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			IN THIS ISSUE
~~~~~ Foreword
~~~~~ Keep us Free!
~~~~~ New Free resources at the site
~~~~~ News Snaps from Ireland
~~~~~ Celtic.com - an email address for everyone
~~~~~ Emblems of Ireland: The Harp	by Bridget Haggerty
~~~~~ More Cara Irish Penpal Success Stories!
~~~~~ Christmas Gift ideas from irishnation.com
~~~~~ Gaelic Phrases of the Month
~~~~~ Readers Noticeboard : Any Boland's out there?
~~~~~ Shamrock Site of the Month: Celtic.com  
~~~~~ Searcher Site of the Month: Centres in Ireland
~~~~~ Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
~~~~~~~~

Well, the talk in Ireland is of a General Election, which is 
kind of like a US Presidential Election except without the 
law suits and we usually do get a verdict!

The Government are preparing the annual 'budget' which this 
year will probably be a bumper give-away package aimed at 
enticing voters.

The response to our new website and free email offer have 
been terrific. If you are looking for a great email address 
then www.irishnation.com is the place to go and if you do 
not find what you want there then try www.celtic.com - they 
have hundreds of addresses!

PLEASE - send this newsletter on to your friends 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/nov00.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:

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

......but you'll be missing out!

If I can be of any assistance to you then please let me know,

best of luck from Ireland, 
(and please try not to over-spend in the run up to Christmas!)

Michael.

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KEEP US FREE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can help us to continue supplying free resources and
information from Ireland and it won't cost you a penny!

Simply sign up to receive more great free information:

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


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

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 27 coats of arms images and family history
details have been added to the Gallery:

B: Boden, Brophy
C: Coogan, Coyle
F: Fairchild, Feeney, McFarland
G: McGuckin
H: Haughey, O'Hara
K: Kellett, McKelvey
M: Madigan, Mahoney, Montague, Mullen, Mulrooney
N: Neligan, Norris
P: Patrick
R: Reilly, Rock, Roe
S: Shanley, Sullivan
T: Turley
W: Willman

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INFLATION FIGURES WORSEN

The rate of inflation in the Irish economy since the start 
of the year has risen to 6.8%, the highest it has been since 
1984. Despite the excellent progress of the economy 
generally the cost of living has risen greatly, caused to a 
large part by the weaknesses with the EURO and the 
global-wide hike in fuel costs.

Since the start of the year:

 * the cost of motor fuel has increased by 20%
 * the average cost of a house has jumped by 22%
 * mortgage interest payments have increased by 48%
 * child-minding fees have jumped 21%
 * home heating costs have increased by 61%

Finance minister Charlie McCreevy is preparing a major 
budget which will not only seek to distribute the spoils of
the booming economy but will also attempt to combat the 
high inflation rate, save the Labour deal (the PPF) and 
seek to keep the public happy as a General Election draws 
ever nearer.

MASSIVE INCREASE IN PUBLIC SPENDING FUELS ELECTION TALK

Despite claims by Bertie Ahearn's Government that it will 
remain in office until 2002 the public spending 'estimates' 
that have been unveiled reveal a level of investment that 
has only typically been seen prior to a general election.

The Health service was the big winner with a IR£718 Million 
increase bring its annual budget to over IR£5 Billion. The 
poor state of the Health service and the long Hospital 
waiting lists are considered as a real political minefield 
and is sure to be a major issue at the next General 
Election. The Department of Health and Children hope to 
bring an extra 3000 workers into the public health system 
over the next year and it seems clear than many of these 
workers will arrive from outside Ireland.

BABY BOOM ENDING!

One of the Ireland's largest maternity hospitals, the 
Rotunda, has revealed that it delivered 6338 babies in 1999, 
500 of which were born to asylum seekers. The national 
figure of 53,400 births in 1999 compared to 53,600 births 
in 1998 is further proof that the previously booming arrival 
of babies has begun to level off and even decline. The 
excellent state of the economy has been cited as one of the 
main reasons for the recent increase in the number of births.

The preference for smaller families has continued with half 
of all 1999 births being to first time mothers. Despite 
this the size of an Irish family is still among the largest 
in Europe. 1 in 6 Irish births in 1999 were conducted by 
Caesarean section which is slightly ahead of the recommended 
maximum level of 15% set by the World Health Organisation. 
The Government has ordered an investigation into the high 
level of Caesarean births which it regards as too high. The 
US rate is nearly 25%.

RYANAIR GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

The low-cost no frills airline has seen its profits jump to 
Eur72.5 million and passenger numbers increase by 33% in 
the first half of the year, employing nearly 4000 staff and 
flying 5.6 Million passengers. A huge part of the reason 
for the improved performance is that 90% of Ryanair travel 
bookings are now conducted at its website or by telephone.

By way of contrast, Aer Lingus made a profit of Eur52 
million, employing over 7000 staff to transport 6.3 Million 
passengers so it is easy to see why the proposed sale of 
the national airline may be postponed for some time yet. 
 
FOXHUNTING ANARCHISTS SET TO INVADE IRELAND

It appears likely that foxhunting will be banned in England 
and this has led to fears that hunt enthusiasts will flock 
to the Irish countryside and be followed by the militant 
Animal Liberation Front.

RTE TO SEEK LICENCE FEE HIKE

The national television broadcaster has confirmed that it 
is seeking a IR£50 increase in the cost of a television 
licence fee which would push the cost up to IR£120, the 
same amount currently being charged in England by the BBC.

The station has suffered greatly in recent years with the 
success of rival station TV3 which receives no help from 
the State and has to rely on advertising revenue to survive. 
RTE also has extensive advertising during its programming 
which includes the newly launched 'Who wants to be a 
Millionaire?', hosted by Gay Byrne.

Despite this success the national station is still reeling 
from the loss of the ever popular 'Coronation Street' and 
Champions League Soccer to its rival.

IRISH PRISON POPULATION JUMPS BY 50%

Despite having one of the lowest percentage prison 
populations in Europe, the number of inmates in the Irish 
prison system have swelled by over 50% in recent years, 
from 2000 inmates to 3000, 97% of which are male. Of these, 
nearly half are under the age of 25 years, while 80% are 
serving a term of more than 1 year.

INTERVIEW ROOMS IN GARDA STATIONS TO BE MONITORED
  
In a long anticipated move Irish Garda Stations are to have 
their interview rooms fitted out with survellience and 
video recording equipment. New measures will also allow 
Garda to detain suspects for up to 48 hours in cases where 
the suspected crime is punishable by a minimum sentence of 
10 years. The 'right to silence' will also be amended and 
new powers will allow law enforcers to use reasonable force 
to acquire DNA samples. 

SOCCER: KILBANE MAY PLAY UP FRONT FOR IRELAND

Ireland defeated Finland 3-0 in a soccer friendly at 
Landsdowne Road where a real attacking possibility for the 
future emerged in the form of Sunderland winger Kevin 
Kilbane, who scored Ireland's second goal with a thumping 
header from 5 yards out. 

The manner in which Kilbane attacked Jason McAteer's 
excellent cross was more than enough to indicate that the 
strong and quick winger is well capable of being an 
effective target man up front. Kilbane usually plays on the 
left wing but Ireland are already well served in this 
department by Manchester City's Mark Kennedy who is hoping 
to re-start his international career after paying a fine 
to a Dublin Garda following his late night antics with Phil 
Babb prior to the World Cup qualifier with Holland.

Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was very pleased with the win 
against the team that England drew 0-0 with in a World Cup 
qualifier in Helsinki recently. It extends the team's 
unbeaten run to 7 matches.

GOLF: DARREN CLARKE SECOND IN EUROPEAN ORDER OF MERIT

Irish golfer Darren Clarke has finished second on the 
European order of merit to England's Lee Westwood following 
the final qualifying tournament.

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CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FROM IRISHNATION.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have over 20,000 names available and can send a gift on 
your behalf at no extra charge.

* Family Crest Prints (singles and doubles)
* A unique Watch or Clock with the Family Crest on it
* Superb hand-crafted Jewellery including Claddagh Rings
* Irish Paintings on Canvas
* Tee-Shirt and Flag Transfers
* Irish Prints
* First Name History Scrolls

............and lots more

Here is a Subscribers-only bonus available until November 
30th.:- Buy 1 family crest print and get a second one free!

This offer is available to subscribers to this newsletter 
only! That means you!

Visit: https://www.irishnation.com

When you place your order send us an email and let us know 
that you want to avail of the 2 for 1 offer. You can email 
us at: irishnation@irishnation.com

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CELTIC.COM
~~~~~~~~~~

Celtic.com is an important Irish site as it offers literally 
hundreds of Irish related email addresses. There is fun to 
be had there too as you can choose from over 2000 different 
electronic postcards to send - very handy to know with the 
holiday season nearly upon us!

* Choose from 1200 free Irish and Celtic interest email domains!
* Choose from over 2000 free virtual postcards!
* Choose from 500 free Irish wallpapers!
* 50,000 Members Already - www.celtic.com - the spiral gateway

You can access the site at:

http://www.celtic.com

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EMBLEMS OF IRELAND: THE HARP		by Bridget Haggerty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It once graced the flag of the Republic, it still appears on 
official government documents as well as the Presidential 
flag, and it is displayed on Irish coins. For centuries, the 
harp has been a beloved emblem of Ireland. In fact, it is 
said that the Irish concentrated so much of their musical 
ability into playing the harp, that for many years, the 
development of music in Ireland was brought to a relative 
standstill. 

So, how did it become an emblem synonymous with the Emerald 
Isle? According to tradition, an early king of Ireland whose 
name was David, took the harp of the Psalmist as his badge. 
This might explain why it was once called a cruit which can 
mean lyre.

Folklore says that the first harp was owned by Dagda, a 
chief among the Tuatha De Danaan. The De Danaan were at war 
with the Fomorians and the harp was taken from Dagda by the 
gods of cold and darkness. Two other gods, Lugh representing 
light, and Ogma representing art, penetrated the Fomorian 
fortress, recovered the harp and restored it to Dagda. The 
gods in returning the harp to him, pronounced two secret 
names for the instrument and, at the same time, called forth 
summer and winter. From that point on, when Dagda played, he 
could produce a melody so poignant, it would make his 
audience weep, an air so jubilant it would make everyone 
smile, or a sound so tranquil, it would lull all who 
listened to sleep. Thus, with its secret or magical names, 
the instrument became the dispenser of Sorrow, Gladness 
and Rest.

Whichever way the harp became Ireland's own unique 
instrument, and subsequently, its national emblem, history 
tells us that the people who played it were highly trained 
professionals who usually performed for the nobility. They 
were held in very high regard and were often asked to 
accompany a bardic poet who was giving a reading. However, 
with the emigration of Ireland's leading families in the 
17th and early 18th century, there was a steep decline in 
the harping tradition and the last traditionally-trained 
harpist died in the mid-19th century. Interestingly, these 
superb musicians played with their fingernails and not with 
the flesh of the fingertips as is done today. It's also 
interesting to note that new families of English descent 
were hospitable to well-known harpists such as O'Carolan, 
and it was a man from the north, Dr. Michael MacDonnell, 
and an Englishman, Edward Bunting, who assembled the last 
harpers in Belfast in 1792. Even though very generous fees 
were offered, they were able to attract only 11 players 
from the whole country. Bunting attempted to write down as 
much of the music as he could and his collection is 
incredibly important because it contains the only remaining 
remnants of what the ancient tradition must have been like. 

So, while this oldest emblem of Ireland is still very much 
apparent - even to appearing on the Guinness label - most 
of the ancient airs and melodies it once produced are long 
gone. Perhaps the first verse of a famous poem by Thomas 
Moore says it best:

 The harp that once through Tara's halls
 The soul of music shed,
 Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls,
 as if that soul were fled.
 So sleeps the pride of former days,
 So glory's thrill is o'er,
 And hearts that once beat high for praise,
 Now feel that pulse no more.  

About the Author: Bridget Haggerty is the author of 'The 
Traditional Irish Wedding' and is now working on a second 
book which is scheduled to be released next October. This 
one will focus on memories of an Irish childhood - a 
compilation of recollections from people who were either 
born and raised in Ireland or who grew up in an Irish 
family. She welcomes any and all anecdotes for the book 
and will give contributors full credit. 

Contact her by email at: bnhaggerty@cinci.rr.com

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Sponsored Link:
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Sponsored Link:
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MORE CARA IRISH PENPALS SUCCESS STORIES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Following on from last month's success story we received 
these two emails that demonstrates what a really positive 
thing the World-Wide-Web can be:

From Frances Moore in California:

Some time ago I filled out the info required to be on that 
list. Last month I got a letter from a woman in Tullamore 
who is originally from my same state of California. We have 
begun corresponding and find with each letter that we have 
more and more in common.  Its amazing.  We will try to get 
together when she and her husband visits here next year. I 
am positive that I have a new, life-long friend thanks to 
you.

From Fran in Indiana:

Hello, My name is Fran, and I am from the USA. My fiance and 
I met on your website. I placed a profile on your website 
and corresponded with a few people from Ireland. I was not 
looking for romance. My original intent was to just talk 
with some people about an upcoming visit I had planned to 
Ireland. Then I met John. I did not know what to think about 
him at first. He was so different from anyone I had ever 
met. Over time we emailed back and forth. Then the first 
telephone call. Oh what a wonderful sound!!  He said  
'I love your accent!' and I responded 'I thought you were 
the one with the accent!' LOL One thing led to another. To 
make a long story short, I am going to Ireland to meet his 
family in February and he is coming here in the spring to 
meet mine. We are planning 2 weddings, one in Indiana and 
one in Dublin. Love is in the air!! 
Thank You for bringing us together.
                                        Sincerely, Fran 
P.S. I am 46 and John is 54. It just goes to show, you are 
never too old. :)

You can visit Cara Irish Penpals here:

http://www.irishpenpals.com

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

PHRASE:		Michael is ainm dom
PRONOUNCED:	Michael is ann/um dum
MEANING:		My name is Michael

PHRASE:		Cad is ainm duit?
PRONOUNCED:	cod is ann/um dwit? 
MEANING:		What is your name?

PHRASE:		Is as Éire dom
PRONOUNCED:	iss oss air/eh dum
MEANING:		I am from Ireland

View the archive of phrases here:

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

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READERS NOTICEBOARD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANY BOLAND'S OUT THERE?

Santiago Boland is the organiser of the 'Festiboland' that 
runs every two years in Argentina. It is a celebration of 
all things Boland!

He will be in Sydney, Australia from 9th to 17th of December 
and wants to meet any Bolands. Contact him at:

sboland@criba.edu.ar

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

Celtic.com: So much free stuff!

Visit at:

http://www.celtic.com

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

Listing of County based Genealogical Centres 

These centres hold indexes of parish registers for the whole 
of their county. Some hold indexes of other genealogical 
sources.

Visit at:
http://www.nationalarchives.ie/

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

Visit our Online Store at:

https://www.irishnation.com

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NOVEMBER COMPETITION RESULT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The winner was: 

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