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  The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                  December 2006
 
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) 2006  

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		IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== Last-Minute Christmas Gifts
=== Irish Christmas Traditions
=== Hillside		  	by Tom Shea
=== CARA Penpals Success Story
=== The Loneliest Angel		By Bree T. Donovan
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
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A very happy Christmas and New Year to all of 
our readers! Be sure to have a read of our article 
about Irish Christmas Traditions in this months 
issue. Why not try to incorporate at least one of 
these traditions into your household this year?

Don't forget you can send a free 'Dancing Irish 
Santa' Christmas Card by email here:


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

Please DO send us in your stories, poems or 
articles about Ireland for the next edition 
- we love including reader contributions,

until 2007!

Michael


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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
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BUDGET 2006 IS ANNOUNCED

Finance Minister Brian Cowen has unveiled a 
wide-ranging budget that will benefit many 
sectors of Irish society and is sure to do the 
ruling Fianna Fail and PD coalition no harm when 
the general election is called in a few months 
time.

The main measures announced include:

* reduction of top income tax rate by 1% to 41% 
* widening of tax bands so less income tax is paid
* mortgage interest relief extended to assist 
  first-time buyers
* old-age pensions increased to over 200 euro per 
  week for the first time
* maternity leave extended by 4 weeks to 26 weeks
* child benefit increased to 160 euro per month

Economic growth of 5.5% for 2007 is forecast by 
the government with unemployment at 4.4% and 
inflation of 2.6%.

DUBLIN PORT TUNNEL OPENS

The long awaited tunnel that extends from Dublin 
Port out to the Northside of the city and onto 
the M50 motorway has finally opened. The 750 
M'illion Euro project was dogged by delays but 
now provides a means of removing thousands of 
truck journeys from Dublin city centre every week. 
From February of 2007 it will be compulsory for 
all large trucks to use the tunnel.

BUPA HEALTH INSURER TO ABANDON IRELAND

The Health Insurance industry in Ireland was thrown 
into chaos after BUPA announced it would be 
leaving the market. BUPA is the main competitor to 
the long-standing VHI but recent government rules 
on 'risk equalisation' look set to drive BUPA from 
the market and return VHI to its original monopoly 
situation.

VHI have long complained that as the age-profile 
of their members is older than that of new 
arrivals BUPA that it is being unfairly penalised 
for insuring older people. VHI claim that since 
BUPA have subscribers who are of a much younger 
profile that they are unfairly able to profit 
from the better health of their members. The 
Government agreed and introduced 'risk 
equalisation' which essentially forces BUPA to 
pay VHI 160 M'illion euro in compensation.

BUPA has stated that it intends to appeal the 
Government decision to the Supreme Court. In the 
meantime it is not taking on any new members and 
has notified its staff that their jobs are at risk 
should the current regulatory framework not be 
changed.

FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT HOUSING MARKET IS COOLING

The recent levelling off of price increases in 
certain categories of houses as well as the actual 
drop in the cost of new homes has added fuel to 
the speculation that the housing boom may be 
approaching its end. Irish Bank EBS has recently 
restricted the 100% mortgage option that was 
introduced by financial institutions at the very 
zenith of the price-rises. EBS will now only 
offer the 100% mortgage to professionals such as 
doctors and civil servants. 

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
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FREE CHRISTMAS CARD BY EMAIL

Send a free 'Dancing Irish Santa' Christmas Card 
by email here:


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

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

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

G: Gaven, Garagan
K: Keith
M: Muldoon, McMeekin

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.
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LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS 
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Stuck for a good Christmas present? Try these:

Gift Certificates from irishnation.com

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

Send a Family Crest Screensaver by email:

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

You can print a gift notification card for any 
of the items below. We will then forward the gift 
to your chosen recipient on your behalf:

Family Crest Ring:

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Irish Claddagh Ring:

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Herladic Plaque or Shield:

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Family Crest Cuff-Links:

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

Heraldic Pendant:

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

All are available at: 
https://www.irishnation.com

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IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
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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 
this 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 a 
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 dwit'.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

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HILLSIDE 			by Tom Shea
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There's a hillside back in Erin,
Stretching high above the bay,
Where the sunset turns the heather
Into gold at close of day.
Peace is there when twilight lingers
And the valley down below
Seems a far off faerie playland
With the cottage lamps aglow.

Comes the moon through heaven's curtain 
Sailing high and clear and bright, 
With a host of stars aglitter, 
Bringing beauty to the night ,
And the ancient ivied castle 
Seems as full of life as yore 
With the moon exchanging shadows 
For her partners on the floor.

There the cares of life are little 
On the hillside o'er the bay, 
There the soul of man is grateful, 
At the closing of a day 
For the peace that comes too seldom. 
It is there that I would be, 
And if I should fly tomorrow 
I would take you both with me!

Tom Shea

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THE LONELIEST ANGEL	by Bree T. Donovan
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For F.D.

Silent night, starry night
He thinks of Van Gough and Galileo.
Surveying the endless, December sky,
Through the lens of his telescope
His breath mingles with the vapors of this 
The most mysterious of hours.

A second, like the single beat of a heart
When every man has vowed peace
All in the name of a Holy child
Time coils around itself
The past is now
There is no tomorrow
Every soul believing in a fresh start.

But he knows the darkest side of the moon
The space where wretched secrets lie
They gather dust deep inside creators
Rising up, biting with the winter wind
Settling on innocent lives.

Deceptive calm
Shadows waylay the light
The cold reality of life
Too many children are victims
Too many lives are taken
While men with guns hide their faces
Baring bombs for tidings
Instead of gold and spices.

The angels still sing on high
Seraphim and Cherubim
Too busy with the matters of heaven
Their songs so mighty and refined
They assign the business of keeping the peace
To earth bound spirits considered the least
Likely to inherit their kingdom.

But the venerable child
Some call Savior
Some say only infamous ghost
Whispers a prayer from His own quiet corner of the unknown.
Blessed be those who are bruised and broken
Your hearts are more gentle than most.
His tears fall upon the loneliest angel
Keeping a solitary vigil
Touching his head as the first flakes of Christmas snow.

Bree Donovan

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Visit https://www.irishnation.com

where you can get great Irish gifts, prints, 
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much more.

Wendy Walker of Columbia, Missouri got a
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THE PERFECT WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY GIFT!

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GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
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PHRASE:		Nollaig faoi shean 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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DECEMBER COMPETITION RESULT
===========================

The winner was: scottielass7624@aol.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 time,

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.


https://www.ireland-information.com

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