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			IN THIS ISSUE
~~~~~ Foreword
~~~~~ Keep us Free!
~~~~~ New Free resources at the site
~~~~~ News Snaps from Ireland
~~~~~ The Life of Saint Patrick
~~~~~ Smilin' Irish-American Eyes in Savannah  by Suzie Covington 
~~~~~ Irish Quotations of the Month
~~~~~ With love to my Ancestors 	       by Leonie Roach
~~~~~ Irish Film Review: The Quiet Man      by Dawn Hayden
~~~~~ Grace Connor			       by Letitia MacLintock
~~~~~ Gaelic Phrases of the Month
~~~~~ Readers Noticeboard
~~~~~ Shamrock Site of the Month: Armagh Planetarium
~~~~~ Searcher Site of the Month: Genealogy Detective
~~~~~ Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
~~~~~~~~

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

Lets get straight to the point - we have a great free resource 
this month: Lyrics AND Music to 74 of the best traditional 
Irish songs. Print them off and use them at your Saint 
Patrick's day party! See below.

It is a real shame that the Saint Patrick's day parade in 
Dublin has been cancelled because of the Foot and Mouth animal 
disease (see the News Snaps below) but then again, it never 
rains in the pub.

Enough said - this is a packed issue and time is getting on. 
Come on then - let's get to it!

BEANNACHTAI NA LAE FEILE PADRAIG!

Michael.


PLEASE - send this newsletter on to your friend's 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? Email to:	
 
newsletterarticle@ireland-information.com

This newsletter is available on-line at:
 
https://www.ireland-information.com/mar01.htm

The only way that you could have been subscribed to this
newsletter is by filling out a subscription form at the site
whereupon a confirmation notice would have been issued.

If you wish to unsubscribe then go here:
 
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KEEP US ALIVE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can help us to continue supplying free resources and
information from Ireland by signing up to receive more 
great free information:

 https://www.ireland-information.com/list.html

...or send someone a Saint Patrick's day gift by going here:

	         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
		https://www.irishnation.com
	         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IRISH MUSIC: FREE SONGS AND LYRICS

We are now showcasing a major new free resource at the site. 
You can view the lyrics to 74 of Ireland's most popular 
traditional, drinking and folk songs AND you can listen to 
the music online too.

The music tune is supplied in MIDI files that are easily 
understood by the majority of Internet Browsers so:

* Make sure that your PC speakers are connected and working
* Turn the Volume up
* Select the song you want 
* All together now....
	'in Dublin's fair city 
	 where the girl's are so pretty, 
	 I first set my eyes on 
	 sweet Molloy Malone...'

There's More!!!!

You can download ALL of the Music files and ALL of the 
Lyrics onto your PC in the form of a free 'ebook' that you 
can print off and keep forever! You can even send the ebook 
to your friends and relatives or offer it at your website.

ALL COMPLETELY FREE!

Here are some of the songs available:

* Amhran na bhFiann (the Irish National Anthem)
* She Moved Through the Fair 
 (Julia Roberts sang this in the film 'Michael Collins')
* Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
* Black is the Colour (of my true love's hair)
* An Irish Lullaby 
  (Barney Gumble sang this in 'The Simpsons')
* Cockles and Mussels (alive-alive-oh!)
* Erin Go Bragh
* I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen
* Rocky Road to Dublin
* The Fields of Athenry
* The Rose of Tralee
* When Irish Eyes are Smiling
* Whiskey in the Jar (Thin Lizzy classic)

........and over 60 more!

View and Listen here:

https://www.ireland-information.com/irishmusic/irishsongs-music-lyrics-midis.htm

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 10 coats of arms images and family history
details have been added to the Gallery:

A: Austin
C: McCaffrey
F: Foster, Foran
L: Leming
M: Manning
Q: McQuillan
R: Reed, Russell
W: McWilliams

View the Gallery here:

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

We now have over 20,000 worldwide names available.
Get the Coat of Arms Print, Screensaver, Watch, T-Shirt
Transfer, Clock or Claddagh Ring for your name at:

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

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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE DISASTER

It could be worse, and it will be a lot worse if a case of 
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is found in the Republic. So 
far over 230 cases of the animal disease have been found in 
England with one case in each of Northern Ireland and 
France. A ring of steel has been established along the 
Northern Ireland border with Garda and Civil Defence manning 
the border crossings to ensure that no cattle, sheep or 
horses are moved South.

Already a complete ban on all animal movement has been 
imposed in Ireland and a multitude of sports and social 
gatherings have been cancelled. The annual Saint Patrick's 
Day parade in Dublin has been cancelled in a move which 
has seen tourism chiefs wonder if the Government is 
over-reacting. The Cheltenham annual racing festival in 
England has similarly been postponed whilst Ireland's good 
start in the Six-Nations Rugby tournament may have been in 
vain as their participation in the tournament is in question 
following the postponement of the most recent fixture with 
England.

The measures taken by the Government seem to many to be a 
case of window dressing. Every week over 10,000 people 
travel from Ireland by air and boat in and out of Britain 
and the only measure imposed on them is to have them walk on 
a disinfectant mat! The devastation that is being imposed 
on the Irish tourist industry is getting worse.

An easing of the restrictions is on the cards especially 
since not one case of FMD has yet been found here, but the 
Agriculture Minister, Joe Walshe, has said that the 
restrictions will not be completely lifted until a full 30 
days after the final case has been confirmed in Britain. 

There have been criticisms of the manner in which the 
British Government is handling the epidemic there. 
Agriculture accounts for only 1% of the British Economy 
whereas it accounts for more than 10% of the Irish economy, 
a similar figure to that which Tourism contributes here. 
The French are Europe's largest agricultural provider so 
the discovery of the first case there has done nothing to 
improve the permanently fragile Anglo-French relations.

The United States, and 90 other non-EU countries worldwide, 
has banned livestock and raw meat imports from the European 
Union. The majority of Irish food imports have escaped the 
ban however, especially the likes of confectionery and 
processed foods. Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahearn is to meet 
with President Bush and will assure him of Ireland's 
continued 'FMD-free' status. The fact that all EU countries 
have had their produce banned by over 90 other countries 
seems to many to be excessive especially since FMD is 
confined to only two member states in the EU.

As for the disease itself, there are fears that a second 
outbreak could be on the way in Britain if the authorities 
there do not get to grips with the issue. Already there 
have been problems disposing of the hundreds of thousands 
of carcasses of animals that have been slaughtered as a 
precaution to prevent the spread of this devastating animal 
plague.

IRISH TEACHERS CONTINUE STRIKE ACTION

An Irish Teachers union is seeking a 30% pay hike that has 
been refused by the government. The Teachers have already 
gone on one-day strikes and the dispute looks certain to 
escalate as the Government refuses to break the terms of 
the recently negotiated pay deal.

The national state examinations are now under severe 
pressure as both sides 'dig-in'.

TECH WORRIES HIT IRELAND

Technology giant Intel has shown a further indication of 
how reliant Ireland is on foreign investment when it 
announced that it would be halting development of a US$2BN 
extension to its major plant in Leixlip, in County Kildare.

Intel recently issued a profits warning to the USSEC stating 
that it would be cutting 5000 jobs worldwide. Ireland is 
unlikely to escape its share of the losses.

IRA RESUME TALKS WITH DECOMMISSIONING BODY

The IRA has issued a statement that it intends to resume 
talks with the decommissioning body chaired by General John 
de Chastelain. This is the body that was established to 
facilitate the 'putting beyond use' of the weaponry of the 
IRA and the Loyalist paramilitary organisations.

Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahearn has welcomed the move but the 
Unionist's led by David Thrimble are more sceptical and have 
maintained their ban on Sinn Fein participation in the 
'cross-border' meetings.

President Bush has nominated millionaire businessman Richard 
Egan, founder of EMC Inc., to be the next US Ambassador to 
Ireland.

BRITISH BASED BLOOD DONORS BANNED

In a move to prevent the spread of variant CJD (vCJD), which 
is the human form of 'mad cow' disease, the Irish Blood 
Transfusion Service has banned contributions from anyone who 
has continually lived in Britain between 1980 and 1996. This 
ban will result in a loss of 12% of donors to the Board and 
will thus have a very serious effect on the blood supply 
Ireland.

IRISH SOCCER STADIUM IS SCRAPPED!

The battle between the Football Association of Ireland and 
the Irish Government is over. The proposed 'Eircom Park' 
Irish soccer stadium has been abandoned in favour of 
'Stadium Ireland' (or the 'Bertie-dome' as some critics 
like to call it).

Bertie Ahearn's Government dangled a very large financial 
carrot in front of the FAI and in the end they deserted 
their supremo Bernard O'Byrne, who was the motivating 
force behind the soccer stadium.

The new national stadium will be built in Abbotstown with 
the FAI as chief tenants.

BALLYKISSANGEL IS AXED

Another rural Irish drama is set for the chop. Hot on the 
heels of the demise of the long running Irish soap Glenroe 
comes the news that the BBC series Ballykissangel is to be 
discontinued. The sixth series has just been completed and 
includes some episodes with Irish actor Mick Lally who had 
just joined the series after finding himself unemployed 
after Glenroe was shelved.

The series was set in Avoca in County Wicklow and offered a 
gentle and sometimes stereotyped view of rural Ireland. 
Perhaps this explains why the series was much more popular 
in England and America than ever it was in Ireland.

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PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:

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THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Patron Saint of Ireland was born into either a Scottish 
or English family in the fourth century. He was captured as 
a teenager by Niall of the Nine Hostages who was to become 
a King of all Ireland.

He was sold into slavery in Ireland and put to work as a 
shepherd. He worked in terrible conditions for six years 
drawing comfort in the Christian faith that so many of his 
people had abandoned under Roman rule.

Patrick had a dream that encouraged him to flee his 
captivity and to head South where a ship was to be waiting 
for him. He traveled over 200 miles from his Northern 
captivity to Wexford town where, sure enough, a ship was 
waiting to enable his escape.

Upon arrival in England he was captured by brigands and 
returned to slavery. He escaped after two months and spent 
the next seven years traveling Europe seeking his destiny.

During this time he furthered his education and studied 
Christianity in the Lerin Monastery in France. He returned 
to England as a priest. Again a dream greatly influenced 
him when he became convinced that the Irish people were 
calling out to him to return to the land of his servitude.

He went to the Monastery in Auxerre where it was decided 
that a mission should be sent to Ireland. Patrick was not 
selected for this task to his great disappointment. The monk 
that was selected was called Paladius, but he died before 
he could reach Ireland and a second mission was decided upon.

Patrick was made a Bishop by Pope Celestine in the year 432 
and, together with a small band of followers, he traveled 
to Ireland to commence the conversion.

Patrick confronted the most powerful man in Ireland, 
Laoghaire, The High King of Tara, as he knew that if he could 
gain his support that he would be safe to spread the word 
throughout Ireland. To get his attention Patrick and his 
followers lit a huge fire to mark the commencement of Spring. 
Tradition had it that no fire was to be lit until the Kings 
fire was complete, but Patrick defied this rule and courted 
the confrontation with the King.

The King rushed into action and traveled with the intention 
of making war on the holy delegation. Patrick calmed the 
King and with quiet composure impressed the King that he had 
no other intention than that of spreading the word of the 
Gospel. The King accepted the missionary, much to the dismay 
of the Druids who feared for their own power and position in 
the face of this new threat. They commanded that he make snow 
fall. Patrick declined to do so stating that this was Gods 
work. Immediately it began to snow, only stopping when 
Patrick blessed himself.

Still trying to convince the King of his religion Patrick 
grasped at some Shamrock growing on the ground. He explained 
that there was but one stem on the plant, but three branches 
of the leaf, representing the Blessed Trinity. The King was 
impressed with his sincerity and granted him permission to 
spread the word of his faith, although he did not convert to 
Christianity himself.

Patrick and his followers were free to spread their faith 
throughout Ireland and did so to great effect. He drove 
paganism (symbolised by the snake) from the lands of Eireann. 

Patrick was tempted by the Devil whilst on a pilgrimage at 
Croagh Patrick. For his refusal to be tempted, God rewarded 
him with a wish. Patrick asked that the Irish be spared the 
horror of Judgment Day and that he himself be allowed to 
judge his flock. Thus, the legend that Ireland will 
disappear under a sea of water seven years before the final 
judgment, was born.

Patrick died on March 17th in the year 461 at the age of 76. 
It is not known for sure where his remains were laid 
although Downpatrick in County Down in the North of Ireland 
is thought to be his final resting place.

His influence is still felt to this day as Nations the world 
over commemorate him on March 17th of every year.

~~~

Saint Patrick screensavers, pictures to color and more can 
be found here:

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

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SMILIN' IRISH-AMERICAN EYES IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
                    by Suzie (Roberts-Creech) Covington

What is it about those Irish genes anyway? No matter where 
we may move we always remember the Motherland and think of 
ourselves as dual citizens with enormous pride.

Edna O'Brien, author of 'Mother Ireland', says Ireland 'is
a place and a people that one can leave, but never leave
behind' and I agree wholeheartedly. I myself have never
had the honor of returning to the place of my ancestors, 
though I hope to someday, but even if I never return, that 
will not deter me one iota of the pride I take in my Irish 
heritage. 

In America, St Patrick's Day is a wonderful opportunity for 
Irish-Americans (and even wannabes) to celebrate our ties 
to the Motherland. As a previous article here stated, many 
Southerners have an Irish heritage. Savannah's celebrations 
of St. Patrick's Day and Irish heritage dates back to 1813 
with the formation of the Hibernian Society, the oldest Irish
society in the U.S. The annual parade, scheduled for March 
17th, is the second-largest in the country.

The 3-day St. Patrick's Day Festival on the River, March 
16-18, is expected to draw 300,000 to 500,000 people. 
'Promoting Irish heritage, preserving Irish culture and 
traditions, and educating people of the significant 
accomplishments of our Irish ancestors' became the mission 
statement of the Savannah Irish Festival. Activities include 
live music and entertainment, food and drink, shopping and 
children's activities. 

And what is it about those Irish genes? Actually, I think 
I can answer that. It's the ability to get back up when 
you've been kicked down, it's the living done with grace, 
it's the charm, it's the music, it's the magic, and it's 
the sparkle in the Irish eyes that is a reflection of the 
smile in the Irish soul. It's what we have in common and 
what we celebrate.

www.savannah-visit.com
www.savannahirish.org
stpats.savannahnow.com

Suzie (Roberts-Creech) Covington
suzcov@herwire.com

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IRISH QUOTATIONS OF THE MONTH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	An Irishman's heart is nothing but his imagination.

George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950 'John Bull's Other Island'

	A people without a language of its own is only half 
	a nation. To lose your native tongue and learn that 
	of an alien, is the worst badge of conquest - it is 
	the chain on the soul.

Thomas Davis 1814-45 'The National Language'

	Every man desires to live long 
	but no man would be old.

Jonathan Swift 1667-1745 'Thoughts on Various Subjects'	

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WITH LOVE TO MY ANCESTORS 		by Leonie Roach
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A verse I learnt at school 50 years ago:

~~~

Have you ever heard the story of how Ireland got it's name?
If you haven't well I'll tell from whence old Ireland came.

No wonder that we're proud of that dear land across the sea.
For here's the way me dear old mother told the tale to me.

Sure a little bit of heaven fell from out the sky one day.
And nestled in the ocean in a spot so far away.

And when the Angels found it, sure it looked so sweet and fair,
They said 'suppose we leave it for it looks so peaceful there.'

So they sprinkled it with stardust just to make the shamrocks grow,
'tis the only place you'll find them, no matter where you go.

Then they dotted it with silver to make it's lakes so grand.
And when they had it finished sure they called it 'Ireland' 
  
~~~
	I love this verse so very much and often repeat it 
	and think of my courageous ancestors who made that 
	perilous journey to Australia 156 years ago.

Leonie Roach, Grafton, NSW, Australia.

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IRISH MOVIE REVIEW: THE QUIET MAN	      by Dawn Hayden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quite simply put, 'The Quiet Man' is a classic.

That is not to say that everyone is obliged to like it but 
at the same time it is easy enough to find plenty to like.

This film is set in rural Ireland and was filmed in the 
depths of Connemara. Sean Thornton is a returning emigrant 
who had previously been a boxer. He is haunted by his last 
fight when his opponent had died at his hands. He longs to 
return to the place of his birth and eventually fulfils the 
dream of countless generations when he restores his old 
family thatched cottage to pristine condition and soon 
settles down to his new life.

Romance soon blossoms in the form of Mary Kate Danaher who 
is every bit the image of Irish red-headed fierce-tempered 
feistiness that is typical of so many Irish women to this 
very day.

Trouble brews when the issue of a 'dowry' divides the couple 
who ultimately reconcile after the grandstand fight scene 
which stretches over several acres.

There are some memorable comic scenes in this film provided 
mainly by the village matchmaker, played by Barry Fitzgerald. 
The relationship between the Catholic and Protestant churches 
in the village is made light off. An old English gentleman 
sits easily in the bar whilst chaos reigns about him, 
oblivious to all but his newspaper! The IRA soldier is 
presented in traditional clothing, acknowledged but not 
threatening.

This may smack of stereotyping and there is a reason for 
this: They are stereotypes! The film is riddled with 
stereotypes, from the cute coniving matchmaker to the helpful 
villagers discussing the whereabouts of a man who knows the 
answer to a question but who isn't there to answer it! The 
ability of the Irish to laugh at themselves is well known 
- and it is just as well.

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara are fantastic in the lead 
roles. It is surprising the ease with which John Wayne played 
the role of 'Trooper Thornton' and Maureen O'Hara is simply 
fierce as the bride to be. 'God bless all in this house' 
her brother says as he is about to enter her new home, 
'WIPE YOUR FEET!' she barks back in reply. 

Great stuff - but be warned. This is fantasy. The reality of 
Irish rural life can be better observed in other films such 
as 'The Field' which, like 'The Quiet Man', also deals with 
the issue of money and property in Irish life. I always 
recommend to people who wax lyrical about 'The Quiet Man' that 
they simply MUST also view 'The Field' - its exact opposite, 
and yet containing the exact same characters. 

Dawn Hayden

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GRACE CONNOR			By Letitia MacLintock

Reproduced by permission from http://www.louthonline.com

Thady and Grace Connor lived on the borders of a large turf 
bog, in the parish of Clondevaddock, where they could hear 
the Atlantic surges thunder in upon the shore, and see the 
wild storms of winter sweep over the Muckish mountain, and 
his rugged neighbors. Even in summer the cabin by the bog 
was dull and dreary enough.

Thady Connor worked in the fields, and Grace made a 
livelihood as a peddler, carrying a basket of remnants of 
cloth, calico, drugget, and frieze about the country. The 
people rarely visited any large town, and found it 
convenient to buy from Grace, who was welcomed in many a 
lonely house, where a table was hastily cleared, that she 
might display her wares. Being considered a very honest 
woman, she was frequently entrusted with commission to the 
shops in Letterkenny and Ramelton.  As she set out towards 
home, her basket was generally laden with little gifts for 
her children.

'Grace, dear,' would one of the kind housewives say, 
'here’s a farrel of oaten cake, wi’ a taste o’ butter on it, 
tak’ it wi’ you for the weans' or, 'Here’s a half-a-dozen 
of eggs; you’ve a big family to support.'

Small Connors of all ages crowded round the weary mother, 
to rifle her basket of these gifts. But her thrifty, hard 
life came suddenly to an end.  She died after an illness of 
a few hours, and was waked and buried as handsomely as Thady 
could afford.

Thady was in bed the night after the funeral, and the fire 
still burned brightly, when he saw his departed wife cross 
the room and bend over the cradle. Terrified, he muttered 
rapid prayers, covered his face with the blanket, and on 
looking up again the appearance was gone.

Next night, he lifted the infant out of the cradle, and laid 
it behind him in the bed, hoping thus to escape his ghostly 
visitor; but Grace was presently in the room, and stretching 
over him to wrap up her child. Shrinking and shuddering, the 
poor man exclaimed, 'Grace, woman, what is it brings you 
back? What is it you want wi’ me?'

'I want naethink frae you, Thady, but to put thon wean back 
in her cradle,' replied the specter, in a tone of scorn. 
'You’re too feared for me, but my sister Rose willna be 
feared for me - tell her to meet me tomorrow evening, in 
the old wallsteads.'

Rose lived with her mother, about a mile off. But she obeyed 
her sister’s summons without the least fear, and kept the 
strange tryst in due time.

'Rose, dear,' she said, as she appeared, before her sister 
in the old wallsteads, 'my mind’s uneasy about them twa’ red 
shawls that’s in the basket. Matty Hunter and Jane Taggart 
paid me for them an’ I bought them wi’ their money, Friday 
was eight days. Gie them the shawls the morrow. An’ old Mosey 
McCorkell gied me the the price o’ a wiley coat; it’s in 
under the other things in the basket. An’ now farewell, I can 
get to my rest.'

'Grace, Grace, bide a wee minute,' cried the faithful sister, 
as the dear voice grew fainter, and the dear face began to 
fade - 'Grace, darlin! Thady? The children? One word mair!' 
but neither cries nor tears could further detain the spirit 
hastening to it’s rest!

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

PHRASE:		Cad ba mhaith leat?
PRONOUNCED:	cod buh watt lat
MEANING:		What would you like?

PHRASE:		Ba mhaith liom tae/bainne/uisce beatha/beoir
PRONOUNCED:	buh watt lum tay/bonn-ye/ishka ba-ha/bee-yore
MEANING:		I would like tea/milk/whiskey/beer

PHRASE:		Ni maith liom /bricfeasta/lon/suipear
PRONOUNCED:	knee mawt lum brick/fasta/loan/sue-pear
MEANING:		I would not like breakfast/lunch/supper

View the archive of phrases here:

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

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READERS NOTICBOARD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW KILDARE REALLY GOT ITS NAME

	editors foreword: Last month we included 
	an excellent article by Andrea Santillo about the 
	derivation of placenames but we typed in an error 
	(it was our error - not Andrea's!). We subsequently 
	received a number of emails from people living in 
	County Kildare. Of those received, here is the 
	most 'polite':

From Mary Critchley - 

I really enjoy receiving this newsletter. It's a breath of 
Irish fresh air over the Internet! Each item more 
interesting than the previous one.

However, tonight I stopped short and my eyes refused to 
believe what I was reading! Probably it is because I am a 
Kildare person that I was shocked by the mistake - or was 
it just a misprint? Cill or coill does not mean oak
forest. Cill is the ancient Irish word for Church whereas 
coill does in fact mean wood or even forest and dara means 
oak. So the correct derivation of Kildare is Cill Dara 
i.e. Church of Oak, a reference to the first church
built on the site by St Brigid. 

Ah! I do feel better having cleared my native county of 
the error imposed on it!

Keep up the good work. You are providing a wonderful 
service to us Irish living abroad. However, do be careful 
when making any references to Kildare or the county, you 
are being watched!

Mary Critchley

	editors footnote: We're sorry! - we're really sorry! 
	- please leave us alone now. We promise never to 
	annoy Kildare people again!
	Only joking, thanks to all who pointed out the error.

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SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Armagh Planetarium

Over the last month Armagh Planetarium in the North of 
Ireland has been inundated with calls enquiring about the 
'bright light in the south-western sky'. Everyone wants to 
know if it's in fact a star, or perhaps the International 
Space Station, or indeed even a UFO.

Well, it's not something from an alien world - it is an 
alien world!

The very bright object visible in the southwest after sunset 
is the neighbouring world (and only planet with a female 
name) Venus.

Every feature on Venus (mountain, valley and crater) is 
either named after a famous woman or carries a feminine 
name selected from one of the cultures of the Earth. There 
is even a crater on Venus named in honour of Lady Isabella 
Gregory (1852-1932), the Irish playwright and founder of
the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.

Armagh Planetarium opened its doors on May 1st 1968 and was 
the first Planetarium to be established in Ireland and one 
of the first in the United Kingdom.

Built on the same premises as the prestigious and 
internationally-renowned Armagh Observatory (established in 
1790 and one of the oldest functional observatories in 
Europe), the role of the Planetarium has been to provide
up-to-date information on current research in astronomy and 
Space Science.

Mario Di Maggio
Science Education Officer
Armagh Planetarium
BT61 9DB
Northern Ireland

Tel: +44-28-37-524725
Fax: +44-28-37-526187

Visit at: 

 http://www.armagh-planetarium.co.uk


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SEARCHER SITE OF THE MONTH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Genealogy Detective

Stop wasting time! Access 5000 databases. Find out anything!

Visit at:
https://www.ireland-information.com/gd.htm

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SUPPORT THE INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND SITE
HELP US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE RESOURCES

Get family crest gifts and plenty of Saint Patrick's day 
gift ideas right here:

 https://www.irishnation.com


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MARCH COMPETITION RESULT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The winner was: Andrewosullivan@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.
Please keep the feedback coming!

Until the next time,

BEST WISHES FROM IRELAND!

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

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