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		IN THIS ISSUE
~~~ Foreword
~~~ News Snaps from Ireland 
~~~ New free resources at the site

~~~ Bicentennial of the death of Robert Emmet
~~~ Famous Irish Legends: The Children of Lir
~~~ Christmas Gift Ideas
~~~ Gaelic Phrases of the Month
~~~ Shamrock Site of the Month: celticattic.com
~~~ Monthly free competition result

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FOREWORD
~~~~~~~~

Hello again from a bitterly cold Ireland where the
build up to Christmas has started even earlier 
than usual. You can help keep this newsletter alive 
by checking out the great Christmas gift ideas 
below.

Until the next time,

STAY OUT OF THE COLD!

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

NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTIONS UNDER WAY

The election to the Northern Ireland Assembly have 
been completed. The DUP and Sinn Fein have 
reversed the result of the last poll and have 
overtaken the UUP and the SDLP as the most 
popular Unionist and Nationalist parties 
respectively. Nearly 64% of the electorate voted
resulting in the DUP winning 30 seats, the UUP 
getting 27, Sinn Fein winning 24 seats with 
the SDLP having a disastrous result with 
only 18 seats.

It is very unlikely a new parliament will be 
convened. This is because of differences between 
Unionist and Nationalist sides over the extent to 
which the IRA have decommissioned their weapons. 

The Assembly has been suspended since November 
2002 and it is likely that direct rule from London 
will once again be imposed when Unionist parties 
refuse to participate in any new parliament.

IRISH ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 
Development (OECD) has predicted that the Irish 
economy will grow by 3.5% in 2004, which is about 
double the 2002 rate. The OECD has been 
encouraged by tight control of public spending 
being exercised by the Government in advance of 
the December budget. Spending has indeed been 
reined in but at the expense of crucial public 
services say Government critics.

The OECD expects unemployment to remain at about 
5% of the workforce and the rate of inflation to 
be sustained at about 3% in 2004.

IRISH FILM TAX BREAKS UNDER THREAT

In recent years the Irish Government has given 
substantial tax breaks to film-makers who located 
in Ireland. The economic situation in Ireland in 
the last couple of years however has been much 
tighter than heretofore. Consequently the 
Government looks set to abandon the generous 
grants, much to the chagrin of Irish film-makers 
and actors alike.

Stephen Rea, Alison Doody, Aidan Quinn, Jim 
Sheridan and Patrick Bergin are among the 
high-profile movie personalities who have backed 
the campaign to keep the tax incentives.

Among the blockbuster movies that have been made 
here in recent years are 'Saving Private Ryan' 
and 'Braveheart'. 'King Arthur' is currently being 
filmed in County Wicklow.

SMOKING BAN HAS POPULAR SUPPORT

A recent survey has indicated that more than 80% 
of the Irish public believe that Pub and Hotel 
owners should comply with the new anti-smoking 
legislation. The Government plans have received 
a boost with the news that both Holland and 
Belgium are set to introduce similar smoking 
bans in bars and restaurants.

Bar owners are still up in arms over the new 
measures with veiled threats being made about 
the withholding of tax should the measures be 
introduced.

MORE MARRIAGES IN 2002 THAN IN PREVIOUS TWO DECADES

There were over 20,000 marriages in Ireland in 
2002, which is the highest figure in twenty 
years. Births outside of marriage accounted for 
31% of the total recorded in 2002. Twenty years 
ago the figure was 6% of all births.

'DISNEYLAND' STYLE THEME PARK PLAN IS REFUSED

A proposed 7 Billion Euro them park called 'Vega 
City' has been refused planning permission by a 
Dublin City Council. Fingal County Council refused 
permission for the project because they said they 
were not convinced that it was feasible and that 
the presentation that was made to them by the 
proposing consortium was sloppy and vague.

'United Entertainment Partners' now intend to try 
get the project up and running elsewhere in 
Europe, probably in the UK.

NEW DRINK-DRIVE LAWS TO BE INTRODUCED

Motorists who are caught under the influence of 
drink while driving will be automatically fined 
and banned under new laws. Motorists will still 
have the option to go to court if they prefer, but 
will still be 'named and shamed'. Ireland has a 
40% rate of road accidents due to the involvement 
of alcohol, which is 10% above the international 
average.

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

D: Donaghy
G: Gallen
H: Hussey
L: Lambert, Lloyd
L: McLaughlin
P: Powell
T: Timmins


View the Gallery here:

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

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:

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

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ROBERT EMMET 			by Kevin Kelly 
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robert Emmet's short, dramatic life came to a 
tragic end on September 20, 1803. However, 
although his life was short and his struggle in 
vain, his efforts, vision and idealism left a 
mythic mark on Irish and on the world history.
 
Born in Dublin in 1778 into a fairly well-to-do 
Protestant family, Emmet was educated at Trinity 
College, Dublin. With high ideals of fraternity 
and equality, Robert, like his elder brother 
Thomas, became involved with the United Irishmen,
an organization formed in 1791 by Wolfe Tone, 
James Tandy, and Thomas Russell to achieve Roman 
Catholic emancipation and, with Protestant 
co-operation, parliamentary reform. 

From 1800 to 1802, Emmet resided on the continent 
with leaders of the United Irishmen who had been 
exiled from Ireland following the rebellion of 
1798. On the continent, Emmet attempted to enlist
French support for an insurrection against 
British rule. With the promise of French military 
aid secured, Emmet returned to Ireland in 1802 
and began to organize and arm the country in 
preparation for the French landing. However, 
Emmet's hand was forced in July 1803 when an 
explosion at one of his arms depots compelled an 
early call for insurrection on July 23. His plan 
now awry, the ill-timed insurrection ended in 
confusion as various factions failed to receive 
or failed to heed the call to arms, and the 
promised French invasion failed to materialize.
 
Determined and undaunted Emmet, wearing a green 
and white uniform, marched a small band against 
Dublin Castle. On their way, the group happened 
upon Lord Kilwarden, the Lord Chief Justice and 
his nephew. Emmet's followers seized the Lord 
Chief Justice and his nephew from their coach, 
piked them to death and then began to riot in the 
streets. Disillusioned by his followers' behavior 
and realizing the cause was lost, Emmet escaped 
and hid in Irish countryside. 

From the Wicklow Mountains, Emmet moved to 
Harold's Cross to be near Sarah Curran, his 
fiancee. Thomas Moore's songs 'She is far from the 
land where her young hero sleeps' and 'Oh breathe 
not the name' were inspired by Emmet's love for 
Sarah Curran.

Emmet had hoped to escape to America with Miss 
Curran. However, he was captured on August 25th, 
1803 and imprisoned at Kilmainham. He was tried 
for high treason in Green Street Courthouse where 
he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. 

When asked if he had any thing to say in response 
to this sentence, Emmet gave what is considered 
to be one of the most famous speeches of the 
period. Emmet's speech to the court, 'The Speech 
from the Dock', could be regarded as the last 
protest of the United Irishmen:
 
'I have but one request to ask at my departure 
from this world – it is the charity of its silence. 
Let no man write my epitaph. No man can write my 
epitaph, for as no man who knows my motives and 
character dares now to vindicate them, let not 
prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them 
rest in obscurity and peace until other times and 
other men can do justice to them. When my country 
takes her place among the nations of the earth, 
then shall my character be vindicated, then may 
my epitaph be written'. 

Although he held out hope for a rescue, on 
September 20th, 1803, he was executed. Out of 
deference to his aristocratic background, Emmet 
was hanged and beheaded but was not subsequently 
disembowelled as such a sentence usually involved. 
His burial site remains a mystery to this date. 

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YOU CAN HELP TO KEEP THIS FREE NEWSLETTER ALIVE!

Visit https://www.irishnation.com

where you can get great Irish gifts, prints, 
claddagh jewellery, engraved glassware and 
much more.

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FAMOUS IRISH LEGENDS: THE CHILDREN OF LIR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a time in ancient Ireland when the 
people believed in magic and in druids and spells. 
These were the days of the Tuatha De Danann tribe, 
the Goddess Danu and of Lir, the lord of the sea. 

Lir's wife, Eva, had given him four beautiful 
children. The two eldest, Fionnuala and Aodh, went 
swimming in a small lake. But these were no 
ordinary swimmers! They possessed gills for 
breathing and webbed feet as they were, after all, 
the offspring of 'the ruler of the land beneath 
the waves'. 

They met a messenger who told them that they were 
wanted by their father. They went home immediately 
only to find their father disturbed. 

'What is wrong father?' they enquired
'Your mother has given birth to twins' he replied
'....and has gone off to rest'
'What do you mean father?' they asked 

Lir explained that this was what humans called 
'death' but that since they were immortal that 
their mother had gone to recover, possibly for a 
thousand years or more. The children were to look 
after the new brothers, Fiachra and Conn. 

The children kissed their mother for the last 
time and then left. 

As the children grew Lir's spirits declined until 
one day he met Aoife, the sister of his wife. 
Aoife was possessed of magical powers and soon 
enough it was known that she and Lir would marry. 
The new family thrived under the influence of 
their new mother but not for long as guilt and 
jealousy about the children's real mother took 
its toll on Aoifes health. She fell into sickness 
for a year but recovered only to start to become 
old before here time. 

Aoife was a changed woman now and one day 
suggested that she and the children should visit 
their grandfather. On the journey they stopped by 
a lake and she encouraged the children to go for 
a swim. The four children played happily in the 
water, not noticing that their stepmother was now 
standing at the waters edge wearing her fathers 
magic cloak. 

'For too long you children have stood between 
your father and I, but not for much longer!' 
she cried 

'We cannot be killed by you...' Aodh replied,
'...we are the Children of Lir and if you harm 
us our ghosts will haunt you!' 

'I’m not going to kill you.....' she shouted
'......but I am going to change you!' 

At this she bowed her head and started an 
incantation. The children looked at each other in 
fear as they saw a red and gold circle envelope 
them on the water. They saw Aoife open up her 
cloak from which the great light of a fireball 
emerged and hurtled towards them, burning all in 
its wake. 

The fireball hit the water and caused masses of 
steam to rise about the children and they soon 
lost all feeling in their legs, arms, shoulders 
and head. They soon regained their sight only to 
see Aoife laughing at them. Aodh tried to attack 
her and flailed his arms about furiously but 
nothing happened except the splashing of water. 
He turned to look at his brothers and sister only 
to see that they had all been turned into the 
most beautiful swans ever seen. 

Aoife scowled at them again and told them that 
they were to spend nine hundred years as swans, 
three hundred on Lough Derravaragh, three hundred 
on the Straits of Moyle and three hundred on the 
Isle of Inish Glora. To end the spell they would 
have to hear the bell of the new God. 

'I leave you with your voice however, and the 
most beautiful singing ever heard' she said. 

Lir searched for his children that day, but Aoife 
told him that they had been attacked and killed 
by wild boars. Fionnuala, now in swan form, 
approached her father and told him what Aoife had 
done. Lir was furious and banished Aoife into 
exile as an evil demon of the air. 

Lir faithfully visited his children and the power 
of his love ensured that their time on the lake 
was one of bliss. He knew though that the 300 
years of the first phase had passed and that the 
next phase of the spell was about to begin. The 
swans left for the Straits of Moyle, never to see 
their father again. 

Their time on the Northern Straits of Moyle were 
not so joyous, with frequent storms separating 
them, only for they to join up again. Another 300 
years passed but they had survived together. 

They departed the cold straits and made their way 
towards Lough Derravaragh. They flew over the 
land, hoping to find their father's fort, but it 
was now nothing more than ruins. They wept 
because they knew the time of the Tuatha De Danann
was gone. 

They travelled West to the waters of Inish Glora 
and found refuge on a small saltwater lake where 
time passed slowly. One day an old man named Mochua 
visited the lake and the children enquired of him 
if he was a follower of the new God. The startled 
man asked if they were the children of Lir and 
they told him that they were. 

'Are you a holy man?' asked Fiacra.
'I am...' came the reply. 

The children knew that to break the spell that 
they would have to hear the bell of a new God 
toll in their own land. 

Mochua told them all about his new God and all 
about Saint Patrick who had brought his faith to 
their country. 

The children became excited as they knew that 
this was the new God their stepmother had told 
them of. They stayed with Mochua for many years 
who gave them sanctuary in a small chapel which 
he had built. He intended to make a bell and 
collected old swords, shields and other metal 
to make it. The bell was now completed and was 
about to be rung when another disaster occurred. 

A Warrior dressed in armour entered the chapel. 
He had come for the children who were famed for 
their wonderful singing. 

'I am Liargren, King of Connaught' he shouted,
'My wife desires those swans and I will have them.
Give them here or I will tear this building down.' 

Fionnuala looked at Mochua and then said that 
they would agree to go away with this King. 
Liargen was amazed to hear her speak but soon 
composed himself and ordered his men to take the 
children away. They were being loaded onto a 
carriage when suddenly, the church bell tolled 
loudly. 

Time seemed to stand still, but in another instant 
a great white mist had been blown off the nearby 
lake and enveloped the children as it had done 
900 years before. The mist changed into all of 
the colours of the rainbow before a great wind 
gusted it away. 

The children had at last been transformed back 
into human form. 

Liagren fled immediately, never to return. Mochua 
baptized the beautiful children who had begun to 
age rapidly and so it was that the children of Lir, 
the last of the Tuatha De Danann died soon 
afterwards, their legend to live on forever.

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CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is still time to get great Christmas gifts 
delivered straight to your door. 

And we offer free delivery!


GIFT IDEA #1: Christmas Ornament with family Crest

Our new engraved Christmas ornament has the family 
crest for your family name engraved on it and will 
look great on your Christmas tree. It can also be 
used as a great window decoration throughout the 
year.

GIFT IDEA #2: The famous Irish Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh ring was first created in County 
Galway in Ireland and has for centuries been used 
as a symbol of love and friendship. Our rings are 
hand crafted here in Ireland and are hallmarked by 
the official Assay office in Dublin.

GIFT IDEA #3: Posters of Ireland

Another new offering is our selection of large 
size posters. With images of Irish pubs, castles 
and writers to choose from there is plenty to 
please every one.

GIFT IDEA #4: Engraved Cigarette Case and Tankard

For the person who has everything! Engraved with 
the family crest of your choice our cigarette 
cases, hip flasks and pewter tankards are perfect 
stocking fillers.

GIFT IDEA #5: Hand Made Wall Plaques 

'Cead Mile Failte', Celtic Cross, Map of Ireland, 
and beautiful designs based on the famous 'Book 
of Kells'. Our collection of wall plaques will 
definitely make get home or office noticed.


For these and many other great gift ideas visit 
https://www.irishnation.com

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

PHRASE:		Imeacht gan teacht ort
PRONOUNCED:	imm/ocked gone chockt urt
MEANING: 		May you leave withour returning

PHRASE: 		Titim gan eiri ort
PRONOUNCED:	titt/imm gone eye/ree urt
MEANING:		May you fall without risinge

PHRASE:		Gurab amhlaidh duit
PRONOUNCED:	gur/ibb owl/adh dwit 
MEANING: 		The same to you

View the archive of phrases here:

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

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SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH:	CELTICATTIC.COM

Shop online for everything you need to decorate 
your home and life with a Celtic Twist: Art, 
Crafts, Irish & Scottish Baskets, Suncatchers,
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Irish Bath, Beauty and Herbal needs are in one 
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http://www.celticattic.com

Phone orders 360-765-0186

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

The winner was: stanhoward@worldnet.att.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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I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.

Until next time,

STAY WARM!

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.

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