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  The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                  November 2005
 
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) 2005  

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		IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== Dermot, Strongbow, and the Invasion of Ireland
=== The Irish-American Thanksgiving Day 
			by Patrick Kevin Quinn
=== 10 Great Christmas Gift Ideas
=== A little bit of Dublin - #8
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

We need your poems and stories! Okay, I am setting 
you a mission right here and now. Create a story 
about Ireland or the Irish. It can be about 
anything: a childhood memory, a biography of a 
historical character, a poem - you decide. Send it 
in to us and see it sent to tens of thousands of 
readers!

With Christmas fast approaching you can help to 
keep this newsletter alive by checking out the 
discount offers below. There is still time to 
order to ensure Christmas delivery but you had 
better get your skates on!

Until next month! 
(special Christmas edition with free gift!)

Michael


WE NEED YOUR HELP!

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'.

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

IRISH ECONOMIC BOOM CONTINUES

Recent statistics have revealed that there are 
300 PAYE (ordinary tax-payers) who earn over 1 
M-illion Euro annually. This is 3 times the number 
who earned that much in 2001. The continuing 
shortage of skilled staff is the most likely 
explanation for the boom in wages.

Irish house prices continue to rise, despite the 
annual predictions of an imminent decline. Some 
commentators are predicting a 15% gain over the 
next 2 years, despite repeated warnings from the 
Irish Central Bank. 

Since joining the Euro currency, control over 
interest rates now rests with the European Central 
Bank. The ECB has kept rates at record low levels 
for years, primarily because of sluggishness in 
the German, French and Italian economies. This is 
good news for Irish mortgage-holders who continue 
to see the value of their property rise.

The ingrained Irish desire to own property is well 
known but it is unlikely that previous generations 
could have envisaged the distance their descendants 
would be willing to go. Not content with snapping 
up property in the UK, France and Spain, Irish 
investors are now targeting Canada, Africa, New 
Zealand, Croatia and even Thailand. Investors from 
Ireland recently spent nearly 3 M-illion Euro in a 
Las Vegas development while over 4.5 M-illion Euro 
has been spent on a Thai property scheme. It is 
estimated that more than 600,000 Irish people now 
own property abroad. 

EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF KIPPERS IN IRELAND

The Irish obsession with owning their own home 
has bred a new generation who are refusing to 
leave their parents' house until well into their 
20s, 30s, 40s and beyond. Spiralling property 
prices have caused the number of KIPPERS (Kids 
in Parents' Pads Eroding Retirement Savings) to 
soar. It is likely that the majority of KIPPERS 
are saving to invest in a property of their own. 
A recent Central Statistics Office study has 
found that over 450,000 adults still reside 
with their parents. This figure represents 12% 
of the entire population of the country. 

As one commentator remarked 'Irish mammies don't 
have apron strings, they have steel cables.' 

34 BILLION EURO TRANSPORT PLAN UNVEILED

The most ambitious and expensive transport 
infrastructure plan in the history of the State has 
been unveiled by the Government. Over 34 B-illion 
Euro will be spent over the next decade on various 
schemes which will have a dramatic effect 
transport in Ireland.

The plan includes:

* Linking up the 2 LUAS (light rial) city lines
* 6 other Luas projects
* An 'Atlantic Corridor' road network linking 
  Donegal, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford
* 2 metro lines including a link to Dublin Airport
* An underground station at St. Stephens Green.
* Completion of the Dublin Port Tunnel
* Upgrading of the M50
* A new rail link to Navan

Critics of the plan point to previous projects 
that fell behind schedule as well as running 
over-budget. The Government plans to implement 
strict financial controls to ensure no such 
over-runs occur in the future.

COST OF LIVING IN IRELAND FOR FOREIGNERS SOARS

A recent survey has recorded Ireland as the third 
most expensive place in the EU, and sixth 
worldwide, for foreign people to live in. Norway 
is the most expensive followed by Denmark and 
then Japan.

IRISH POTATO IMPORTS CONTINUE TO GROW

Despite the historical image of Ireland relying 
heavily on the consumption of potatoes as a 
dietary staple, the importation of potatoes from 
the U.K. and beyond. Most of the imports are 
being used in fast-food restaurants and take-aways 
as the quality of home-grown potatoes is not 
regarded as sufficiently high for producing 
'French Fries'.

The Irish Government agency concerned with food 
development is seeking to develop a potato that 
can be more readily used by restaurants, such 
as McDonalds.

POLISH WOMAN LIVED AT AIRPORT FOR WEEKS

In an episode similar to the Tom Hanks movie 'The 
Terminal' a 26 year-old Polish woman has been 
found living at Dublin Airport for three weeks.

An airport policeman noticed the young Polish 
woman who had arrived to meet up with her 
boyfriend but who had no money or food and who 
could not speak the language. He immediately 
assisted the bewildered arrival who had survived 
by sleeping on waiting seats and eating restaurant 
scraps. He bought her a meal and contacted the 
authorities who are now arranging for her return 
home.

IRISH AUTHOR WINS THE BOOKER PRIZE
 
Irish author John Banville has won the prestigious 
'Booker Prize' with his 14th novel 'The Sea'. 
Manville was born in Wexford in 1945. His first 
title, 'Nightspawn' was published in 1971. He 
previously worked as literary editor at 'The Irish 
Times' newspaper.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

http://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi

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

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 8 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

B: Barron, Bainbridge
C: Cashion
F: Farrar
G: McGinty
H: Hughes
Q: Quain
T: Tebbetts

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

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DERMOT AND STRONGBOW, AND THE INVASION OF IRELAND
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Dermot MacMurrough was the King of Leinster during 
the twelfth century and is most remembered as the 
man who invited the English into Ireland. 

He was born circa 1100 and succeeded to the throne 
of his father, Enna, in 1126. He was a ruthless 
leader and demonstrated the ferocity of the times 
by killing or blinding 17 rivals in 1141. He became 
involved in a dispute with the King of Breffney, 
Tiernan O'Ruark, whose wife he kidnapped in 1153. 
O'Ruark formed an alliance with Rory O'Connor who 
was the recognised High King of Ireland at the 
time. In 1166 this long-running and bitter feud 
resulted in MacMurrough being driven into exile 
by the Gaelic Chieftains. He fled to France.

Dermot MacMurrough was a deeply ambitious man who 
refused to accept his exile. He made his way to 
the Court of Henry II of England and offered to 
become a vassal to the King in return for military 
aid in retaking his kingdom. The king did not 
directly provide assistance but allowed MacMurrough 
to petition the Anglo-Norman lords. It was at this 
time that the Earl of Pembroke, Richard de Clare, 
later known as 'Strongbow', agreed to lead an army 
to Ireland. MacMurrough brought an advance party 
of adventurers back to Ireland in 1167, 
recaptured Wexford, and waited for Strongbow to 
arrive.

From his base in Wales Strongbow launched an 
offensive in 1170, capturing Waterford and Dublin, 
taking control of the East coast, much to the 
dismay of the Gaelic Chieftains and O'Connor. To 
cement the alliance, MacMurrough married his 
daughter Aoife to Strongbow, in Christchurch 
Cathedral in Dublin 1170. 

The Irish Chieftains did not allow the invaders 
to settle however and they were continually 
attacked and harassed. At one stage it seemed 
likely that they would be driven from the country 
if it were not for the support given by Henry II, 
who had become concerned with the amount of power 
and influence that Strongbow was amassing across 
the Irish sea. It is speculated that Henry II 
feared that Ireland might be used as a base by 
the Saxons to launch an offensive back into England 
in the wake of their defeat at Hastings in 1066. 
The subsequent domination of South Wales by the 
Normans was a result of the need to keep supply 
lines into Eastern Ireland open.

Dermot MacMurrough died in 1170 leaving Strongbow 
to declare himself King of Leinster. His later 
support for Henry II in France led to his being 
named Governor of Ireland. He died in 1176 
suffering an infection during a raid by Irish 
rebels. 

Much of Ireland was still under local influence 
and it only was the East coast, known as 'the Pale', 
that remained in Norman control. Henry granted 
these lands to his son 'Jean Sans-terre' (or John 
Lackland) in 1185 creating the 'Lordship of 
Ireland'. It seemed likely that Ireland would 
remain a minor Kingdom except that fate intervened. 
The death of his elder brothers allowed Jean 
Sans-terre to succeed to the English throne, 
becoming King John of England and the Pale 
becoming part of English dominated territories.

Demot MacMurrough has for centuries been blamed 
as the man who caused, or at least facilitated 
the invasion and subsequent subjugation of Ireland
by outsiders. Recent revision of this history 
however, have been less critical of his actions.

It is likely that the island would have eventually 
been dominated by its larger neighbour even 
without Dermot MacMurroughs prompting. The 
unwillingness of the Gaelic Chiefs to form a 
Kingship with defined rights of succession 
certainly made invasion and domination easier. It 
was also not uncommon of the times for Gaelic 
Chiefs to seek help from foreigners in combatting 
their local enemies.

Despite this more generous interpretation of his 
actions, it will always be Dermot MacMurroughs 
lust for power, bringing the English into Ireland, 
for which he will be most remembered. 

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YOU CAN HELP TO KEEP THIS FREE NEWSLETTER ALIVE!

Visit: http://www.irishnation.com
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 
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 Best wishes for happy holiday season.

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THE PERFECT WEDDING OR ANNIVERSARY GIFT!

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THE IRISH-AMERICAN THANKSGIVING DAY 
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			by Patrick Kevin Quinn

Foreword: Patrick Quinn was born Saint Louis Irish, 
the fourth generation of his family in the United 
States. His family were all policemen, firemen, 
plumbers or priests, and for fifteen years he was 
one of the policemen. 

He and his family moved to Lee's Summit twenty 
years ago and he has since been very involved with 
the Kansas City Irish Community.

He is currently a member of the Heart of America 
Police Emerald Society, and has been a member of 
the Committee that is in the process of creating 
an Irish Cultural Center in Kansas City. He was 
Grand Marshal of Kansas City's Brookside St. 
Patrick's Parade in 1993, and was an organizer 
and the Chief Marshal of the parade for the first 
fourteen years of it's existence.
 
His reflection on the meaning of St. Patrick's Day 
to the Irish-American community was originally 
written as an invocation for a program at 
Greenwood Elementary School in the Kansas City 
suburb of Greenwood, Missouri. 

	The Irish-American Thanksgiving Day

Cead Mile Failte!  or in American, 'A Hundred 
Thousand Welcomes'

Most often, when one thinks of St. Patrick's Day 
they think of the parade, which is the largest 
single day event held each year in Kansas City, 
and they think some of the very Americanized 
stereotypes such as Corned Beef and Cabbage and 
green beer. But to Irish-Americans, St. Patrick's 
Day is a special day of thanksgiving. The 
following are just a few of the special things for 
which we Irish-Americans in Jackson County are 
thankful.

We started these remarks with a Gaelic greeting, 
and are thankful for the survival of that language 
in spite of the attempts to eradicate it.

We are thankful that in spite of many of the first 
Irish-Americans being brought to this country as 
slaves (they called us 'involuntary servants') that 
our forefathers desire and ability to escape made 
the proposition unprofitable, and it quickly came 
to an end.

We are thankful that when it came time to stand up 
for the United States, more Irish-Americans signed 
the Declaration of Independence than any other 
ethnic group.

We are thankful that our forefathers and mothers 
took a very active role in fighting to free our 
country, such as Henry Knox, the first Secretary 
of War and Commodore Jack Barry, who organized the 
United States Navy, as well as several generals 
and thousands of soldiers and sailors. In fact, 
one half of the Continental Army and three-fourths 
of George Washington's regiments at the decisive 
battle of Yorktown consisted of Irish-American 
soldiers and officers.

We are thankful for the Irish-Americans who 
explored this great country, identifying its 
potential and guiding its pioneers. Men like Daniel 
Boone and Davey Crockett, whose parents came from 
County Derry.

We are thankful and proud that no less than 38 
regiments of the Union Army in the War Between the 
States, the war to end slavery in the U.S., were 
manned totally by Irish-Americans.

We are thankful for the service of no less than 
nineteen Irish-Americans who have been elected to 
the Office of President of the United States, 
including Andrew Jackson for whom Jackson County was 
named. His parents came to this country from 
Carrickfergus in County Antrim.

We are thankful for an Irishman from Galway by the 
name of Charles Kearney, who pledged his fortune, 
and convinced others to do the same to build the 
first bridge across the Missouri River at Kansas 
City. Thus transforming a sleepy, dusty river town 
into the third largest rail hub in the nation, and 
the metropolis we are today.

We are thankful for the courage of our great 
grandparents who persevered during the times in our 
country when Irish-American children were refused 
an education in public schools because of rampant 
bigotry, and signs were openly posted in windows 
stating 'Help Wanted - No Irish Need Apply'.

We are thankful for the courage of our grandparents 
and parents who endured threats and assaults from 
mobs, because of their nationality. In 1922, one 
stated reason that some 14,000 members of the Ku 
Klux Klan assembled here in Jackson County was to 
drive Irish Catholics out of Kansas City. One week, 
a whole lot of hate speeches, a whole lot of 
marching and a whole lot of whiskey later, they 
left town having failed at their mission.

And finally, we are thankful that our parents and 
grandparents took the time to teach us the history 
of our families and our heritage.

So today, we would like to extend to you one of 
our special Irish blessings, that we seem to have 
for just about any occasion:

 'May there always be work for your hands to do,
 may your purse always hold a coin or two.
 May the sun always shine on your windowpane,
 may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
 May the hand of a friend be always near you,
 And may God fill your heart with gladness to 
 cheer you.'

Slainte!
(Good Health)

Pat Quinn

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5 GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
=============================

The following discounts re available to readers 
of this newsletter for the next week.

To avail of these special discounts simply place 
your order online and insert the words 
'NEWSLETTER-2005-OFFER' in the 'special instructions' 
box at the end of the ordering process.

Don't wait until December 24th! 
Order TODAY to ensure you get free delivery.

===
DISCOUNT OFFER: YOUR-NAME COAT OF ARMS 26 OZ. 
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highball glasses. Your family history details (1800 
words approx) is laser carved on the inside of the 
box. Your Coat of Arms as well as the symbol of your 
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Usually US$219 - SPECIAL OFFER TO YOU: US$199
FREE DELIVERY TO USA AND CANADA!

===
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===
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===
DISCOUNT OFFER:

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===
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A LITTLE BIT OF DUBLIN - #8
===========================

The famous Atmospheric Railway was opened in 1844. 
The line ran from Dalkey to nearby Kingstown (now 
Dun Laoghaire) on the southside of the city. This 
unique system relied on atmospheric pressure to 
force the railway carriage up the hill to Dalkey 
and then relied on gravity for the return to 
Kingstown. 

A 483 yard pipe ran the length of the track from 
which air was extracted by a steam-driven pump at 
the Dalkey end. The resulting vacuum caused a 
piston to move along the pipe, to which was 
connected the train. Wax-covered flaps in the pipe 
opened and closed allowing the piston to move 
along its length. As the train moved along a wheel 
pressed down on the pipe sealing in the vacuum as 
progress was made. Problems with this system meant 
a man had to follow the train to manually seal 
the flaps. 

Momentum from the journey would allow the train to 
travel the final part of its journey when the pump 
had been stopped. The piston was then hooked onto 
the train for the return journey back to Kingstown.  
If the train stopped short of the station the 
third-class passengers were required to push the 
carriage the final part home. Occasionally the 
train would fly past the Dalkey station and off 
the tracks at the far end. 

The system worked well for a decade but was 
eventually abandoned because of the problems with 
sealing the vacuum flaps and because of 
developments with steam-driven engines. The grease 
and wax that was used on the flaps was also a great 
attraction for rats who caused repeated damage to 
the line. The tunnel that was constructed along the 
line only offered 3 inches of head clearance making 
it a tricky proposition passengers sticking their 
heads out of the windows! 

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GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
===========================
 
PHRASE:	 	Fainne oir ort!
PRONOUNCED:	fawn-yeh ore urt
MEANING:		A gold ring on you 
			(Bravo! or Well Done!)

PHRASE:		Go dte tu an cead
PRONOUNCED:	guh day two on kade
MEANING:		May you live to be 100

PHRASE:		Go maire tu! 
PRONOUNCED:	guh mire-ehh two
MEANING:		May you live 
			(Congratulations! or Live long!)


View the archive of phrases here:

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

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SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH:	IRISHNATION.COM

Shop online for everything you need for Christmas
FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY


http://www.irishnation.com

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NOVEMBER COMPETITION RESULT
===========================

The winner was: aileenbrown@sympatico.ca
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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