The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter
    March 1999


    The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland

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    Copyright (C) 1999
    
    
    Happy Saint Patrick's Day from Ireland!
    
    The party in Dublin started last Saturday with a huge
    fireworks display to mark not only Saint Patrick's Day but
    also the advent of the new millennium. Yes, I know what you
    are thinking, but since Ireland cannot afford a 'Millennium
    Dome' (England are building one in London), the powers that
    be decided that Ireland would be the first country IN THE
    WORLD to mark the (soon to be) Year 2000. Its great being
    Irish on occasions like this because we do the most
    ridiculous things and still get away with it.
    
    I have a great freebie for you this time - see below, and a
    couple of terrific reader contributions. Got something to
    say? Why don't you submit an article for inclusion in the
    next edition? Email to:
    
    
    	newsletterarticle@ireland-information.com
    If there are any resources that you wish to have included at the site then let me know and I will see if it is possible to oblige. Email me at:
    michael@ireland-information.com
    Want to support us, keep us alive? Well you can and it won't cost you a penny! Simply visit the links below and avail of the free offers shown and you really will be helping us out! Free entry to US$100,000 draw (US only)
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    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 a surprisingly bright and cheerful Dublin), Michael. This newsletter is available on-line at:
    https://www.ireland-information.com/mar99.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
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    ......but you'll be missing out! In this issue:- ~~~~~ New free resources at the site ~~~~~ News Snaps from Ireland ~~~~~ 'Saint Patrick's Day in Tilting' by Clara A. Byrne ~~~~~ 'Buying a House in Ireland' by Brian Kennedy ~~~~~ Irish Home Sketches by John Carpenter ~~~~~ Monthly free competition result ~~~~~ Recommended °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE Saint Patrick's Day Gift ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As promised I have a premium freebie for you on this special day. Our US$6 report: 'How to Start the Search for your Irish Roots' is yours for the asking - for free, but you better be quick because this is a freebie for today only. Send an email to:
    	freegift@ireland-information.com
    ...and you will receive the report free within 24 hours. If you have previously bought the report from us then email me also for a choice of our premium screensavers (we don't want you to be left out after all!). Go on! Send someone a Saint Patrick's Day greeting card at:
    https://www.ireland-information.com/heraldichall/postcard.htm
    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ENTIRE EU COMMISSION RESIGNS: The European union is facing a severe crisis after all 20 members of the European Commission resigned after a report accused them of mismanagement and even fraud. The Irish commissioner, Padraig Flynn, was one of those who resigned although he was not criticised in the report. This is bad news for the Government with Bertie Ahearn already facing criticism relating to the 2 tribunals of enquiry that are taking place in Dublin Castle. SPORT SNAPS: Soccer: Irish international Keith O'Neill is set to join Middlesboro in a knock-down one million pound deal. The injury-plagued striker is valued at six million but could walk out on his club, Norwich at the end of the season under the 'Bosman Ruling'. Horse-Racing: Istabraq wins the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Rugby: Ireland defeat Wales but lose to England in the '5- nations' championship. TOUTS TO BE TARGETED: In a new law to be enacted it will be illegal for anyone to sell tickets to football matches, music concerts or any other major event for more than the face value on the ticket. The problem of 'touting' or 'scalping' has grown rapidly in recent years and the Government has decided that it has seen enough of 25 pound tickets to All-Ireland finals being sold for over 600 pounds. Hefty fines and/or imprisonment await those willing to take a chance but don't be surprised if lack of enforcement of this law is the norm. WALKABOUT TODDLER FOUND SAFE AND WELL: An amazing 19-hour absence by Cork toddler (he is 2 years old) Emmet O'Gorman, resulted in one of the biggest searches ever conducted in Cork. The infant disappeared from his Grandparents garden where he had been playing with his cousins. The alarm was immediately raised and volunteers joined the search with haste. The audience of a play being performed in a nearby village were press-ganged into service as fears for the safety of the youngster increased. He was missing all night whilst temperatures reached near freezing point. Needless to say his parents were delighted to have him returned to them after he was found the following day playing with cattle in a field, some 3 miles away. Apparently he had slept in a hay-shed. When reunited with his parents he declared that he had 'been in Brazil'. Despite being soaked to the skin and in muddy clothes he was given a clean bill of health after a medical checkup at the nearby Cork University hospital. His mother appeared to suffer more than the child: "It's a miracle. It a sheer miracle that he's safe and well," she declared. 87 YEAR OLD WIDOWER SHOCKS AUDIENCE AT THE ANNUAL ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS LIMERICK CONTEST (BAY CITY, MI DIVISION): The audience at the annual 'Irish night' run by a chapter of the AOH in Bay City were surprised at a renditioning by an 87 year old widower of her entry into their Limerick competiton. The lady in question apparently sleeps naked and is well informed on the latest medical breakthroughs: 'Who Needs Viagra' In a high-rise apartment lived John Who went to bed with nothing on. The fire bell sounded. Into the hallway John bounded And excited the ladies thereon. °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN TILTING by Clara A. Byrne ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tilting is a community where most of the current population can trace their ancestry to southeast Ireland. Their ancestors came to Newfoundland to engage in the codfishery in the mid-eighteenth century. The village is one of a small number of places on the northeast coast of Newfoundland with an Irish-Catholic background. In spite of their status as Catholics in an area dominated by English Protestants the people of Tilting have hung on to their sense of Irishness and continue to celebrate St.Patrick's Day more than two centuries after the first Irishman set foot on the rocky coast of the tiny village of Tilting. Tilting is the seat of St. Patrick's Parish and the local church is named for the Irish saint. A large statue of St. Patrick stands guard outside the main entrance of the church while inside a smaller version of the statue stands at the front of the church. It was at the parish church that St. Patrick's Day celebrations began with the celebration of the mass. The highlight of the mass would be the singing of "All Praise to St. Patrick." Everyone would be wearing a green corsage (shamrocks were not available) made of ribbons and artificial flowers. Prior to 1943 a parade made up of men from the village, wearing green sashes and carrying the Irish flag, would march into the church before mass began. Other than the discontinuation of the parade, festivities surrounding St.Patrick's Day were largely unchanged when I left the community in the 1960s. Schools were closed and all Lenten restrictions were lifted. People who had made sacrifices such as giving up candy for Lent, in the case of children, or alcohol by men, were free to imbibe until the end of the day. Although there was no special food associated with St. Patrick there was always a special meal and usually a cake with green frosting. Dinner would be served at noon and following that the real partying would start. Men would go from house to house drinking homemade beer and moonshine and during those visits they would recite, sing, step-dance or play an instrument. If women who were present were known as good singers they might be asked to sing a song. During the afternoon the children would gather at the parish hall to decorate the place with handmade shamrocks and green streamers which had been made in school prior to the day, and rehearsing for the concert of Irish songs, recitations, and skits which would take place that night and would be followed by a dance for adults. Everyone would dress in their new clothes because efforts would have been made by all families to have something new for the big day. The predominant colour was green and homemade corsages (called "bokays") of green ribbon and buttons and flowers would adorn every collar. There was very little variation in St. Patrick's Day activities from year to year until the 1970s when better communication and transportation systems brought more outside influences. There is still some recognition of the day with the singing of "All Praise to St. Patrick" at the Mass which very few attend and there is usually a social event at the local club with music often provided by the local doctor who hails from Dublin. Older folk who remember the events of the past are nostalgic about the loss of so many of their Irish traditions and when asked why they felt this way they were unanimous in declaring that they were Irish and did not want this to be forgotten. None of the people with whom I spoke had ever been to Ireland but are steadfast in their Irishness two hundred and fifty years after their forefathers set foot on this rocky coast. Tilting is the only community in Newfoundland (Canada's newest province) whose welcome sign reads "Failte go Tilting." So "Top o' the morning" and "Happy St. Patrick's Day" to all who are Irish (or want to be), especially on March 17th. Clara A. Byrne °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø BUYING A HOUSE IN IRELAND by Brian Kennedy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q: Why is it a good idea to invest in property in Ireland? A: Over the past two years the demand for housing has been helped by increasing immigration as Irish emigrants return as foreigners come and help fill the gaps in the labour force. This will continue to have an effect on the demand for housing over the next decade. As Ireland's economy has grown so too has its reputation for an excellent holiday destination. The craic is brilliant an you can invest in a choice of properties whether Residential Investment properties or holiday homes or a property you may wish to use after your retirement. Q: What are the prospects for the Irish economy? A: Over the next decade the Irish economy faces a number of challenges. Firstly, The rapid growth in the pace of economic activity is putting pressure on the present physical infrastructure. The problem is the economy was expected to grow at 3.5% a year but it is presently growing at over 5% a year. Secondly, The difference between the standard of living in Ireland and EU average has converged and with less structural funds from the EU, Ireland faces the prospect of a growing need for infrastructural investment more dependent on internal sources of finance. In 1997 the Irish economy grew by 8% and in 1998 by almost 7% and whilst many economists predicted that the government finances would be in surplus by middle of the next decade, it actually happened in 1997. It is likely that the average GNP growth rate for the period 1990-2000 will lie between 5.5%-6% and will fall back to 5% for following years. This remains the central forecast of medium term growth potential of the Irish economy. Q: Are there enough houses? A: The current rate of house building in Ireland should be more than enough to meet demand arising from simple demographic pressure. However immigration and the desire of people who have good jobs to set up independent households at an earlier age is fuelling pressures. Fear that failure to enter the housing market now could see individuals locked out permanently, has added to these pressures. As a result rents in Dublin are now above those of many EU cities and still rising. Q: What will determine the growth in households in Ireland in the next decade and a half? A: The rise in the population of adults is a major factor in the rapid growth of households (and demand for new houses). Also, it is estimated that last year net immigration accounted for 6000 new houses. The rapid rise in the number of your adults with good labour market expectations. Good jobs make it possible for young adults to set up independent households at an earlier age. Cultural changes in terms of family patterns and behaviour as well as the affordability of housing are also factors. Assuming that the demand for housing remains at roughly the level experienced in the early 90's there is likely to be a need for around 38000 new houses a year over the second half of this decade. The changing numbers in their late twenties to early thirty's would require just under 20000 dwellings a year. Q: What are the steps involved in buying a house in Ireland? A: There are at least 15 steps that anyone interested in buying a house in Ireland will have to follow. This applies to non-residents as well as residents, so if you are planning on buying a property in Ireland whilst living abroad then you really will need someone that you trust to act on your behalf in Ireland. 1. Find the house of your dreams. 2. Ask your financial advisor to find the right mortgage for you. 3. Find a Solicitor and get a quote. If you are happy with the price then instruct a solicitor to work for you. Make sure his/her office is easy to get to as you may have to call to see the solicitor on a number of occasions. 4. Check your bank account again make sure you have the full deposit because you are going to be asked for it at the outset (usually 10% of the final purchase price). 5. Advise your solicitor of the full details of the property, the sellers details and those of your Bank or Building Society. 6. The financial advisor will have organised a Loan Approval for you by now, perhaps from a number of institutions. Pick the one you think is best. 7. Instruct the valuer/surveyor to carry out an inspection on the property. Remember they are really carrying this out for the benefit of the Financial Institution even though you are paying for it. It will not be a structural survey ,if you want them to carry out a full structural survey it will cost you extra, but it s worth it. 8. When you get your copy of the survey read it carefully and make up your mind. The survey may require work to be carried out, you will have to organise estimates for the works that require to be completed. 9. The solicitor will carry out searches and investigate title. If all this is in order s/he will complete the legal paperwork and send you the contract to sign. Do not sign a contract unless you have loan approval from your bank! 10. If you are going ahead sign your copy of the contract. It is important at this point that you organise all insurance Life and Property as you are now legally committed to the purchase at this stage. 11. With the completion date now agreed you have an idea of the day you will move into the house. 12. Check your bank balance again as you now should be paying your solicitor the balance of the purchase price and any fees you owe the solicitor for his/her services (usually in the region of £1000 but could be more). 13. On the day of closing call to your solicitor to sign the final documents and collect your keys. 14. After completion, your solicitor will arrange for the Stamp Duty (exempt in certain cases) to be paid to the Government and register your ownership at the land registry. 15. Call to the local wine shop purchase the bottle of bubbly. Enjoy it! Brian Kennedy, Financial and Mortgage Expert, March 1999. There is more property information at the site at:
    https://www.ireland-information.com/irishnews.htm
    °´°*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 new 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!):
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    °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø MARCH COMPETITION RESULT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The winner was: beaniespice@uswest.net 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