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  The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                 February 2005
 
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) 2005  

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		IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== Three Famous Irish Painters
=== Sweet Home - a poem      by Kelley McLaughlin
=== Grace O'Malley - Gaelic Warrior Princess
=== Saint Patricks Day - a poem by M & H. McBride
=== New Family Crest Rubber Stamps for Stationery
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

Hello again from Ireland where the preparations 
for Saint Patrick's Day are well in train. The 
next issue of this newsletter will be sent out 
on that day itself so please keep an eye out for 
it. If you want some simple kids games to 
encourage the 'little people' to learn about 
Ireland then see the 'Site of the Month' below.
Until then, all the very best from Ireland!

Michael


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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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Why don't you submit an article for inclusion
in the next edition? Go here for more information:
 



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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
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PEACE PROCESS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE

The Northern Ireland Peace Process is in disarray 
after several people with links to Sinn Fein were
arrested in connection with the recent Northern 
Bank robbery. 

Unionist parties in Ulster have already refused to 
negotiate with Sinn Fein over the issue of 
decommissioning of weapons and have now broken off 
all contact after the Provinces largest bank raid, 
for which they blame both Sinn Fein and the IRA.

The Irish and English governments led by Bertie 
Ahearn Tony Blairs Governments have both severely 
criticised Sinn Fein for their links to criminal 
activity but are still willing to negotiate with 
them in an effort to save the peace process from 
complete collapse. The Sinn Fein leadership have 
reacted furiously to the accusations levelled 
against them and have seen there support fall 
considerably in the most recent opinion polls.

RYANAIR TO ORDER 125 NEW AIRCRAFT

A further sign of the continuing success of 
'low-cost airlines' has emerged after Ryanair 
announced that it will purchase 125 new Boeing 
737-800 aircraft at a total coat of $6 Bn 
(approx EURO 4.5 Bn). Boeing, the Seattle-based 
aircraft manufacturer already has an existing 
order for 150 new aircraft for Ryanair on its 
books. The vastly favourable US Dollar to Euro 
exchange rate is seen as one reason why Ryanair 
has decided to make the purchase of the extra 
aircraft sooner, rather than later.

NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION FOR DUBLIN CITY

Following on from the addition of the 'spire' in 
O'Connell street, Dublin to set to get another 
tourist attraction when a helium balloon soars to 
heights of 180 metres above Temple Bar. The 1 
Million Euro balloon will be capable of carrying up 
to 60 children (or 30 adults) for a real birds 
eye view of the city. Although similar schemes 
already exist in both Bordeaux and Niagara Falls, 
the Dublin balloon is the first to be allowed in 
the very heart of a major city.

NEW LIGHT-RAIl SYSTEM BOOSTS PROPERTY PRICES

The cost of housing located adjacent to the 
newly opened 'Luas' light-rail system has 
increased by as much as 15% above parts of the 
city not on the route. House prices in Dublin 
rose by 13% in 2004, compared with an average 
of about 10% nationally.

GLOBAL WARMING BRINGS BACK THE BIRDS

Changes to the Irish climate are being attributed 
to the early return and late departure of swallows 
in Ireland. The return of the swallow has always 
been a sure indicator that Summer is on the way 
but the fact that they are returning earlier than 
ever before has been cited as further evidence of 
climate change caused by global warming.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi


https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi

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NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
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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: Connors
F: Falvey
I: Impett
M: Merrick, Minogue
O: Owens
R: Ridge
T: Tierney

View the Gallery here:


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

THE PERFECT SAINT PATRICK'S DAY 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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OSBORNE, LAVERY AND LEECH 
(A TRIO OF FAMOUS IRISH PAINTERS) 

Walter Osborne was born in 1859. He painted 
mainly in the French Brittany region of Quimperle 
but moved to England in 1884. His paintings of 
rural scenes that dominated his early years 
gradually gave way to an 'impressionistic' 
interpretation of those subjects that he had great 
empathy for, namely women, small children and old 
people. His superb images of young girls at play 
are still cherished by the National Gallery of 
Ireland: The Dolls School, The House Builders. 

John Lavery was born in Belfast but was educated 
in Glasgow, London and Paris. He originally worked 
as an apprentice photographer but harboured 
ambitions to be a portrait artist. He became an 
official war artist and eventually a chronicler 
of his times with paintings such as 'The 
Ratification of the Irish Treaty in the English 
House of Lords, 1921' and 'Blessing of the Colors: 
A Revolutionary Soldier Kneeling to the Blessed'. 
His most famous work was perhaps that of his wife, 
Lady Lavery, 'The Red Rose' which was a painting 
that had a number of incarnations before it 
forever bore the face of the woman who was to 
adorn the Irish Pound note for half a century. 

William John Leech was born in Dublin in 1881 and 
studied under Walter Osborne at the Royal 
Hibernian Academy Schools. He became increasingly 
interested in sunlight and shadow and this perhaps 
might explain why the famous painting 'The Goose 
Girl' was accredited to him. So proud of this 
wonderful interpretation of a girl in a bluebell 
field was the National Gallery of Ireland that it
adopted the image as their logo, only to finally 
have to accept that the painting was in fact 
completed by the Englishman Stanley Royle. He can 
be regarded as one of the great Irish 'colorists' 
as can be seen by his superb image: 'Les Soeurs 
du Saint-Esprit, Concarneau', c. 1910-1912 which 
has to be one of the finest Irish paintings ever. 

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SWEET HOME - A POEM	    by Kelley McLaughlin
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Breath deep,
the sweet smelling clean air.
Climb high,
the rolling hills.
Look around,
the old beauty,
the little people brought.
Faeries fly over us,
changing the land,
making it ready for new life.
Nymphs shine,
bringing the water to sweet cleanliness.
Angels soar,
making the land safe,
keeping the grass green,
and the trees tall.
Beloved home to everyone,
fresh and sweet,
always green,
Ireland.

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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.

Anne MacDonald ordered a family crest plaque:

 Hello, Michael,

 Received my plaque, carefully wrapped, 
 in good order. It is splendid! I am 
 thrilled, and I know that my dad, for whose 
 81st birthday this was ordered, will love 
 it. I would like to order another one! 

 Everyone who has seen the plaque has been 
 really impressed, even those who, as my 
 daughter says are 'not into ancestor 
 worship!'

 Again, my hearty thanks for this 
 first-class product.

 Best wishes for happy holiday season.

 Sincerely, Anne MacDonald

THE PERFECT WEDDING OR ANNIVERSARY GIFT!

View family crest plaques here:




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

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GRACE O'MALLEY - GAELIC WARRIOR PRINCESS
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Ireland's contribution to female heroines includes
the sixteenth-century Grainne Ni Mhaille who was 
known as the 'Queen of the Irish Seas'.

She was named Mhaol (meaning 'cropped hair'),
but was called Grace O'Malley by the English. Born 
in the Province of Connacht, Grainne married and 
had three children before she commenced her famous 
career on the high seas, marshaling 3 pirate ships 
and up to 200 men as she opposed the English 
attempts to remove her.

Her husband was an O'Flaherty who was executed by 
Queen Elizabeths colonists who attempted to 
completely subjugate the Irish way of life. In 
1556 she married again, this time to Iron Richard 
Burke and had a son named Tibbot. Captured and 
jailed for two years she returned to her homeland 
in Connaught to continue her defiance.

In 1558 Elizabeth I pardoned her in an attempt to 
bring peace to the region but his attempt failed 
as the local English administrators continued to 
goad the woman who had been a thorn in their side 
for years. They even interned her son and brother 
despite Elizabeth I instructing that they be 
released.

Fighting was her only means of survival and this 
she did until the Irish defeat at the Battle of 
Kinsale in 1601 checked her dominance. She died 
in 1603 and has since been, to a large degree, 
overlooked as a genuine heroine of Irish history.

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SAINT PATRICKS DAY - A POEM     by M & H. McBRIDE
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St. Patrick's Day the day of green ale
The luck of the Irish and, old folk tales
Ireland, Ireland so far away 
I think of you every day
From the sight of a shamrock,
To the colour green
My name they say
Comes from Ireland so far away
Where my heritage Lays
Ireland                                                       

Michelle McBride
& Heather McBride
Canada

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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.

Timothy Meade got some family crest watches as 
gifts for his wedding groomsmen:

 Michael,

 The watches are amazing. They arrived at just the 
 right time. I really appreciate that you didn't 
 bill me for the extra shipping. It warms the 
 cockles of me heart.

 Thanks for making my wedding day just that much 
 more beautiful.

 Tim

THE PERFECT SAINT PATRICK'S DAY GIFT!

See here for family crest gifts:
Visit 



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

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NEW FAMILY CREST RUBBER STAMPS FOR STATIONERY
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Demonstrate your ancestral lineage with our 
hand-made rubber (polymer) stamps that give 
perfect impressions of your family coat of arms. 
Use black ink or any color you wish. Use Gold ink 
or paint for a stunning impression that is perfect 
for creating your own stationery, letterheads or 
fancy envelopes. Use them for decorating the 
envelopes that wedding invitations are sent out 
in or for decorating the actual wedding 
invitation, menu, seating chart 
- use your imagination!

You can learn more about these excellent 
stamps here:




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

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GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
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PHRASE: 	Eireann go Brach !
PRONOUNCED:	air-inn go braw
MEANING:		Ireland forever!

PHRASE:		Cead mile failte romhat! 
PRONOUNCED:	kade meela fall-cheh row-itt
MEANING:		A hundred thousand welcomes!

PHRASE:		Slainte 
PRONOUNCED:	slawn-che
MEANING:		Good Health!

View the archive of phrases here:




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

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SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH: KIDS GAMES OF IRELAND
==========================

Simple print and complete games for young kids 
to help them learn about Ireland.




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

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FEBRUARY COMPETITION RESULT
===========================

The winner was: jvduffy@msn.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




https://www.ireland-information.com

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