The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter
    July 1999


    The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland

    HOME - Click Here for free information from Ireland

    Click here to contact us
    Copyright (C) 1999
    Happy Summertime from Ireland!
    
    For once Ireland is actually getting some decent sunshine
    for more than a day at a time. It has been great here
    for weeks - most unusual.
    
    Well, I have a terrific freebie for you this time - and a
    bit of news about the site. We have teamed up with another
    Irish-based site to offer a 'shopping' element to The
    Information about Ireland Site. This is something that was
    often requested and was badly missing - but no more! Have
    a visit and help to keep us alive.
    
    The freebie in question is a customisable 'Startpage' and
    is our challenge to the dominance of Microsoft and Netscape.
    Give it a try - its free!
    
    Got something to say? Why don't you submit an article for
    inclusion in the next edition? Email to:
    
    newsletterarticle@ireland-information.com
    
    As always, if I can be of any assistance to you please send
    me an email and I will do my best to help. 
    
    All the very best,
    (from an 'I can't believe it is over 80 degrees' Dublin),
    
    Michael.
    
    This newsletter is available on-line at:
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com/jul99.htm
    PLEASE DO: Feel free to forward this newsletter in its
    entirety to anyone you think might be interested. Drop me a
    line if you have any queries - I love getting feedback.
    
    If you must unsubscribe then go here:
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com/newsletter.htm
    ......but you'll be missing out!
    
    In this issue:-
    ~~~~~ New free resources at the site
    ~~~~~ News Snaps from Ireland
    ~~~~~ Irish Heraldic Charges - Part I
    ~~~~~ 'Charles Stewart Parnell' by Sean McCready
    ~~~~~ Monthly free competition result
    ~~~~~ Recommended
    
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    FORMER TAOISEACH TO GO TO TRIAL:
    
    In yet more bad news for the former Taoiseach, Charles
    Haughey, it has been decided that there is enough evidence
    to justify a charge of obstruction by the former Fianna
    Fail leader regarding his evidence to the McCracken
    Tribunal. This tribunal was set up to investigate payments
    made to Mr. Haughey by Ben Dunne, the head of the major
    retailing chain, Dunnes Stores.
    
    NORTHERN PEACE TALKS GO INTO 'REVIEW':
    
    In a major blow to the peace initiative in Northern
    Ireland the Good Friday Agreement has been put into
    'review'. This follows the Ulster Unionists refusal to
    form an assembly with Sinn Fein in it and was followed by
    the resignation of the Deputy First Minister - Seamus Mallon.
    
    The Unionists want the weapons destroyed by the IRA before
    any Assembly can be established. Sinn Fein have maintained
    that they cannot deliver this and that the terms of the Good
    Friday agreement do not require it.
    
    Tony Blair and Bertie Ahearn had attempted a compromise by
    stating that an Assembly will be formed and that full
    demilitarisation should commence by next year.
    
    IRISH POVERTY RATE AMONG THE HIGHEST
    
    The United Nations Human Development Report has indicated 
    that Ireland has the second highest poverty rate among
    seventeen Western nations surveyed.
    
    Over 15% of the population live in what is described as
    'human poverty'. Despite this, the report showed that
    Ireland is still one of the most desirable places in
    the World to live.
    
    The United States topped the Poverty index with 16.5%
    in poverty, followed by Ireland with 15.3% and Britain
    with 15.1%. 
    
    The report also revealed that Ireland has the lowest
    murder rate among Western countries and the lowest rate
    of recorded rapes. 
    
    TELECOM SHARES FLOATED
    
    Amid much fanfare the long awaited sell-off of the 
    Governments silverware finally took place with the sale
    of the national Telecommunications Company, Telecom Eireann.
    
    The sale witnessed unprecedented public interest with
    thousands of people borrowing heavily to invest in the 
    shares. Initial appreciation of the stock has provided a
    gain of between 12% and 18%.
    
    SPORT SNAPS: 
    
    Soccer: Irish international soccer team is fined by UEFA
    and ordered to play the match against Yugoslavia that was
    recently postponed. No points were docked from the Irish.
    
    Motor-Racing: The Jordan motor-racing team has gone from
    strength to strength this year with both drivers finishing
    in the top 5 in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
    Eddie Jordans team are now placed third in the Constructors
    Championship in what is very unchartered territory for an
    Irish motor-racing concern.
    
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    IRISH HERALDIC CHARGES - PART I
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    The Gallery of Irish Coats of Arms is expanding rapidly
    at the site and can be viewed at:
    
    http://www.ireland-infromation.com/heraldichall/gm.htm
    
    It is often asked if the individual images or charges that
    appear on the coats of arms mean anything. The answer is
    that they most certainly do! Find below a number of the
    most commonly found charges and their meanings.
    
    
    Axe 		A symbol of military duty
    Example:	McNally
    
    Crescent 	Signifies one who has been enlightened by
    		royalty and who is expectant of higher glory
    Example:	Duggan, Chapman, Carson, Breen
    
    Crown 		Royal or spiritual authority
    Example:	Ward, Keegan
    
    Chains 		A mark of honour, symbols of obligation or duty
    Example:	Kelly
    
    Fruit		Signify peace and freedom
    Example:	O'Beirne, Donnellan, Flanagan
    
    Helmet 		Security and defence
    Example:	Kennedy
    
    Red Rose 	Beauty and grace
    Example:	Knight, Agnew
    
    Sword: 		Military honour and virtue
    Example:	Davoran, Deasy, Maher, Quinn
    
    Tower/Castle 	Grandeur and society
    Example:	Kelly, Redmond
    
    Boar 		A ferocious looking animal which symbolises
    		a fierce combative nature and is a charge of
    		the warrior class.
    Example:	Doran, McCann, O'Hanlon
    
    Boars head 	Designates hospitality.
    Example:	Gordon, Nesbitt, Evans
    
    Griffin 	This creature has the head, wings and talons
    		of an eagle but the body of a lion. It
    		symbolises extreme bravery, especially among
    		warriors and may also signify vigilance
    Example:	McManus, Hanratty
    
    Fish 		This is used to denote royalty and is one
    		of the most superior of royal charges,
    		often preferred above beasts and birds.
    Example:	O'Neill, Kane, McCabe
    
    Fox		As might be expected, the use of this charge
    		denotes a degree of cunning, and an
    		expectation that the bearer will use wisdom,
    		wit and astuteness in its defence.
    Example:	Callaghan, Duane
    
    Hares/Rabbits	Known as 'conies' these charges depict a
    		nature that prefers a harmonious and
    		peaceful existence.
    Example:	Gaffney
    
    Snake		A symbol of wisdom
    Example:	Donovan, O'Dea, Hayes
    
    Stag		This is a symbol of skillfulness, adroitness
    		or of a love of harmony.
    Example:	Cullinan, O'Connell, McCarthy, Green
    
    Talbot/Greyhound Signifying Vigilance, devotion, courage
    		 and loyalty.
    Example:	 Allen, Flynn
    
    
    Get the custom made Screensaver that features YOUR family
    name and coat of arms at:
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com/sitemap.htm#shop
    
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    CHARLES STEWART PARNELL			by Sean McCready
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    The Great Famine of 1845 to 1849 left over 1 million dead
    with a further 1 million emigrating over the following 10
    years. One of the effects of the disaster was to
    demonstrate to ordinary Irish people that the English
    Government had failed them in their time of need and
    that they must seize control of their own destiny.
    
    Out of the Famine grew several revolutionary movements
    which culminated in the 1916 Easter Rising. In the
    second half of the nineteenth century the main concern
    of the Irish people was their land and the fact that
    they had no control whatsoever over it ownership.
    
    Charles Stewart Parnell was the son of a Protestant
    landowner who organised the rural masses into agitation
    against the ruling Landlord class to seek the 3 Fs:
    Fixity of Tenure, Freedom to Sell and Fair Rent.
    
    Violence flared in the countryside but Parnell preferred
    to use parliamentary means to achieve his objectives and
    the result was a series of Land Acts which greatly improved
    the conditions under which the Irish agricultural class
    toiled.
    
    Parnell's main ambition was Home Rule for Ireland (local
    Government) and he led the Irish Party, deposing Isaac
    Butt in the process to achieve this aim. He and colleagues
    such as Joseph Biggar made a science out of 'fillibustering'
    and delayed the English parliament by introducing amendments
    to every clause of every Bill and then discussing each aspect
    at length. His popularity in Ireland soared to great heights.
    
    Trouble loomed for Parnell however, in his private life. He
    had secretly courted a married woman, Kathleen O'Shea, the
    husband of whom filed for divorce, naming Parnell as the
    co-repsondent. He tried to ignore the scandal and continued
    his public life. Public pressure in Ireland and from
    Gladstone in England eventually brought his downfall and he
    died shortly afterwards, in 1891. The Home Rule Bill that
    he had forced Gladstone into introducing was passed in the
    House of Commons, but defeated in the House of Lords.
    
    In his last speech in Kilkenny in 1891 he said: 'I don’t
    pretend that I had not moments of trial and of temptation,
    but I do claim that never in thought, word, or deed, have
    I been false to the trust which Irishmen have confided in me'.
    
    But perhaps he will be most remembered for the quotation
    that can be found on his statue at the junction of O'Connell
    Street and Parnell Street in Dublin City Centre:
    
    'No man shall have the right to fix the boundary to the
    march of a Nation'.
    
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    SUPPORT THE INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND SITE
    HELP US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE RESOURCES BY TAKING
    ADVANTAGE OF THESE SPECIAL OFFERS
    
    * Get our 2 new Screensavers that features Irish Postage
    Stamps and Irish Pubs. Only US$6 each.
    
    * Get our Screensaver that features famous Irish authors
    from the past (Yeats, Behan, Swift, Beckett and the rest are
    all featured). Only US$8.
    
    * Why not send someone a super Irish family name
    Screensaver: Kelly, Murphy, Sullivan.... over 750 names now
    available
    
    * Irish History Prints with genuine Irish postage stamps,
    from US$10
    
    * Report: How to start the search for your Irish roots, only
    US$6
    
    * Tourist Report: Ireland, 100 Places to See, 500 Places to
    Stay, Only US$8
    
    To avail of these special offers simply visit the link below
    (and thanks for supporting us!):
    
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com/sitemap.htm#shop
    
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    JULY COMPETITION RESULT
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    The winner was: marciep@u.washington.edu
    who will receive the following:
    
    Our new Irish Authors Screensaver
    AND
    Our new Irish Postage Stamps Screensaver
    AND
    Our 'How to start the search for your Irish roots' Report
    
    Well Done! Remember that all subscribers to this newsletter
    are automatically entered into the competition every time. 
    
    
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø
    
    
    I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.
    Please keep the feedback coming!
    
    Until the next time,
    
    Stay Safe,
    
    Michael Green,
    Editor,
    The Information about Ireland Site.
    
    
    https://www.ireland-information.com
    
    mailto:michael@ireland-information.com