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  The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                   March 2010
 
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) 2009  

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		IN THIS ISSUE

=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== Free Kids Games to Print
=== Irish Recipes and Irish Songs - free download
=== The Life of Saint Patrick
=== March 17th by JJ Leyden
=== Irish Heritage by Bonita M. Emerson
=== Saints and Skelligs by Nathan Kingerlee
=== An Alarm Clock by Pat Watson
=== Shamrock Site of the Month: celticattic.com
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! This years parade and 
festival are perhaps a little more muted than in 
recent years but the organisers have again done 
a great job. Be sure to check out the Saint 
Patrick's day downloads, kids games and 
screensavers from the links shown below.

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig!

Michael

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=======================
NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
=======================

PATRICK'S DAY EVENTS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT 650,000

Merrion Square in the heart of Dublin city has 
been closed off and turned into party-central for 
those celebrating Saint Patrick's day this year. 
Street theatre and music acts are being provided 
with the highlight of the week being the Dublin 
parade that will showcase over 2000 performers. 
Irish soccer legend Packie Bonner is this years 
grand marshall.

IRISH ECONOMY TO EXIT RECESSION THIS YEAR

The Irish employers group IBEC has predicted that 
the recession will end in Ireland later this year 
and has further predicted economic growth of 2.1% 
in 2011. IBEC reported in their latest set of 
economic forecasts that there has been an 
improvement in confidence internationally in the 
Irish economy and that the cuts in public sector 
pay and services will have the desired effect on 
government finances.

Despite this upbeat assessment it is clear that 
unemployment is going to remain stubbornly high 
in Ireland for some years to come and will 
continue to be a major drag on the economy. 

STRIKE WARS BEGIN

Management at Aer Lingus have indicated their 
seriousness about restructuring their staffing 
and productivity arrangements by sacking 230 
cabin crew staff and then offering to re-hire 
up to 75% of the staff at reduced wages and 
conditions. Staff unions had previously rejected 
managements plans to restructure the company and 
lay off 600 staff across the loss-making company. 

Irish Unions have been sabre-rattling for some time 
since the government imposed wage cuts across the 
entire pubic service. A series of 'works-to rule'
and half-day stoppages are expected to escalate 
into all-out strike action as the Unions seek to 
have the pay cuts reversed. This goal seems very 
unlikely to be achieved with the government aware 
that the vast civil and public service will receive 
very little support from private sector workers
who have suffered huge cutbacks and unemployment.

While Unions may privately acknowledge that there 
is little chance of getting the pay cuts reversed 
they surely must have one eye on the next budget 
announcement later this year with the expectation 
that yet more pay cuts may be on the cards.

Unions have entered negotiations with the 
government about the pay cuts and although hopes 
of a deal are slim it is possible that some short 
term agreement may be reached. The fact that the 
broad-ranging pay cuts have affected lower paid 
staff even more than higher paid managers is a 
continued and justified source of irritation to 
the Unions and is one area where the government 
actually has some room to manoeuvre.

The stakes are very high. If industrial 
unrest spreads throughout the economy then the 
damage to the fragile economic recovery expected 
in 2011 may have very long terms consequences.

ULSTER SAYS YES AGAIN

In another important landmark in Northern Ireland 
the parliament there has decided to vote in favour 
of devolving powers relating to policing and 
justice administration from London to the Assembly 
at Stormont. 

The Ulster Unionist Party opposed the move while 
the traditionally hard-line DUP voted in favour. 
This development certainly cements the deal made 
between the DUP and Sinn Fein, both of whom are 
considered the more extreme wings of Unionism and 
Nationalism in the north. The vote was welcomed 
by the Irish ans British governments as well as 
by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

ONLINE ARCHIVE OF IRISH HISTORICAL PHOTOS EXPANDED

The National Archive of Ireland has expanded its 
online service which allows visitors to view 
over 34,000 photographs of Ireland from the 
period 1860 to 1954. This free archive can be 
viewed at:


http://www.nli.ie/digital-photographs.aspx

View a 19th century peasant thatched cottage at:

http://digital.nli.ie/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/glassplates&CISOPTR=28693&CISOBOX=1&REC=3

View the ruins of the GPO after the Easter 1916 Rising here:

http://digital.nli.ie/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/glassplates&CISOPTR=7693&CISOBOX=1&REC=20

View Countess Markievicz addressing a political rally:

http://digital.nli.ie/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/glassplates&CISOPTR=33784&CISOBOX=1&REC=9


'BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS' BOOK OF THE DECADE

The book 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' by 
Irish author John Boyne was voted the best book 
of the last decade in a recent poll. Colm Toibin's 
'Brooklyn' was ranked in twentieth place with 
John Banville's 'The Sea' in at 44. 


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

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

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

IRELAND HOUSE-SWAP LISTING

We are working on the online program to allow you 
to freely add and view details of other people who 
are interested in this service.

You can add your home-swap details to our new free 
listing service at:

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

IRISH HOLIDAY AND TOURIST BOARD

Post a question about holidaying in Ireland 
and we guarantee an answer will be posted on 
the board.

http://www.ireland-information.com/irishholidays-irishtourist/irishtouristboard.html

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 5 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

J: Jameson
N: Neary, McNew
P: Perry, Pigott

View the Gallery here:

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

THE PERFECT WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY 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:

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

========================
FREE KIDS GAMES TO PRINT
========================

Go here to print off some simple games to teach 
kids about Ireland:


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

FIND OUT ABOUT SAINT PATRICK HERE:


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

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IRISH RECIPES AND IRISH SONGS - FREE DOWNLOAD
=============================================

IRISH RECIPES

Our free Irish Recipes electronic book is packed 
with 25 of the very best Irish Recipes to try 
out on Saint Patrick's Day. Corned beef and 
cabbage, Irish Pound Cake, Wicklow Pancakes 
- try them all!

You can download it from here:


http://www.ireland-information.com/irishrecipes/index.htm

You can send these ebooks to a friend from here:

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

IRISH SONGS

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:


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



=========================
THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK
=========================

The Patron Saint of Ireland was born into Roman 
Britain 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 then 
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 King's 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 upon him that he had no intention other
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 God's 
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:


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

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============
MARCH 17TH 
by JJ Leyden
============

March 17th, Saint Patrick's Day.
There is a gathering of family and friends.
Traditional corn beef, cabbage, and boiled potatoes.

We linger at the table and talk.
There is a catching up on news and gossip.
Drinks are shared and laughter abounds.
Old bonds are re-cemented.
There is closeness available nowhere else.

The dearly departed and their deeds are remembered.
We speak of our children and their accomplishments.
Old family stories, told time and time again,
are told once more, and relished.

A celebration of family and our Irish ethnicity.
Isn't it grand, just being part of it?
 
John Leyden
==========================
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Visit: 
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==========================

====================
IRISH HERITAGE
by Bonita M. Emerson
====================

The rain gently falls upon the emerald hill,
As drizzled sprinkles collide with sunshine,
A multi-colored spectrum rainbow appears,
Bends at both ends amongst green shamrocks.
Luck or no, to search and find that 
fabled pot of shiny gold,
Shimmering against a thatched cottage,
Next to a stoned wall fence 
of nature's earth tones.
Of myth and legend 
is the land of 'Erin go braugh',
Ireland: tis' my Celtic heritage

Bonita M. Emerson

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

===================
SAINTS AND SKELLIGS
by Nathan Kingerlee
===================

Long before Strongbow entered Ireland with his 
Welsh knights - at the invite of traitorous Irish 
king Dermot MacMurchada - the Irish were 
plundering the English and Welsh coastline.

Wild and bearded Irish warriors stalked the Irish 
Sea, landing lightning attacks on unsuspecting 
settlements and Roman villas. They would loot and 
plunder what they could, carrying women and 
children back to Ireland into marriage and 
slavery. There are stories of highly planned 
kidnap and ransom missions, with Roman family 
members being safely reunited with their families 
once huge ransoms were paid.

Like the Vikings many years later, for a time the 
Irish struck fear deep into the hearts of the 
English and Welsh, and also the Romans, who at 
the time were encamped in Britain.

It was a plundering raiding party, looking for 
slaves and wives, who carried a Roman boy back to 
Ireland into a cold life of slavery. This fourteen 
year old Roman boy, Patrickus, grew to be
Saint Patrick.

This Welsh/Roman man has been adopted by the Irish 
as one of our patron saints, responsible for 
converting single handed a land of ruthless pagans 
into devout Christians, driving snakes from our 
green and rocky shores and trademarking the 
shamrock. The story of Saint Patrick is incredible 
and tough. He's even believed to have killed 
someone, possibly a lover, during his lifetime.

In truth Christian missionaries were traveling 
Ireland's hills, forests and bogs before a newly 
ordained Patrickus returned to Ireland, having 
escaped from slavery in a row-boat several years 
earlier.

Although he wasn't the first missionary to arrive 
in Ireland, when Patrickus returned as a priest, 
he had several things in his favor. After six 
years living here he knew the land, the people, 
the customs and the language. He was able to move 
relatively unhindered around the country and 
possibly because of his Roman noble descent he 
was treated with some respect. He was also here 
just at the right time, as the country was ready 
for the bells of Christianity to toll.

The Irish pagans and druids worshipped several 
gods, including snakes. Certain groups of druids 
carried a snake tattoo emblazoned on their upper 
arm. The druids Patrickus wasn't able to convert 
(and there were many of them) he drove from 
Ireland - hence the connection with Patrickus 
driving all snakes from the country.

One of Ireland's furthermost outreaches is a 
brutally sharp protrusion of rock off the Kerry 
coast, which we now call Skellig Michael. Here 
stood the final outpost of druids and pagan 
worshipers - wild, rugged men, who called on 
many gods, threw curses across the country from 
atop of their rock and performed human sacrifices 
- or so Christianity viewed them.

To this rock Patrickus travelled, alone and wary, 
in a little currach, to face his final battle. 
Here he faced his enemies and found his match. 
Men capable of performing human sacrifices and 
surviving a tough, tough life on these rocks 
stood against the stout heart and strong staff 
of Patrickus...

For a day or more Patrickus argued and fought 
with the druids, until at last, weary, bloodied, 
dehydrated and faltering he drew together his 
final strength and called upon the archangel 
Michael to help. What happened next, whether the 
archangel Michael descended to assist, or whether 
Patrickus used his final strength, is not known, 
but he did succeed in driving the last of the 
Irish pagans off the black rock and out of Ireland 
and today this rock is known as Skellig Michael 
- The Rock of Michael.

A monastery was built on Skellig Michael, and 
hardy monks made a life of worship and survival 
for themselves from the 6th to the 12th century.

Wherever druids had settled and worshipped, the 
first Irish priests and monks would often build 
churches and monasteries in an effort to keep the 
displaced druids from returning and keep at bay 
the evil gods and spirits, whom to some extent 
were still half-believed and feared. This is 
exactly what happened on Skellig Michael, after 
being such a powerful pagan site for so long, 
there was no way Patrickus could leave it to its 
own menacing devices.

Interestingly, one of the reasons that Skellig 
Michael was abandoned in the 12th century was 
because the Roman Catholic Church feared the 
monks and holy men living in remote locations 
were becoming too connected with nature, too in 
awe of the elements around them, and slipping 
into some of the pagan ways of life - so larger, 
more central monasteries were built with a more 
formal way of holy life and worship.

The tiny village of Ballinskelligs, near 
Caherciveen, is where the monks from Skellig 
Michael were moved - Ballinskelligs meaning 
'Homestead of the Rocks'.

---

Nathan Kingerlee runs 'Outdoors Ireland' who 
provide trips and guided tours in the County 
Kerry area:
http://www.outdoorsireland.com

Easter Adventure Break in Killarney:

http://outdoorsireland.blogspot.com/2010/03/find-adventure-in-april.html

==============
AN ALARM CLOCK 
by Pat Watson
==============
                 
'This is your final warning, if you are late one 
more morning you will be dismissed.' 
That's what the stationmaster at Kings Cross 
railway station said to Timmy. 

In 1957 Timmy had come to London with another 
twenty-five thousand young Irishmen. Most of the 
others were big, strong muscular men who were 
willing and able to work as navies with Wimpeys 
or McAlpines. Timmy alas was weak, lanky, lean 
and lazy. 'Avoid hard work, you're not able for 
it,' that's what his mother always told him. In 
this he always obeyed her. That was why he 
avoided the building sites and got a job with 
British Rail. Now he was on his final warning.

He shared the digs with three Wimpies, a bed in 
each corner of the big room on the third floor. 
In the other big room across the hall were four 
big Kerry McAlpines. All eight shared the tiny 
kitchen, the radio, the banter and several pints 
each, nightly. Unfortunately Timmy's starting 
time was six am while the navies started at 
eight. Now he was on his last chance.

You need one of these alarm clocks with two bells 
on top with a little hammer that bangs over and 
back between them. Place it in a tin basin to 
double the noise-  it would waken the dead, that's 
what his friends told him. Get it today tomorrow
will be too late.

He found the clock easy enough but the basin that 
was a different thing. If you were in Mohill or 
Coothill or Summerhill you'd have no bother buying 
a tin basin but in London you won't find a tin 
basin in Harrods window or any other high street 
window for that matter. Pronouncing it 'bashin' 
wouldn't help your cause either. However he 
persisted and finally was on his way home with 
the basin wrapped in brown paper under one arm 
and the hammer clock held by its carrying handle 
in the other hand. Then he met the two Cavan 
girls, the big one and the little one, Mary and 
Mona. They lived next door. 

'Are you going to make a bomb with the clock?' 
said Mary.
'Give it to me and I'll put it inside my coat.' 
All three got on the busy tube train, Timmy sat 
in the middle, the big girl sat on his right 
and he put the basin upside down on his left to 
give the small girl a lift. When she sat the 
basin dinged a little with a plonking sound. 
Unfortunately she was suffering from severe 
hiccups, each of which was followed by a double 
plonking of the basin. It would have been worse 
if it had been the big girl as she had a smoker's 
cough. 

Opposite sat two Cockney gentlemen, drivers of 
the famous black taxis, on their way home. They 
were greatly amused by the antics of the 'Oirish' 
and one of them said to Mary as she coughed, 
'Cough it up mate it might be a watch.'
'No it's a clock,' she said as she pulled out the 
clock. That shook him and all the carriage laughed 
loudly at him. Just as the Cockneys turned nasty 
with racist remarks the train stopped at the 
Tottenham Court Road and the three Wimpies got on 
and threw off the two Cockneys. That settled that.

Now that he was sure of being wakened in the 
morning Timmy and his friends celebrated well and 
fell into bed after midnight. The clock in the 
basin was even better than expected. At five am 
all hell broke loose, Timmy thought the war had 
started in his head, the devil of a clock was 
jumping round the basin clamoring for action, he 
picked it up and hurled it at the wall only there 
was no wall there, just a window.

If you are driving a black taxi in London at five 
in the morning what are the chances of being hit 
by a flying clock? 

When last seen Timmy was clambering over 
back-garden walls in Camden Town in his pajamas 
pursued by a very angry taxi man.   


'An Alarm Clock' 
is one of sixty lyrical yarns from 
'Original Irish Stories' by Pat Watson, 
Creagh, Bealnamulla, Athlone, Ireland. 
First published in March 2006.
To get your copy email the author here:

pjwatson@utvinternet.com

==========================
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Visit: http://www.irishnation.com
=========================

===========================================
SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH: CELTICATTIC.COM
===========================================

Shop online for everything you need to decorate 
your home and life with a Celtic Twist: Art, 
Crafts, Irish & Scottish Baskets, Suncatchers,
Wind-Chimes, Music and Celtic Gifts. We offer a 
delightful variety of Celtic Jewelry: Pendants, 
Crosses, Rings, Hair Ties & more. All your 
Irish Bath, Beauty and Herbal needs are in one 
convenient location! The Majority of our products 
are Irish, Scottish, Welsh made.

Get Free Shipping on most orders! Get a Free Gift 
with each and every order.

http://www.celticattic.com
Phone orders 360-286-2307

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

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

PHRASE:		Eireann go braugh
PRONOUNCED:	air-in go braw
MEANING:		Ireland forever!

PHRASE:		Beannachtai na Feile Padraig
PRONOUNCED:	bann/ockt/tee nih fail/eh pawd/rig
MEANING:		Happy Saint Patrick's Day

View the archive of phrases here:


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

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

The winner was: moleary@gra.midco.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. 

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

I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.

Until next month, HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

http://www.ireland-information.com

Click here to contact us