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		IN THIS ISSUE
~~~ Foreword
~~~ News Snaps from Ireland 
~~~ New free resources at the site

~~~ Irish Christmas Traditions
~~~ Famous Irish Legends: Cuchulainn
~~~ Christmas Gift Ideas
~~~ Gaelic Phrases of the Month
~~~ Shamrock Site of the Month: vibeforphilo.com
~~~ Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
~~~~~~~~

Hello again from a freezing Dublin! Christmas is 
of course in everyone's mind so we have again set 
up the free festive postcard service at the site 
- see below.

We have also republished the article about Irish
Christmas traditions which has proved ever popular.

Many thanks to all who have supported this 
newsletter and helped us to survive,

Until next year,

HAVE A JOYOUS AND SAFE CHRISTMAS!

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? Go here for more information:
 
https://www.ireland-information.com/newsletter.htm

If you have an AOL or HOTMAIL account then you 
will get much better results by viewing this 
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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IRISH GIRL WINS MISS WORLD CONTEST

Rosanna Davison, the daughter of Chris De Burgh, 
the internationally renowned singer songwriter, 
has won the Miss World contest that was held 
recently in China. It is the first time that 
Ireland has ever scooped the coveted title and 
it opens up the possibility that the beauty 
pageant may be held in Ireland in two years time.

CIVIL SERVANTS TO BE MOVED DOWN THE COUNTRY

The most recent budget announced by Finance 
Minister Charlie McCreevy had few surprises. 
The rates of income tax and VAT remained 
unchanged, although an extra 5 cents was added 
to the cost of a lire of petrol. The real 
surprise was the announcement of an 
acceleration of Government plans to decentralise 
up to 10,000 Civil Servants to various locations 
around the country.

Decentralisation is usually a major boost to the 
economy of a country town and the Government to 
send Government offices to those local economies 
that need them most.

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES FALL AGAIN

A further sign that the Irish economy is 
recovering from difficult recent times has been 
announced in the form of the monthly unemployment 
figures. The total out of work fell by 2,200 in 
November, the fourth month in a row that the 
unemployment statistic has fallen. There are 
currently just over 170,000 people making 
unemployment claims, or 4.3% of the workforce.

GENETIC EXPERTS DECLARE THE IRISH A BREED APART

A research team in Trinity College Dublin have 
declared that it is possible to confirm the Irish 
are of Celtic origin by examining their DNA. Irish 
people have very similar genetic traits to those 
of the Welsh and Scottish. Inhabitants of the West 
of Ireland have an even stronger direct genetic 
link to the Celts, probably due to the fact that 
there has historically been very little migration 
into the Western parts of Ireland.

EUROPEAN UNION EXAMINES IRISH ANTI-SMOKING LAWS

The ban on smoking in public places, restaurants, 
hotels and pubs in Ireland will now come into 
effect in February. The ban has raised the 
interest of some other European countries. Both 
Germany and Austria have lodged comments with the 
EU about a separate law relating to the advertising 
and sale of cigarettes through vending machines. 
It is not expected that the EU will intervene in 
Ireland's right to impose this new law. Indeed, 
both Belgium and The Netherlands have indicated 
that they may implement similar smoking bans.

UK ADMITS SELLAFIELD IS A SOURCE OF PLUTONIUM 

A British Health Minister has admitted that the 
Sellafield Nuclear facility in Cumbria is a 
source of plutonium poisoning in children's 
teeth in Ireland and Britain. The long running 
campaign by the Irish Government to have the 
plant closed has been boosted by the revelations. 
Tests on more than 300 teeth that were extracted 
by dentists showed that the rate of poisoning 
increased in proportion to the proximity of 
children living near Sellafield.

IRISH TO FACE FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND IN WORLD CUP

The draw for the 2006 Soccer World Cup that is to 
be held in Germany has been made. Ireland are in 
Group four together with France, Switzerland, 
Israel, Cyprus and the Faroe Islands. The winners 
of the group will qualify for the finals. The best 
three runners-up across the groups will go straight 
into the finals, thus avoiding the dreaded 
play-offs that await the remainder of those teams 
that finished second in their group.

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SEND A FESTIVE ELECTRONIC POSTCARD FOR FREE!

Send a friend or relative a free postcard of 
the Irish Dancing Santa or dozens of other 
great images! See here:

https://www.ireland-information.com/heraldichall/postcard.htm


NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

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

C: McCallion McCombs 
F: Finn 
H: Henehan 
K: Knowles 
P: Perry 
S: Sharkey 
T: Turley

View the Gallery here:

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

We now have over 100,000 worldwide names available.
Get the Coat of Arms Print, Claddagh Ring,
Screensaver, Watch, T-Shirt Transfer or Clock for
your name at:

https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestgifts.htm

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IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ireland, like most countries, has a number of Christmas
traditions that are all of its own. Many of these customs
have their root in the time when the Gaelic culture and
religion of the country were being suppressed and it is
perhaps because of that they have survived into modern
times.

THE CANDLE IN THE WINDOW

The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house
on Christmas eve is still practised today. It has a number 
of purposes but primarily it was an symbol of welcome to
Mary and Joseph as they travelled looking for shelter.

The candle also indicated a safe place for priests to
perform mass as, during Penal Times this was not allowed.

A further element of the tradition is that the candle should
be lit by the youngest member of the household and only be
extinguished by a girl bearing the name 'Mary'.

THE LADEN TABLE

After evening meal on Christmas eve the kitchen table was
again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with
caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large
lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that
Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveller, could avail of
the welcome.

THE WREN BOY PROCESSION

During Penal Times there was once a plot in a village against
the local soldiers. They were surrounded and were about to
be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums and
awakened the soldiers. The plot failed and the wren became
known as 'The Devil's bird'.

On St. Stephens day a procession takes place where a pole
with a holly bush is carried from house to house and
families dress up in old clothes and with blackened faces.
In olden times an actual wren would be killed and placed on
top of the pole.

This custom has to a large degree disappeared but the
tradition of visiting from house to house on St. Stephens
Day has survived and is very much part of Christmas.

DECORATIONS:

The placing of a ring of Holly on doors originated in
Ireland as Holly was one of the main plants that flourished
at Christmas time and which gave the poor ample means with
which to decorate their dwellings.

All decorations are traditionally taken down on Little
Christmas (January 6th.) and it is considered to be bad luck
to take them down beforehand.

TRADITIONAL GAELIC SALUTATION

The Gaelic greeting for 'Merry Christmas' is:
'Nollaig Shona Duit'
......which is pronounced as 'null-ig hun-a dit'.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

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YOU CAN HELP TO KEEP THIS FREE NEWSLETTER ALIVE!

Visit https://www.irishnation.com

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

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FAMOUS IRISH LEGENDS: CUCHULAINN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a time in Irelands history when chivalry 
and chieftainry ruled the land. When the country 
was occupied by bands of warriors who spoke only 
their native tongue and who cherished their 
heritage and civilisation. This was the time of 
Conor McNessa and the High Kings of Ireland, of 
the Gamanraide and the Red Branch Knights of the 
Emania. It was the time of Cuchullain. 

All of the warrior bands had their own Seanachie, 
a person responsible for recounting the deeds of 
times past, a chronicler of the ages. Cuchullain 
was their most famous subject and hundreds of 
tales of his heroic deeds, both real and 
imagined, have survived to this day. 

Cuchullain was the nephew and foster son of King 
Conor of Emania, and was originally named Setanta. 
He arrived at the Court to find the youths 
playing Caman (hurling) and, having with him his 
red bronze hurley he so outplayed the other 
youths that his future greatness could be seen 
by all of the Court. The warriors of the Red 
Branch acknowledged him as a blood relative of 
the King and heard him proclaim before the 
Druids in the Hall of Heroes: 

'I care not whether I die tomorrow or next year,
if only my deeds live after me'. 

Cuchulainns greatest deed was perhaps when he 
alone held back the forces of Connaught and had 
to fight his friend, Ferdiad, who was the 
champion and chief of the Connaught Knights of 
the Sword. Ferdiad and Cuchullain had trained 
together in arms in their youth and it was 
displeasing to Cuchullain to have to fight his 
friend of old. He tried to dissuade Ferdiad 
against fighting by reminding him of their days 
in training, when they were both subjects of 
the great female champion, Scathach, in Alba. 

'We were heart companions, We were companions in 
the woods, We were fellows of the same bed, where 
we used to sleep the balmy sleep. After mortal 
battles abroad, In countries many and far distant, 
together we used to practice, and go through each 
forest, learning with Scathach'. 

Ferdiad would not be swayed. Lest he weaken under 
Cuchullains pleas he responded only with taunts 
against his friend, now foe. 

So they fought. They fought for four days and 
eventually, after a tremendous effort, Cuchullain 
laid Ferdiad down and then fell into a trance of 
sorrow and weakness after the epic duel. 

As is the way with such heroes, Cuchulainn died 
on the battlefield. He was propped against a large 
rock whilst dead, with a spear in his hand and a 
buckler on his arm, and with such a defiant 
attitude was able to strike fear into his enemies 
even after death. 

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CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STILL AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY!

GIFT IDEA #1: Pint Glasses, Shooter Glasses and more

Our new engraved pub pint glasses, shooter glasses, 
wine goblets and much more ornament has the family 
crest for your family name engraved on it.

GIFT IDEA #2: Engraved Cigarette Case and Tankard

For the person who has everything! Engraved with 
the family crest of your choice our cigarette 
cases, hip flasks and pewter tankards are perfect 
stocking fillers.

GIFT IDEA #3: Get us to send a Family Crest 
Screensaver to a friend or relative.

For these and many other great gift ideas visit 
https://www.irishnation.com

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GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PHRASE:		Nollaig faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit!
PRONOUNCED:	Nullig fwee yan iss fwee mway/shih dwit
MEANING:		A prosperous and enjoyable Christmas!

PHRASE:		Nollaig Shona duit
PRONOUNCED:	nullig hunna dwit
MEANING:		Happy Christmas to you

PHRASE:		Athblian shona duit
PRONOUNCED:	ought/bleen hunna dwit
MEANING:		Happy new year to you


View the archive of phrases here:

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

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SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH:	VIBEFORPHILO.COM

Get all the info about the 18th tribute to 
Ireland's greatest ever rocker: Phil Lynott. 

The commemoration gig for the Thin Lizzy hero is 
in Vicar Street in Dublin on 4th January next. 
See you there!

http://www.vibeforphilo.com

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DECEMBER COMPETITION RESULT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

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

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I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.

Until next time,

HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND A GREAT NEW YEAR!

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

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