always, it includes some
URLs to sites that offer free Irish graphics, clipart or
midi's. When I come across a site that would be helpful for
the researcher or genealogist, I include that also.'

To subscribe, send an email with the word subscribeIC in the
subject line or body to:     IrishCulture@aol.com

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SEARCHER SITE OF THE MONTH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE IRISH AT HOME AND ABROAD

The Irish At Home and Abroad is a quarterly journal focusing
on sources and strategies for Irish and Irish immigrant
genealogical research. Articles concern record sources in
Ireland and in the many places where the Irish settled. The
journal is an essential tool for the family historian.


http://www.ihaonline.com/

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SUPPORT THE INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND SITE
HELP US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE RESOURCES BY TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THESE SPECIAL OFFERS

* Get YOUR Irish family name Watch:
  Over 1800 names now available, free worldwide delivery.

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  Kelly, Murphy, Sullivan.... over 1800 names now available
  Only US$10 with free bonuses

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  To order visit here:

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* Report: How to start the search for your Irish roots,
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APRIL COMPETITION RESULT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The winner was:    houlihanreid@aol.com
who will receive the following:

Irish Name Screensaver of their choice (from our 1800 names)
Our 6-Pack of Irish Screensavers (US$42 value)
AND our Irish Genealogy Report (US$9 value)

Well Done! Remember that all subscribers to this newsletter
are automatically entered into the competition every time. 

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I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.
Please keep the feedback coming!

Until the next time,

Have a great Spring (or early-Summer depending on where you are!)

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

https://www.ireland-information.com

michael@ireland-information.com