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  The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                  January 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
=== Symbols of Ireland: The Harp  
=== Two wishes of Ireland
=== A Song for Dublin	   by James Rogers
=== Whose Guilt is this?   by Delamary Wilkinson
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

A belated happy new year to all our readers. I 
hope that this first edition of 2007 finds you 
all in good form!

We have a poetic feel to the newsletter this month. 
Many thanks again to all of our contributors,

until next time,

Michael


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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
=======================
 
NEW NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN ANNOUNCED

The 184 B'illion Euro National Development Plan 
has been announced by Government. The plan will run 
from 2007 to 2013 and will involve the single biggest 
investment in the infrastructure of the State in 
Irish history. 33.6 B'illion has been allocated for 
social infrastructure including hospitals, old-age 
care facilities, social housing and sports 
facilities. 50 B'illion was allocated for childcare, 
education, community care. There are already huge 
infrastructure projects under way including the 
widening of the M50 ring-road and plans to run a rail 
system from Dublin City Centre to Dublin Airport.

NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTIONS MAY BE CALLED IN SPRING

A special meeting of Sinn Fein approved a 
proposal to fully engage and support the Police 
Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). This issue 
has been a source of controversy and division 
within Sinn Fein, some members of which view the 
PSNI as little more than a new incarnation of the 
hated RUC. It is expected that new elections to 
the Northern Ireland Assembly will be called on 
foot of the historic decision which should pave 
the way for the re-establishment of the currently 
suspended parliament.

IMMIGRATION LIKELY TO BE A KEY ELECTION ISSUE

Although the exact date of the General Election 
has not yet been set, all of the political parties 
have started their campaigns in earnest. 
Immigration is likely to be a big issue.

Latest Central Statistics Office figures show that 
the Irish population is expanding at an 
unprecedented rate and that approximately 1 in 10 
people living in the Republic are now of 
'non-national' origin. This number is likely to 
increase given the widespread optimistic outlook 
that exists for an already booming economy.

There were opening shots in this battle recently 
with Fine Gael's Enda Kenny attempting to label the 
Irish nation as a 'Celtic and Christian people'. 
PD Leader Michael McDowell accused Fine Gael of 
'playing the race card' while at the same time 
announcing new laws which will allow for the 
immediate detention of asylum seekers with a view 
to fact-tracking their claims to stay in the 
country. It is widely accepted that most claims for 
asylum are false and that the applicants are in 
fact 'economic migrants'.

Recent opinion polls would seem to indicate that 
Fianna Fail will definitely retain power after 
the election. Whether it is with the PDs or the 
Labour party, (who are already making noises that 
they will do business with Fianna Fail), remains 
to be seen.

OPTIMISTIC HOUSE PRICE OUTLOOK CONTINUES

The Irish love affair with property and 
house-purchase continues unabated. Despite several 
recent increases in interest rates but the 
European Central Bank, house prices are expected 
to increase by anywhere from 5 to 10% in 2007, 
depending on who you talk to!

Not content with buying in Ireland the Irish are 
streets ahead of their EU counterparts when it 
comes to buying property abroad. Special trips to 
Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia and even Cape Verde 
(off the African coast), are advertised on a 
weekly basis in national newspapers and there 
are no shortage of takers.

The Economist Magazine, The European Central Bank, 
The OECD and several other august bodies have 
annually confidently predicted a rapid decrease 
in the cost of Irish housing. Eventually they are 
bound to be right but not until the fundamental 
principle of economics is observed. Supply must 
exceed demand in order for prices to drop. This 
is basic stuff. You don't need to be an economic 
genius to understand that.

Despite huge activity in the construction sector 
there is no sign of enough housing units being 
made available especially in an Ireland that has 
woken from its slumber of the 50s through 80s and 
is straining to cope with the sheer volume of 
immigrants who want to work here. 

Certainly if the economy goes bust and the 
immigrants leave then there will certainly be a 
problem for those who are mortgaged to the hilt, 
but until that happens.....


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
==============================

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 7 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

C: Conneely
F: Ferguson
G: Galloway
H: Holston
K: Kilbride
R: Rattigan
S: Saxton

View the Gallery here:

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

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We now have over 100,000 worldwide names available.
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SYMBOLS OF IRELAND: THE HARP  by Bridget Haggerty
============================

It once graced the flag of the Republic, it still 
appears on official government documents as well 
as the Presidential flag, and it is displayed on 
Irish coins. For centuries, the harp has been a 
beloved emblem of Ireland. In fact, it is said 
that the Irish concentrated so much of their 
musical ability into playing the harp, that for 
many years, the development of music in Ireland 
was brought to a relative standstill. 

Folklore says that the first harp was owned by 
Dagda, a chief among the Tuatha De Danaan. The 
De Danaan were at war with the Fomorians and the 
harp was taken from Dagda by the gods of cold and 
darkness. Two other gods, Lugh representing 
light, and Ogma representing art, penetrated the 
Fomorian fortress, recovered the harp and restored 
it to Dagda. The gods in returning the harp to 
him, pronounced two secret names for the 
instrument and, at the same time, called forth 
summer and winter. From that point on, when Dagda 
played, he could produce a melody so poignant, it 
would make his audience weep, an air so jubilant 
it would make everyone smile, or a sound so 
tranquil, it would lull all who listened to sleep. 
Thus, with its secret or magical names, the 
instrument became the dispenser of Sorrow, 
Gladness and Rest.

Whichever way the harp became Ireland's own unique 
instrument, and subsequently, its national emblem, 
history tells us that the people who played it were 
highly trained professionals who usually performed 
for the nobility. They were held in very high 
regard and were often asked to accompany a bardic 
poet who was giving a reading. However, with the 
emigration of Ireland's leading families in the 
17th and early 18th century, there was a steep 
decline in the harping tradition and the last 
traditionally-trained harpist died in the 
mid-19th century. Interestingly, these 
superb musicians played with their fingernails 
and not with the flesh of the fingertips as is 
done today. It's also interesting to note that new 
families of English descent were hospitable to 
well-known harpists such as O'Carolan, and it was 
a man from the north, Dr. Michael MacDonnell, 
and an Englishman, Edward Bunting, who assembled 
the last harpers in Belfast in 1792. Even though 
very generous fees were offered, they were able 
to attract only 11 players from the whole country. 
Bunting attempted to write down as much of the 
music as he could and his collection is incredibly 
important because it contains the only remaining 
remnants of what the ancient tradition must have 
been like. 

So, while this oldest emblem of Ireland is still 
very much apparent - even to appearing on the 
Guinness label - most of the ancient airs and 
melodies it once produced are long gone. Perhaps 
the first verse of a famous poem by Thomas Moore 
says it best:

 The harp that once through Tara's halls
 The soul of music shed,
 Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls,
 as if that soul were fled.
 So sleeps the pride of former days,
 So glory's thrill is o'er,
 And hearts that once beat high for praise,
 Now feel that pulse no more.  

Bridget Haggerty

About the Author: Bridget Haggerty is the author 
of 'The Traditional Irish Wedding' - see here:


https://www.ireland-information.com/articles/irishweddingtraditions.htm

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TWO WISHES OF IRELAND
======================

Back in the Seventies, when I was in my twenties, 
I journeyed to County Galway with my mother. We 
were going to visit with my friend who lived 
there, and also go visit her aunt in London. We 
had round trip tickets that would give us two 
weeks of adventure!

Unfortunately, our luggage went on to Dublin 
without us, and I became sick by the second day 
there. It turned out I had mononucleosis and we 
wound up returning home to the U.S. by the 4th 
day.  

However... what I saw of Ireland was absolutely 
beautiful, and I loved the friendly nature of the 
people, just as I expected I would. In those days, 
I used to go with that same friend, Carmel, to 
the Red Mill in The Bronx, New York, to dance to 
the Irish music. Carmel had been here in the U.S. 
on a visitor's visa for a while.   

Anyway, I still hope, one day, to return to 
Ireland and finish up my visit!

Kimberly Reilly

===

I grew up in a Mill Village here in the US that 
took it's name sake from Ireland. The name of the 
village was Newry. The man that named the village 
was William Ashmead Courtney. He also had a 
mansion called 'Innisfallen' after his childhood 
home in Ireland.

Also, in 1993 we had our Centinnel celebration 
and the Mayor from Ireland came for a visit. It 
was held all week long but the Mayor only got to 
come for a day as he was busy doing other things 
too. But, it was enjoyable and I did get to shake 
hands with a true Irishman!

My husband is of Irish decent, on both his 
mother's and father's sides of the family. So 
maybe one day I'll get to visit the beautiful 
and historical land of Ireland!

Henrietta

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A SONG FOR DUBLIN 		By James Rogers
=================

I wrote and recorded a song about Dublin, I was on 
holidays there in Sep/Oct after 37 years overseas. 
The old girl looked beautiful in places. I'd forgot 
how much I loved the place.

Spent a few nights in the Aussie pub in Parnell 
Street, hated the traffic gridlock, you end up 
paying twice the taxi fare, city centre to 
Finglas, 22 euro? Airport to Finglas 24 euro, a 
rip off!

I spied Bertie's tower of Babylon, 
reaching up to the sky, standing at the base, 
I did lend an ear, 
but not one Dublin accent, did I hear! 
So there I was, standing on the ha'penny 
bridge and clinging to the rail, 
people passing to and fro, 
their eyes could not see me, 
I was just an invisible tourist 
from a land far across the sea. 

I stood outside 78 Dorset Street, 
my mind wandered back to the forties, 
I thought, if these steps were a time machine, 
they could take me back today, 
to the Dublin of my childhood and 
the games I use to play. 
The meros gone and so is me youth, 
they blew down the pillar, I tell you the truth. 
Dublin you're my day and night, 
you nourished me in my early life, 
you're the memories that haunt my aging soul, 
your distant voice calls me back to stay, 
but i always say wait one more day and 
I'll return to walk your streets again.

James Rogers

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WHOSE GUILT IS THIS? 	by Delamary Wilkinson
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The verdict was given. The sentence passed.
Seven children, some sobbing,
Some with spirits broken, 
but most defiant, stoic, calm.
With hatred in their hearts,
Dragged down the narrow steps
To the prison yard below.
Tied one by one to the whipping stand
Scourged by twenty brutal lashes.
Then in chains herded into the gaol
For one month of hard labour.
There was no justice, no pity, no compassion.
They were children! Starving children!
The youngest barely ten, 
the oldest just sixteen.
What horrible crime was theirs? 
'Rooting for potatoes!'
In those terrible Irish Famine Times, 
the Autumn of 1849.
Barefoot, ragged, haunted eyes.
Skeletons like starving crows.

It is rightly said: 
'Justice is a fickle thing.
One law for the common man.
One law for the king!'
Whose is the guilt?  Whose is the pain?
Whose is the blame? Whose is the shame?
Where was Justice that day?
In God's name!
They were children!
Starving children!

Delamary Wilkinson

(Based on an article in the 1996 issue of the 
yearly 'Leitrim Guardian' citing the  records 
for Carrick-on-Shannon Gaol, 
Autumn, 1849. 
(C) M.W. May 17, 2006.)

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where you can get great Irish gifts, prints, 
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GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
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PHRASE:		Eist moran agus can beagan!
PRONOUNCED:	aisht more-on og-us con byug-on
MEANING:		Hear much and say little!

PHRASE:		De reir a cheile a thogtar na caisleain!
PRONOUNCED:	deh rare ah kay-lee a hug-tar nah cosh-lawn
MEANING:		It takes time to build castles!

PHRASE:		Is minic a gheibhean beal oscailt diog dunta!
PRONOUNCED:	iss minick ah gav-awnn bail os-kuly dee-ug doon-ta
MEANING:		An open mouth often catches a closed fist!

View the archive of phrases here:

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

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JANUARY COMPETITION RESULT
===========================

The winner was: gmcglaughlin075@c2kni.net
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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