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 The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                   August 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
=== The Legend of Fionn MacCumhaill
=== On the Modernisation of Ireland
=== The Irish in the American Civil War
=== CARA Penpals Success Story
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

Hi again from Ireland where the rain has finally 
relented in what has turned out to be one of the 
wettest Summers in history.

In this months issue we have an article about 
Fionn MacCumhaill, the ancient Gaelic warrior 
for you to enjoy. Why dont YOU pick an Irish 
subject from history and send us in an article 
for publication and be immortalized forever 
at our website!

Until next time, very best from Ireland

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'.

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in the next edition? Go here for more information:

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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
=======================
 
STUDENTS SPURN UNIVERSITY FOR BRICKLAYING

The idea of attending University is turning out 
to be a big turn-off for some of Ireland's 
brightest young school-leavers. Recent research 
has highlighted the huge benefits available to 
trade workers, plumbers, carpenters, craftsmen 
and skilled persons in a variety of employments. 
The average industrial wage of EURO 600 per 
week is dwarfed by the EURO 932 earned by workers 
engaged in a trade. Some bricklayers earn over 
EURO 1300 per week. It is estimated that nearly 
two thirds of apprentices in the various trades 
are educated up to Leaving Certificate standard, 
which is traditionally seen as the springboard 
to third level education.

HUGE ROW OVER AER LINGUS DECISION TO AXE SHANNON

A major row has developed over the sudden decision 
by Aer Lingus to axe its services from Shannon 
Airport in the west of Ireland to London Heathrow 
Airport.

The airline, which is now a private company, has 
decided to develop its Belfast routes to London 
and has announced that it will be shortly ceasing 
all travel from the County Clare airport. The 
response from local business interests and 
politicians in the West was swift with pressure 
being applied to the Government to use its 
stake in the airline to prevent the axing of the 
Shannon routes going ahead. Ryanair have joined
in the mix also by upping its stake in the airline 
to just under 30%, the most it is legally allowed 
to own under EU law. 

The Government is now in a very difficult 
position. If it backs the decision of Aer Lingus 
management at an upcoming EGM then it will incur 
the wrath of the West, who view the decision as 
being disastrous to the local economy and job 
creation prospects. If the Government abstains 
then there is every possibility that Ryanair or 
the staff shareholding could defeat the management 
team who would surely have to resign.

Should the airline get its way and abandon Shannon 
then it is likely that an alternative airline may 
step into the breach although which airline it will 
be remains to be seen.

PROPERTY PRICE DECLINE CONTINUES

The prospect of an end to the increases in 
interest rates by the ECB has provided some cheer 
to the Irish property market which has had a very 
bad 2007. Nationally the average price of a house 
has dropped by over EURO 8000 in the first half of 
the year. This is the first real decline since 2001 
and is set to continue while the exuberance of 
recent years is tempered by more realistic growth 
patterns.

There are still some commentators in the market 
however, who feel that the fundamentals for strong 
growth in the Irish property market still exist. 
The fact that Ireland has a young population, that 
inward migration continues to grow and that the 
Government National Development Plan will pump 
B-illions of Euro into the construction sector 
continues to mean that demand for housing will be 
high. It is speculated that recent hysteria in the 
stock markets lend credence to the belief that 
we may be near the end of the interest rate cycle 
and that rates may start to decline in 2008.

Those opposed to such a view point out that there 
is already an over-supply of accommodation in some 
sectors and that continuing higher interest rates 
will prevent many from getting onto or maintaining 
a position on the property ladder.

The Government has long hoped for a 'soft-landing' 
in the property market but it remains to be seen 
if it gets its wish.

UNEMPLOYMENT REACHES 3-YEAR HIGH

The contraction in the construction industry as well 
as global pressure from cheaper labour markets have 
resulted in an increase in unemployment to 163,000 
people. The average rate of unemployment now stands 
at 4.6% which, despite the recent increase, still 
compares very favourably with Ireland's EU 
neighbours.

BRITISH MILITARY WITHDRAW FROM NORTHERN IRELAND

Yet another historic milestone in the development 
of Northern Ireland as a peaceful democratic 
society has been reached with the withdrawal of 
British troops from the Province. The troops 
arrived in 1969 as part of 'Operation Banner', the 
longest running operation in British military 
history. Over 300,00 British troops served in 
Ulster with 763 killed in action.

JULY WAS WETTEST IN HISTORY

The relentless rain that occurred during July 
has marked that month as the wettest on record. 
Examination of 170 years of records has shown that 
over 3 times the amount of rain hit Dublin during 
that month than is usually expected.


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 6 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

B: Bruce
H: Hines
K: Kavanaugh, O'Keefe
M: Matthews, Murtagh

View the Gallery here:

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

THE PERFECT WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY GIFT!
We now have over 100,000 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

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THE LEGEND OF FIONN MacCUMHAILL
===============================

Fionn MacCumhaill was a mythical Irish warrior. 
His name has a number of different spellings and 
anglicized forms including Finn McCool and Fionn 
MacUmaill. The name Fionn is taken from the 
Gaelic word that translates as 'fair' likely 
referring to lightly coloured hair. Fionn was 
the son of Cumhaill who leader of the ancient 
Fianna, a band of mercenary warriors who lived 
apart from the rest of Gaelic society.

Hi mother was Muirne, who was daughter to 
Tadg mac Nuadat, a druid. Cumhaill kidnapped 
Muirne when her father refused him permission
to wed. Outlawed by the High King of the time, 
Conn of the Hundred Battles, the subsequent 
battle of Cnucha resulted in the demise of 
Cumhaill by Goll MacMorna, who assumed leadership 
of the Fianna. 

The now pregnant Muirne was exiled and was 
placed under the care of Fiacal MacConchinn, 
Cumhaills brother-in-law. After bearing her 
child Muirne left him in the care of his new 
family and a warrior woman named Liath Luachra, 
who was responsible for teaching him the ways of 
war and the Fianna. He was also tutored by 
Finnegas, the druid poet who had spent years 
searching for the 'salmon of knowledge', a 
mythical create that could endow all of the 
knowledge of the world. Eventually he caught the 
fish and instructed the young Fionn to cook it 
for him. While cooking the fish over the fire 
he scalded his thumb on the hot flesh and 
instinctively put the thumb to his mouth, 
instantly gaining the wisdom long sought after 
by Finnegas.

As an adult Fionn traveled to Tara, seat of the 
High Kings of Ireland. For 23 years the fairy 
Aillen razed the site to the ground every Samhain
having first lulled its guards into slumber with 
her music. Fionn managed to defeat Aileen however, 
by keeping himself awake by piercing his own skin 
with the point of his spear. His nobility was 
recognised and Goll MacMorna, who was still leader 
of thr Fianna, stepped aside to allow Fionn assume 
his rightful place. Gol even gave Fionn his home 
at the Hill of Almu as recompense for the death of 
his father.

His most famous wife was Sadbh who had been turned 
into a deer by the druid Fer Doirich. While out 
hunting, the hounds of Fionn, Bran and Sceolang, 
recognised the deer as a once-human form, since 
they too had once been human. Fionn did not kill 
the deer who was immediately transformed into his 
beautiful wife. She bore him a son, Oisin, who 
later became one of the greatest of all of the 
Fianna. The druid Fer Doirich returned however and 
re-cast Sadbh as a deer who then vanished into the 
forest forever.

Later in his life the reigning High King, Cormac 
mac Airt, promised Fionn the hand of his daughter 
Grainne. It was not be however as Grainne and 
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, another of the Fianna, eloped 
with Fionn in pursuit. The mater was resolved when 
Fionn allowed the lovers to be together, only for 
him to take revenge in later life by not using his 
powers to heal Diarmuid and prevent his death, 
after he had been gored by a boar.

Fionn is credited with creating the Giants 
Causeway as stepping stones from the North of 
Ireland to Scotland. Another legend tells how he 
a large piece of the land into the sea at an 
enemy, that piece of land becoming the Isle of 
Man. The hole left behind by the clump of land 
he threw became Lough Neagh.

The death of Fionn MacCumhaill is shrouded in 
mystery. One legend suggests that he is not dead 
but merely sleeping in a cave under Dublin, ready 
to strike back against Ireland's enemies.

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THE MODERNISATION OF IRELAND - ONE MANS OPINION!
===============================================

Mr. Beazley's article in the July issue 
https://www.ireland-information.com/jul07.htm 
was eloquent and astute, (he must be at least part 
Irish!). I'm an Irish-American and have been an 
organic farmer in Hawaii for the last 25 years. 
I've seen the same sort of problems outlined by 
Mr. Beazley with one or two additional problem 
not mentioned. First, property prices and values.

When I first moved to Hawaii in 1974 property 
prices in my area were such that a person could 
buy a 'cane shack' for well under $100,000, 
oftentimes 60-70,000. Now, due to tourism and 
the desire for vacation homes there, the prices 
have grown to $300,000+ for these same 'shacks'. 
This has resulted in a great boon for those who 
had lived there and owned for many years who 
sold and made a killing. However, now, the 
situation is such that unless one is very 
wealthy, one cannot afford to purchase 
property there, much less be able to make a 
living farming it.

As I approach retirement age I am looking to 
come 'home' to Ireland to 'retire' on a small 
homestead which I can farm to augment my 
social security. Recently, I found an old list 
of properties for sale in Ireland on the 
internet, (dated 1999-2000). Thinking these 
prices quite reasonable, I inquired as to 
the availability of these properties and 
was surprised at the current prices (and 
lack of inventory), compared with the older 
list. It appears Ireland is heading toward 
the same fate that has befallen the Hawaiian 
islands, with regard to price and availability.

I do not know the answers to this or many other 
problems which Hawaii shares with Ireland. I 
know many of us are concerned about these 
problems but without a major shift in the 
thinking of the people and government, I see 
no solution. As I am new to this site and 
newsletter, this problem has probably been 
outlined in other issues I have not read, 
(and perhaps solutions as well). I can only 
hope that Ireland will somehow not meet this 
same fate, where farmers and the elderly 
can no longer afford to live and farm.

Dennis McKenna

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THE IRISH IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR  by Ed McManus
===================================

When Abraham Lincoln was elected president, some 
Americans of that time thought that with his 
presidency certain rights they were holding onto 
would be threatened. Their main right was slavery, 
and it would be this that would tear this country 
apart. With his election states seceded from 
the United States, the first being South Carolina. 
Ten states would follow, totaling eleven in all.   

On April 12, 1861, the Army of the Confederacy 
fired shots on Fort Sumpter, South Carolina in 
the harbor of Charleston. Lincoln ordered up the 
military of the day. He asked for 75,000 
volunteers for a period of ninety days. His guess 
was that the war would be short lived. The Civil 
War would lead to many battles and subsequent 
deaths, and it would end four years almost to the 
day with the death of our great American 
President, Abraham Lincoln.

Shortly after Sumpter, surnames unfamiliar at the 
time would begin to emerge, such as McClellan, 
Reynolds, Meade, McPherson, Shaw and Meagher, at 
places from Bull Run to Appomattox. These were 
the commanders. Many of these men would go on into 
the history of their new chosen country, America, 
as winners of our highest medal awarded for 
bravery. The Irish would earn a major portion of 
the Congressional Medals of Honor issued for their 
moments of bravery as they fought on to places 
that also would have very unfamiliar names. 

Ireland's boys traveled throughout the war 
visiting places with names we as Americans hold 
dear such as Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, 
The Wilderness, Cold Harbor and others. These 
would be the towns that they would fight and 
die for and earn the love and respect of a fellow 
soldier. They would die on the field of battle. 
Many would face the hell of Andersonville Prison 
Camp miles from Ireland where they or their 
parents once fled oppression and hunger.

Soldiers such as Thomas Meagher of County 
Waterford, Ireland, the son of a Mayor, was 
charged with sedition. Faced with being hanged, 
drawn and quartered a reduced sentence for his 
charges was now to be shipped to Tasmania by the 
English. While on board ship and off the coast 
of Australia, he escaped and found his way to 
America. He organized the famed Irish Brigade and 
led its 63rd, 69th and 88th Regiments into battle. 
These military units were all New York based. The 
deadly gunfire at Antietam in 1862 would cost 
Meagher a sixty per cent casualty rate. He later
won the Congressional Medal of Honor.

John Reynolds, honor graduate of West Point was a 
young soldier in the Mexican war of 1847. His 
First Corps was first on the scene to assist 
General John Buford whose cavalry was 
in danger of being crippled by an early advance 
of southern troops at the initial staging at 
Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He died shortly after 
his arrival there, leading his men in a charge. 
The Iron Brigade with Meagher leading his Brigade 
was riding right behind Reynolds.

George B. McClellan was the soldier's general. His 
nickname, Little Mac was given him by his troops. 
Considered too slow to act by Lincoln, his 
strategy often confused the enemy confederates. 
He would go on to run for the presidency 
against Lincoln in 1865.

Robert G. Shaw of Massachusetts would be the only 
white officer given command of all black troops by 
Lincoln. His love of his men and their cause lead 
him to victory as he attacked Fort Wagner off the 
coast of Charleston, North Carolina. He died at 
Fort Wagner along with half of his men, with a 
bullet in the heart. Shaw won the medal 
posthumously.

George G. Meade would command the Union Army at 
Gettysburg. For three days his army would see more 
than 55,000 men on both sides perish, almost the 
total of American servicemen in eleven years in 
Vietnam. 

George McPherson, a dear friend to all who knew 
him, died on his horse after riding into 
Confederate troops, vowing never to surrender. 
A hero of Vicksburg and Atlanta. He too 
was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. 

The war ended on April 14, 1865. It seems so odd 
to some people that while Lincoln's election 
caused the start of the war, Abraham Lincoln would 
later die from an assassin's bullet the same month 
the war ended. The descendants of the 
Irish who fought in the Civil War would go on to 
lead America through many other wars in foreign 
lands. Because of the love they share of 
freedom, America remains free.  

Ed McManus

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CARA PENPALS SUCCESS STORY
==========================

In 2005 I received an e mail through the Cara 
Penpals site at http://www.irishpenpals.com 
It was from a Patrick Williams of Pennsylvania 
who was trying to trace his grandfather's roots.

Well, armed only with his grandfather's birth 
certificate, I happily took on the job. I searched 
through the birth, marriage and death records 
available at the Public Library at Pearse Street, 
and managed to locate some birth and death 
certificates, but the marriage certificates were 
another story. This entailed contacting churchs 
to see their records. Michael's (the grandfather's) 
birth certificate had his father's place of 
residence as Ballyboggan, North Dublin and, would 
you believe, I had spent most of my life living 
near this place. It is actually called 
Ballyboggan Road and runs between Finglas and 
Glasnevin. So I headed to the local Church and 
found that Michael's parents, Thomas and Jane, 
had married there. 

From this I also found that Thomas had worked 
at the Cardiffsbridge Ironworks making shovels. 

I then took off with my camera to see if any of 
the sites were still visible and did manage to 
get a photo of the last gateway leading into 
the Finglaswood Estate, where Michael's mother 
died, the Finglaswood Bridge over the Tolka River, 
and also of the Cardiff bridge, where the Iron 
Works was located.
 
I located Michael's mother's death certificate 
and from that traced the family burial plot in 
Glasnevin cemetery. Michael's maternal grandfather 
bought the plot for 110 Pounds (which would have 
been a lot of money back then) so I have surmised 
that he was a man of some substance. The only 
lead I have as to his occupation is that of a 
'car man' and again, all I can find in relation 
to this occupation is that it was like an early 
bus service. 

I am still on the trail of relatives who stayed 
behind in Ireland. The last known postal address 
I have for the family is 83 Manor Street in 
Dublin and I know Michael's baptism sponsor 
lived at the 5th Lough also known as Reilly's 
Bridge at Cabra.

Patrick went on to write a book about his 
grandfather, and he very kindly sent me a copy 
for editing....I was sorry to have to blow the 
couple of myths that his grandfather had 
cultivated, but this was taken in good spirits 
and Patrick went on to publish his book.

In the early days of our writing, Patrick 
mentioned that he had always yearned to visit 
Ireland and walk in the footsteps of his 
grandfather...so early in the year I invited 
him to come and stay with me and visit all the 
places mentioned in his book.

Well, Patrick, his wife Cathy and youngest 
daughter, Grace (11) arrived on 15th July 
this year, and it was as though I had known 
them all my life.

We spent a very intensive week travelling from 
Ennis, to Mayo (Knock, of course), Sligo, 
Leitrim, Dublin and back to Ennis via Clonmacnoise, 
and, believe it or not, it did not rain on us 
once! Each time we went outdoors, the rain 
stopped and the sun shone (and we have the 
photos to prove it).

I made some really nice friends through the 
Cara site and hope I continue to meet and write 
to many more over the years.

Valery Larkin


CARA Free Irish penpals service can be found at 
http://www.irishpenpals.com

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GOT A WEB SITE? GET FREE IRISH CONTENT!
=======================================

If you have a web site or are thinking of 
starting one then we have some great free content 
about Ireland that you can grab immediately!

* Display our gallery of over 1000 Family Crests
* Offer your visitors free Irish screensavers
* Put an Irish Search engine on your site
* Publish dozens of quality articles

And the best news is that this is all FREE.

Find out more by visiting here:
 https://www.ireland-information.com/freecontent/freecontent.htm

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

Wendy Walker of Columbia, Missouri got a
family crest signet ring with the Donnelly family 
crest engraved on it for her son

 Michael,
 I received by registered mail today the ring I 
 ordered for my son with the Donnelly family crest.

 I am very impressed and thrilled with the ring. 
 It is beautiful and the service I received 
 throughout the whole process of ordering and 
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 Thank you

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THE PERFECT WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY GIFT!

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

PHRASE:		Gabh mo leithscaal 
PRONOUNCED:	govh muh leh-skayle
MEANING:	Excuse me

PHRASE:		Nil Gaeilge maith agam
PRONOUNCED:	kneel gale-geh mot ah-gum
MEANING:	I cannot speak Irish very well

PHRASE:		An Bhfuil Bearla/Gaeilge agat
PRONOUNCED:	on will bear-lah/gale-geh ah-gut
MEANING:	Do you speak English/Irish

View the archive of phrases here:

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

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AUGUST COMPETITION RESULT
=======================

The winner was: christina_ohara@rediff.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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