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  The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter 
                   June 2008
 
The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland 
 Now received by over 50,000 people worldwide 
      https://www.ireland-information.com 
          https://www.irishnation.com
              Copyright (C) 2008  

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		IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== Democracy is the Real Loser   by Dawn Hayden
=== A Paraffin Oil Table Lamp     by Pat Watson
=== Family Research             by Rod Humphries
=== The Death of Kevin Barry
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Shamrock Site of the Month: Celticattic.com
=== Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
========

Ireland has recently voted down the latest 
European treaty amid despair from its politicians. 
As Leonard Cohen said during his recent concert 
in Dublin: 'Ireland - still bewildering the world!' 
See the opinion article in this months edition 
for more.

Many thanks to Pat Watson for another of his 
'lyrical yarns' - why dont YOU send us in an 
article, poem or story for inclusion in the 
newsletter!

Until next month,

Michael

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

IRISH ECONOMY CONTINUES TO SUFFER

High oil and food prices, the slowdown in the 
property market, increasing unemployment and the 
credit crunch have all combined to halt the 
Irish economy in its tracks. Some economists are 
even forecasting a recession although a slowdown to 
growth of 1% seems more likely over the next year.

The sight of dozens of young people actually 
queueing up for jobs in the Stephens Green Centre 
is something that has not been seen for years. 
Many young people in Ireland have only really 
known the 'boom' times and have no memory of the 
economic wasteland that was the 1980s. They are in 
for a shock.

Sales of new cars are a good indicator of consumer 
appetite but with sales down by 50% over the last 
12 months it is clear that spending is being 
severely curtailed.

Government funds are also being spectacularly hit, 
mainly because of the severe downturn in the 
property market. Rising inflation is also a problem 
with much of this being imported in the form of 
higher oil and food prices. Unemployment is now 
at 207,300 - the highest rate since June 1999, and 
is expected to top 7%.

Unlike the 1980s however, Ireland is much better 
equipped to deal with the downturn. Some 
economists are predicting that, if a sensible 
national pay deal can be extracted from the 
ongoing negotiations between employers, the 
government and trade unions, then a return to 
decent levels of growth can be anticipated even 
within a couple of years. 

IRELAND REJECTS THE LISBON TREATY

Ireland has voted to reject the Lisbon treaty 
by 53.4% to 46.6. The consequences of this 
decision are as yet unclear although there 
remains the possibility that the Irish Government 
will try to hold a second referendum to get the 
treaty ratified.

See the opinion article below for more information 
about the Irish vote on Lisbon.

TARA CAMPAIGNERS MAY GO TO COURT AGAIN
 
Campaigners who are trying to prevent the 
completion of the new motorway that runs adjacent 
to the Hill of Tara are seeking to have a High 
Court ruling struck out. The High Court ruled 
in 2005 that the 38 cited areas near the 
construction work are not national monuments 
and that work could thus continue.

Those groups opposing the motorway are concerned 
that the construction work will destroy historical 
artifacts and damage the area. Those in favour of 
the motorway point out that the new road is 
actually further away from the Hill of Tara itself 
than the original road it will replace.

AIRLINE SURVEY BAD NEWS FOR RYANAIR

A survey by 'Which?' magazine has listed Aer 
Lingus as the 9th best short-haul airline. 
Ryanair was placed 33rd. UK airline Palmair 
was rated number 1.

LEARNER DRIVERS TO BE CURTAILED

New regulations have been introduced that will 
make it compulsory for learner drivers to have 
a fully qualified driver in their car with them
at all times. This will apply to learners who 
are on their second or subsequent provisional 
licences.


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https://www.ireland-information.com/newsletterboard/wwwboard.html

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

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 5 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

B: Breslin
J: Judge
L: Lucey
S: Short, Shields

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##################################################
DEMOCRACY IS THE REAL LOSER AS IRISH REJECT LISBON
by Dawn Hayden
##################################################

The Lisbon Treaty is an agreement carved out by 
the Governments of the European Union. It is 
primarily concerned with the organisation of 
the EU itself and made certain claims regarding
improved accountability by the EU to its citizens.

So far 19 of the 27 EU members have ratified 
the treaty by parliamentary majorities. Ireland 
is the only country to have had a referendum 
despite demands from some other EU states that 
their governments hold a vote.

Ireland rejected the treaty by 53.4% to 46.6. 
Only 10 of 46 constituencies voted in favour of 
the new agreement. 

The reasons why Ireland voted no have been the 
subject of much analysis in the media and among 
politicians within Ireland and the EU. 

Those who wanted a yes vote (including over 90% 
of members of the Irish parliament and all of 
the main political parties except Sinn Fein) have 
criticized the 'no' campaign and their tactics.

The victorious anti-Lisbon campaigners have 
similarly accused the 'yes' side of telling lies 
and of compromising Ireland's neutrality by 
proposing acceptance of the treaty. 

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of both sides 
arguments it is fair to say that the reaction to 
this democratic decision by the Irish people has 
been nothing short of staggering.

Before the vote tallies had even been completed 
some Irish politicians were suggesting that the 
Irish parliament could simply legislate certain 
parts of the treaty into effect, despite the 
impending rejection by the electorate.

Across Europe various political leaders 
repeatedly stated that this is now an 'Irish 
problem' and one that Ireland must solve! EU law 
provides that all EU treaties must be ratified by 
all of the 27 countries or they cannot come 
into effect. Despite this the EU is pressing ahead 
with the ratification of the treaty in the other 
26 countries.

It is quite clear that they expect the Irish 
government to hold a second referendum and to 
force the treaty over the finishing line. No such 
demand was made of France and The Netherlands when 
they both rejected the original EU constitution 
(the fore-runner of the Lisbon treaty) in 2005.

The treaty is a very complicated document without 
any clear 'selling point'. The Irish Taoiseach 
admitted that he had not even read the entire text 
of the treaty. The full implications of the 
various complicated measures it would have brought 
into law would only have become clear once these 
measures were tested in the EU courts. The 'no' 
side maintain this would involve the creation of 
an EU army with possible conscription and a 
negation of Irish neutrality. The 'yes' side 
dispute this.

Some EU commentators have described Ireland as 
being 'ungrateful'. Ireland is still very 
pro-Europe and has benefitted from EU membership. 
Ireland has also given a huge amount back to the 
EU especially in recent years when citizens of 
some of the poorest countries in Europe were 
allowed free access to employment opportunities 
in this country (something not allowed by France 
or Germany). A large proportion of the money 
they earned here flowed back into the economies 
of Slovakia, Poland, Latvia and the rest.

The suggestion that Ireland should have simply 
rubber-stamped the treaty that the Irish Taioseach 
had not even read and whose measures were at best, 
unclear, out of some sense of gratitude to the EU 
is, frankly, utterly preposterous. It is also 
deeply insulting to an independent sovereign 
nation whose electorate have made a democratic 
decision. 

Th consequences of this vote for Irish leader 
Brian Cowen are huge. If he attempts to hold a 
second referendum there is a very real possibility 
that it will be again rejected which could 
facilitate a huge backlash against his ruling 
Fianna Fail party. It could also provide an 
opportunity for the opposition parties to oppose 
the government on the basis that it is ignoring 
the democratic will of the Irish people.

What is the point of having a vote if the 
government will simply have another vote until 
it gets the decision it wants? What kind of 
democracy exists in the European Union when 
the citizens of Ireland are the only ones allowed 
to actually cast a vote? Why should Ireland allow 
itself to be bullied by the bigger nations of 
Europe? 

Regardless of the rights or wrongs of Ireland's 
vote, if the Irish are bullied, their will 
ignored and this decision is overturned, then it 
is democracy that will be the real loser.

Dawn Hayden

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=========================
A PARAFFIN OIL TABLE LAMP
by Pat Watson
=========================
            
'Please to help me Herr Mister, my bicycle she is 
punctured.' Willie Killion was mesmerised. During 
the war forty-year-old west of Ireland farmers' 
sons seldom met film-star types in distress while 
cycling to town. 

In her little saddlebag she had a full repair kit 
including two little tyre levers. Willie had 
always used spoons to remove tyres. The levers 
were much better, even if he was a bit addled by 
the strange fragrance. Perfume was rare in the 
west. She was talkative with the face and gait of 
a young girl - the body of a woman and a neck 
just like his mother. Judging by her hair she was 
a dab hand with the rack (comb). By the time the 
bicycle was back on its wheels he was enchanted. 
 
She had just arrived in Ireland to escape the war. 
She was renting Carter's vacant house just here. 
She had lost everything, including her family. 
'Would he like some tea? The kettle was on the 
boil'. He stood in the sitting room holding his 
cap in his hand while she talked from the 
kitchen. 'You to join me on the chaise longue' 
she said as she placed the tray on a little table. 
He had been looking at the sofa with only one end. 
'So that's what it's called!' She sat on the 
reclining end while he gingerly sat on the other 
end. The tray had two cups and a plate with two 
little long loaves, split down the middle with 
sausages in the centre. Frankfurters, she called 
them. They were like rubber sausages, took a lot 
of chewing. He was on his way to town to buy the 
makings of a new suit. She would go with him.

As they cycled he forgot Mary, with her farm and 
her aging parents. For years she had been his 
best hope as his older brother was the heir 
apparent to the home farm. Not that he had got 
any farther than thinking of Mary but this foreign 
lady stirred his fancy in a way totally new to 
him. She had said her name was Brigitte. He 
supposed that was a mispronounced Bridget. Sure 
Bridget was his mother's name. The parish church 
was St Bridget's - they even had a St Bridget's 
holy well. Was it a sign? 

They parked their bicycles in the alley between 
the drapers and the hardware shop. 
'Isn't zat lamp ze most beautiful lamp you ever 
saw!' she said, looking in the window.
'It would ve just perfect on my sitting room 
table! No? Ve had one just like it before ve 
lost everything. It would make life in this 
strange country just like ze Fatherland, but of 
course I can never have it, I am too poor now.' 
She whimpered. As he looked at her sad face, she 
flashed her very long eyelashes. He never saw 
eyelashes that long before. The poor girl was 
distraught. The lamp was thirty-seven shillings 
and six pence. He had fifty shillings for the 
makings of the suit. If he bought her the lamp it 
would make her happy, she would smile again, it 
would make her forget her troubles and her 
loneliness, she would be very pleased and 
grateful, maybe very, very grateful. To hell with 
the suit, he would buy her the lamp.

They packed it in a wooden box, filling the 
inside of the globe with newspaper and packing 
the whole thing in fine sawdust. They even 
included a bottle of paraffin oil for fuel. Wasn't 
he the proud man cycling home with the luxury 
lamp on the carrier and the beautiful lady beside 
him. He wouldn't call the Queen his aunt. It 
didn't bother him that she spoke friendly to an 
army fellow.

He unpacked the lamp, placed it on the table and 
when he fitted the globe it was magnificent. 
'Vell Herr Villy Villian you are vonderful' she 
said and throwing out her arms, she caught him by 
the ears and kissed him lightly on the lips. His 
heart went mad. He was transfixed with a hideous 
grin. He had never been kissed before. 
'Thank you velly, velly much Herr Villy,' she 
said as she ushered him out the door. 
'You must visit again, but now I have some letters 
to write' He jumped on the bike, emitting little 
yahoo's - sure he nearly did himself an injury 
jumping on the saddle. Night had fallen but with 
light in his heart he scarcely noticed. He could 
still feel where her lips met his. He could still 
smell the perfume. His ears would never be the 
same again. He pulled up suddenly. A thought had 
just struck him.
Why did she usher him out?
Had she expected him to respond to the kiss? 
Maybe she was disappointed. He should have 
guzzled her.
'You're a fool,' he told himself.
'You waited a lifetime for this and now you're 
cycling away when you should be making hay'. 
He turned back. He would return and take up where 
they left off. He was sure that's what she wanted.
What excuse would he give for coming back?
The box! He would say he wanted the box for a 
clucking hen, to set a clutch of eggs for 
hatching, that sounded plausible. Anyhow she 
would probably fly into his arms and words 
would be superfluous. After that he could play it 
by ear. He was very excited. Wasn't this his 
lucky day? 
'It's night you idiot, day or night what matter? 
Go man go.' 

When he got to her house the blind was pulled and 
there was a man's bicycle outside. He went down 
on one knee and peeped in under the blind. Bridget 
was reclining in the chaise longue. The army 
fellow was reclining with her. He had his head 
left on her chest looking up at her. She was 
holding a frankfurter in her mouth and he was 
trying to bite it. He couldn't because she was 
holding his ears. He rapped on the door. She 
opened it. He brushed past her, took the lamp in 
both hands and walked out, his anger carrying him 
on.
'But Herr Villy ve vill have no light!'
'Ye won't need light for what you're at!' 
Writing letters, my foot! to whom? Wasn't all 
belonging to her dead? 'Moryagh'  
She was probably a German spy. She was using her 
sausage to get information out of the army fellow. 
He hoped she'd get caught. They might even shoot 
her. She would roast in hell. It would be the 
price of her for meddling with the makings of a 
man's suit.  

Half a mile down the road he came to Mary's house. 
He marched up the path still holding the lighted 
lamp. Mary looked out the window.
'Daddy! There's an apparition coming up the 
garden' The father looked out.
'Come Nancy,' he said to his wife, 
'Out the back door, this is a man on a mission, 
leave him to Mary'. Mary opened the door. Willie 
marched in and put the lamp on the table. Mary 
held out her arms in awe. Before she could catch 
his ears he bear hugged her. She was agreeably 
surprised. She had been a little concerned about 
his masculinity, she need not have worried, he 
was all man. Even the old couple peeping in the 
window squeezed hands. 

Did they all live happily ever after? 
Why wouldn't they? 
Hadn't they the best-lit Parlour in the parish.

~~~

'A Paraffin Oil Table Lamp' 
is one of sixty lyrical yarns from 
'Original Irish Stories' by Pat Watson, 
Creagh, Bealnamulla, Athlone, Ireland. 
First published in March 2006.
Get your copy from here:
http://www.myirishstories.com

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================
FAMILY RESEARCH
by Rod Humphries
================

I am an Australian who lives in Texas. I am an 
author who also writes for magazines and I was 
doing a typical Irish tongue-in-cheek 
advertisement about my family and the original 
Humphries (Patrick) in Australia who was an Irish 
convict - sent to the harsh new colony for seven 
years in 1793 for stealing copper off the roofs 
of houses in County Wicklow. I decided to upgrade 
today's family image by referring to it as 
'The House of Humphries' and then had the bright 
idea to track down something in a heraldic crest 
that would help even further in this fun piece.

I had a genealogical expert in Great Britain 
delving into my family history and she came back
 with British Army discharge papers of Patrick 
Humphries in Sydney, Australia, after 26 years 
as a private. She was ecstatic that she had found 
it. I wrote back and said: 
'26 years as a private! Either he was the 
dumbest guy who ever walked ...or he had a 
dubious background.' 

Turns out he was sent there for seven years for 
stealing copper and signed up for the Army in 
1800 after doing his time!

Rod Humphries 

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========================
THE DEATH OF KEVIN BARRY
========================

Kevin Barry was 18 years old when he was hanged 
in Mountjoy Jail on November 1st 1920. 
His death at such a young age is possibly the 
most poignant in recent Irish history.

He was born in 1902 in Dublin and grew up both 
in the capital and in County Carlow. He enrolled 
in Belvedere College in 1916 and joined the Irish 
Volunteers, a nationalist organisation. In 1919 
he enrolled in Dublin University to study 
medicine. The Michael Collins led War of 
Independence was developing and Barry, as Section 
Commander, played his part in various raids 
around Dublin city.

On September 20th 1920 he took part in one such 
raid that went badly wrong. A street gun battle 
ensued and three British soldiers were killed. 
This was very significant in that these were the 
first British soldier deaths in Ireland since the 
1916 Easter Rising led by Pearse and Connolly. 
Barry hid under a truck as the British searched 
for him but was discovered when a passer-by, 
concerned for his safety underneath the huge 
vehicle, inadvertently warned the soldiers of 
his whereabouts.

Reports of his torture in Mountjoy Jail soon 
circulated but Barry refused to name his comrades. 
He was given a death sentence but it was widely 
believed that this sentence would be commuted, and 
that the British authorities would not dare to 
execute an eighteen year-old. 

As the deadline approached it became clear that 
Kevin Barry would be executed. A planned rescue 
by Michael Collins came to nothing when 
reinforcements from Dublin Castle were ordered to 
the prison because of the large crowds that had 
gathered outside. It was reported that Barry had 
requested to be shot by firing squad rather than 
hanged, which he viewed as a death not befitting 
a soldier. The hangman, Ellis, had to be brought 
into the country from England, as no-one in 
Ireland could be found for the job. The calmness 
and bravery the young Barry showed in the hours 
leading up to his execution has become the 
stuff of legends. Despite protestations from 
clerics and politicians alike he was hanged in 
Mountjoy Jail on November 1st, 1920. 

Just as in the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising 
the British military in Ireland had badly 
misjudged the situation. Had they simply 
imprisoned the leaders of 1916 it is likely that 
the huge upsurge in support for Irish nationalism 
would not have taken place. By executing someone 
as young as Kevin Barry in 1920 they handed the 
Irish Republican Army a huge propaganda victory. 
Young recruits flocked to join the IRA in the War 
of Independence, which in turn led to the Treaty, 
The partition of Ireland, the Civil War, 
Independence and all that has occurred since.

It was reported that, for the rest of his life,
Michael Collins bitterly regretted not being able 
to save the young soldier.

~~

The famous song 'Kevin Barry' was penned shortly 
after his death and is still revived in ballad 
sessions in Ireland to this very day:

In Mountjoy jail one Monday morning
High upon the gallows tree,
Kevin Barry gave his young life
For the cause of liberty. 
But a lad of eighteen summers,
Still there's no one can deny,
As he walked to death that morning,
He proudly held his head on high. 

2. Just before he faced the hangman,
In his dreary prison cell,
The Black and Tans tortured Barry,
Just because he wouldn't tell. 
The names of his brave comrades,
And other things they wished to know.
'Turn informer and we'll free you'
Kevin Barry answered, 'No'. 

3. 'Shoot me like a soldier.
Do not hang me like a dog,
For I fought to free old Ireland
On that still September morn. 
'All around the little bakery
Where we fought them hand to hand,
Shoot me like a brave soldier,
For I fought for Ireland.'
 
4. 'Kevin Barry, do not leave us,
On the scaffold you must die!'
Cried his broken-hearted mother
As she bade her son good-bye. 
Kevin turned to her in silence
Saying, 'Mother, do not weep,
For it's all for dear old Ireland
And it's all for freedom's sake.' 

5. Calmly standing to attention
While he bade his last farewell
To his broken hearted mother
Whose grief no one can tell. 
For the cause he proudly cherished
This sad parting had to be
Then to death walked softly smiling
That old Ireland might be free. 

6. Another martyr for old Ireland,
Another murder for the crown,
Whose brutal laws to crush the Irish,
Could not keep their spirit down. 
Lads like Barry are no cowards.
From the foe they will not fly.
Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For her sake they'll live and die. 

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===========================
GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
===========================

PHRASE:		Ni ceart go cur le cheile
PRONOUNCED:	knee keart guh kurr leh kail-eh
MEANING:		There is no strength without unity

PHRASE:		Is maith an scathan suil charad
PRONOUNCED:	iss mot on scah-hawn sewell karr-add
MEANING:		A friends eye is a good mirror

PHRASE:		Ni hespa go dith carad 
PRONOUNCED:	knee hes-pah guf dee karr-add
MEANING:		There is no need like the lack of a friend

View the archive of phrases here:

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

=================================================

SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH	CELTICATTIC.COM
==========================

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Irish Bath, Beauty and Herbal needs are in one 
convenient location! The Majority of our products 
are Irish, Scottish, Welsh made.

http://www.celticattic.com
Phone orders 360-765-0186

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=======================
JUNE COMPETITION RESULT
=======================

The winner was: SJParker@hughes.net
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. 

=================================================

I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.

Until next time,

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

https://www.ireland-information.com

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