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		IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== Play the Irish Lottery
=== Charles Stewart Parnell - an Irish Hero
=== President McAleese in Brazil by Liam Gallagher
=== Our Trip to Ireland         by Shannon Travers
=== Harvest Day - a poem	    by Thomas Shea
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Site of the Month:	www.2studyabroad.com
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

Happy Spring to one and all as the ice finally 
gives way to the wind and in all probability, 
more ice!

Ok, it may be cold but we have a great issue 
that you can print off and read while wrapped up 
beside your coal fire!

Why don't YOU submit an article, story or poem 
for the next edition?

Until next time,

HAPPY SPRING!

Michael


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=================================================

NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
=======================

REFERENDUM ON CITIZENSHIP TO GO AHEAD

A loophole in the Irish citizenships laws is 
likely to be closed with the announcement of a 
referendum on citizenship by the government. 
Currently anyone who gives birth to a child in 
Ireland is entitled to reside with the child, 
since the child is an Irish citizen. Even though 
the parents are not Irish they are currently 
allowed to stay.

This is not the situation in the majority of 
other European countries and has resulted in 
hundreds of heavily pregnant asylum seekers 
arriving at Irish Maternity Hospitals, giving 
birth, and then claiming the right to stay in 
Ireland. The Irish Maternity services have been 
overloaded in recent years because of this 
perceived immigration tactic.

The Government has announced a referendum to 
close off this loophole, removing the automatic 
right to citizenship of a child born in Ireland, 
and thus the right of parents to stay in Ireland 
simply because their child was born here. There 
has been opposition to the move in various quarters 
with some commentators claiming the proposed 
change in the law is a violation of human rights 
and even racist. Those in favour of the 
legislation have pointed to the huge influx of 
immigrants in recent years and the pressures 
being placed on the Maternity and other State 
services as proof that the change in the 
constitution is needed.

IRISH SMOKING BAN CLAIMS HIGH PROFILE VICTIM

The ban on smoking in the workplace in now in 
place and has already claimed a high profile 
casualty. 

It is no longer legal to smoke in pubs or 
restaurants but that did not prevent John Deasy, 
T.D. (member of the Irish Parliament) from 
lighting up several cigarettes in the bar located 
within Dail Eireann (Parliament buildings). Deasy 
is the Fine Gael spokesman on justice and was 
fired by his party leader from his job as he 
refused requests by staff in the bar to extinguish 
his cigarette.

The effects of the smoking ban are now being 
studied by several other countries including 
England and Sweden who look set to implement 
smoking bans of their own.

POLICE TO BE FREED UP FROM PAPERWORK

Over 200 Garda (Police) are currently involved 
in the administration of motor-vehicle related 
fines. These officers are to be returned to 
'the beat' as the motor-vehicles fines work is 
to be subcontracted out to a private company.
 
HEALTH BOARDS TO BE ABOLISHED

The reform of the national Health Service in 
Ireland is to continue unabated. The major step 
of the abolition of the Health Boards will be 
carried out, according to the Health Minister, 
Micheal Martin. The Minister recently implemented 
the smoking ban and will use the impetus provided 
by the success of the ban to push through on his 
ambitious plans to upgrade the health system. The 
11 health boards will be replaced by 4 regional 
agencies who are under the control of the National 
Health Executive.

HOUSE PRICES STILL ON THE RISE AS ECONOMY IMPROVES

Despite warnings of glom and doom by various 
commentators (including 'The Economist' magazine), 
the cost of houses in Ireland continues to rise. 
Estate Agents maintain that as long as supply 
continuous to lag behind demand then the upward 
spiral will continue. This is despite the 
incredible rate of house completion in Ireland 
over the last few years.

The average cost of a house is now EURO 237,000, 
a rise of EURO 30,000 over the last year. House 
prices have risen by over 13% in the last year.

The continuing strength in the property market as 
well as an increase in personal spending have 
given a boost to eh Irish economy. The Government
Central Statistics estimate that 2003 growth was 
3.3%, much better than the 0.1% growth achieved 
in 2002. Growth of 3.5% is expected in 2004 which 
is also keeping unemployment down below 5%.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi

=================================================

NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
==============================

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 8 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

E: Eaddy
F: Feehan
G: Garvin
O: Owens
R: Rock
S: Sloan
W: Woulfe, Wynne

View the Gallery here:

http://www.irishsurnames.com/coatsofarms/gm.htm

We now have over 100,000 worldwide names available.
Get the Coat of Arms Print, Claddagh Ring,
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=================================================

PLAY THE IRISH LOTTERY
======================

34 Millionaires were created by the Irish lottery 
in 2003! You could be next - especially if you use 
the service provided by www.irishlotto.net

http://www.irishlotto.net has been in operation 
since 1988 and is one of the oldest online 
lottery sites in the world. With subscribers in 
89 countries it is easy to see why so this site 
is considered as being among the most reliable 
lottery sites on the web. 

Their website is now totally revamped!

The Irish lotto jackpot is never lower than 
US$1,500,000 and is frequently worth in excess of 
US$5,000,000. It can rise to $12,000,000 and more. 
You don't have to live in Ireland to play and all 
winnings are Tax Free! 

The draw takes place every Wednesday and Saturday 
night on national television (RTE). The jackpot 
prize is won by matching the first six numbers 
drawn (1 to 42).

A seventh number is also drawn and is called the 
'bonus' number. Prizes can also be won by matching 
five numbers, five numbers plus the bonus number, 
four numbers, four numbers plus the bonus number 
or three numbers plus the bonus number.

Although people tend to pick their own lucky 
numbers, a 'quick pick' option is available which 
instructs the Lotto computer to select the entry 
numbers. Prizes are tax-free and are paid out in 
one lump sum.

The service offered by irishlotto.net includes:

* Entering your numbers in the Irish Lottery and 
  immediately sending you official confirmation 
  of your entry. 

* Double-checking your numbers after each draw. 

* Immediately notifying you, in confidence, of 
  any winnings. Payment is made according to your 
  instructions.

* Sending you details of the winning numbers for 
  the draws in which you participate.

Total confidentiality is assured. No one will know 
that you have bought a ticket and no one will know 
that you have won - except you!

The entry fees include all postage, handling and 
agent charges.

Got a question? Email the friendly staff at 
sales@irishlotto.net or visit the website at:

http://www.irishlotto.net

=================================================

CHARLES STEWART PARNELL - AN IRISH HERO
=======================================

The Great Famine of 1845 to 1849 left over 1 
million dead with a further 1 million emigrating 
over the following 10 years. One of the effects 
of the disaster was to demonstrate to ordinary 
Irish people that the English Government had 
failed them in their time of need and that they 
must seize control of their own destiny. 

Out of the Famine grew several revolutionary 
movements which culminated in the 1916 Easter 
Rising. In the second half of the nineteenth 
century the main concern of the Irish people was 
their land and the fact that they had no control 
whatsoever over it ownership. 

Charles Stewart Parnell was the son of a 
Protestant landowner who organised the rural 
masses into agitation against the ruling Landlord 
class to seek the 3 Fs: Fixity of Tenure, Freedom 
to Sell and Fair Rent. 

Violence flared in the countryside but Parnell 
preferred to use parliamentary means to achieve 
his objectives and the result was a series of 
Land Acts which greatly improved the conditions 
under which the Irish agricultural class toiled. 

Parnell's main ambition was Home Rule for Ireland 
(local Government) and he led the Irish Party, 
deposing Isaac Butt in the process to achieve this 
aim. He and colleagues such as Joseph Biggar made 
a science out of 'fillibustering' and delayed the 
English parliament by introducing amendments to 
every clause of every Bill and then discussing 
each aspect at length. His popularity in Ireland 
soared to great heights. 

Trouble loomed for Parnell however, in his private 
life. He had secretly courted a married woman, 
Kathleen O'Shea, the husband of whom filed for 
divorce, naming Parnell as the co-respondent. He 
tried to ignore the scandal and continued his 
public life. Public pressure in Ireland and from 
Gladstone in England eventually brought his 
downfall and he died shortly afterwards, in 1891. 
The Home Rule Bill that he had forced Gladstone 
into introducing was passed in the House of 
Commons, but was defeated in the House of Lords. 

In his last speech in Kilkenny in 1891 he said: 
'I don’t pretend that I had not moments of trial 
and of temptation, but I do claim that never in 
thought, word, or deed, have I been false to the 
trust which Irishmen have confided in me'. 

But perhaps he will be most remembered for the 
quotation that can be found on his statue at the 
junction of O'Connell Street and Parnell Street 
in Dublin City Centre: 

'No man shall have the right to fix the 
boundary to the march of a Nation'. 

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PRESIDENT MCALEESE IN BRAZIL    by Liam Gallagher
============================

The small Irish community in Brazil got an 
excellent boost on March 25th and 26th, when we 
received President McAleese and her entourage. 
Here in Sao Paulo the events centred around the 
Grand Hyatt Hotel, the General Manager of which 
is a Leitrim exile, Myles McGourty, who made sure 
the President got a full reception. 

Among the events held were a working breakfast 
with over 200 businessmen and an evening event 
where the members of the local community could 
meet the President. We were treated to a show of 
live music by Martin Connor and friends, followed 
by Irish stew and lashings of Guinness and 
Jameson. 

Then on Friday, President McAleese was the guest 
of the Irish Studies department at the Federal 
University of São Paulo. What struck us most 
were President McAleese's speeches, especially 
that dealing with Ireland's presidency of the 
EU at a time when the same is about to be enlarged 
by ten new member states.

We the Irish in Sao Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro 
are very proud of what President McAleese's visit 
stands for and the doors it opens to increased 
international cooperation between Brazil and 
Ireland, two nations with strong cultural ties 
and with huge potential for increased commercial 
ties in the immediate future.

March 2004 will remain in our memories for many 
years to come.

Liam Gallagher
President
The Brazil-Ireland Cultural Association
contact: liam_gallagher@uol.com.br

=================================================

YOU CAN HELP TO KEEP THIS FREE NEWSLETTER ALIVE!

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where you can get great Irish gifts, prints, 
claddagh jewellery, engraved glassware and 
much more.

Timothy Meade got some family crest watches as 
gifts for his wedding groomsmen:

 Michael,

 The watches are amazing.  They arrived at just the 
 right time.  I really appreciate that you didn't 
 bill me for the extra shipping. It warms the 
 cockles of me heart.

 Thanks for making my wedding day just that much 
 more beautiful.

 Tim

See here for family crest gifts:
Visit https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestgifts.htm

=================================================

OUR TRIP TO IRELAND	       by Shannon Travers
===================

I want to share with you my thoughts and 
experience about our first trip to Ireland.

We took a 'Pub Tour' of the West of Ireland region 
to include Counties Clare, Galway and Mayo. The 
tour was from 31st March to 5th April 2004.

After checking in at the airport, collecting our 
luggage and hitting the ATM we boarded our tour 
bus. We first drove to the Atlantic coast to see 
the Cliffs of Moher. An absolutely breathtaking 
site yet the winds there were almost strong enough 
to blow one of his footing. The weather was 
somewhat cloudy and a bit foggy but the view was 
still grand. If I recall correctly the cliffs 
rose 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. 

After spending an hour there we reboarded our bus 
and headed up the coast to Doolin. We left the 
Cliffs of Moher and entered the 'Burren'. This is 
a vast area of rock, rocky hills, small areas of 
grass and sheep. Again beautiful scenery even 
though its basically useless land. We passed 
numerous small fields with sheep all bordered by 
stone fences. We arrived Doolin at lunchtime and 
we had soup and sandwiches at 'Gus O'Conner's Pub'. 
Doolin is a small village that is tucked away on 
a hillside off the main road if you can call it a 
main road. We spent an hour or so at the pub for 
lunch.

We left Doolin to continue our travels to the city 
of Galway. Upon arrival at our hotel, the Forster, 
in Galway we went to our room and freshened up to 
enjoy an evening in Galway. We drank at the 
An Pucan Pub and also at O'Flaherty's pub.

On the 1st of April we traveling from Galway to 
Rossaveel to take the Ferry to the Aran Island of 
Innishmore. We were told by our Tour Guide, the 
great Dan Cooper that the area we are in is 
strictly Gaelic speaking and we may see that some 
of the English on the signs may be painted over. 
Also we were told that we are in the Connemara 
region, which is rather poor due to the very 
rocky terrain. Many of the homes that we saw 
were 'Holiday' homes, which are the same as our 
vacation homes. Again seeing all the fenced in 
fields amongst the vast rocky terrain was 
absolutely beautiful.

We reached Rossaveel and boarded the Ferry and 
began our trip to the Island of Innishmore. When 
we arrived we were standing on the dock looking 
across the harbor at he the village. What a 
beautiful site. We walked over to the village to 
the shops and waited for our tour bus to pick us 
up. We took a tour of the island and learned that 
years ago they used to bring the seaweed from 
shore and place it on the rocks to make soil to 
plant in. The roads are awfully narrow and lined 
by stone fences. There is a never-ending supply 
of fencing materials on this island or in the 
Burren and Connemara areas. We toured the Fort 
Dun Aonghasa, which sits 300 feet above the 
ocean on a cliff top. How beautiful to look out 
across the ocean from such a vantage point. We 
also visited a small church called 'Teampall 
Bhreacain' dating to the eighth century. After a 
full day on the Island we Ferried back to the 
mainland and headed for Clifden traveling through 
the Connemara region. We dined at the Clifden 
hotel and basically stayed at the Station House 
pub that night.

On the 2nd of April we boarded the bus for a 
journey to Westport in the County Mayo. While 
traveling we passed by the 'Twelve Bens' 
Mountains, Killary Fjord and 'Croagh Patrick' 
mountain. In Westport we passed by St. Mary's 
Catholic Church. We left the busses about a 
block and a half away where we headed to Matt 
Malloy's Pub. Our Travel Guide had set it up to 
have live music at Matt Malloy's Pub for our 
group. Before going into the pub we walked about 
town a little and had some lunch. We then 
entered Matt Malloy's for a pint or two and 
listened to some excellent traditional Irish 
music. This trip to Ireland was in celebration 
our tenth wedding anniversary. While in 
Westport we were going to have our wedding vows 
renewed. Much to our Surprise Father Kenny from 
St. Mary's arrived at the pub to walk us to the 
church, St. Mary's, where my wife and I renewed 
our vows to each other. This was the 'Icing on 
the cake' for us. We Left Westport and drove to 
Ballintubber Abbey, a site of great history with 
the Stations of the Cross on grounds along a 
walking path. From here we drove to Cong where 
the movie 'The Quiet Man' was filmed. We walked 
the street to Danaghers Pub for a late lunch. 
From here we returned to Clifden. 

On the 3rd of April we bussed to the Killary 
Fjord where we took about an hour and a half 
cruise. Mountains on both side of the Fjord were 
just gorgeous. We had heavy down pours, sunshine 
and rainbows while cruising. We began the cruise 
at about 10.30am and I had a Baileys Coffee to 
warm me up! After the cruise we boarded the 
busses again and headed to Kylemore Abbey the 
home of the Irish Benedictine Nuns. The Kylemore 
Castle was built 1867 and the Gothic Church was 
built between 1877 and 1881. The Church, with 
its multi colored marble pillars inside and the 
Kylemore Abbey are sitting on the side of a lake 
with a beautiful mountainside backdrop. We had 
lunch at Kylemore Abbey then began our trip back 
to Clifden. We had the late afternoon and 
evening to enjoy in the quaint railroad town.

On April 4th we began our Journey to Ennis. We 
stopped at the Connemara Marble Shop and were 
given a tour and brief talk on the different 
marbles mined and how they get from rough mined 
marble to a finished product. We are back on the 
road again through beautiful Galway to the 
Bunratty Castle. We had lunch at the Bunratty 
Hotel pub then journeyed over to the Creamery and 
Dirty Nellie's pub. We shopped and just enjoyed 
the beautiful site of Bunratty Castle towering 
over the pubs and stores. From here we went to 
the Old Ground Hotel where we spent our last night 
on the beautiful Island. We dined at the hotel 
with our entire tour group then spent the rest of 
the night at the hotel pub. In this pub is where 
my trip really made me feel like I was in Ireland. 
Around 10pm a 6 piece musical group started 
playing live Irish music. Sitting or standing in 
a crowded pub, drinking pints of Guinness, 
watching them play their music Oh how much better 
can it be? A young redhead girl begins to do 
some traditional Irish dancing in the middle of 
the pub. And that made the trip for me. 

On 5th April we had breakfast and walked around 
the cool town of Ennis. Narrow streets, 
multicolored store and pub fronts, like any 
other town but for some reason Ennis felt 
different. We left Ennis to be back at Shannon 
Airport by 1pm. After we checked in at the airport 
we were heading to the Duty Free area when a 
recording over the PA system advised to 'Evacuate 
the building for reasons beyond our control'. With 
the world situation as it is my first thoughts 
were not good ones. But I then said to myself, I 
am finishing the trip of my life nothing can ruin 
it for you. It turned out that someone was smoking 
in a bathroom and set the fire alarm off. We went 
back into the building for my final true Irish 
Guinness Pint while waiting to board the plane. 
We departed Shannon heading for BWI airport and 
arrived at 5:30pm. The approach and landing at 
BWI was so rough due to high winds, but again I 
had just finished the trip of my life.

The images of what I saw are forever burned into 
my memory. The people we toured with were 
absolutely a fun group to meet. And I can't say 
enough about Dan Cooper, our tour bus driver. No 
matter where we went he made sure we knew where 
the pubs were. And last but by no means least, 
Joanna and David who set the trip up obviously 
are experts in providing you with a great trip. 
Everything planned out so well that you never 
lost interest or got bored by a super long bus 
trip. This trip made our tenth anniversary so 
very special. In fact on the flight home we 
were discussing the next trip!

The only regret that I do have is that I did 
not get to have much interaction with the local 
people of Ireland. We should have separated 
from the group one night or two and went to a 
pub to dine and chat with the locals instead of 
staying with the tour group all the time. But 
this was our first of hopefully many more 
trips to Ireland.

Shannon and Andrea Travers
Abingdon, Maryland USA

=================================================

YOU CAN HELP TO KEEP THIS FREE NEWSLETTER ALIVE!

Visit https://www.irishnation.com

where you can get great Irish gifts, prints, 
claddagh jewellery, engraved glassware and 
much more.

Anne MacDonald ordered a family crest plaque:

 Hello, Michael,

 Received my plaque, carefully wrapped, 
 in good order.  It is splendid!  I am 
 thrilled, and I know that my dad, for whose 
 81st birthday this was ordered, will love 
 it.  I would like to order another one! 

 Everyone who has seen the plaque has been 
 really impressed, even those who, as my 
 daughter says are 'not into ancestor 
 worship!'

 Again, my hearty thanks for this 
 first-class product.

 Best wishes for happy holiday season.

 Sincerely, Anne MacDonald

View family crest plaques here:
https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestplaques.htm


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HARVEST DAY			   by Thomas Shea
 
Alone with God on a green hillside 
At the close of a harvest day 
Looking down on the little town 
And the white road by the bay 
While faint and sweet comes the anvil beat 
Borne out through the open door,
Sweet as the knell of a fairie bell 
Across the silent moor.

The fragrance of the new mown hay 
On the hush of a harvest sigh, 
The smoke that curls and wreaths and swirls 
From chimney top to sky, 
The cattle low in the fields below 
On the distant valley floor, 
The milkmaid's song as she swings along 
The beach by the verdant shore.

The little fleet of fishing boats
Tied up in the shady cove,
The flying corps of rooks that soar
Above the woodland grove,
The cry of the hound along the sound
On the heels of the bleating flock
The creak of the mill comes to the hill
With the chime of the old town clock

The setting sun behind the hill
Proclaims the end of day,
As twilight grows and shadow flows
O'er vale, and town, and bay,
And lights agleam from windows stream
Like stars above alight
The harvest day has passed away
Within the cloak of night.
 

The plaintive call of the gaureen Rhu 
In the marshes far away 
Mysterious bird that's never heard 
In the light of any day,
The moonlight bright through the starry night 
Spread laughter with romance 
The fiddler plays 'neath the silver rays 
To the crowd at the crossroads dance.

Alone with God on a green hillside 
At the close of a harvest day 
Ah would that He might suffer me 
When life has fled away, 
To watch once more my native shore 
From a hilltop looking down, 
From the vale and glen free of care and sin 
O'er the bay and the little town.

=================================================

You can help to keep this FREE newsletter alive!

Visit https://www.irishnation.com

where you can get great Irish gifts, prints, 
claddagh jewellery, engraved glassware and 
much more.

Claire Latevola ordered an engraved ring:

 Dear Michael,

 I did want to let you know the watch I ordered 
 for my Sister's birthday, with the Nugent crest,
 was lovely.  

 She received it in short order and was delighted.  
 I recently saw it and was very happy with it.  
 Sometimes you feel you are taking a chance placing 
 such an order, but I would not hesitate to place an 
 order again thru your system.

 Again, thank you.

 Claire Latevola

Get your Family Crest ring here:
 https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestrings.htm

=================================================

GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
===========================

PHRASE:		Ta me are meisce
PRONOUNCED:	taw/may/air/mesh-keh
MEANING:		I am very drunk

PHRASE:		Ta me ar buille
PRONOUNCED:	taw/may/air/bool-yeh
MEANING:		I am very angry

PHRASE:		Ta me tuirseach
PRONOUNCED:	taw/may/tier-shock
MEANING:		I am tired

View the archive of phrases here:

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

=================================================

SITE OF THE MONTH:	WWW.2STUDYABROAD.COM

Write Poetry in Dublin, Ireland from July 12th to 
August 12th 2004 with poets Campbell McGrath, 
Denise Duhamel and Nick Carbo 

Presented by Florida International University 

For more information go here:
www.2studyabroad.com

=================================================

APRIL COMPETITION RESULT
========================

The winner was: bern_sullivan@yahoo.com
who will receive the following: 

A Single Family Crest Print (decorative) 
(US$19.99 value)

Send us an email to claim your prize, and well 
done! Remember that all subscribers to this 
newsletter are automatically entered into the 
competition every time. 

=================================================

I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.

Until next time,

HAPPY SPRING!

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

https://www.ireland-information.com
Click here to contact us