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		IN THIS ISSUE
~~~ Foreword
~~~ Keep us Free!
~~~ News Snaps from Ireland
~~~ New Free Resources at the Site
~~~ A Dublin Tale 	    by Geraldine Flanagan
~~~ Farewell Lovely Erin      by Jeannine Barrett
~~~ Five Unusual Christmas Gift Ideas
~~~ Castle Matrix 	       by Vicky Laurienzo
~~~ Gaelic Phrases of the Month
~~~ Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
~~~~~~~~

Hello again where Dublin has suffered the worst 
city floods since the 1950s with the River Tolka 
bursting its banks and wreaking the homes of many 
people. Hopefully the poor weather will clear up 
because we need some good news after the economic 
forecasts of cutbacks and inflation.

You can help to keep this newsletter alive and 
take care of your Christmas shopping by having 
a look at the 5 unusual Christmas gift items 
listed in an article below.


Until next time, STAY DRY!

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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Why don't you submit an article for inclusion
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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOVERNMENT UNDER PRESSURE OVER CUTBACKS

Widescale cutbacks have been announced by the 
Government amid the deterioration of the public 
finances. A sharp decline in the intake of tax 
revenue has followed the slowdown in the world 
economy in general. Industrial unrest and job 
losses have further given cause for concern and 
the Government has reacted, over-reacted some 
commentators have claimed, by slashing 
expenditure in almost every area.

Despite the billions that have been cut from 
huge capital schemes such as road building 
projects, the focus of the cuts is very much on 
the EURO 38 Million that Charlie McCreevy has 
attempted to save by abolishing the 'first-time 
buyers' grant. This Euro 3810 grant was paid 
to new buyers of houses in an attempt to 
encourage them to get onto the property ladder. 
Opposition party outrage has been echoed by some 
politicians from the ranks of the ruling Fianna 
Fail itself.

BAN ON SMOKING IS EXTENDED

Smoking on Trains and in Pubs when food is being 
served is to be banned by the Government from next 
year. Smoking in Restaurants is to be completely 
banned also.  

The Government proposals have stopped short of a 
complete ban on smoking in pubs as the powerful 
Vintners lobby have repeatedly claimed that to 
do so would seriously affect the tourist industry 
and ultimately result in job losses.

DUBLIN BUS ROUTES TO BE OPENED UP TO COMPETITION

The monopoly by CIE on the operation of Dublin 
Bus routes is to end. By 2004 private operators 
will be allowed to compete for 25% of all routes. 
Profitable and unprofitable routes are to be 
bundled together to ensure that competition is 
fair and that the needs of remote communities are 
met. The scheme is to be introduced on certain
rural routes in the near future. CIE is to be 
abolished and the Rail, Dublin Bus and National 
Bus Companies to be independently mandated.

BACK GARDEN BUILDERS REAP THE REWARDS

The continuing shortage of housing in Ireland has 
led to an expansion of a previously rare occurrence. 
People who happen to have large gardens are 
dividing their lot and building a new house on 
what previously had been their flower beds! 

Experts estimate that the average profit from such 
an exercise is about EURO 400,000 per development. 
Over 1600 such plans are expected to be approved 
this year.

ACTOR RICHARD HARRIS DIES

Irish actor Richard Harris has died of Hodgkin's 
disease in London, aged 72.

He was born in Limerick where he suffered a bout 
of Tuberculosis as a teenager which scuppered 
his promising career as a rugby player. He moved 
to London, initially intending to become a 
director but was soon drawn to acting and studied 
at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art 
in 1956.

After touring Europe and completing several small 
acting roles in films he received some acclaim for 
his minor role as a mutinous sailor in 'Mutiny on 
the Bounty', starring Marlon Brando. His first film 
lead in 'This Sporting Life' established him as 
one of the top actors of his generation and he was 
recognised for his performance with the award for 
best actor at the Cannes Film Festival in 1963. 
His performance in 'A Man Called Horse' was 
equally riveting.

Despite a number of subsequent outings that failed 
to inspire he bounced back to great effect as 
'Bull McCabe' in John B. Keane's wonderfully dark 
'The Field'. He won a Golden Globe nomination for 
his memorable performance.

Commercial success in films such as 'Patriot Games' 
and 'Unforgiven' followed and his most recent 
displays have been in the 'Harry Potter' movies 
where he portrayed 'Professor Dumbledore'.

He is survived by his three sons.

IRISH SOCCER MANAGER MICK MCCARTHY IS SACKED

Only a few short months after the great display 
by his team in the World Cup, Irish soccer manager 
Mick McCarthy has been forced to resign from his 
post after two poor results in the European 
Championships qualifiers and a concerted effort 
by sections of the Irish media to oust him.

McCarthy was Europe's longest serving international
soccer manager before agreeing his payout deal 
with the FAI who have since lost their Chief 
Executive, Brendan Menton, in the wake of the poor 
preparations made by the Association, prior to 
Ireland's participation in the World Cup.

McCarthy is expected to be offered a job in the 
English Premiership, given his excellent record 
as Irish manager. Replacements for his job that 
have been mentioned so far include Kenny Dalglish, 
Joe Kinnear and Brian Kerr.

IRISH RUGBY ON THE MEND

Irish Rugby continued its rejuvenation after back 
to back wins against world champions Australia 
and Fiji. Eddie O'Sullivan's charges can look 
forward to the Six-Nations championships with 
optimism.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

 https://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 10 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

D: Denton, McDevitt
E: Evans
F: Finley
G: Game
L: Lahey
M: McMonagle
N: McNeice, Nunley
P: Pemberton

View the Gallery here:

 http://www.irishsurnames.com/coatsofarms/gm.htm

Visit our new site where you can view thousands of 
family crests from around the world:

 http://www.allfamilycrests.com

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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THE MILK ROBBERS - A DUBLIN TALE 
			by Geraldine Flanagan

Dublin, 1960s

One cold November morning as I was leaving for 
school with my siblings, I noticed that all five 
of our milk bottles had two even round holes in 
each cap and a little cream, which sat heavily on 
top of the milk, had been sipped out. The bottles, 
undisturbed in their usual position, stood in 
military line to the right of our red-polished 
doorstep. Who could have had the patience or the 
necessity to do this! At first, we all surmised 
that some bold ruffian got a straw and had some 
fun slurping, though it was hard to imagine. 
Later, we found out, by way of the Breadman who 
heard it from the Milkman, that Blackbirds were 
hungry in the mornings too. In the cold weather, 
it was usual to see dozens and dozens of 
Blackbirds sitting on rooftop aerials in 
classroom style. This particular morning, 
huddled together against the wind, we giggled 
as we peeped up at them while holding on to 
the hoods of our black school coats. Where did 
they get their cleverness and their love of 
milk, we wondered.

One time for several weeks our milk bottles were 
four instead of five, although, my mother 
continued to pay for five. I thought I'd ask the 
Breadman but was forbidden to do so. Mother told 
us that if someone in the neighbourhood needed a 
daily pint of milk for his family it was best 
that he took it from a five-bottled doorstep 
rather than a two-bottled one and no doubt it 
would stop in due course. It did. The Milkman, 
who must have been aware of this arrangement, 
would occasionally, in his silent fashion, leave 
us a half-pint of cream whenever he found some 
leftover on his wagon. My mother accepted his 
kind gesture graciously even though no words 
were ever exchanged between them.

I spied our milk robber one morning while peering 
through the bedroom curtains to see if it had 
snowed.  Normally one would never check on the 
weather in Ireland so predictably is its rainy 
miserableness but I always hoped for snow whenever 
my feet were cold. On this occasion, I saw the 
white scrawny legs of a young fair-haired boy in 
short trousers. He was jumping over the garden 
wall with a pint of milk in one hand; the other 
hand was all he used to propel himself. He wore 
a ragged sky blue pullover, no coat or jacket at 
all and all I could think of was how cold his 
legs must be and why his Mammy hadn't made him 
change into his long winter trousers. He was 
about eleven. He didn't notice me and I was glad 
of that because I recognized him as Jimmy from 
two roads away. We liked his big family because 
the children were friendly and given to quick and 
easy laughter. Besides Jimmy was the only boy who 
didn't torment us younger girls on our way to 
school in the mornings with sling-shots. Indeed 
he often protected us. I came to the conclusion 
that he must be taking the milk for the baby in 
his house. Babies needed so much milk, after all, 
and my mother would never let a baby go hungry. 
It all made sense.  I was tempted to invite him 
to take two bottles on the way home from school 
the next day but something in the scared look on 
his face as he jumped over the wall made me feel 
it was not something one should approach him 
about. And so I didn't. In hindsight, my mother, 
had she known of my magnanimity, would have 
killed me.

As time moved along, I noticed Jimmy always 
looking out for his younger siblings. His mother 
referred to him as her right-hand man. Although 
all his attentiveness and kindness towards her 
never changed the forever-worried expression on 
her drawn face. His eyes would light up like a 
headlamp when he met his mother on her way home 
from work but the delight shining in his eyes 
was not reciprocated in hers. The father had 
died. Jimmy's mother, for many years, would allow 
this sad fact to overshadow all the good-times 
that was also allotted to them. 

We all envied Jimmy helping the Baker for a few 
bob on Saturday mornings because that was the day 
the Baker sold cream cakes. On Saturday afternoons, 
Jimmy would take bags of coal off the Coalman's 
horse-drawn wagon for sixpence and delivered them 
doubly quick saving our elderly Coalman soreness 
and time. In the evenings, in an effort to sell 
leftover newspapers, he would shout at the top of 
his lungs: 'Evening Herald, Irish Press', and in 
doing so would mimic the facial expressions of the 
professional newspaper boys outside the GPO in 
town center.  This activity made him look ugly 
because his mouth would go in all sorts of 
directions. But he always appeared to be enjoying 
himself, nonetheless. Eventually his pale freckled 
skin assumed a weather-beaten redness much like 
the complexion of a Fisherman from the Aran 
Islands. My mother would shake her head and 
murmur: 'Is that boy ever at home!'.  

Then one day he was gone. Australia at age 
eighteen. The way life goes we never heard much 
more about him after that or how he fared. But 
I, having secret knowledge of his resourcefulness, 
knew in my heart he would do well. To this day, 
I picture him shining in a big city on the other 
side of the world much needed and much loved. 

Geraldine Flanagan
November 8, 2002

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FAREWELL LOVELY ERIN      by Jeannine Barrett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wrote this poem the day I was leaving Ireland. 
I had just spent 10 glorious days traveling 
throughout the country with my mother and cousins. 
It was my first trip to Ireland and I knew the 
minute I landed that I was destined to be there 
and I will be back some day. The country, the 
people the beauty and the history touched my 
life...

Farewell Lovely Erin
 
Farewell to my lovely Erin
the isle of hopes and dreams
the forever ancestral home
My home so far away
 
Never will I forget 
The mist that caressed my cheek
The fury of your winds that blew my 
troubles away...
 
The green hills and valleys, 
the red of the berries
are memories in my heart.
A sight to behold
 
Oh... the stories that you told...
Your music and your songs
The gentle brogue in your voice
The laughter and the joy I felt all those days
Ring true in my heart Today and
Always
 
There is a strong smell of freedom
the scent of my heritage
Will forever be in my soul.
 
I have felt your spirit
Your power and your Love
Farewell my lovely Erin
In my heart you will stay strong.

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FIVE UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

Finding an unusual Christmas gift can be a time 
consuming chore so we have provided 5 of the best 
below. All include free worldwide shipping.

**1** If you are furnishing a House, Apartment or 
Office then you will appreciate our Celtic Plaques 
that show designs based on the world-famous Book 
of Kells as well as easily recognised symbols such 
as the Harp, the Celtic Cross and the Shamrock.
Hand crafted using beaten copper and mounted on 
hardwood or framed these make are very unusual 
gifts that look just great.

Go here: 
https://www.irishnation.com/celticplaques.htm

**2** A new addition to our host of products that 
include hand engraved rings, cuff links, watches 
and much more include our superb Celtic Cross 
Pendant and Chain which has the family crest for 
your family name engraved on it. 

Go here: 
https://www.irishnation.com/irishjewelry.htm

**3** Our glass engraver has been very busy lately 
and you will be able to see why when you view the 
superb Wine Goblets, Pint Glasses, Shooter sets 
and much more that are all hand engraved.

Go here: 
https://www.irishnation.com/coatofarmsglassware.htm

**4** Ancestral Maps of Ireland that are perfect 
for framing and look great!

Go here: 
https://www.irishnation.com/heraldicmaps.htm

**5** No Time to shop? Not sure what to give? Let 
your chosen recipient decide with our 'friendly 
terms of use' Gift Tokens.

https://www.irishnation.com/irishgiftcertificates

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CASTLE MATRIX 		   by Vicky Laurienzo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Castle Matrix is the headquarters of the Irish 
International Arts Centre and the Heraldry Society 
of Ireland. Located 29 kms (18 miles) south-west 
of Limerick on the main Killarney Road, the castle 
was in ruins for years until 1964, when American 
Col. John J. O'Driscoll undertook its restoration. 
After years of painstaking work and research, 
the castle was completed. Unfortunately, Col. 
O'Driscoll died in 1991. The castle is now 
operated by his family.

This Castle was built on a sanctuary of the Celtic 
Goddess of love and poetry, Matres. Castle Matrix 
('matres' is a celtic word meaning 'of mother', and 
was changed to 'matrix' because it sounded too 
much like mattress) was built in 1440 by the 7th 
Earl of Desmond, the renowned Norman-Irish poet. 
The square castle was built in the mid 15th 
century. It has entered the history books several 
times. In the 1600's it was owned by Sir Thomas 
Southwell, of the family of Robert Southwell, the
 metaphysical poet, and it was here that Edmund 
Spenser and Walter Raleigh first met. The castle 
is said to have inspired 'The Faerie Queene'. 
Besieged by Cromwell, the castle escaped complete 
devastation, and was quickly repaired.

At the time my husband and I visited on October 
30th, Col. O'Driscoll's widow, Elizabeth, was in 
Dublin with their 18-year-old son, recently 
diagnosed with leukemia. Though the son is in 
remission and given a promising prognosis, the 
preoccupation of dealing with the disease, 
coupled with the responsibility of caring for 
her 88 year-old father prevents the family from 
maintaining the castle as it should be. A younger 
sister has come over from England to assist with 
the running of the castle and the care of the 
elderly father.

It was this sister who gave us the tour. Not 
expecting visitors at this time of year, she 
graciously showed us the castle anyway. I owe 
her an apology, because I learned only after 
we left that tours are scheduled only through 
September.

This little castle tower deserves to retain its 
place in history. Beautifully situated on the 
River Deel, it is furnished with priceless and 
fascinating pieces of furniture and historic 
objects. The mantle of the great fireplace is 
adorned with crossbows and other weaponry. The 
second floor houses massive bookcases which hold 
the colonel's personal library. These bookcases 
are particularly significant in that they brought 
unexpected good fortune for the colonel. This may 
sound like a romantic fantasy, but after 
purchasing the bookcases for the castle, a secret 
compartment was discovered which held a very old 
and very valuable book. The proceeds from the 
book assisted significantly the restoration 
project.

Still, more restoration and upkeep is needed. Our 
hostess estimated that approximately half a 
million is needed to do it justice. The Irish 
government will match whatever funds are raised, 
so the O'Driscolls need to come up with a quarter 
million. I am writing this article to increase 
awareness of the castle, which also provides B&B. 
More visitors means more revenue. For the sake of 
this lovely castle tower, go visit it for yourself. 
Hopefully, you will become as enchanted as we have.

The castle is located just south of Rathkeale, just 
off the main Limerick-Killarney road, on the west 
side. There is one sign post at the edge of town, 
and one small sign standing on the ground facing 
north just at the entrance way by the road. If you 
are approaching Rathkeale from the south as we 
were, you will never see this one. Signage is 
apparently quite expensive, and since this castle 
is privately owned, the government will not provide 
it. You will not see the castle until you are down 
the entrance road a way, as it is surrounded by 
tall trees. Make the effort to find this treasure 
and you will not be disappointed.

Vicky Laurienzo 

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

PHRASE:		Ta cupla focail Gaeilge agam 
PRONOUNCED:	taw koo-pluh fuk-ill gale-geh ah/gum
MEANING:		I have a couple of words of Irish

PHRASE:		Nil aon sceal eile orm 
PRONOUNCED:	kneel ayne skale ella urm
MEANING:		I don't have any other story

PHRASE:		Oiche mhaith, codladh samh
PRONOUNCED:	eehah wot, culla sovh
MEANING:		Good night, sleep well

View the archive of phrases here:

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

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

The winner was: aharris@silverlink.net 
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 the next time,

Keep your feet above water!

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

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