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 The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                 April 2007
 
The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland 
 Now received by over 50,000 people worldwide 
      https://www.ireland-information.com 
          https://www.irishnation.com
              Copyright (C) 2007  

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		IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== Ireland's Greatest Natural Resource by Mike Ryan
=== Reading the Irish landscape by Andrea Santillo
=== A Lament for Padraig Pearse by Amanda McFadden
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Shamrock Site of the month:	Celticattic.com
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

Happy Spring from Ireland where General Election 
fever is just starting. The polling date has been 
set and our lampposts are set to be covered in 
every shade of poster imaginable - it should be 
interesting....

Michael


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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
=======================
 
NORTHERN IRELAND PARLIAMENT TO BE RECONVENED

In yet another historic landmark the Northern 
Ireland Assembly is to be reconvened on May 
8th after a deal between the Unionist DUP and 
Nationalist Sinn Fein was finally struck. Prior 
to the announcement the DUP had never directly 
negotiated with Sinn Fein. Ian Paisley and 
Gerry Adams had never actually spoken to each 
other! The significance of the renewal of the 
Northern parliament in the context of recent 
Irish history cannot be overstated. Irish leader 
Bertie Ahern was quoted as saying that the 
agreement had 'the potential to transform the 
future of this island'. 

GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 24

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has finally set the date 
for the general election which will be held on 
May 24th. Recent polls have made very bad reading 
for the current Government coalition of Fianna 
Fail and the PDs. Of course anything can happen 
in the next few weeks and it is expected that 
campaigning will be fierce as the most expensive 
election in Irish history gets under way.

Fianna Fail: under pressure from several angles 
but have a booming economy, the release of the 
SSIA funds and their experience of being in 
government to present to the electorate. Are 
Bertie Ahern's teflon coat-tails as long as 
they use to be?

Fine Gael: looking to make big gains and are 
predicted to do so after the disastrous outing 
in the last election. Doubts still remain however 
about the choice of Enda Kenny as a prospective 
Taoiseach.

Labour: seem to be stagnant in the polls but are 
likely to be 'king-makers' when the ballots are 
finally counted. Labour have repeatedly stated 
that they will not share power with Fianna Fail but 
it remains to be seen if the alternative 'rainbow' 
coalition of which they are an integral part can 
muster an overall parliamentary majority.

The Green Party: Surely the Green Party can ride 
the eco-wave to more seats. A Fianna Fail and 
Green Party government cannot be ruled out.

Sinn Fein: after being predicted to make big 
gains according to successive polls the Sinn Fein 
vote seems to have stalled in recent months. They 
should still make gains but their overall 
unpopularity with the other parties may yet 
exclude them from any coalition.

The Progressive Democrats: The PDs must be the 
most worried of all of the political parties. 
Their outstanding performance in the last election 
staggered commentators but they are going to have 
to do some serious canvassing if they want a 
repeat showing.

Independents: Local issues always dominate 
elections so there will undoubtedly be a good 
representation of independents after the next 
poll. Quite a few of these have leanings towards 
Fianna Fail and their vote could yet be crucial 
to Bertie Ahern's ambition of staying in power.

PROPERTY PRICES BEGIN TO FALL BACK

The inevitable end to the Irish property 
phenomenon looks to be finally in sight. For half
a decade various economic bodies and magazines 
have forecast the end of the huge growth in Irish 
house prices. It looks as if the corner is about 
to be turned. It is expected that the tipping 
point of supply meeting demand may be met in 2007 
but this depends on a number of factors, including 
overall economic performance, EU interest rates 
and the willingness of foreign workers to live and 
earn their wages in Ireland. 

With 10% of the entire population now being 
classed as 'foreign national' the effect of a 
large number of these leaving Ireland to return to 
their homeland (and thus not needing rented 
accommodation) remains to be seen.

It is estimated that there are now as many as 
120,000 unoccupied investment and holiday 
'second-homes' lying idle. With construction at 
an all-time high (up to 80,000 units annually in 
recent years), it remains to be seen if the 
slowdown will develop into a full-scale 'bust' or 
if there will be a gradual 'soft-landing'.

The Political establishment is not helping. All of 
the parties had made promises to reform the 
punitive stamp duty that occurs every time a 
property is sold. On the sale of a EURO 400,000 
property (approx US$528,000), the Government pockets 
EURO 24,000 in stamp duty (US$ 32,000 approx), every 
time the house is sold. There is little doubt that 
part of the reason for the slowdown in activity in 
the property market is that builders and investors 
are waiting to see which political parties form 
the next government and what their policy on 
stamp duty will be.

It would not come as not much surprise however, if 
the market took off again after the general 
election especially if interest rates were to 
moderate at about 4.5% or even fall back. On the 
other hand if investors bail out of the property 
market and the slowdown in construction sees an 
exodus of foreign workers then the pain could be 
very severe indeed

IRISH ECONOMIC GROWTH TO CONTINUE

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) 
has forecast growth in the Irish economy by as 
much as 5.4% in 2007 but expected this growth 
rate to slow in subsequent years. It forecasts
inflation of 4.6% which will ease to 2.6%. One of 
the main reasons why the ESRI is so optimistic in 
regard to economic growth is the release of the 
SSIA funds into the overall economy. The 
government sponsored SSIA scheme will pump 
billions of consumer spending power into the 
economy which should keep it progressing well 
into 2008.

OPEN SKIES DEAL TO BENEFIT IRELAND

The new arrangements negotiated between the 
EU and the US will allow for greater access 
to a greater number of cities on both sides 
of the Atlantic. Already Aer Lingus have 
announced new routes with the direct flights 
from Dublin to San Francisco, Washington and 
Orlando certain to be among the most popular. 
The deal will also likely see the entry into 
the long-haul market of Ryanair and the other 
budget airlines.

The controversial 'Shannon stopover' will be 
ended as part of the deal. Previously all 
flights from the US to Ireland had to stop at 
Shannon airport in the west of the country. 
The new deal is also likely to facilitate 
smaller airports around the country getting 
a piece of the action.

DECLINE IN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN IRELAND 
  
A report commissioned by the drinks industry has 
shown that consumption of alcohol in Ireland has 
fallen back by 7% since 2001. The Business School 
at Dublin City University conducted the research. 
The findings would seem to give merit to the view 
that Irish attitudes to drinking and especially to 
attending pubs is beginning to change. The smoking 
ban has long been suspected of having an adverse 
effect on alcohol consumption in pubs and, together 
with a much tougher regime of enforcement in 
respect of drink-driving, it is clear that many 
people are going out a lot less and thus drinking 
less.

PADRAIG PEARSE LETTER TO REMAIN IN IRELAND

The last letter written by Padraig Pearse from his 
Kilmainham Jail cell has been sold for EURO 
120,000. Pearse was one of the architects of the 
famous Easter Rising in 1916. He was executed 
shortly after the letter was written. The letter 
was purchased by an anonymous benefactor on behalf 
of the state and will be displayed in the National 
Museum of Ireland.
 
IRISH CRICKET TEAM CAUSE SENSATION

The very English game of cricket has proved to be 
the latest playground for the display of Irish 
sporting prowess. Participating in the World Cup 
in Jamaica and the West Indies the Irish team were 
regarded as no-hopers. A surprising draw against 
Zimbabwe was followed by a sensational victory over 
Pakistan which saw the Irish team progress to the 
final stages of the competition. Australia were the 
eventual tournament winners.

Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

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

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

FREE KIDS GAMES TO PRINT:

Go here to print off some simple games to teach 
kids about Ireland:

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

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 5 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

A: Arundel
J: Jackson
M: Morin
S: Sherwin, Sutherland

View the Gallery here:

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

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IRELAND'S GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCE  by Mike Ryan
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In 1995, my cousin John Joseph Ryan, from Tuam, 
County Galway died. I was in the country at the 
time and was actually a day late to have seen him 
alive. The entire town of Tuam treated my wife, 
her aunt and cousin and myself so very graciously. 
Junie Loftus, owner and operator of Loftus Pub in 
Tuam, arranged for our B & B, told me where to get 
the flowers, where to get the black tie and made 
sure that everyone I was to meet knew of my 
relationship to the deceased. The restaurant 
opened early to facilitate us so that we might 
eat before going to the funeral parlour. I wrote 
a letter to the Tuam Herald in 1995 and didn't 
they print the entire letter in their paper, so 
that all could know the great appreciation that my 
family and I had for all that was done for us while 
in Tuam. And each person when I thanked them would 
only say 'sure it's the Irish way'.

I have been to Italy, Germany, England, France, 
Israel, occupied Jordan, Canada and of course 
Ireland. And I can say that there were many 
wondrous things to see and experience in all of 
the countries. BUT none can compare to Ireland's 
greatest natural resource, her people! Nowhere on 
earth are the people as nice and considerate as 
they are in Ireland. I always say that the worse 
part of going to Ireland is leaving to come back to 
the States. I am an American, a veteran of military 
service (1965-69) and former police officer and I 
am very proud of America, but I am also very proud 
to be second generation Irish in America.

Thank you for allowing me to express my thoughts 
on your fine site.

Mike Ryan

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https://www.irishnation.com

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READING THE IRISH LANDSCAPE    by Andrea Santillo
===========================

As an American with no Irish ancestry you might 
wonder what I am doing here in Sligo. I have the 
best of landscape with Knocknear in the back yard 
and Ben Bulben up the road but surely, the history
of Ireland is 'write' in the names of the towns 
and counties.

The prefix 'drum' in a name indicates a 'fort' and 
there were plenty of forts in Ireland. For example, 
near Cookstown are Drummond, Drumard, Drumgarrell, 
Drumearn, Drumcarn, Drumraw and Drumballyhugh. In 
Dublin we have Drumcondra and Dundrum.

Leitrim which is also known for its ridges has its 
Drumshanbo and Drumahair which is where I went to 
visit the famous abbey.

But see how much more the name can tell us about 
a place:

Donegal is the fort of the foreigner 
 ('gall' in Irish means foreigner)
Kildare is the church of oak  
 ('cill' in Irish means 'church', 'dara' means 
 'oak')
Kilkenny is the church of St. Candice. 
Sligo is named after the Shelly River. 
Dublin has its black pool in the Phoenix Park
 (Dubh-Linn, from Gaelic, 'the black mire')
Derry is Doire, the oak again.
Ardboe in the North means 'hill of the cow'
 (from the Irish word 'bo' meaning cow). 
Lissan means 'Anne's Lis' who was a Fairy Queen and 
guardian spirit of the O'Connor family. 
The Irish word for Ulster is 'ulidia' meaning 
'the land east of the river Bann'.
Tyrone is from 'tir Eoin' - the land of Owen.
 (in Irish 'tir' means 'land')
Lough Swilly is the lake of shadows. 
Tulluhogue is the hill of youth
 (in Irish og, ogue, means 'young')
Howth in Dublin is derived from the Danish hoved 
 or head (The Vikings landed here!)
Glendalough in Wicklow is the valley of the 
 two lakes
Naas in Kildare is really 'Nas Na Ri', Naas of 
 the kings
Meath, a central county is 'Midhe'- the middle,
Dowth is from the Irish for 'darkness', found 
 at Newgrange
Cork is from 'Coraigh', a marshy place 
Killarney is from 'Cill Airne', the church of 
 the sloe
Omagh is the seat of the chiefs 
Belmullet in Mayo is 'Beal a Mhuirthead', 
 the mouth of the Mullet.

Reading the landscape can give one an insight into 
what has gone before. I urge all people coming to 
Ireland to get off the beaten path and look into 
the least traveled sections of this, my adopted 
home - somewhere where you can have your 
own personal link with the past.

Andrea Santillo

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A LAMENT FOR PADRAIG PEARSE    by Amanda McFadden
===========================

I read the poem Padraig Pearse wrote on the night of
his execution, and so in response I wrote this:

Sorrowfuly, you went upon your way,
For a shadow casted over your dream,
Things young and happy ceased to exist, the beauty
had passed.
Like an eclipse, darkness descended upon your soul,
Sorrowfully you accepted your fate.

Dreams live in the soul, your soul survived,
The rising of the sun lifted the shadow from your
dream.
Things young and happy blossomed in the light.
Like the sun, energy radiated from your dream.

Transcending time, your dream lived on,
I feel the beauty of your soul in my heart. 
Your aspirations, intellect, and courage inspired me,
You are a hero, my hero.

Amanda McFadden

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GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
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PHRASE:		Ta me Tuirseach
PRONOUNCED:	thaw may tir/shock
MEANING:		I am tired

PHRASE:		Ta me ar buille
PRONOUNCED:	thaw may air boo/ill/ya 
MEANING:		I am angry

PHRASE:		Ta me air meisce
PRONOUNCED:	Thaw may air mesh/kah
MEANING:		I am drunk


View the archive of phrases here:

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

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SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH:	CELTICATTIC.COM

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Phone orders 360-765-0186

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

The winner was: jamespatrick_787@hotmail.com
who will receive the following: 

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

Send us an email to claim your print, and 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.

Until next month,

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.


https://www.ireland-information.com

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