Carrickfergus (Northern Ireland),
New Orleans (USA),
Northampton (England),
and (Bahia Blanca) Argentina.
This months newsletter certainly spans the globe as
further proof that the Irish influence is just about
everywhere. Thanks to Bonny Cox for her article about the
Celtic Nations Heritage festival and to Santiago Boland
for his article which is an example of how people of Irish
origin really can reclaim their roots.
Our extra special free offer this month will get you US$18
worth of our premium screensavers. This is one of our best
give-aways yet!
Coming to the site soon:
FREE:
An online Irish Penpal service (a very often requested
service).
FREE:
Online Games to whittle away the final half hour of a
Monday evening whilst the boss is out on an errand
- (Whats that? You ARE the boss!! Get back to work then).
FREE:
Custom-make your own homepage with our online page
generator.
.....and much, much more.
If I can be of any assistance to you please send me an
email and I will do my best to help.
All the very best,
(from a 'wet and ungardening-type weather' Dublin),
Michael.
Note: There are some serious issues in the
News-Snaps part of this months newsletter.
We live in serious times. If you have
any comments on any of the articles in this
newsletter then feel free to contact me for
a response.
This newsletter is available on-line at:
https://www.ireland-information.com/may99.htm
PLEASE DO: Feel free to forward this newsletter in its
entirety to anyone you think might be interested. Drop me
a line if you have any queries - I love getting feedback.
If you must unsubscribe then go here
https://www.ireland-information.com/newsletter.htm
......but you'll be missing out!
In this issue:-
~~~~~ New free resources at the site
~~~~~ News Snaps from Ireland
~~~~~ Irish Penpals Site
~~~~~ Celtic Art Exhibition
~~~~~ Readers Contribution:
The Celtic Nations Heritage Festival by Bonny Cox
~~~~~ Readers Contribution:
The Argentina Boland Festival, 1999 by Santiago Boland
~~~~~ Noticeboard:
Irish Penpals Site by Owen Brennan
~~~~~ Monthly free competition result
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NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GET THE IRISH PUBS SCREENSAVER (A US6$ VALUE ) FOR FREE
Features images of famous Irish Public Houses.
You never know, you might even visit some of
them one day!
GET THE IRISH WHISKEY LABELS SCREENSAVER (A US6$ VALUE )
FOR FREE
Powers, Black Label, Paddy - hmmmm all this
talk about drink is making me thirsty.
GET THE IRISH POSTAGE STAMPS SCREENSAVER (A US6$ VALUE )
FOR FREE
Dozens of Ireland's postage stamps are displayed
in this collage that gives a great representation
of the history and culture of the country.
As a very special promotion you can now get these 3
screensavers without spending a dime, dollar or cent
(or even a penny). All you have to do is sign up for a
FREE service (which you can un-sign-up from at any time)
for each screensaver and you have qualified. Visit here
to get your freebies in this months super free offer:
https://www.ireland-information.com/morefreescreensavers.htm
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THE CELTIC NATIONS HERITAGE FESTIVAL IN NEW ORLEANS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Celtic Nations Heritage Festival is now going into its
seventh year, with a bigger and better crowd every year.
What began as a small festival in 1992 in the small town of
Mandeville (north of New Orleans)has grown beyond all
expectations to a good-size festival that had to be moved
to New Orleans City Park due to the need for more space!
It's great to be a part of something that can leave a person
feeling as though they've taken a fantastic journey, either
to Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittany, The Isle Of Man,
Galicia, or Cornwall. This Festival brings out the strong
bloodties in us of Celtic origin, and makes us long for
another pint, perhaps, and a bit more of the song.
This event has been spearheaded by Danny O'Flaherty, owner
of O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Center in the French Quarter,
with Laurie Merrill being the Festival Director. It is
buoyed by a score of volunteers and the hard work and
financial support of all those committed to helping the
Celtic culture stay alive here in New Orleans and Louisiana
for our children and their children after them.
Last year's Celtic Nations Heritage Festival was a huge
success, with the opening day ceremonies presided over by
none other than Minister Eamonn O'Cuiv from Ireland to begin
the weekend's festivities with honors!
This year's Festival will be held on October 30 & 31, 1999
(The Celtic New Year, no less!), and should prove to be a
wonderful event with the food, the crafts, the wares, and
let's not forget the incredible music!
Here's to the Celt in us all...Hope to see some of you
there! 'Cead Mile Failte'.
For further information, please email either:
Danny O'Flaherty danny@celticnationsworld.com
Laurie Merrill Laurie@CelticNationsWorld.com
Bonny Milligan Cox eirann70@hotmail.com
or eireann@information-ireland.zzn.com
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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SINEAD O'CONNOR IS ORDAINED AS A PRIEST.
Irish music superstar shocked the world again when she was
ordained into the priesthood by a rebel North of Ireland
priest. Needless to say the Media and Clergy have been
equally disparaging of the Dublin singers latest attempt
at salvation.
IRISH GOVERNMENT APOLOGISES TO VICTIMS OF ABUSE IN STATE
INSTITUTIONS:
An Taoiseach Bertie Ahearn has satisfied public opinion
by finally issuing an apology to the many victims of
abuse who suffered at the hands of religious and State
run organisations since the foundation of the country.
This is a huge issue in Ireland at the moment and has
been for some time.
The revelations about the happenings in 'orphanages' such
as Madonna House, Goldenbridge and the world famous Artane
Industrial School have made for the very disturbing
realisation that Ireland during the 40s, 50s, 60s and even
beyond was the child-abuse capital of the civilised world.
The RTE trilogy of programmes entitled 'States of Fear' gave
an in-depth examination of the institutions as well as
interviews with some of the many unfortunate victims in the
orphanages. Calling the institutions 'orphanages' is a
complete misnomer as the majority of children who were
interned in these organisations were usually taken away from
their living parents because of financial circumstances or
because the situation of an unmarried mother in a small
Parish was simply untenable.
The Government has allocated £17 million to set up a number
of professional counselling services and has promised to
make all records that pertain to the running of the State
bodies available to those concerned. The Christian Brothers
order have issued a similar apology but it is truly tragic
that the various religious orders are refusing to release
the many records that they have in their possession to the
victims and families who have tried to put their lives back
together again after so many years.
Hopefully, they will reconsider and stop worrying about
the probability of legal action by doing the right thing.
BOXER STEVE COLLINS COLLAPSES - ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT:
The 'Celtic Warrior' from Cabra in Dublin collapsed during
a training bout in London prior to his planned first fight
since 1997. The 35 year old World Champion has always said
that he will return when he gets a fight with American Roy
Jones, but has now been forced to abandon his plans on
medical advice.
IRELAND v YUGOSLAVIA SOCCER MATCH TO GO AHEAD
In a bizarre and sad decision, UEFA, the governing body for
Soccer in Europe) has insisted that the European
Championships qualifier between Ireland and Yugoslavia is
to go ahead in June.
Regardless of the side of the Kosovo debate that UEFA or
anyone else endorses, it has been widely agreed that it is
very inappropriate that an international soccer match should
be played whilst people are dying in the conflict.
The Football Association of Ireland are stating that they
have to go along with the decision but the Irish Government
has already made clear to them that there will be no
official representative from the Government at the match,
which is usually the case.
It is expected that the Yugoslav players may try to make
some sort of political gesture before the world cameras
in what is sure to be a sombre occasion.
WORLDS LONGEST RUNNING TV TALK SHOW ENDS
It had to happen, (and some say that it should have happened
years ago) - 'The Late Late Show', hosted by Gay Byrne has
finally drawn to a close after a television presence spanning
3 decades.
No More:
- Elderly country ladies waving into the camera as
Gay Byrne interviewed someone in the crowd
- Cheers of delight as Gay, after demonstrating the
latest gadget or gizmo from Ballygobackward
Inventions announces that he has 'one for everyone
in the audience'.
- Cutting edge examinations of peoples very souls and
beliefs.
- Gaybo saying to his producer prior to showing some
TV footage: 'Will you roll it there Collette'
Love it or loathe it, it was impossible to ignore the
premier flagship of Irish television that brought a very
particular brand of Irishness to millions of people in
Ireland, Europe and beyond.
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CELTIC ART AND DESIGNS REQUIRED FOR EXHBITION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Northampton Connolly Association are the sponsors of the
Irish Community Arts Project and between them they have put
together an impressive display of Celtic art forms by a
small group of Celtic artists in this mid-England town of
Northampton.
First impressions are the massive eight foot square fabric
Celtic wall hangings. They are really impressive. You have
to walk around them and those small Celtic designs you have
seen in books are blown to an impressive size. The colour
and the design hits your eye. If there was a seat available
I could have sat and stared at these designs.
The centre piece was the Irish dancing costumes from the
traditional simple green with simple Celtic designs done
by hand to the ultra modern, dare I say, psychedelic
designs and colours.
Joy Daniels makes Celtic stencils and produces some really
beautiful cards. Stencil work can allow some really subtle
colours and blends and Joy even adds glitter to her designs
which make them sparkle. A joy to see and something I would
like to learn. I understand that she runs classes.
Tony Teevan is a quiet man with a great Celtic talent in
leatherwork and glass. He presented some leather cases with
fine workmanship and the shading is perfection. A four foot
by six design in leather with a clock in the middle is great
but his full sized glass door with a Celtic design etched
into the glass was superb but he should have put black paper
behind the glass to bring out the design.
Peter Mulligan is a screen printer by hobby. He prints
designs on stones, slate, card and fabric. His fabric strips
with designs from the book of Lindisfarne was eye catching.
His screen printed cards and envelopes are well known in
Britain as he produces bi-lingual cards, some with greeting
in all the Celtic languages. His prints on stones and tiles
were especially pleasing. There is great potential in this
area.
David Nicholls is a freelance artist of some repute. His
work is mainly in pencil with shading. His designs are
all original, based of course, on the traditional Celtic
manuscripts. You have to see this work to appreciate the
new explorations on the basic inherited designs. His designs
are an exploration of the variations in Celtic design.
Budding Celtic artists could learn a lot here.
The blurb tells us that this exhibition is to enlighten and
inform and the eight pages on the history of the Celts and
their culture must be read. The Librarian is arranging
school visits and children will be encouraged to make their
own designs or colour in freely supplied pre-printed Celtic
designs.
The Irish dancing costumes were presented courtesy of the
Rhona Baldry Academy of Dancing and the Fiona McMahon School
of Dancing.
Peter Mulligan who put this exhibition together tells me
that the next one is already planned and he would like
Celtic artists from around the world to submit designs
via the internet.
He can be contacted on pmcelt@compuserve.com
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ARGENTINA BOLAND FESTIVAL, 1999 by Santiago Boland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was my original aim to find out, as far as it would be
possible, the origin of my family and the branches that
have grown up in Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay.
We have planned a little meeting, 'Festiboland'99', at
Bahia Blanca on July 24th -25th 1999. to commemorate the
150 years from the arrival. On Saturday July 24th there
will be a common lunch at noon, a little ceremony at the
monument of Admiral William Brown (Irish born founder of
the Argentine Navy), and in the afternoon, a Thanks Giving
Evening Mass, followed by dancing high tea at evening.
We are planning a World Boland Chat on Sunday's morning
and an Argentine traditional asado at noon as closure.
Some Bolands from Eire have informed me of their intent
to assist.
The first Boland to come to Argentina was John, my great
grandfather, born circa 1820,in Eire, son of John Boland
(born in SXVIII ad finem, and Kathleen Bourke, both of
them Irish, dead and buried in Eire. John Boland and Bourke
(this is the way we use the maiden surname of our mother
in Spanish), arrived to Buenos Aires on board of THE
VANGUARD on July the 23rd 1849. Nearly a hundred Irish
emigrants arrived on the same ship because of the Great
Famine, William, Thomas, Edward and his wife and son, all
brothers of John came with him on board of THE VANGUARD.
Afterwards, Mary Margaret and Alice Boland, their sisters
arrived to Buenos Aires.
I began my work tracing the Sept roots and its branches
in the River Plate because of a niece of mine who asked
me to do so. I've contacted a lot of Bolands through two
years of research. As far as I could be informed, there
were two clans of the same surname: one from Sligo, and
the other one from Thomond. This Sept is said to be
descended from Mahon, Brian Ború's brother.
I suppose my family belongs to the Thomond's Sept, because
I was told by my father the family came from Co. Tipperary,
next to Co. Limerick and Co. Clare.
There are several branches of the family in Argentina,
Uruguay and Bolivia. We suppose all of them come from the
same roots but we have not enough proof of each link yet.
To establish some connection between the several branches
of the family in the world is a complementary aim of our
work, In fact some Bolands from Eire and Scotland have sent
their Genealogical trees to complete the information I
have collected.
We invite every Boland in Eire, in Argentina, and all round
the world to contact us in order to share the get together
on July. Assist in the 'Festiboland'99', take part in the
World Boland Chat through the Internet, or simply by sending
an email, a post card or a letter to the Boland's Gathering
on July in Bahia Blanca, Argentina.
We will be waiting for you response.
Is mise le meas.
Santiago Boland
sboland@criba.edu.ar
vcollege@infovia.com.ar
snail mail address:
Calle Brandsen
336-6-D-8000 Bahia Blanca
Argentina
Phone: +54(291)456 5770
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NOTICEBOARD
~~~~~~~~~~~
IRISH PENPALS SITE by Owen Brennan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Irish Penpals, Friends and Matchmakers' is a new site for
meeting and greeting Irish friends and is arranged in 3 sections:
'The Matchmaker': If you're looking for love.
'Penpals': It does what it says on the label.
'Meet Friends': For singles & couples living in
Ireland who wish to make and meet
new friends.
The site very launched very appropriately on St. Valentines day and I
can't believe how many people have used it.
Visit: http://members.tripod.com/Irish_Friends/index.html
Best regards from Carrickfergus,
Owen Brennan.
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SUPPORT THE INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND SITE
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MAY COMPETITION RESULT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The winner is: jason-mcgee@miaminewtimes.com
who will receive our new Screensaver '6-pack':
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Well Done! Remember that all subscribers to this newsletter
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I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.
Please keep the feedback coming!
Until the next time,
Best Regards,
Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.
https://www.ireland-information.com
michael@ireland-information.com
