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  The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                  March 2008
 
The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland 
 Now received by over 50,000 people worldwide 
      http://www.ireland-information.com 
          http://www.irishnation.com
              Copyright (C) 2008  

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		IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== Write an Article - get a prize!
=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== Tourist Tip #2: Where to eat
=== The Life of Padraig Pearse
=== The Three Daughters of the King of the Sea
=== Glen Aarma by Linda Fratello 
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

Welcome to the March edition of our newsletter, 
now in its tenth year with the anniversary 
occurring this September (we promise you a 
bumper issue)!

This month we feature the second in our series 
of 'Tourist Tips' as well as a biography of the 
famous Irish rebel, Padraig Pearse. If you have an 
article, famous Irish person biography, story or 
poem please do send it in.

Until next month,

Michael

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WRITE AN ARTICLE - GET A PRIZE!
===============================

The Information about Ireland website is seeking 
original articles about Ireland or the Irish.

ALL original articles, biographies, poems and 
stories will receive a researched family crest 
print worth US$19.99 mailed to you free (see here:
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Choose a character or subject that interests you 
- once it relates to an Irish people or is about 
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Here is an example of a past biography article:
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Here is an example of an article about the links the Titanic had to Ireland;
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=======================
NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
=======================

CRACKDOWN ON DRINKING CULTURE IMMINENT

The continued increase in drink-related crime has 
prompted the Irish Government to consider tough new 
laws to handle the problem. The current legal 
drinking age is 18 but this will possibly be raised 
to 21 under new legislation being considered. 
Drinking in public places is to be curbed and 
parents who allow their children to drink and 
cause havoc may themselves be found criminally 
liable.

Ireland is consistently in the top two or three in 
surveys of alcohol consumption in Europe. While 
Irish Pubs are constantly promoted as a great 
tourist attraction the stark reality is that random 
violent crime as well as a stubbornly high 
incidence of road traffic fatalities have all been 
linked to excessive alcohol consumption. 

The alcohol limit for drivers is to be cut to 
50mg per 100 millilitres of blood and to 20mg for 
learner drivers and professional drivers. The 
current 80mg limit is the highest allowed in 
Europe.

HOUSE PRICES CONTINUE TO FALL

The latest house price survey to be published has 
shown that prices fell again by 0.8% in February, 
following on from the 0.7% fall in January. 
Nationally prices are down by 8.8% in the last 
year. While these numbers hardly represent a 
housing crash there is little doubt among 
commentators and builders alike that this is a 
major 'correction' that the housing market needed. 
Some builders have responded by slashing up to 50 
thousand euro off the price of their latest housing 
developments and have been rewarded with actual 
queues of buyers snapping up what they perceive 
as real value in the marketplace.

Those taking a more optimistic view of the market 
have pointed out that sales by auction have picked 
up greatly in recent months while estate agents 
are convinced that the penny has finally dropped 
with sellers who are reducing their asking prices 
accordingly. The second half of 2007 was marked by 
a standoff between sellers who expected 
unrealistically high prices and buyers who wanted 
to wait until the market has bottomed out. The
spectacle of builders cutting their prices and of 
buyers queueing to buy a property indicate that 
the bottom of the downturn may indeed be in sight.

MUSIC DOWNLOAD CASE TO BE HEARD IN IRISH COURT

An important legal action has been taken by 4 
record companies who want to force Eircom (the 
largest broadband service provider in Ireland) to 
prevent illegal downloads of their copyrighted 
music. Previous legal actions in Ireland have been 
aimed at the actual people who have downloaded the 
music rather than the telecoms provider whose 
service was used. Sales of music have dropped by 
30% in Ireland since 2001, a number which broadly 
mirrors the experience of other countries where 
downloading of music over the internet has really 
taken off since the turn of the century.

This case has huge implications for the use of the 
internet in Ireland as it essentially seeks to 
make the telecoms providers at least partly 
responsible for crimes committed using their 
network.

DIVIDED OPINIONS ON THE CONDITION OF THE ECONOMY

Economists and commentators are divided in Ireland 
as to the prospects for the economy. Pessimists 
are predicting GDP in the 2% range or even lower
with one particularly downbeat academic predicting 
a collapse of the Irish banking system. The more 
optimistic of the economic classes have offered 
2.5% growth in 2008 with 4.5% in 2009 as the more 
likely outcome.

It is clear that the slowdown in construction 
activity is having an effect both in terms of 
employment and government tax revenue but it 
is unclear yet if this slowdown merely constitutes 
the removal of 'excessive exuberance' or 
represents a more serious and prolonged decline. 
It is widely acknowledged that Ireland is a lot 
less exposed to the sub-prime problems being 
experienced by other major economies, but the 
imminent downturn/recession (choose your own word) 
in the US is certain to hit the Irish economy, 
especially given the big contribution that foreign 
multinationals (Google, Intel, etc.) based in 
Ireland make to the economy (as much as 8% of tax 
revenue and 90,000 employed).

The huge increase in the cost of oil (is this a 
'bubble' or a permanent feature?) and the decrease 
in the value of the US dollar relative to the Euro 
(either caused by the spike in oil prices or the 
other way around - you decide) will definitely 
damage Irish prospects. It is also unclear if all 
of the immigrants who flocked into Ireland will 
now return home or will continue to find 
employment (or perhaps stay to claim unemployment 
welfare). 

It is easy to see why even qualified experienced 
economists are finding this a difficult subject 
to predict.

DROP IN NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING IN IRELAND

Figures released by the Irish government have 
revealed that the number of people seeking a PPS 
number (similar to s Social Security Number) has 
fallen dramatically. January and February of 2007 
saw the issuing of 23,226 PPS numbers, compared 
with 14,409 in the first two months of this year. 
The largest decline has been in the number of PPSs 
issued to Romanians but the numbers issued to 
Poles, Lithuanians, Slovaks and Bulgarians have 
also fallen sharply.

The downturn in the Irish economy together with 
the an improvement in the economies of many 
eastern European countries (particularly Poland 
and Slovakia) are cited as the main reason for 
this downward trend.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

http://www.ireland-information.com/newsletterboard/wwwboard.html

==============================
NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
==============================

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 4 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

G: Graves
H: Hawthorne, Hopkins
L: Lindsay

View the Gallery here:

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THE PERFECT WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY GIFT!
We now have over 100,000 worldwide names available.
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Screensaver, Watch, T-Shirt Transfer or Clock for
your name at:

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==============================
TOURIST TIP #2: WHERE TO EAT
============================

Food and drink can be expensive in Ireland but 
like most countries there are plenty of places 
to find cheaper alternatives without sacrificing 
too much on quality.

RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS: Just like everywhere else 
there is a huge variance in the prices charged by 
restaurants depending on the type of food served 
and the 'trendiness' of the establishment. A quick 
glance at the menu posted outside most 
restaurants will give you an indication of the 
type of place inside. Ireland has a large number 
of restaurants serving foreign food with Chinese, 
Italian, and Indian being the most popular 
although practically every ethnic group is catered 
for, especially in Dublin. In general Italian 
restaurants will be more expensive than Chinese 
and Indian restaurants, considerably so in some 
cases. Dining in hotels is probably the most 
expensive option available although if you have 
booked meals as part of your accommodation charge 
then good value can be had. Some hotels have 
'pub-food' options in their bar area which can 
be relatively inexpensive.

PUBS: Dining in a pub is generally cheaper than 
in a dedicated restaurant. The development of 
the pub dining experience in recent years has 
occurred partly as a response to the ban on smoking 
in pubs which hit business hard. The result has 
been an big increase in the number of pubs 
(sometimes called Gastro-pubs) that offer really 
great quality food at affordable prices. Most 
pubs will offer the usual selections of steaks, 
burgers and chicken dishes as well as a few 
Chinese or even Indian options served with local 
vegetables. While the experience may not be as 
intimate as a restaurant and is likely to be 
noisier, it is sometimes this very hurly-burly 
that is the attraction! You might want to check 
out if there is a big sporting event being shown 
on television as a lot of pubs have big screens 
and multiple TVs dotted around their premises 
to draw in a crowd.

TAKE-AWAYS: The famous Irish 'chipper' is a an 
institution with claims that the Irish 'fish and 
chips' is simply the best in the world being 
unchallenged at the time of writing. It is ironic 
therefore that most Irish chippers are run by 
Italians! These usually offer good quality food 
at modest prices. While it is true from a health 
standing that you would not want to be eating 
'chipper' food every day, there is no doubt that 
while on vacation it can be a great treat. A lot 
of these establishments now offer pizza and even 
pasta dishes to take away. Very few have any 
seating available.

FAST-FOOD: Ireland has the usual selection of 
fast food companies such as McDonalds, Abrakebabra, 
KFC, as well as a multitude of Pizza joints. You 
probably know by now what to expect! A quick word 
of caution here though. Ireland has its share of 
drink-related crime like any other country. In 
recent years the fast-food joints that stay open 
until the small hours have become a great 
attraction for drinkers on their way home after a 
night on the town. While there is no reason to 
think that you will encounter any trouble it is 
as well to exercise a bit of extra vigilance if 
you end up in a late night eatery. Wandering 
around town centres in the small hours when the 
pubs are emptying out is not an activity to be 
recommended in any country!

GARAGES AND SHOPS: Yes the place where you fill 
up the car with petrol is now a dining option! 
The development of large garage forecourts and 
the placing of grocery stores within them is a 
recent occurrence. A lot of the larger garages 
now have seated areas and small food counters 
where hot food is served daily (sometimes 24 
hours!). If you are driving around Ireland then 
these places can certainly help the bank balance 
while offering quick simple food of good quality. 
Many larger shops and supermarkets now have 
dining areas attached. Most offer quick 'snack' 
food such as wraps, sandwiches and baguettes but 
some even offer full dinner menus.

DIY: If you have the facility to prepare your own 
food and meals then there are lots of places to 
buy your basic needs. It is difficult to 
generalise about prices but typically the larger 
supermarkets (Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Superquinn) 
will be cheaper than the smaller stores (Spar, 
Costcutters, etc.) who in turn are cheaper than 
the smallest grocery stores. In general food costs 
more in Dublin than anywhere else in the country, 
although all of the big tourist centres have 
great capacity for over-pricing their wares! If 
dining at home then it is worthwhile checking out 
the various delivery options that Chinese, Indian 
and Pizza joints offer. Most offer delivery after 
6pm with the modest delivery charge added to the 
overall price (a small gratuity to the delivery 
person is the norm).


You can get more Ireland Travel Information here:

http://www.ireland-information.com/irishtouristinformation.htm

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

==========================
THE LIFE OF PADRAIG PEARSE
==========================

Patrick Pearse was born in Dublin, on November 10, 
1879 to an English father (he was a sculptor) and 
an Irish mother. 

Pearse became interested in the heritage and 
history of Ireland at a very early age and joined 
the Gaelic League when 21 years old. The purpose 
of the league was to promote Irish tradition and 
language and it was very much part of the revival 
of Gaelic consciousness that took place at the 
turn of the century. Pearse was an enthusiastic 
member and became editor of the leagues newspaper: 
An Claidheamh Solais ('The Sword of Light'). 

Pearse tried to use knowledge and education to 
defeat the English and insisted on the use of the 
native Irish language and founded St. Enda's 
College near Dublin in 1908. St. Enda's structured 
its curriculum around Irish traditions and 
culture and tutored in both the Irish and English 
languages. 

Pearse was a pioneer of Irish writing and 
published poems, stories, articles and essays to 
further the identification of Ireland as a 
separate culture. 

The Gaelic League inevitably attracted militant 
nationalists and Pearse soon realised that it 
would take more than education and tradition to 
break the link with England. 

In July 1914, Pearse was made a member of the 
Supreme Council of the Irish Republican 
Brotherhood (IRB), a militant group that 
believed in using force to throw the British 
out of Ireland. 

When England entered the First World War Irish 
nationalism split between those who wanted to 
take advantage of England's plight and those 
(including John Redmond) who wanted to assist 
England in the war in the hope of getting 
concessions when it was over. 

John Redmond, a member of Parliament fighting 
for Home Rule, took a pro-British stance during 
the war. This alienated many Irish citizens and 
support for the Brotherhood grew. Shortly before 
1915, the Irish Republican Brotherhood had plans 
for a full military revolution in Ireland. 
Pearse was a believer in a revolution while the 
British were occupied fighting a war in Europe. 
Pearse was opposed to Redmond's stance and felt 
that the only way to liberate Ireland was by 
insurrection. His famous oration at the funeral 
of Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa (an Irish 
revolutionary) in August 1915 demonstrates this: 

'We stand at Rossa's grave not in sadness, but 
in exultation of spirit... This is a place of 
peace sacred to the dead, where men should speak 
with all charity and all restraint, but I hold it 
a Christian thing... to hate evil, to hate 
untruth, to hate oppression, and hating them to 
strive to overthrow them... while Ireland holds 
these graves, Ireland unfree, shall never be 
at peace.' 

Pearse was heavily involved with the planning of 
the 1916 Easter Rising which was the catalyst for 
the subsequent War of Independence, Civil War and 
eventual declaration of a Republic in 1949. 

The Rising failed as Pearse must have known it 
must. He was executed on May 3, 1916 with 
fourteen other rebels. 

==========================================
THE THREE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING OF THE SEA 
by Terry Flanagan
==========================================

FOREWORD: In the Folklore of Ireland and other 
maritime countries, there is a profusion of 
stories concerning seals. Possibly due to the 
fact that they come ashore and that their head, 
when seen at a distance above water, bears a
resemblance to a human head, it was said that 
they were human beings under a spell.

===

Many years ago, there was one family of Conneelys 
living in Errismore very close to the sea. They 
had one son, a fine young man. On May Day each 
year, three seals used to come ashore on a very 
big flat rock that was high above the tide.
There was a cave, five or six yards deep, at the 
back of the rock, under a cliff.

When the seals came up on the rock, each of them 
used to take off the hood that was tied about 
its neck and throw it into the cave behind them. 
As soon as they took off the hoods, they became 
the three finest women that the sun had
ever shone upon, and they would go out swimming, 
each with a golden head of hair. The third woman 
was the most beautiful of all. 

When they grew tired after swimming for two or 
three hours, they would come back on to the rock
again. Each of them would then take her own hood 
and tie it about her neck. She would become a 
seal immediately. After spending about half an 
hour on the rock, the three seals would dive 
into the sea together and disappear from sight.

Young Conneely used to watch them every May Day. 
He liked the youngest woman best of all. He was 
working in the field one day at the end of Spring 
when he met an old man who he never saw before. 
He spoke to the old man, each of them telling his 
own story. Conneely told him about the three seals 
that used to come to the rock every May Day. 

'There's one of them a lot nicer and more beautiful 
than the other two,' said he.

'I'd say that you have a liking for her,' 
said the man.

'Indeed, I have,' said Conneely.
'I'm in love with her, but I've no chance of 
ever getting her.'

'I have an idea who they are' said the man. 
'I have heard talk about them. What would you give 
to the person who would tell you the way you might 
get the one you want?'

'Oh, I'm only a poor man,' said Conneely. 
'All I could give you as a reward is my seven 
thousand blessings.'

'That's a good reward,' said the man. 'I'll tell 
you what you must do. When next May Day comes, 
hide yourself in the cave early in the morning, 
and when they throw their hoods into it, you 
must put the young seals hood inside your shirt. 
Keep the other two hoods in your hands. The
three women will be screaming and wailing, each 
of them asking for her own hood, and saying that 
their father will kill them if they aren't home 
by a certain hour. They are the three daughters 
of the King of the Sea. You mustn't give the 
youngest woman her hood, at any price, no matter
what screaming and complaining she does. Give the 
hoods to the other two. Then walk towards your 
house, and the youngest one will follow you. You 
must hide the hood in a place she'll never see it. 
If she does, you'll have finished with her.'

'You may be sure that I'll never give her the 
hood,' said Conneely. 
'I love her too much for that!'

The old man then stood up and left, and Conneely 
never laid eyes on him again. May Day came, and at 
dawn, Conneely hid himself in the cave. Soon the 
three seals came up to the rock. Each of them took 
off the hood, and threw it into the cave, and they 
were the finest women to have ever raised their 
faces to the sky. The youngest was the most
beautiful of all. When the three women jumped in 
to swim, Conneely picked up her hood and shoved it 
inside his shirt. He kept the other two in his 
hands. He waited until they came back to the rock. 
When they saw him with the hoods in his hands, 
they asked him for them, but he refused. They
started to wail at the top of their voices, saying 
that their father would kill them if they weren't 
home early in the evening. He threw her hood to 
the eldest, and to the second eldest. The two 
seals jumped into the sea together and swam off.

The youngest seal was left behind, and her cries 
could be heard for miles. He told her that he 
wouldn't give her the hood and he asked her to 
go home with him. She had no wish to, but she had 
no option but to follow him to his house. She spent 
the night there, and they got married the next
day. He hid the hood in the roof of the house, 
between the thatch and the sods. They lived 
happily together, and five sons were born to them. 
There wasn't a better worker to be found. But 
each day, when he was out at sea, fishing, she
would weep her fill.

One fine summer's day, the husband was out at sea, 
fishing, and his wife was working in the fields. 
When she looked back at the house, it was on fire. 
There were two or three other houses nearby and 
she shouted to them for help. Two or three men 
came and started throwing water on the burning 
thatch, while she stood watching them. Suddenly, a 
large clump of thatch fell down near her and in it 
was the hood. She grabbed it, tied it about her 
neck and she was immediately turned into a seal. 
She ran down to the sea and was gone.

Her five sons followed her to the shore but failed 
to find her. They returned home, crying for their 
mother. When Conneely returned home in the evening, 
the house was half burned, his wife had gone and 
the children were waiting for him. He sat down with 
them, and he too cried his fill until morning. As 
soon as the children got up in the morning, they 
went down to where they had seen their mother go 
into the sea, hoping to see her. And they did. She 
came in close to the shore where they were and 
spoke to them. And there wasn't a day that came 
during the next five years that they didn't go 
down to the sea, and she came every day and talked 
to them. When the five years were up, she told 
them that they would never see her again.

There were very few Conneelys in Errismore at 
that time. But you couldn't count all of them 
now that descended from the five sons of the 
seal-woman. That's why, to this very
day, it is said that the Conneelys are related to 
the seals.

---

The above Tale was provided by Terry Flanagan of 
the Irish Seal Sanctuary:

'Our aim is the conservation of marine mammals and in
particular seals. Seals are the enchanted people and the
Grey Seal is the world's first protected species.'

http://www.irishsealsanctuary.ie

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

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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

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==================
GLEN AARMA
by Linda  Fratello 
==================

O' Ulster village so perfectly placed 
beside the shimmering sea 
at first glance in picturesque paintings, 
rich verse, aging prints and postcards 
I was so spellbound by your natural beauty.  
 
Glen Aarma a quaint and lovely village so 
enthrallingly historic with roots Medieval
Yet another unbelievable, enduring place from 
turreted castle to Georgian cottage 
that once again so poetically defines 
'time-forgotten' Ireland to me.
 
O, Glen Aarma nestled so wonderfully and 
perfectly (like a baby in its' mother's loving 
and adoring gaze) in the star-brilliant
sapphire-blue-green curve of the Irish Sea.  
Nearby, embracing the stunning length of the 
Antrim Coast lie the winding Coastal road 
holding back the wild, fitful foam and waves!
 
Beneath the Majestic Glens rising and sweeping 
down in her timeless shamrock-and-clover-green 
patchworked quilt embrace, Medieval Churches 
and sturdy stone cottages repose on tan sands.
 
On a lone cliff, even in her jagged-grey, 
abandoned, romantic, ruins Dunluce Castle 
defiantly remains on guard 
for the Earls o' Antrim. A proud, first seat, 
equally as grand as its' successor gracing 
Glen Aarma today! Each Castle of Auld respectfully 
and magnificently never outshadowing the other! 
 
To join these silent, loyal guardians, the Glenarm 
river divides the treasured town in two, flowing 
ever near the Barbican gate, that in less tamer 
times, held back the Earls' doomed enemies 
with deadly, boiling ooze.
 
Such beauty, a rare pearl. Towering towers and 
cupolas o' auld to grace the upper Glens. Those 
sturdy, granite-brown walls that I so long to 
see and explore. So solid and steadfast like the 
MacDonalds throughout the ages. The stories and 
histories that they would tell of the lovely castle 
where they've dwelled since the Thirteenth Century!
 
To further envelope the elegant estate, lies an 
Eighteenth Century walled garden 
with modern touches.
A beautiful, blossoming blend of old and new 
Once the MacDonalds life, (for here grew the 
produce of their tables) now an ornamental delight 
Wonderful water features to enchant: 
Luscious apples, Pears and tongue-twisting, 
lettuce-green limes! Bulbs exploding into the 
richest, royal purples! Splashes of blood-red 
poppies, heaven-sent yellow and cloud-whites.
 
Fiery, lava-oranges reaching towards the brilliant 
sun. Neatly manicured hedges-some square, others 
slithering snake-like. Nearby the bold, brave 
birds of falconry flight. Tamed and trained to 
entertain and further compliment the Lovely estate. 
In summer's infancy, the modern Scottish warriors 
gather at the Highland Games to show off their 
steely strength shared with his lengendary 
ancestors.
 
I ponder too the centuries-old cemetery carefully 
cradled by the shamrock-green Glens 
Its' worn and weathered headstones marked by the 
eternal, respectful ages- Incredibly 600 years! 
Sheltering the precious dust of founding families 
long since with the LORD.
Too, the present-day families who have followed 
into eternal life-Those dear love ones ever in 
our heartfelt prayers,
Never to be forgotten. 
This is Glen Aarma, County Antrim
 
Linda Marie Fratello, 
Huntingburg, Indiana, 
March 25th, 2008  
 
================================================
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================================================

Visit: http://www.irishnation.com

where you can get great Irish gifts, prints, 
claddagh jewellery, engraved glassware and 
much more.

Wendy Walker of Columbia, Missouri got a
family crest signet ring with the Donnelly family 
crest engraved on it for her son

 Michael,
 I received by registered mail today the ring I 
 ordered for my son with the Donnelly family crest.

 I am very impressed and thrilled with the ring. 
 It is beautiful and the service I received 
 throughout the whole process of ordering and 
 receiving this unique gift has been superb. Thank 
 you for all your assistance and prompt responses 
 to my questions.

 I will most certainly order other items from you 
 and will highly recommend you.

 Thank you

 Wendy Walker

THE PERFECT WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY GIFT!

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===========================
GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
===========================

PHRASE:		Ni ceart go cur le cheile
PRONOUNCED:	knee keart guh kurr leh kay-leh
MEANING:	There is no strength without unity

PHRASE:		Ni heolas go haontios!
PRONOUNCED:	knee hyeo-luss guh hain-chiss
MEANING:	You cant know me without living with me!

PHRASE:		Olann an cat cluin bainne leis!
PRONOUNCED:	ull-onn on kot clew-in bonn-yeh lesh
MEANING:	The quiet cat also drinks milk!

View the archive of phrases here:

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

===========================
MARCH COMPETITION RESULT
===========================

The winner was: LOUISACLEARY06@EIRCOM.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 time,

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

http://www.ireland-information.com

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