The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter
    August 2002


    The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland

    HOME - Click Here for free information from Ireland

    Click here to contact us
    Copyright (C) 2002
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    		IN THIS ISSUE
    ~~~ Foreword
    ~~~ Keep us Free!
    ~~~ News Snaps from Ireland
    ~~~ New Free Resources at the Site
    ~~~ Retiring in Ireland
    ~~~ Pub Raffle failure leads to 5 Million Euro win!
    ~~~ Cara Irish Penpals News
    ~~~ From New Zealand to Ireland    by Nancy Hawks
    ~~~ Famous Irish Songs: The Fields of Athenry
    ~~~ Gaelic Phrases of the Month
    ~~~ Monthly free competition result
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    FOREWORD
    ~~~~~~~~
    
    Hello again from Ireland where the sunshine has 
    finally broken through to give us hope of an 
    'Indian Summer'.
    
    In this month's edition we have an article that 
    will get you started if you wish to retire to 
    Ireland. 
    
    You can also find out how the failure by the 
    Fitzgerald to win a hamper in a local pub raffle 
    may have contributed to their winning over 5 
    Million Euro!
    
    Keep well!
    
    Michael
    
    
    WE NEED YOUR HELP!
    
    PLEASE - send this newsletter on to your friends 
    or relatives who you think are interested in 
    Ireland. By doing this you are helping to keep 
    us 'free'.
    
    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
    
    If you have an AOL or HOTMAIL account then you 
    will get much better results by viewing this 
    newsletter online here:
     
    https://www.ireland-information.com/aug02.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
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    KEEP THIS NEWSLETTER ALIVE!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    GET YOUR FAMILY CREST NOW!
    
    OFFER EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST! Get a free family 
    crest watch with every Family Crest Ring!
    
    Get you Christmas Gift Shopping over with now 
    - see here:
    
     https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestrings.htm
    
    Authentically researched and reproduced and backed 
    up by a lifetime guarantee our family crest prints, 
    rings, watches and more make the perfect gift for 
    a friend or relative - or get them for yourself!
    
    New Product: Family Crest Plaques with 4 hand 
    painted metal shields (Husband's name, Wife's 
    name, Maiden name of Husband's mother, Maiden name 
    of Wife's mother)
    
    Go here to find out more:
    
     https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestgifts.htm
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    CUTBACKS RATHER THAN TAX INCREASES ARE ON THE WAY
    
    The worsening state of the countries finances are 
    to be remedied by paring back expensive projects 
    that are planned by Government Departments rather 
    than by increasing taxes. The slowdown in the US 
    economy and the increase of the value of the EURO 
    relative to the US Dollar has made Irish exports 
    more expensive, resulting in a slowdown in job 
    creation with a resultant decrease in consumer 
    spending and a follow-on reduction in Government 
    tax yields. The lingering effects of the foot 
    and mouth disease outbreaks and the troubles 
    experienced by Airlines worldwide have hit the 
    tourism industry badly which has also reduced 
    Government revenues.
    
    Reductions in major road building schemes and 
    other projects such as the National Sports 
    Stadium may therefore have to happen sooner 
    rather than later. The emphasis of the Government 
    is very much improving the Health Service which 
    is still recovering fomr the major cutbacks that 
    occurred during the 1980's. The current 
    administration plans to completely eradicate 
    waiting lists for operations within 12 months but 
    this will be a very difficult target to achieve 
    in the current economic climate.
    
    Despite the current troubles in the economy the 
    full extent of the recent boom is evidenced by the 
    long-term unemployment figures which have fallen 
    from 128,000 in 1994 to 20,330 in 2001.
    
    PLASTIC BAG TAX HAILED A SUCCESS
    
    The tax on plastic bags that was imposed by the 
    Irish Government has been hailed a great success 
    and a worldwide 'first'. Already there have been 
    high-level enquires from England about the 
    scheme which has seen the use of disposable 
    plastic bags cut by 90%. This represents a 
    reduction of millions of bags that would otherwise 
    have ended up in refuse landfills. Shoppers who 
    continue to use plastic bags to carry their 
    shopping are charged 15 cents which is passed onto 
    the Government. EURO 10 million is expected to be 
    raised by the plastic bag tax in 2002 and this is 
    already earmarked for the establishment of an 
    Office for Environmental Enforcement. A new 
    project to enable the correct disposal of fridges 
    and freezers will also be funded by the levy.
    
    IRISH LANGUAGE GAELTACHT AREAS MAY DIE OUT
    
    The Irish speaking areas of Ireland known as 'the 
    Gaeltacht' and mostly located along the Western 
    seaboard, have greatly declined in recent years 
    as non-Irish speaking families and workers move 
    out of cities and into the countryside. Amid fears 
    that these Gaeltacht areas could die out 
    completely the Government is promising an action 
    plan to include Irish-speaking creches, schools 
    and college places as well as sporting and 
    cultural activities that will be run using the 
    Irish language.
    
    While Irish is spoken by more people in Dublin 
    than in the rest of the country, the all-Irish 
    Radio station, 'Radio na Gaeltachta' as well as 
    the Irish Television station, TG4, make the 
    language available to the whole country.
    
    NATIONAL SPORTS STADIUM MAY BE POSTPONED
    
    The slowdown in the economy could have the effect 
    of scuppering Ireland's bid to co-host the 2008 
    European Soccer Championship finals with Scotland. 
    A September 16th inspection by UEFA officials will 
    tell a lot about the commitment of the Government 
    to complete the EURO 600 Million project which 
    has always been a source of great criticism for 
    the opposition parties.
    
    USE OF MOBILE PHONES IN CARS IS BANNED
    
    The use of hand-held mobile telephones in motor 
    vehicles has been banned in Ireland with offenders 
    facing fines of EURO 190, EURO 435 and possible 
    imprisonment for successive offences. Hand-free 
    kits are not covered by the legislation which 
    will be enforced by the Gardai.
    
    The development is part of the Government's 
    continuing efforts to reduce the number of people 
    killed or injured on Irish roads. A 'points' system 
    is due to be implemented later this year which will 
    assign points to offenders who will be fined or 
    disqualified depending on the number of points they 
    accumulate over a set period of time.
    
    SONIA O'SULLIVAN GRABS TWO SILVERS
    
    Top Irish athlete Sonia O'Sullivan achieved two 
    silver medals in the recent European Championships 
    in Munich in the 5,000 and 10,000 Metres. She was 
    well beaten in the longer distance but was defeated 
    on the line in the final stride having looked set 
    to clinch the 5,000 race. Ireland's greatest ever 
    female athlete now has her sites set on the World 
    Championships and on the Olympics in 2 years time.
    
    Voice your opinion at these news issues here:
    
     https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:
    
    The following 11 coats of arms images and family
    history details have been added to the Gallery:
    
    C: Carolan, Childe
    D: Dennison, Dolphin
    E: McElchar
    F: Fogarty, Foxall
    H: Heffernan
    K: Kaye
    M: Mullowney
    S: Stephenson
    
    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:
    
     https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestgifts.htm
    
    NEWSLETTER FORUM
    
    Voice your opinion at the Newsletter Forum here:
    
     https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    RETIRING IN IRELAND
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    It is a well known fact that if you ask an Irish 
    man or woman where they are from, they will tell 
    you where they were born! The fact that they 
    haven't lived in that place for most of their 
    lives, indeed the fact that they haven't lived 
    in Ireland for most of their lives is, to them, 
    irrelevant. They seem to have mastered the art 
    of 'living in two places at once' as the Irish 
    psychologist Maureen Gaffney says. And it was the 
    fervent wish of every Irish emigrant to return 
    to live in Ireland. 
    
    An ever increasing number of people are opting to 
    spend their retirement in Ireland, and not all of 
    them have any family connections here. They may 
    give many reasons for this - the relaxed pace of 
    life in many parts of this country (particularly 
    away from the cities and large towns), the low 
    crime rate in the more rural areas, and the fact 
    that it is cheaper to live in Ireland with a 
    fixed income for many of them. 
    
    These are valid and prudent considerations when 
    contemplating a move to retire to Ireland, but 
    there are other important considerations which 
    must be taken into account as well. Most people 
    who work outside the home have up to 80% of 
    their acquaintances there and on retirement these 
    will disappear - a fact that may cause us great 
    joy! The other 20% are family, close friends and 
    the people we interact with in our social life. 
    
    Before you move permanently, ask yourself the 
    following questions:- 
    
    * How often will you see family again? 
    
    * Will you miss too many of the great family 
      occasions? 
    
    * Will your grandchildren have children of their 
      own by the time you return or meet them again? 
    
    * How good are you at making friends? We Irish 
      have a reputation for being friendly, but 
      there's a big difference in being friendly and 
      making friends. 
    
    * Do you know anyone in Ireland - other than 
      relatives? 
    
    If you hesitate about the answers to any of these 
    questions, you must be careful about making a 
    permanent move. TRY IT OUT FOR SIX MONTHS FIRST. 
    Then if everything is working out, make the move 
    permanent, if not, think again. Many people who 
    transfer to Ireland do so for the better months 
    - April to October - and change to warmer 
    climates for winter months. 
    
    Here are some important considerations you have 
    to take account of in making your decision: 
    
    CITIZENSHIP 
    As far as the Irish government is concerned, you 
    can hold dual citizenship if you wish. However, 
    your own government may take a different view so 
    it is vital that you check with them before you 
    do anything to start the process of taking out 
    Irish Citizenship. You would not want to lose 
    your own citizenship in the process. 
    
    What are the benefits of taking out Irish 
    Citizenship? 
    
    * You can vote in all Irish elections and 
    Referenda, i.e. Presidential elections, various 
    referenda, elections to the Dail - the Irish 
    parliament - to the European parliament and in 
    local government elections. 
    
    * You have all the privileges enshrined in the 
    Constitution and all the duties of citizens 
    listed there and in law. 
    
    * You can have virtually unrestricted travel to 
    any part of the world - the Irish government 
    places no obstacles in the travel plans of its 
    citizens so much so that you will probably bump 
    into an Irish person in the most unlikely places. 
    
    TAX 
    No one likes paying taxes, but just like the 
    weather they are always with us. Details of the 
    treatment of people residing in Ireland and their 
    tax liability are covered in 'Leaflet RES 1' from 
    the Revenue Commissioners, at +353 1 8780100. 
    
    The following conditions apply to you if you set 
    up residence permanently in Ireland: 
    
    * All income arising from sources in Ireland 
    except for certain exempt government stocks is 
    liable to Irish income tax. 
    
    * No part of a visitor's income from sources 
    outside Ireland is subject to income tax unless 
    that person is deemed to be resident in Ireland, 
    i.e. they spend 183 days in the State in a tax 
    year or 280 days in the State, combining the 
    number of days in the current tax year and the 
    preceding tax year. The tax year starts on 1st 
    January each year.
    
    * You would do well to consult an accountant or 
    a lawyer versed in tax law if you feel you might 
    have problems with this. This would be 
    particularly important in the area of inheritance 
    tax. 
    
    * Ireland operates a double taxation agreement 
    with many countries and you will receive a tax 
    credit on the tax paid in your country of origin 
    when calculating your tax liability in Ireland. 
    You should have proof of the tax deducted from 
    your country of origin. 
    
    PENSIONS 
    Most of us will live on pensions of one sort or 
    another when we reach retirement age. Most 
    countries allow their citizens to transfer their 
    pensions to where they are living. Company 
    pensions can normally be paid into a bank and 
    transferred to you without any trouble. 
    
    USA Pensions 
    Social Security pensions from the USA will suffer 
    a 15% withholding tax from the IRS, but can be 
    paid outside the USA. Just give three to six 
    months' notice of your intention to move. 
    
    Australian Pensions 
    If you are entitled to a Social Security pension 
    from Australia, you can have it paid in Ireland. 
    The pensions are distributed from England to 
    addresses all over Europe and are posted on a 
    monthly basis. 
    
    If you are entitled to a pension from Veterans 
    Affairs it must be paid into an Australian bank 
    first, and then transferred. PAYE ('Pay As You 
    Earn tax') will be deducted at source on all 
    Australian Pensions. 
    
    Irish Pensions 
    Ireland has reciprocal agreements with several 
    countries including Austria, Canada, Australia 
    and the United States. These agreements protect 
    the pension entitlements of Irish people who go 
    to work in these countries and they protect people 
    from those countries who work in Ireland. They 
    cover pensions only, i.e., Old Age Contributory 
    Pension, Retirement Pension, Invalidity Pension 
    and the Widowed Person's Contributory Pensions. 
    They allow periods of insurance and or residence 
    which were completed in one country to be taken 
    into account by the other country so that the 
    worker may qualify for a pension. It is even 
    possible for some people to qualify for payments 
    from both countries at the same time. 
    
    FREE BENEFITS 
    The good news is that if you do qualify for a 
    payment under any of these Social Security schemes, 
    you may also qualify for the following free 
    benefits in Ireland from the Irish Department 
    of Social, Community and Family Affairs when 
    the pensioner reaches age 66: 
    
    * Free electricity allowance (1500 units per year)
      or you can opt for an equivalent Natural Gas 
      Allowance or a Bottled Gas Refill allowance 
    
    * Free Television licence
    
    * Telephone Rental Allowance
    
    * Fuel Allowance 
    
    * Free Travel (open to everyone resident in 
      Ireland...see explanation below) 
    
    For these you must be residing permanently in 
    Ireland and fulfil the conditions. For further 
    information and to see if you would qualify write 
    to: International Operations Section, Department 
    of Social, Community & Family Affairs, Floor 1, 
    O'Connell Bridge House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 1, 
    Telephone: ++353 1 874 8444 
    
    Free travel: Everyone residing in Ireland is 
    entitled to Free Travel within the state if they 
    are over the age of 66. It entitles you to travel, 
    without charge, on all the trains and buses of 
    the state transport companies. Some private bus 
    operators are also involved in the scheme. There 
    are some restrictions. You must use the commuter 
    buses and trains outside rush hour times and 
    during specific hours. One downside - if you live 
    in a remote area there may be no bus/train 
    available to you. Application forms are available 
    from post offices or local Social Welfare Services 
    offices. One other benefit of the Free Travel Pass 
    is that you can use it for reduced entry charges 
    to race meetings, cinemas and theatres on 
    specified occasions. Always ask! 
    
    REGISTERING WITH THE ALIENS OFFICE 
    If you are a citizen of Ireland you do not have 
    to register. If you were able to obtain Irish 
    Citizenship because either you, one of your 
    parents, or one of your grandparents was born on 
    the island of Ireland before 1921, or in the 
    Republic of Ireland if born after 1921, 
    (great-grandparents no longer count since the law 
    was changed in 1984), but your spouse does not 
    qualify, then it will take your spouse some years, 
    before he or she can apply to become a citizen. 
    
    If you are not an Irish citizen then you must 
    register during office hours with the Aliens 
    Office, Harcourt Square, Dublin 2, if you are 
    living in Dublin. If you are living outside 
    Dublin you must register with the local Garda 
    Station. You must register after three months 
    to seek permission to stay longer, then on a 
    yearly basis. 
    
    Can I hire a car in Ireland? Yes, if you are 
    under 75 years of age. If you are older you will 
    not be able to buy car insurance and will be 
    unable to drive legally. Remember to bring an 
    International Driving licence with you. 
    
    Can I bring my dog or other pet with me? Yes, but 
    it will be subject to six months quarantine at 
    your expense). There are no exceptions and if you 
    arrive without the necessary arrangements made, 
    you will be sent back at your own expense. 
    Recently a lady made arrangements to set up a 
    private quarantine kennel near her own home for 
    her dog, but it was costly. You must contact the 
    Department of Agriculture, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 
    before you arrive, to find out the necessary 
    requirements and obtain a licence to bring the 
    animal into the country. The reason for the 
    strictness on pets is that Ireland and the 
    United Kingdom are free of rabies. The U.K. has 
    introduced a Pet Passport scheme but there is no 
    such scheme in Ireland currently.
    
    Can I get free medical attention in Ireland? The 
    short answer is yes. Emergency treatment is free 
    after payment of an initial hospital charge of 
    EURO 30 in all hospitals; however, non emergency 
    treatment could mean a very long wait, sometimes 
    months. Private medical insurance is a virtual 
    necessity. 
    
    MEDICAL INSURANCE 
    If you have medical insurance now, check if you 
    can transfer it to one of the health care insurers 
    in Ireland (VHI or BUPA). VHI (the Voluntary Health 
    Insurance board - a semi-state company) will 
    continue to give you medical cover after the age of 
    65 (there is no upper age limit for EXISTING 
    subscribers), but will not take on NEW members if 
    they are aged 65 or over. BUPA International - the 
    other main medical insurer operating in Ireland - 
    has similar conditions. 
    
    Normally you pay for all visits to your doctor, 
    and for all prescribed drugs. But if your total 
    income is modest, and you are residing permanently 
    in Ireland, then you may qualify for a medical 
    card which will entitle you to free medical 
    treatment in Ireland. This means you would not have 
    to pay for any prescribed drug, visit to a doctor 
    on the medical card panel, or a consultant's public 
    hospital clinic. Contact the Health Board in your 
    area to learn the current earnings limits and for 
    an application form. If you come to Ireland from 
    another European Union (EU) country, and have a 
    Social Security pension from that country, you 
    will receive a medical card as of right. 
    
    HOUSING
    Perhaps the greatest challenge you will encounter 
    when considering your retirement in Ireland is where 
    to live! The huge increases in the cost of property 
    over the last decade has been well documented with 
    most properties more than doubling in value over 
    that time. Some have trebled or even more in value.
    
    If you intend to live in a city, especially Dublin, 
    then be prepared to pay at least EURO 250,000 for 
    a 3 bedroom house. Prices decrease and value for 
    money increases greatly the further into the 
    countryside you are willing to travel. It is still 
    possible to buy 'fixer-upper' bungalows and cottages 
    for EURO 100,000 or less.
    
    The poor performance of the EURO versus the US 
    Dollar and other currencies has recently been of 
    great advantage to foreign people wanting to buy 
    property in Ireland. This trend has been bucked in 
    recent times with the EURO enjoying parity with 
    the US Dollar. The exchange rate changes on a 
    daily basis and by the time you do decide to move 
    the pendulum may have swung back the other way! One 
    advantage of the EURO is that it can be used in 
    France, Germany, Spain and other European countries 
    without having to visit a bank first and pay those 
    annoying Bureau de Change charges!
    
    If you intend to rent accommodation then stick to 
    your budget. Renting a modest 3-bedroom house in 
    Dublin can cost EURO 1200 per month or more 
    depending on the area. Renting the same house but 
    1 hour outside the city can cost EURO 450 or less!
    
    ~~~~~
    
    This article has been adapted from an article 
    written by Hilary Shannon for the 'Inside Ireland' 
    publication.
    
    This is a simple 2-colour production which usually 
    runs to 32 pages (but is sometimes more) of 
    articles packed with interest and information 
    presented in a crisp, literate, readable style. 
    Hardly any ads – just plenty of fascinating 
    reading to sit down and relax with. 
    
    Subscribers receive Special Supplements on Real 
    Estate (Summer), Recommended Accommodations 
    (Spring) and a great value Discount Voucher 
    (Winter). 
    
    Brenda Weir is the founder and editor of this 
    service that has been going for nearly 25 years!
    
    To find out more and to subscribe go here:
    
    
    http://www.insideireland.com/subscribe.htm
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    CARA IRISH PENPALS NEWS
    
    We have added a new feature that enables you to 
    indicate if you are interested in a possible 
    relationship or marriage. Log-in to your Control 
    Panel to find out how!
    
    The following CARA Irish Penpals are among those 
    who upgraded their membership this month:
    
    Name: Mark (full name available at the website)
    City, Country: Ireland
    Age: 25
    Interests:  Music, comedy, travelling and reading. 
    Message: Hey guy's, I'm interested in meeting some 
    cool people from Australia or Nevada.
    
    Name: James (full name available at the website)
    City, Country: Dublin, Ireland 
    Age: 29
    Interests:  Ireland, travelling the world, freedom 
    & friendships, cooking, watersports, Latin & rock 
    music, u2, my dog!
    Message: HELLO :) I'm James ,Ireland is my 
    birthplace and home...send me a mail? :)
    
    Name: Micheline (full name available at the website)
    City, Country: Hampton, USA
    Age: 46
    Interests: the Celtic people, mystery/sci-fi 
    reading and writing, gardening, archery, eclectic 
    thoughts 
    Message: Hi, I am looking for penpals that would 
    share mythology and cultural history, everyday 
    life, or whatever you would like, maybe a 
    relationship
    
    Name: Caitríona (full name available at the website)
    City, Country: London, England
    Age: 54
    Interests: Irish language, G&L community, 
    gardening, theatre, reading good books by good 
    Irish authors, etc.
    
    Looking for a penpal to communicate with, either 
    by email or 'snail-mail'? If you are then the 
    first thing you need to do is to sign up for 
    our FREE penpal service at:
    
     http://www.irishpenpals.com
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    From New Zealand to Ireland        by Nancy Hawks
    
    I have just returned to New Zealand after that 
    long awaited trip to Ireland to find my 'roots'. 
    I grew up hearing stories from my father about 
    Roscommon where his mother was born, and to visit 
    the beautiful little town of Keadue was a 
    highlight of my trip.
    
    I found a very distant relative (I reckon about 25 
    times removed if I stretch things a little) but 
    sadly no family headstones in the cemetery of the 
    Catholic Church. They may have been there but so 
    many were broken, indeciferable and covered with 
    weeds that I couldn't find anything that resembled 
    my Benison family name. I felt as though I was 
    walking all over my ancestors as I fought my way 
    through the prickles. Whose responsibility is it 
    to take care of these precious old cemeteries?
     
    The Famine Museum in Roscommon was a sobering 
    experience, the numbers that died, 1.5 million, is 
    rather mind-numbing and to see that a million 
    emigrated as well must have had a huge impact on 
    a small country. I walked around the museum and 
    thought of what my grandmother and her 6 siblings 
    went through as children when they chose to leave 
    their parents and emigrate to New Zealand. A 
    journey that took months on those old ships, 
    knowing that they would never be able to return. 
    My 23 hours of flying was nothing in comparison.
    I am a keen collector of fridge magnets and always 
    try to get one as a keepsake of places I have 
    visited on my travels. I did my usual hunt at the 
    Famine Museum and was horrified to see the magnets 
    that they had on display, 'Been there, done that, 
    enjoyed it, the Famine Museum"'. Needless to say I 
    didn't purchase one, whoever designed that 
    particular magnet certainly showed no sensitivity 
    and the thought ran through my mind that it would 
    be like someone saying about visiting the Jewish 
    death camps of the holocaust - 'Been there, done 
    that, enjoyed it'.  
    
    I loved just about every minute of my all too 
    brief visit to Ireland, from Ballymena where one 
    set of grandparents came from, (grandfather was 
    Northern Irish Presbyterian) to Roscommon where 
    my Southern Irish Catholic grandmother came from, 
    (they met and married in NZ).
    
    I loved the accents, the lady looking for the 
    1,2,3 bus. The friendliness and good humour of the 
    people, the young lady who stopped in the street 
    of Dublin to ask us if we were lost and then 
    directed us to the train station. The hour and a 
    half trying to drive out of Dublin and the 
    directions that we given to get out of Enniskerry. 
    Each person we asked contradicted the previous 
    person, and an hour later we were on our way to 
    Bray after trying each street in turn. The parking 
    attendant who said that we could park our car in 
    the street for half an hour and then added 'But 
    don't hurry back, it's nearly lunchtime'. The B&Bs, 
    who all wanted to be paid in cash. The bus trip 
    around Dublin and listening to the Tour operator 
    with his stories of Molly Malone, the 'tart with 
    the cart'.  
    
    I'm glad I've finally had the opportunity to find 
    my heritage. I'm waiting now for all my films to 
    be developed so that I can share my memories with 
    the rest of my family. We're proud of our Irish 
    ancestry and I know that I'll be back again if 
    ever our dollar improves and the bank isn't so 
    quick at sending out the credit card statements!
     
    Nancy Hawks, Auckland, New Zealand
    bert47@xtra.co.nz
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    FAMOUS IRISH SONGS: THE FIELDS OF ATHENRY
    
    Pete St. John is attributed with being the author 
    of this song but the lyrics date back to a ballad 
    published in the 1880's. The song is based on the 
    true story of a young couple during the Irish 
    Famine (1845-1849). Lord Trevelyan had brought a 
    supply of corn to Ireland but it was of little use 
    as it was 'Indian' corn and was not easily milled. 
    The desperate plight of the native Irish people of 
    the time however, did not prevent them from 
    attempting to break into the stores where the corn 
    was held. Many were arrested and some were deported 
    to Australia (Botany Bay) as criminals.
    
    ~~~
    
    The Fields of Athenry
    
    By a lonely prison wall
    I heard a sweet voice calling,
    'Danny, they have taken you away.
    For you stole Travelian's corn,
    That your babes might see the morn,
    Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.'
    
    Chorus
    Low lie the fields of Athenry
    Where once we watched the small freebirds fly.
    Our love grew with the spring,
    We had dreams and songs to sing
    As we wandered through the fields of Athenry.
    
    By a lonely prison wall
    I heard a young man calling
    'Nothing matters, Jenny, when you're free
    Against the famine and the crown,
    I rebelled, they ran me down,
    Now you must raise our children without me'.
    
    Chorus
    
    On the windswept harbour wall,
    She watched the last star rising
    As the prison ship sailed out across the sky
    But she'll watch and hope and pray,
    For her love in Botany Bay
    Whilst she is lonely in the fields of Athenry.
    Whilst she is lonely in the fields of Athenry.
    
    Listen to the tune to this and other famous Irish 
    songs here:
    
     https://www.ireland-information.com/irishmusic/
    
    The following CD collections of Irish songs are 
    available from https://www.irishnation.com/irishmusicds.htm
    
    * All-Time Irish Favourites - 3 CD Set
    * The Magic of Ireland - 4 CD Set 
    * 101 Beautiful Irish Ballads - 4 CD Set 
    * Essential Irish Pub Songs Collection - 3 CD Set 
    
    .......and many more!
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    PHRASE:		eistigi liom! 
    PRONOUNCED:	eish-tig-ee lum
    MEANING:		listen to me!
    
    PHRASE:		Dún do bheal!
    PRONOUNCED:	shut your mouth!
    MEANING:		duin duh vale!
    
    PHRASE:		gabh mo leithscéal!  
    PRONOUNCED:	guh muh lesh/kale 
    MEANING:		pardon me!
    
    
    
    View the archive of phrases here:
    
     https://www.ireland-information.com/irishphrases.htm
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH:	THE IAVI 
    
    Looking for a house or property in Ireland? The 
    IAVI website lets you search their database of 
    houses and apartments.
    
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    AUGUST COMPETITION RESULT
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    The winner was:   timbuckleycork@yahoo.co.uk
    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
    
    
    I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.
    Please keep the feedback coming!
    
    Until the next time,
    
    Keep Well!
    
    Michael Green,
    Editor,
    The Information about Ireland Site.
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com
    Click here to contact us
    


    HOMEDOWNLOADSGENEALOGYCOMMUNICATERESEARCHFUNSHOPMORESITE MAP

    Free Competition & Newsletter
    Subscribe to our Free Ireland Information Newsletter and
    be automatically entered into our Free monthly competition
    Please enter your email address below and click 'Update'

    Subscribe | Unsubscribe

    (C) Copyright - The Information about Ireland Site, 1998,1999,2000
    P.O. Box 9142, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland Tel: 353 1 2893860