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		IN THIS ISSUE
~~~ Foreword
~~~ Keep us Free!
~~~ News Snaps from Ireland 
~~~ New free resources at the site
~~~ Christmas in Australia   by Susan Hoogenboom
~~~ An Irish Odyssey 		by Carole Kenney
~~~ Irish Penpals Success Story   by Larry Young
~~~ Touring Ireland by Car by Keith & Peg Turner
~~~ Play the Irish Draw
~~~ Gaelic phrases of the month
~~~ Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
~~~~~~~~

A new year in Ireland has sen a new monument for 
Dublin. The Spire is finally completed and is 
the world's tallest sculpture! See the News 
Snaps below.

Many thanks to all who have supported the site 
over the last year. We will continue to provide 
you with great free information and resources 
from Ireland!

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'.

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:	
 
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will get much better results by viewing this 
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CELTIC GIFTS!

Shop on line for everything you need to decorate 
your home and life with a Celtic Twist: Art, 
Crafts, Irish & Scottish Baskets, Suncatchers,
WindChimes, 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.
Phone orders 360-765-0186

http://www.celticattic.com

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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEW ECONOMIC DEAL IS PROPOSED

Despite a background of job cuts and an economic 
slowdown, a new national pay deal between 
employers and staff unions moved several steps 
closer with the announcement of a set of 
proposals to break the deadlock.

The new deal proposes the following:

* 7% paid in three stages over the next 18 months
* Minimum Wage to be increased by 10%
* Benchmarking to be paid over 3 years in return 
  for a public sector pay-pause.
* Statutory redundancy payments to be doubled
* Social housing to receive extra funds
* Inflation to be tackled by Employers and Unions

HOUSE PRICES RISE AGAIN IN 2002
 
The slowdown in growth in the price of houses in 
2001 was reversed dramatically in 2002. House 
prices rose by over 13% last year and mortgage 
lenders are predicting an 8% rise in 2003. This 
compares with the modest 4.1% growth rate in 2001. 
County Mayo is the cheapest County in Ireland to 
buy a house at an average cost of EURO 150,000. 
Dublin 4 is the most expensive area with an 
average cost of EURO 520,000.

LANDMARK LEGAL RULING ON ASYLUM SEEKERS

A significant ruling by the Supreme Court in 
Ireland is expected to have a serious effect on 
the number of immigrants who have the right to 
claim citizenship. Previously the parents of any 
child born in Ireland had the right to stay with 
the child, because the child was entitled to Irish 
citizenship. this resulted in a huge influx of 
heavily pregnant immigrants and caused severe 
difficulties for maternity hospitals, especially 
those in Dublin.

The new ruling means that parents of a child born 
here no linger have an automatic right to stay 
and face deportation if their case for asylum is 
proven to be unfounded. It is widely accepted that 
the majority of the 10,000 families who have made 
applications based on the rights of their child's 
citizenship are not genuine asylum seekers, but 
are in fact, economic migrants who are attracted 
to Ireland's much improved economy and welfare 
state.

The Minister for Justice has rejected calls by 
refugee groups for an amnesty for those applicants 
who have applied for citizenship before the 
Supreme COurt ruling. nevertheless, he has made 
it clear that each case will be dealt with in a 
humane manner. It seems unlikely therefore that 
those applicants who already have their children 
in primary school will face deportation.

The new rules will make Ireland a less attractive 
option for economic migrants and especially if the 
right to welfare payments to those applicants who 
have just given birth are removed by thr 
Government. Refugees arriving here are currently 
entitled to accommodation, food, and to health 
and education services while their application is 
being processed.

WORLDS TALLEST SCULPTURE IS NOW IN DUBLIN

The newly created 'Spire of Dublin' is 120 metres 
tall and is the world's tallest free-standing 
sculpture. Although considerably smaller than the 
Eiffel Tower (300 metres) or the Empire STate 
Building (381 metres), it does hold the record 
as the world's tallest sculpture.

The Spire is located on O'Connell Street only 
yards from the General Post Office where Padraig 
Pearse read the famous 1916 Declaration of 
Independence prior to the Easter Rising. The 
latest rising on the street was achieved at a 
cost of 4.6 Million Euro and is to be officially 
opened on Saint Patrick's Day. A modern plaza 
involving wider walkways and extensive tree 
planting is to be continued on O'Connell street 
over the next year.

Dublin City Council is expected to raise 
millions from the sale of miniature replicas 
of the Spire, when they acquire the copyright 
from the architect.

SMOKING MAY BE BANNED IN PUBLIC PLACES

A new report that highlights the link between 
passive smoking and cancer is likely to lead to 
a complete ban on smoking in pubs, clubs and 
workplaces. The Minister for Health has recently 
announced plans to ban smoking in restaurants and 
in pubs where food is served but the new report 
may make a total ban inevitable.

Tourist bodies and pub owners have warned of the 
economic cost to the country of a complete ban. 
Health bodies have highlighted the huge cost of 
future health care if the issue is not tackled.

CATHOLIC CHURCH TO ADVERTISE FOR PRIESTS

An advertising campaign is to be instigated by 
the Catholic Church in Ireland to try to get more 
men to join the priesthood. Recent years have 
seen a dramatic falloff in those taking up a 
religious vocation. The ads will ne placed on 
buses and at train stations in Dublin.

NEW IRISH SOCCER MANAGER TO BE UNVEILED

Brian Kerr has been named as the new manager of 
the Irish international Soccer team. The successor 
to Mick McCarthy has an excellent record at 
underage level leading Ireland to European 
under-18 and under-16 glory in 1998, and taking 
the bronze medal in the to World under-20 
competition in Malaysia. Chris Hughton is 
expected to be named as his assistant. 

Ireland faces a tough task of qualifying for the 
European Championships in Portugal in 2004 having 
lost the first two games. Brian Kerr has been 
given a three year contract which will include 
the qualifying tournament for the 2006 World Cup 
in Germany.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

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

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Get your Family Crest Cigarette Case, Hip Flask, 
Tankard and much more. Keep us alive! 
- visit https://www.irishnation.com

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

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 18 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

B: Baggott, Bentley
C: Crampsie, McCade, McClinton
E: Enright
G: Goff, McGlinchey
H: McHoney
L: Landes, Larrett
M: Mulcahey
P: Portor, Pumphrey
R: Roberts
T: Thornberry, Tracy
W: Winter

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, Claddagh Ring,
Screensaver, Watch, T-Shirt Transfer or Clock for
your name at:

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

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CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA       by Susan Hoogenboom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here we are in a climate as different as can be 
from what you experience at Christmas in Ireland. 

On Christmas Day we have lunch on our verandah, 
usually with three fans going to keep cool. Being 
a nation of immigrants, our traditions are mixed. 
Most families have the traditional hot dinner of 
turkey or pork, with chicken and ham, vegetables, 
plum pudding and custard.

We say from time to time that this is really 
stupid, but every year, there we are, perspiring 
as we cook, pulling our Christmas Crackers, 
drinking large amounts to help keep cool, but in 
fact becoming a bit tipsy along the way.

Some Aussies have changed that and are camping at 
the beach, eating off picnic tables, their 
Christmas dinner being cold meat and salad. 
Seafood of all types has become popular and 
crayfish, prawns etc., are in huge demand.

I read with interest about St.Stephen's Day on the 
26th. It is Boxing Day for us, and a public 
holiday, except for shop assistants who can 
volunteer to work or not. The huge post Christmas 
sales start, but I keep away. For my husband and I 
it is a day of relaxation after the mad rush 
before Christmas. When I was a child in the 1950s, 
and even up until the 1960s we had pantomimes, but 
sadly they seem to have disappeared. We have 
'Pirates of Penzance' every year for the last few 
years, plus 'Wind in the Willows' performed 
outdoors, we have twilight concerts at the zoo, 
movies on large screens in the Botanical Gardens, 
and as a lot of people take holidays now, 
including the school children, a general slowing 
down time.

My ancestors came from Clare, Limerick and Wexford, 
arriving in Australia in the 1840s and 1850s. When 
my husband and I were lucky enough to visit Ireland 
in 1998, I cried as we approached Dublin airport. I 
felt like I was coming home. Never in my life had I 
seen such greens, our lawns in Australia at this 
time of the year are brown, especially with water 
restrictions which we now have. Even in winter our 
greens are never like those of Ireland.

Here was all my history, and what a feeling to 
stand in the towns where my ancestors trod and 
made the momentous decision to go so far away to 
start again. Imagine how their first Christmases 
were, in hot and sunny conditions instead of cold 
and snow.

My husband was born in Holland and for him, 
Christmas is snow, midnight Mass and gathering 
around the fire to keep warm while opening 
presents. Strangely enough here in Australia most 
of our Christmas cards until recent years featured 
snow scenes and sleighs. That is gradually 
changing. Maybe we have this secret longing to 
experience such a Christmas. As I write this it is 
37 degrees celsius, and my family is heading for 
the beach.

Maybe one day I will be lucky enough to visit 
Ireland again as the ties remain strong and not 
diminished in any way by my one visit.

Small parts of the Irish traditions have stayed 
with those of us of Irish descent. There has 
always been a certain pride in Australia when 
saying that 'my ancestors are Irish'. They fight 
for justice and causes and are strong people.

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Get a Copper Framed 'Cead Mile Failte' Sign for 
your house! Keep us alive! 
- visit https://www.irishnation.com

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AN IRISH ODYSSEY 		BY CAROLE KENNEY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Foreword:
I wrote this humorous verse about my grandmother 
(May) and her three sisters who leaving Ireland 
in 1910 and coming to Boston, California and 
Alaska!

Carole Kenney, USA

      An Irish Odyssey

Baby, Bee, May and Kitty,
Oh, those Irish girls were pretty,
Prancing 'long the River Liffey
Knowing that they looked quite spiffy.
Long white gloves and a wide-brimmed hat,
And no crossed knees when e'er they sat,
Young ladies all - two short, two tall -
But then the rain began to fall.

Dad and Mother sadly died,
The shop would close,
The hams were dried,
Poetry gave way to prose
But the Irish spirit hadn't died.

They bought a boat that seated four,
A shamrock painted on each oar,
And headed for the bold, new world,
Their frocks all pressed, their hair all curled.

The dock master who shoved them out
Offered them a pint of Stout,
'Out Damned Stout' - May's paraphrase
'I'd sooner go to my death,'
The dock master was not impressed,
He hadn't heard of MacBeth.

Bee, the eldest, splashed holy water,
'Oh, no' squealed Baby, 'You really oughta
Pass Sloan's New Linament to me,
I've never rowed much, can't you see!'

So they left green hills - the little four,
And left behind their very core,
The future can't be held at bay,
As Robert Frost knew how to say
'Nothing gold can ever stay.'

Kitty, scanning aft and fore
Was first to spy the eastern shore,
'Faster, row with all your might',
She clutched her box of chocolates tight.

May mustered all her Irish ire
And rowed like her prayer book was on fire.
They sudden landed with a thud
That spattered all their frocks with mud
And catapulted Kit and Babe toward 
San Francisco Bay.

Said flying Kit to little Babe, 'Where goeth Bee?'
Said Babe, 'Why don't you ask her,
Oh, I think that she just took a right and is 
headed for Alaska.'

They landed hard - each of the three,
The Richter leaped too high to see.

'So when you slide into the sea'
Spake May to the western scenery,
'Blame Kit and Babe and Bee - not me!'
And she dropped the oars quite pompously.

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CARA IRISH PENPALS SUCCESS STORY   by Larry Young
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been a member of Cara for at least five 
years, perhaps longer. I'm not exactly sure when 
I became a member. Cara is a different type chat 
room than any I've found elsewhere. It's 
structured differently and takes some getting 
used to; but there are always, always friendly 
and interesting people there. As an American, I 
didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly 
surprised at what I did find.

About four years or so ago, I met a wonderful 
woman there named Morag. Now, as I understand it, 
and my memory serves me correctly, that's the 
Gaelic word for Sarah. We've been conversing 
for almost all that time and I've learned a 
great deal about Scotland, at least the part 
where she lives, about Sarah herself, and I've 
come to understand the way she thinks. At least, 
I hope I have. 

We're different, she and I. I'm a male, a 
journalist, and quite a bit older than she and 
while I should be outgoing, I find I'm a bit 
reclusive, preferring to watch other people as 
they parade through their lives. Morag, on the 
other hand, is beautiful, outspoken, vivacious 
and just fun! She's taken some getting used to, 
that's for sure. She speaks her mind! I'm used 
to offensive politicians and public officials, 
to boorish folk, it's part of the job… I've 
also had the luck to meet wonderful people, 
sometimes, colorful people who make their whole 
better. Morag is like that. She just makes the 
space around her glow.

We've gone through loves, lovers and broken 
relationships together, Morag and I. We've 
gotten drunk, had fights, somberly and sometimes 
painfully made up. Sometimes I don't know 
whether she's my girlfriend, wife, sister, 
daughter or mother at times. But she's always my 
friend. I've met a lot of people in my life and 
career, a former governor who became president, 
an ex-convict who's constructed log cabins in 
small apple cider bottles that he sold in small 
shops and lots of others great and small. They 
all have a place in the photo album of my life. 
But I have to thank Cara for giving me the 
vehicle through which I met Morag. Sarah. I've 
never known anyone who is combination of some of 
all these experiences. So, thank you, Michael 
Green and thank you, Cara members all. 

Larry Young

You can join Cara Irish Penpals for free here:
http://www.irishpenpals.com

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TOURING IRELAND BY CAR      by Keith & Peg Turner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for something different for a holiday and 
not too bothered if the sun doesn't shine all week, 
my wife and I decided to hire a cottage in Ireland, 
the Dingle Peninsula to be exact, in the Summer of 
1992. What a week of laughs!

Driving off the ferry at Dublin, we headed west on 
the N7 to Dingle arriving at our superb new lodge 
late in the Afternoon. The Atlantic Ocean was about 
the length of a football pitch from our back door. 
Some of the memories of that week will stick in our 
minds forever. 

Taking the Connor Pass route from Tralee to Dingle 
and the viewing platform on top of the mountain. 
We couldn't see our car in the park for mist. 
Driving past Inch beach at 7.30 in the morning and
seeing not a sole on the magnificent sands 
stretching as far as the eye could see. Arriving 
in Cork for the first time in rain which you would 
have expected in the tropics - it was brilliant. 

And getting a puncture repaired at a village 
garage in the ring of Kerry. What a laugh, when we 
left, we only had 2 wheel studs intact on our 
front wheel, the garage owner had cross threaded 
the other two, and told us not to go too fast and 
we would be OK. We had to get the AA man out! 
When that holiday was over, we were smitten by
the Ireland bug. Someday we would be back.

8 years later along with our 21 year old daughter 
we hired a house in Arklow. By the end of that 
week she was smitten too and 6 months later we
rented a house in Waterford. What a beautiful 
city. So much to do. The drive from Waterford to 
Cork on the N25 has to be one of the 10 great 
drives I have ever done, and I have been all over 
the place. September 11th early afternoon in a 
Dunnes Shopping Store in Clonmel we heard the news 
from New York. People will most probably have been 
in more exotic places at that time, but for the 
three of us, we could not have wished to be 
anywhere else. Clonmel, that day, was the world's 
capital.

We have since hired a house in Birr and the 
Blackwater Valley, been up to Sligo and are 
eagerly awaiting our next visit in May 2003 to 
Carrick-on-Shannon. There's still loads to see and 
lots of people to meet in your wonderful Country. 

Anybody reading this that has never been across 
the sea to Ireland, give yourself a treat and go 
there. 

IT'S THE BIZ!

Keith & Peg  Turner.

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Get a Claddagh Ring from Ireland! Keep us alive! 
- visit https://www.irishnation.com

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

PHRASE:		Ni h-e la na baisti la na bpaisti
PRONOUNCED:	nee hay law na bawshtee law na bawshtee
MEANING:		A rainy day isn't a day for the children 

PHRASE:		Is e do bhaile do chaislean 
PRONOUNCED:	iss ay duh vol-yah duh cosh-lawn
MEANING:		Your house is your castle

PHRASE:		Tir gan teanga, tir gan anam 
PRONOUNCED:	teer gon tyong-ga, teer gon on-umm
MEANING:		A country (land) without a language, 
			a country without a soul 

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JANUARY COMPETITION RESULT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The winner was: kerr_trina@hotmail.com
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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Keep us alive! - visit https://www.irishnation.com

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I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.
Please keep the feedback coming!

Until next time,

STAY OUT OF TROUBLE!

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

https://www.ireland-information.com
Click here to contact us