The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter
    August 2001


    The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland

    HOME - Click Here for free information from Ireland

    https://www.ireland-information.com/aboutus.htm
    Copyright (C) 2001
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    			IN THIS ISSUE
    ~~~~~ Foreword
    ~~~~~ Keep us Free!
    ~~~~~ New Free resources at the site
    ~~~~~ News Snaps from Ireland
    ~~~~~ Canadian Cutie exploits Irish Penpals!
    ~~~~~ Irish Film Review: The Crying Game      by Dawn Hayden
    ~~~~~ Losing Brigit Finnity         by Megan Elizabeth Wright
    ~~~~~ In Defence of 'Angela's Ashes' #1 by Tara Murphy-Flores
    ~~~~~ In Defence of 'Angela's Ashes' #2 by Gray Hodge 
    ~~~~~ Irish Quotations of the Month
    ~~~~~ Gaelic Phrases of the Month
    ~~~~~ Shamrock Site of the Month: ABitoBlarney.com
    ~~~~~ Searcher Site of the Month: Genealogy Books 
    ~~~~~ Monthly free competition result
    
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    THIS MONTHS NEWSLETTER IS SPONSORED BY A BIT O' BLARNEY.COM
    
     We deliver Irish smiles
     minus the Irish miles,
     and that's no Blarney!
    
    Screensavers, Jokes, Toasts and Blessings,
    Wedding and Irish Gifts Galore
    
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    FOREWORD
    ~~~~~~~~
    
    Hello again from Ireland!
    
    First off, many thanks to abitoblarney.com who have sponsored 
    this month's newsletter. Run by Sheila McMahon they have 
    Irish resources galore and are this month's 'Shamrock Site 
    of the Month'!
    
    Well, Brian Kelly's article about Angela's Ashes really set 
    the cat among the pigeons last month. We received dozens of 
    replies. Some of you argued that he was too hard on Frank 
    McCourt's work, but most of you agreed with Brian who 
    believes that this now (in)famous book is very over-rated. 
    We have posted the responses that we received (those that 
    were not X-Rated that is!) on our Angela's Ashes page at:
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com/articles/angelasashes.htm
    
    This months newsletter also includes two defences of Angela's 
    Ashe's written by readers. We have set up a brand new online 
    forum for you to add your opinion about these or any of the 
    other articles that appear in this months newsletter:
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi
    
    You can contribute to the newsletter too! Why not pen a few 
    paragraphs about your favourite Irish subject and send it 
    in for next month's issue.
    
    On a different note we are delighted to announce that we are 
    now able to supply hand made family crest plaques, made with 
    mahogany and with the family crest painted on an embossed 
    copper plate. Check them out at https://www.irishnation.com
    
    BEST WISHES FROM IRELAND!
    
    Michael.
    
    WE NEED YOUR HELP!
    
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    KEEP THIS NEWSLETTER ALIVE!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
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    NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:
    
    The following 20 coats of arms images and family history
    details have been added to the Gallery:
    
    A: McArdell
    B: Bresnahan
    C: Critchley
    D: Denny, Doody
    E: McEnroe, McElroy
    F: Farrell, Ferry
    G: Galvin, McGinn, McGuigan
    H: Hinson, O'Hehir
    J: Janes
    M: McMeekin, Mobley, Mulligan
    R: Raymond, Ronan
    
    View the Gallery here:
    
    http://www.irishsurnames.com/coatsofarms/gm.htm
    
    We now have over 20,000 worldwide names available.
    Get the Coat of Arms Print, Claddagh Ring, Screensaver, 
    Watch, T-Shirt Transfer or Clock for your name at:
    
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    NEW DISCUSSION FORUM
    
    Want to voice your opinion about something that appeared in 
    the newsletter. Want to see what other people are saying. 
    Visit our brand new Newsletter Forum here: 
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi
    
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    NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS IN GRAVE DANGER OF COLLAPSE
    
    The Northern Ireland Assembly has again been suspended 
    following the resignation as First Minister by Unionist 
    leader David Thrimble. Despite a revised package of 
    concessions having been offered to both sides by the 
    British and Irish Governments, it seems unlikely that any 
    further progress will be made until such time as the 
    destruction of paramilitary weapons has begun.
    
    The IRA has withdrawn its offer to decommission its weapons 
    on foot of the suspension of the Assembly stating that the 
    conditions for peace do not now exist.
    
    All of the above is set against a backdrop of increasing 
    sectarian violence in Ulster with the threat to lives and 
    property seeming to increase on a daily basis.
    
    It looks like stalemate with the next crisis looming in 
    October when the option to reinstate the Assembly arises 
    again. In the absence of a successful political process it 
    is feared that any future agendas will be set by those 
    outside of the political arena.  
    
    ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY TO HIT HOUSE PRICES
    
    The recent fall in the rate of increase of house prices has 
    continued with some commentators predicting that house 
    prices may actually fall during 2002 and 2003. The upper 
    end of the housing market has already sen dramatic 
    reductions in the prices that can be expected for the sale 
    of a house. Continued immigration and a 'young' population 
    though means that it is likely that demand will continue to 
    exceed supply in most sectors.
    
    Reductions have taken place and a the market has stabilised 
    and even stagnated in places. It is possible to get a brand 
    new house in Dublin for IR£120,00 whilst a modern bungalow 
    on 1 acre within an hour of Dublin can be got for £180,000 
    or even less.
    
    The Governments disastrous policy of taxing investors out of 
    the property market has meant that there is a dire shortage 
    of rental accommodation available and this is hitting 
    students and homeless people in County Council accommodation 
    the most.
    
    The huge increase in the number of refugees seeking asylum 
    in Ireland has put further strain on the rental market with 
    many families having to be housed in rural settings with 
    each County having to take theer share of refugee families.
    
    GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF BRIBING NIGERIA OVER REFUGEES
    
    Every third refugee who arrives in Ireland does so from 
    Nigeria. The Irish Government has always provided limited 
    financial aid to African countries in need but is set to 
    step up its aid program to Nigeria in what some commentators 
    have described as a 'refugee bribe'.
    
    The proposed repatriation pact with Nigeria is the fourth 
    such agreement following on from similar deals struck with 
    Poland, Bulgaria and Romania. The increased amount of aid 
    to Nigeria is expected to top IR£9 Million. Nigeria will 
    agree to facilitate the early return of illegal refugees.
    
    It is estimated to cost IR£6000 to deport every refugee out 
    of Ireland. 14,000 applications for asylum were received in 
    the first half of 2001.
    
    WHO REPORT PLACES IRELAND 32ND IN THE HEALTH LEAGUE
    
    The World Health Organisation (WHO) report on the health 
    systems of 191 countries has placed Ireland in 32nd place, 
    stating that Irish people can expect to spend up to 7 years 
    in 'less than full health'.
    
    The Middle Eastern state of Oman led the way with tiny 
    Monaco in 12th place and the UK in 24th place. Zimbabwe is 
    ranked last with their citizens expected to spend up to 20 
    years each in 'less than full health'.
      
    COMPUTER GIANT GATEWAY PULLS OUT OF IRELAND
    
    US Computer manufacturer Gateway has announced that it will 
    shortly close its European manufacturing centre in Clonshaugh 
    in Dublin with the loss of over 900 jobs. The shock news 
    brings to over 600 the number of IT related jobs that have 
    been lost so far this year.
    
    The Irish stock market took a hammering following the 
    announcement with the fear of a recession increasing. Ireland 
    is heavily dependent on the US economy and the slowdown on the 
    other side of the Atlantic has begun to bite.
    
    The bad employment news continued with the shock news that 
    famous Irish Bakery Kylemore will cease all operations and 
    close all its stores with the loss of over 300 jobs.
     
    IRISH PRISON POPULATION JUMPS BY 24%
    
    The number of inmates in Irish prisons has increased by 
    nearly a quarter over the last 4 years. British home office 
    statistics show that Ireland has the third fastest growing 
    prison population in the world!
    
    Irish prison authorities have responded by pointing out that 
    changes to the bail laws as well as a big increase in 
    convictions for sexual offence's at least partly account for 
    the upwards trend. Despite the increase in the rate of growth 
    Ireland still has one of the lowest prisoner populations in 
    the developed world with only 800 citizens in jail per 1 
    Million of population compared with 1250 in England. The 
    rate of crime detection in Ireland is 44% whilst in England 
    it is 26%.
    
    SPORT: 
    
    Soccer: The Irish soccer team drew 2-2 with Croatia in a 
    friendly in Landsdowne road with Davor Suker equalising 
    Damian Duff's and Clinton Morrison's debut strikes. All eyes 
    will now be on the crucial September 1st clash at home to 
    Holland when Ireland only need to avoid defeat to virtually 
    secure a 'playoff' place for entry to World Cup 2002.
    
    Golf: Irish golfer Paul McGinley won the Wales Open to boost 
    his chances of making the Ryder Cup Team.
    
    Motor-Racing: Irish Formula One outfit Jordan have sacked 
    leading driver Heinz Harold Frentzen and now look set to 
    give Jean Alesi a second term of employment.
    
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    CANADIAN CUTIE EXPLOITS IRISH PENPALS
    
    Editor's note: Sorry about the cryptic title but we just 
    had to include this article from one of our readers who 
    uses the free Cara Irish Penpals service available at 
    http://www.irishpenpals.com
    
    Despite the fact that we get the occasional idiot online 
    who uses bad language or who tries to sell pyramid 
    schemes it is great to know that we have had some major 
    successes (and even a couple of marraiges!)
    
    From Mary M (aka Canadian Cutie)
    
    How wonderful that I came upon Cara Irish Penpals last 
    October. Was it by accident really, or was it that Irish 
    'magic' we hear so much of? 
    
    It was my third day on Internet and I was to go meet 
    a dear old friend in an Irish chatroom. As fate would 
    have it, I went to the wrong chatroom and visited 
    irishpenpals.com by mistake!
    
    Not surprisingly my friend never arrived but I never left
    because although there were just a handful in the Cara 
    chatroom back then there was also a quality of magic: 
    'Cara' charm I say! 
    
    I made a few friends who welcomed me to Cara and I could 
    not get over how nice they were. As I stayed longer I went 
    into the Cara Irish services where there was a whole world 
    of information on Irish heritage and my family crest which 
    I am still investigating. There were also free postcards 
    which I took advantage of and a whole lot of great 
    information on Irish tourisim.
    
    I made penpals galore in the Cara chatroom (what a treat!) 
    as I kept coming back daily. Lo and behold so did they! 
    Some sadly left but I still email a few of them as I hold 
    them very dear still as pals. I was happy as I used Cara 
    as a means for my therapy as at that time I was taken very 
    ill and was housebound. I still say my Cara pallys are the 
    best medicine and I'm most all better after all this time.
    
    My typing was horrid but they all laughed and said I have my 
    own MM language and they accepted that, how nice! Soon after 
    I met Bernie and her brother Tom and sister Julie, and Sean 
    and Finnbarr, my funny bartender and so many others.
    
    Needless to say some invitations arose to visit other's homes 
    and some phone calls came too - wow! You see, I never 
    realized how wonderful a chatroom could really be as one 
    hears horror stories about Internet chatrooms, but my beloved 
    Cara is like no other because we very seldom get strange 
    people (other than mad ones like ourselves!). We all cheer 
    one another up if need be and we make each other laugh and 
    smile. What an unconditional bond we all have formed there, 
    so come and see all that read this and maybe I'll make a 
    cyber loaf of bread for you. 
    
    Well, Bernie and I started out together chatting last 
    October and we kept emailing and daily chatting as did 
    Julie. Imagine my surprise when, after I invited Bernie and 
    Julie to come to Canada anytime, Bernie said 'OK I am 
    coming'. I was shocked. 
    
    Julie wanted to come also but sadly she had her hands full 
    of family illness at the time. We will meet in the new year 
    when I go to meet my UK penpals as well as my penpal Sean and 
    his wife. He is going to cook me a Gammon meal and treat me 
    to a few glasses of Guinness. Oh my! I'm getting hungry as I 
    type (ha! ha!). 
    
    Well, Bernie's husband sent her off for her birthday and I 
    will say here and now, our mums were devastated! They were 
    worried we would become Internet statistics, robbed and left 
    in a dark ally. Oh my! We had great laughter over that. I 
    must say though that had that been my child I would have 
    thought the same.
    
    On July 12th we left for Toronto airport to meet Bernie I 
    was ever so nervous as it made Cara Penpals seem now so real. 
    What if we did not like each other? Would she turn away? 
    What if she really was a man!! Yikes!! Silliness and mad 
    thoughts run through your minds when meeting a penpal for 
    the first time. I thought I might go all shy with her. Well 
    we met and we laughed and then I knew all was going to ok.
    It was like meeting an old friend. At first we had to get 
    over different terms we use in our daily language. I 
    showed my Cara penpal all the sights I could muster in the 
    two weeks she was here and introduced her to my friends 
    which are hers now too.
    
    I introduced her to 'cheesnips' and 'mountain dew pop'. We 
    daily went to the Cara chatroom to give detailed reports 
    to the rest of the members as they were most excited 
    to hear about all our mad escapades over here. I feel we 
    showed them that you can really make penpals friends on the 
    Internet in reality. We formed a great bond and are now like 
    sisters. I'll go see her and meet her hubby and four lovely 
    daughters next year. Her youngest daughter Lauren thinks 
    that I am a Princess living in a far away land!
    
    I have many invites for next Spring from my many Cara penpals 
    in England. I'll be meeting my UK pals when I go to Ireland 
    when I will be staying with Cara friends also. How lucky can 
    one be? We ended up back at the Airport saying our goodbyes 
    but knowing it was really 'hello' and welcome to a new family 
    as we are like that now.
    
    We chat more than ever and I think my life has been blessed 
    by my friend Bernie. I saw on my birthday also how special 
    Cara really is as I got a total of 41 ecards just from Cara 
    members that stopped by to wish me well.
    
    Thank you Cara for giving this Lady in Canada friends that 
    are true and will last a lifetime.
    
    See you all back in the Cara Chatroom!
    
    Mary M.
    
    
    You can join Cara Irish Penpals for free at:
    
    http://www.irishpenpals.com
    
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    IRISH MOVIE REVIEW: THE CRYING GAME          by Dawn Hayden
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    The Crying Game is heavy duty adult entertainment that is 
    typical of director Neil Jordan, who also directed Interview 
    with the Vampire and Michael Collins. The fine cast includes 
    Stephen Rea as the lead with Forest Whittaker as the English 
    soldier that he and fellow IRA conspirators Adrian Dunbar 
    and Miranda Richardson kidnap.
    
    The plot centers around IRA volunteer Fergus, played by 
    Stephen Rea, who is less than fully committed to the methods 
    of his IRA colleagues. He befriends the captive soldier but 
    is ordered to kill him in the woods where they are hiding. 
    The British Army intervene just as the soldier looks set to 
    escape but he is killed by accident by the very soldiers who 
    are trying to rescue him.
    
    Fergus escapes to London where he seeks out the soldier's 
    girlfirend, superbly portrayed by newcomer Jaye Davidson. He 
    befriends her and it seems that salvation may be at hand but 
    it is not to be. His old IRA comrades track him down and 
    again order him to carry out a political killing. Desperate 
    to avoid any more violence he hatches a plan to protect the 
    girl whilst keeping the IRA at bay.
    
    The Crying Game engages the viewer right from the very start 
    and the actors are in top form. Rea is typically understated, 
    impish and charming. Whittaker is seldom better as the 
    distraught soldier who knows he is facing execution at any 
    moment. After the initial excitement of the scenes in the 
    forest the plot slows down considerably to allow the viewer 
    to appreciate the dilemma facing Rea and the motivation 
    behind his transformation from prospective IRA killer to 
    someone seeking redemption and even love. The pace quickens 
    seamlessly as expert Irish director Neil Jordan leads us to 
    the violent finale and the realisation that humanity can 
    triumph in even the most severe of situations.
    
    Completely top class. 
    
    Dawn Hayden
    
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    LOSING BRIGIT FINNITY 		BY MEGAN ELIZABETH WRIGHT
      
    Three generations jailed
    in a rented minivan--
    the cranky grandmother,
    the obsessed mother, 
    and the gloomy daughter
    stalking an ancestor
    hiding somewhere in the history
    of a musty public library    
    in the greenness of Northern Maine.
      
    Sat outside on a broken bench
    with the grandmother
    to stare at a craggy bay into Canada
    and to throw brown rocks at brown ducks
    while, inside, the mother was
    closing in on Brigit Finnity.
    And she was found.
    And the Irish heritage the mother hoped
    to validate
    turned up Canadian
    so the drive home
    was overcast and taciturn.
    And I smiled at the grandmother
    because we shared a feeling
    Brigit would fade
    back into the records
    of the ancient public library
    and we would be Irish again.
      
    Megan is my daughter, a 23 year old writer living 
    in El Paso, in Texas and she is right: I still claim 
    an Irish heritage!   
    
    Debra Whitcomb
    
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    IN DEFENCE OF ANGELA'S ASHES # 1      BY TARA MURPHY-FLORES
    
    I grew up in an American home as a member of second 
    generation descendants of a working class Irish family. 
    Although my father never beat his children, he and my 
    mother's rows were notorious in our neighborhood.She was a 
    tiny woman who barely stood five feet tall and he was a 
    hulk of a man who stood at six feet and weighed over 250 
    pounds. When my Ma couldn't ward off Da's drunken temper 
    physically, she would always dissuade him by appealing to 
    his undying sentiment. The source of this sentiment was 
    the feelings forged in the heart of every Irish son for 
    any mother, be it his own or that of his children. 
    
    My father died at the tender age of forty six. The drink 
    killed him. His years of carousing and the long illness that 
    followed left us in abject poverty. My mother, much like 
    Angela, did anything to keep her three girls fed and 
    sheltered. She was too proud to rely on government 
    assistance or even help from her family. 
    
    She worked countless hours in a yogurt factory that almost 
    killed her. She spoke with her three daughters nightly 
    about the importance of an education. She taught us that an 
    education was the only way out of the misery that had 
    befallen her. I don't have enough space to chronicle the 
    hope of their early marriage and the love that she and my 
    father had that resulted in the fine families that my 
    sisters and I are now raising. 
    
    I will concede that the Alcoholism in Frank McCourt's novel 
    is a stereotype that the Irish have long fought to abolish, 
    but the claim that there are so many more 'functional' 
    families can also be dangerous. It forces those of us who 
    have fought that war through education and tolerance into 
    hiding again. I reveled in the sincerity and the humor in 
    which McCourt weaved throughout his tale. 
    
    Today I teach literature in a poor inner-city school that 
    is populated by a majority of new immigrants. The value of 
    an education that was instilled at a very young age and my 
    mother's strength in the face of adversity is what leads to 
    my career decision. Mr. McCourt's work is not classic 
    literature as many of us would recognize , but his theme is
     one that transcends race, creed, sex and even 
    'functionalism'. It is the idea that the human spirit can 
    transcend all barriers.This is a classic theme. 
    
    I am sorry that you were offended by the dysfunctional that 
    was depicted in the novel. I am grateful that an Irish son 
    did not have to endure this.However, some of my experiences 
    reflect an addiction that can occur when dreams are dashed 
    and frustration sets in . My mother also taught us that 
    alcoholism is an illness that with support, education and 
    tolerance can be combated. I wouldn't trade one day of my 
    experiences for the intolerance that your letter exhibited. 
    
    Peace 
    
    Tara Murphy-Flores 
    
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    IN DEFENCE OF ANGELA'S ASHES # 2 	BY GRAY HODGE 
    
    Hello again Michael, You asked for a response to Brian 
    Kelly's article on Angels' Ashes. Well I don't entirely 
    agree with him, 'tho I can understand his objections. I see 
    Angela's Ashes from an outsider's view. I'm British and 
    living in Australia, I have seen both the book and the film 
    to be popular here. I don't believe anyone here looks at the 
    book and believes Limerick is still like that. Well, I've 
    been to Limerick and I KNOW it's not. It would be like 
    someone reading 'For the term of his natural life' a 
    Tasmanian book which tells of the horrors of transportation 
    to Van Diemans Land and incarceration at Port Arthur, and 
    then thinking that Tasmania is still like that now. I 
    believe folk are able to regard Frank McCourt's story as 
    history as well as autobiography. If fact, the makers of the 
    film version had to especially construct the slum that the 
    McCourts lived in because they couldn't find a street that 
    bad in Ireland. Life MUST have been as tough as the book 
    depicts in that time, else why would so many leave beautiful 
    Ireland for America, England and Australia? Now the Irish 
    are returning to Ireland in droves, I'm told, and why is 
    that? because times are changed for the better. (I hope they 
    remain so) That the McCourts were a dysfunctional family I 
    have no argument. I'm sure that many families suffered the 
    same poverty but didn't have to resort to drunkenness, 
    prostitution and thievery in order to survive, but I am not 
    judging those who did, judging in God's work, not mine. 
    
    I understand that a lot of folk, especially in Limerick were 
    not too happy with the release of the book, they should 
    relax, Ireland and the Irish people and culture are very 
    much flavour of the month in Australia and I really don't 
    think that Angela's Ashes made any difference to that. The 
    only negative comments I have heard is that the book and 
    film were depressing That's true, it was, but there was a 
    victorious spirit that rose from such squalor and I found 
    that encouraging. 
    
    Slan go foil,
    
    Gray Hodge 
    Somerset, Tasmania, Australia. 
    
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    IRISH QUOTATIONS OF THE MONTH
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    	Money couldn't buy friends
    	but you got a better class of enemy
    
    Spike Milligan, Puckoon, 1963
    
    	In general the worse thing you can do for anybody 
    	is to give them money, because in the first place 
    	it's easy-come, and in the second place instead of 
    	being grateful they think it mean of you not to 
    	give them more than you did.
    
    Lynn C. Doyle, Green Oranges, 1947
    
    	Mrs Ryan had always thought that if the whole wealth 
    	of the world was taken back and divided out equally, 
    	giving the same amount to each person, you'd find in 
    	five years that the same people would end up having 
    	money and power and the same people would end up 
    	shiftless and hopeless. In a changing world, she 
    	found this view very comforting.
    
    Maeve Binchy, The Copper Beech, 1992
    
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    GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    PHRASE:		Cen tam e?   
    PRONOUNCED:	cane thom a?
    MEANING:		What time is it?
    
    PHRASE:		Ta se a tri a chlog ar maidin 
    PRONOUNCED:	Taw shay ah tree ah clug air mod/gin
    MEANING:		It is three o'clock in the morning
    
    PHRASE:		Ta se deich noimead tar eis a naoi 
    PRONOUNCED:	Taw shay deh no/made tar aish a knee  
    MEANING:		It is ten minutes after nine 
    
    View the archive of phrases here:
    
     https://www.ireland-information.com/irishphrases.htm
    
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    SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    A Bit of Blarney
    
    Sheila McMahon is the owner of abitoblarney.com whose 
    ambition it is to make her website a 'One Stop Ireland 
    Resource' in the United States. 'We deliver Irish smiles, 
    minus the Irish miles, and that's no blarney! You can't 
    always hop aboard the next flight to Ireland, so we bring 
    the best of 'The Auld Country' directly to you via the 
    Internet' she told us. 
    
    Abitoblarney offers some very useful information about 
    Irish Weddings including an Irish wedding gift shop as 
    well as other 'hard to find' gift offerings including 
    Irish Dance Shoes, Mullingar Pewter and even Irish 
    Beanie Babies!
    
    Sheila's site also offers Irish Toasts and Blessings, 
    Screensavers, Wallpapers, Genealogy information and even 
    an article describing her own wedding day!
    
    We asked Sheila if she had any advice as to the best time 
    of year to get married and she duly obliged with a poem!
    
          WHEN TO MARRY
    
    Marry when the year is new, 
    Always loving, kind and true.
    
    When February birds do mate,
    You may wed, nor dread your fate.
    
    If you wed when March winds blow,
    Joy and sorry both you'll know.
    
    Marry in April when you can,
    Joy for maiden and for man.
    
    Marry in the month of May,
    You will surely rue the day.
    
    Marry when June roses blow,
    Over land and sea you'll go.
    
    They who in July do wed,
    Must labour always for their bread.
    
    Whoever wed in August be,
    Many a change are sure to see.
    
    Marry in September's shine,
    Your living will be rich and fine.
    
    If in October you do marry,
    Love will come but riches tarry.
    
    If you wed in bleak November,
    Only joy will come, remember.
    
    When December's showers fall fast,
    Marry and true love will last. 
    
    You can visit Sheila's web site here:
    
       http://www.abitoblarney.com
    
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    SEARCHER SITE OF THE MONTH
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    Irish Genealogy Books
    
    Expert help available in this listing of the classic Irish 
    Genealogy books.
    
    Visit at: https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newgensearch.cgi?a=1
    
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    SUPPORT THE INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND SITE
    HELP US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE RESOURCES
    
    Get family crest gifts for your or a friends family name and 
    get a free email account:
    
     https://www.irishnation.com
    
    
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    AUGUST COMPETITION RESULT
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    The winner was: bboyle@sympatico.ca
    
    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. 
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.
    Please keep the feedback coming!
    
    Until the next time,
    
    STAY SAFE!
    
    Michael Green,
    Editor,
    The Information about Ireland Site.
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com
    Click here to contact us
    


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