Hello again from Ireland where the trial that was Covid-19 is barely in the rear-view mirror before people's minds have been turned to the soaring cost of energy, the disaster that is the Irish housing market and the ongoing war in Ukraine. You can read more in the news article below.
This month we have an examination of the life of Michael Collins who it is fair to say has had a profound effect on Irish history. We have an entertaining tale of old Mythical Ireland when we hear about Bricriu of the Poisoned Tongue! We also have a poignant tale about the ancient relationship the Irish have with Trees from David Simpson.
If you have an article or story you would like to share then please do send it to us.
Until next time,
Michael
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NEWS FROM IRELAND
HOUSING DISASTER IN IRELAND CONTINUES
27,096 Euro. That is the average annual rental fee for a regular family property in Dublin. Rents have increased by 14.1% in the last year alone per property website Daft.ie. The average monthly rent throughout the country is 1,688 euro while in Dublin it is 2258 euro per month. As of November 1st there are a mere 1,087 properties available to rent in the entire country!
https://ww1.daft.ie/report?d_rd=1
27,096 Euro. But let's be clear though. This is not some buy-to-rent scheme whereby the renters will eventually own or part-own the property. This is what is in Ireland referred to as 'dead money'.
By comparison the annual rent in 2011 (after the property market had collapsed) was 9180 euro (765*12). It was never expected that the cost of renting would remain that low forever but the fact that rents have increased by nearly 300% over the last 11 years lays bare the extreme nature of the problem.
And this is not just an issue about providing a place of shelter.
No places to rent (especially in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, etc.), means that nurses and doctors, engineers and scientists, social workers and school-teachers, simply have no way, NO WAY, of staying in any of these urban centres that so badly need them.
Take schools for example. The radio airwaves and print media in Ireland are full of stories about School Principals desperately looking for a substitute teacher when the need arises (as it does frequently). Once they realise that it is next to impossible to get a substitute they have to send SNI (Special Needs Assistants) into the classroom to teach a subject. These Special Needs Assistants are thus not available to give assistance to those students who really really need it. Or alternatively the School Principal has to abandon their regular duties and go teach the class.
The cause of this is not just years of neglect of teachers and other 'essential workers' (as so many became known during the Pandemic), but also because teachers simply cannot afford to locate in urban centres where the rents are at such catastrophic levels.
Take the annual starting pay for a newly qualified Irish teacher. According to the ASTI (secondary school 12->17 years) and the INTO (primary school 4->11 years) the starting pay is currently 41,191 euro and 36,290 euro respectively.
Let us remind ourselves that the current annual rent in Dublin is 27,096 euro.
This is a story that is being repeated across so many essential services and industries: Nursing, Policing, Pharma, even Tech workers are being priced out of the cities.
Homelessness is on the rise and so is national discontent. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.
IRELAND TO ACCEPT 62,000 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN 2022
The catastrophic war in Ukraine has achieved at least one of Russia's intentions in that it has caused chaos throughout Europe.
Of course for most people it goes without saying that those fleeing war should be helped as much as possible.
To that end Ireland has taken in over 62,000 refugees (under the Temporary Protection Directive) from Ukraine while a further 10,000 asylum seekers from other countries have also entered the country (this is well above the typical annual number).
CSO report
The dire shortage of rental properties that are available in Ireland has been severely exacerbated by the fact that the Irish Government is now essentially competing with its citizenry for these scarce homes, as it seeks out any and all available accommodation to handle the influx.
Entire hotels (15% of all hotels in the country), old government buildings, old schools, unused Garda stations and military grounds throughout the country are filled with Ukrainian refugees who have fled the carnage.
The response so far in Ireland has been one of compassion and tolerance, however, some protests and objections have begun. Legitimate local concerns among residents in several parts of the country have been joined by several right-wing and immigration-control factions who are seeking to have their voices heard in tandem with the local concerns.
The fact remains that the unprecedented occurrence of such a massive movement of people within Europe has resulted in huge pressure being exerted on the Irish healthcare system (that is always under pressure anyway), on the Irish school system (that is permanently underfunded), and onto the Irish housing market (that is now a complete disaster).
Ireland is not the only European country to be under pressure though. Poland especially has taken in 1.4 Million of their neighbours so far.
reliefweb.int Sept/22
WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS JEWELLERY FROM IRELAND
find out more
BRICRIU OF THE POISON TONGUE
Bricriu (pronounced bree-croo) was known in Ulster as 'Bricriu of the Poison Tongue'. He was sarcastic and devilish, humorous, cunning and manipulative.
His main aim was to cause as much trouble as he could and he succeeded greatly! Despite the anger and wrath he aroused he was able to save his skin by the use of his quick wit and cunning nature. It was also a help that he was incredibly wealthy.
So wealthy was Bricriu in fact that he was able to host lavish banquets and gatherings at his feast hall built just for that sole purpose. So magnificent was the great feast hall that even the royalty of Ireland were determined to promote their own status by attending, despite the risk of failing victim to the poisoned tongue!
The stage was ready then for the great feast of Bricriu with even the mighty Cuchulainn set to attend. But not all of the Irish leaders were so enthralled by the prospect of entering Bricriu's lair. Fergus MacRiogh warned the Ulster champions to avoid the gathering, fearing for calamity and doubting Bricriu's intentions.
'....No! for if we go our dead will outnumber our living, when Bricriu has incensed us against each other!'
Of course his warnings went unheeded.
Cuchulainn entered the great hall with wife Emer, she of the six Womanly Gifts of music, physical beauty, the gift of song, embroidery, the gift of wisdom, and of modesty.
Conal Cearnath attended with his wife 'Lendabair the Fair' whose golden hair was famous throughout the land. Laoghaire Buadach arrived with his wife 'Fedelm the vver-blooming'.
The attendance of these women became the focal point of Bricriu's plan for he intended to use the vanity of the women to divide the men, and to cause mayhem.
Shortly after their arrival Bricriu found an opportunity to whisper into the ear of each of these graceful visions of womanhood, describing each as being the most beautiful and powerful of all of the women of Ulster, that each in turn had the most powerful husband and that each in turn should be no less than Queen of Ulster!
He informed each of the three that the first woman to return from their walk in his garden and to enter the feasting hall would become Queen.
Unaware that they had been set against each other the three beautiful women and their fifty attendant maids each made their way back to Bricriu's feasting hall after their walk in the garden.
Gradually they approached, initially walking with a stately gentle purpose but their pace increased gradually as they observed each other, each wanting to be first through the door.
Panic soon set in with the women even raising their dresses above their knees and making such haste and creating such noise that the women and their fifty attendants caused a stampede and commotion of such volume that the whole building shook to its foundation.
The warriors within the house rushed out to find the cause of the mayhem and to their amazement found the masses of women, royalty and attendants alike, in an undignified pile at the entrance to the building, while Bricriu of the poisoned tongue laughed heartily at the trouble he had caused.
Cuchulainn took charge, lifting the entire feasting hall above his head so that his wife Emer might enter first, claiming her rightful place as Queen of Ulster, while every other soul in attendance regretted that they had ever set foot in the lair of 'Bricriu of the Poison Tongue'.
It is hard to overstate the influence that Michael Collins has had on Ireland.
It is just over a century since his death in his native Cork when he was ambushed and killed by his former comrades-in-arms, such is the appaling nature of a Civil War.
He fought in the GPO alongside Padraig Pearse in the Easter Rising of 1916; he ran a guerilla war against the British forces from 1919 that resulted in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921; and he led the new Irish Free State against his fellow Irish citizens, and Eamon deValera in particular, in the brutal Irish Civil War from 1922.
But his legacy in Ireland would live on.
Michael Collins was born near Rosscarbery in County Cork 1890. He attended
school and then worked as a local journalist (writing
sports reviews) before moving to London at the age of
15 to work for the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
In London Collins associated with the Irish community and
became keenly aware of the history of Irish nationalism.
He joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1909. By
1915 he had risen though the ranks of the London branch
of the IRB and was aware of the increasing tension in
Dublin between the various factions of republicanism. He
returned home and helped in the recruitment that was
necessary before any uprising could be successful. He
also joined the Gaelic League, an organisation that
stressed the use of the Irish language as another means
of nationalistic expression.
Despite the extreme unlikelihood of any success the Easter
Rising went ahead and resulted in the destruction of large
part of Dublin city centre as well as the execution of the
seven leaders of the revolt. This was the mistake by the
British that turned the tide in favour of the insurgents
for the first time. Public sympathy towards the executed
men increased so much that Collins, deValera and the
remaining leaders could see that nationalism was about to
peak in the country.
Collins was imprisoned in Frongoch internment camp where
his credentials as a leader were further recognised by his
captured comrades. After his release Collins quickly rose
to a high position in both Sinn Fein and the IRB and
started to organise a guerrilla war against the British.
He even managed to break deValera out of prison in England. The War
against the British continued on through 1920 and 1921
despite the introduction of the 'Black and Tans' - mercenary
soldiers introduced into Ireland by Churchill.
The British Prime Minister, Lloyd George, eventually
compromised and offered a partition of Ireland and a
'Free State'. Collins and Arthur Griffith had been sent
to London to lead the Irish delegation. It is widely speculated that the wily deValera knew
that the ultimate aim - independence - was not attainable.
The result was Civil War. Brothers and sisters who had fought together against the British now turned on each other with a form of brutality that sometimes matched the excessive regime of even the British Empire.
The Civil war ended in 1923 when the brutal execution of so many of the IRA rank and file ground down their resistance with deValera leading calls for the war to end.
The Irish Free State would attempt to take its place among the nations of the world, with Irish Independence being formally declared in 1948.
It is impossible to know what Michael Collins might have achieved had he survived the Civil War. He surely would have become Taoiseach of Ireland and perhaps may have been able to address the issue of the partitioned six Counties in Ulster in his own unique way.
But what is clear is that he certainly knew of the risk he took in signing the Treaty with the British. This was the moment that Ulster became partitioned. He did so in the hope that the country would then have 'freedom to achieve freedom'.
His own words that were written in a letter dated 6 December 1921 after the signing of the Treaty proved remarkably prescient:
'Think — what I have got for Ireland?
Something which she has wanted these past 700 years.
Will anyone be satisfied at the bargain? Will anyone?
I tell you this: early this morning I signed my death warrant.'
Once upon a time there was a girl called Bridget. She lived in the country and loved going for long walks on the hills around her house. The weather all winter had been bad. Bridget had had to stay indoors while storms raged bending trees until they broke and rain pouring off the hills washing away paths and flooding the roads. The dark and windy days seemed to go on forever.
One morning Bridget woke up with a start. Her bedroom was filled with light. Opening the curtains she had to blink the sun was so bright. 'Hurray, I'm going walking today.'
She was in such a hurry that she put her socks on inside out and was about to put a jeans on the wrong way round.
'Slow down silly,' she said to herself as she rushed down the stairs two at a time.
Hearing all the noise and the clatter her mother called out: 'Bridget what's going on?' 'I'm going for a walk.' 'Come and have your breakfast first.'
Bridget's mother put toast and cereal on the table. 'Where are you going?' asked her mother. 'Up past granny's old house and onto the hills.' ' Don't overdo it. This is your first day out so come back if you get tired.' 'Mum, don't be silly I'm 10 I know what I'm doing'. 'I'm sure you do,' said her mother with a smile.
As Bridget banged about by the back door her mum shouted 'Don't forget your scarf and gloves!'
Bridget was all thumbs as she struggled with the tangled laces on her walking boots. Tying them up tight she opened the back door. Bridget ran out to the back gate her heart lifting in the spring
sunshine. 'Yeah, I'm out,' she shouted.
Shutting the gate behind her she ran up the path with her arms stretched out high touching the
branches of the overhanging trees.
'Hello trees! 'Do you remember me?' she shouted laughing at herself.
Soon the path came to a flooded stream. 'Oh I hope I can get across.'
Looking carefully she saw that some of the stones were underwater but the tops of the big ones were dry. 'Here I go,' said Bridget. She got across the first three stones and then stopped. She was halfway
across. 'Come on I can do this,' she encouraged herself. Wobbling slightly she stepped onto the next stone but it wobbled with her. She tried to get a balance but she felt herself toppling over. 'No,' she shouted and threw herself across the next big stones and landed on the path. 'That was close.' Bridget stood for a moment catching her breath.
Once she was calm she started the steady climb up the hill, moving around bushes and stepping over branches that had fallen off the trees. She finally came to her grandmother's house.
Bridget was tired. She found a dry stone at the corner of the house and sat down, taking off her hat and gloves, she loosened the top of her coat and leant back against the wall. Bridget was happy. She was having a walk in the hills, her favourite place to be. As her breathing slowed down she began to relax in the warm sunshine.
Near her there was a tree with white bark growing in amongst the rocks. Bridget looked at it enjoying its silhouette against the bright spring sky. As looked she went into a kind of daydream. The white of the bark started to glow. Out of this soft light came a woman dressed in white with Spring flowers in her hair.
'Hello Bridget,' the woman said gently. Bridget was half asleep but managed to ask 'Who are you.' 'I'm your guardian Angel and I'm here to tell you three things.' 'What things?' asked Bridget.
'The first is that you are loved. By me by your family, by the animals and the trees.'
Bridget thought of her new kitten Sophie, that made her smile.
'The second thing is that you are safe. I am watching out for you so are your family and your teachers all the people around you are making sure you are safe.'
Bridget thought of her mummy and daddy and her teacher at school. They were all keeping her safe. Bridget sighed happily and relaxed a bit more. It felt good to feel safe.
'The third thing is that I am your guardian Angel. Now we have met, you can talk to me anytime you like. Picture me in your minds eye and talk to me and I will listen.' 'Like a good friend?' asked Bridget. 'Yes, like a good friend.'
Bridget sat quietly, warm from the sun and warm inside, from feeling loved and safe and listened to. Bridget smiled at her guardian Angel. Her guardian Angel smiled back at her. For a moment it felt as though they were both surrounded by the soft white light of the tree.
The Angel waved, turned around and faded back into the tree with a white bark.
Bridget got up and walked over to the tree. The bark looked fragile like paper. In some places it was
actually peeling off. Bridget bent down and found a piece lying on the rocks. One side was white, the
other was light brown. Craddling it carefully in her hands Bridget thought: 'I'll keep this somewhere special to remind me that I am loved, I am safe and I have a guardian Angel.'
She slowly folded the bark, trying not to break it and slipped it into her coat pocket. As she walked home she noticed there were other white trees like her special one. Some of them had little green leaves waving in the wind. In one field she saw lambs jumping about. Nearer home she saw snowdrops pushing up into the sunlight. At her gate she turned round and looked up at the tree by the old house.
'Thank you tree, thank you Angel,' she whispered on the wind.
Turning to go indoors she remembered how much her mother and father did for her, loving her, looking after her. As she opened the back door she shouted: 'Thank you everyone for everything!'
She ran down the hallway and burst into the kitchen red faced and happy.
Her mother smiled at her:
'You look happy. 'Did you have a good walk.' 'I did.' said Bridget. 'Mum?' 'Yes.' 'What do you call the tree with the whitebark, you know like the one at the side of granny's old house.' 'That's a Birch tree.'
Bridget ran upstairs to her bedroom, put her hand in her coat pocket and took out the bark. It was all crinkly.
'Hello birch bark, you have come home with me. I'm going to keep you safe to remind me that I'm
loved, safe and that I have met my guardian Angel.'
Opening a drawer she popped the bark in.
Looking out of her window the sun was shining on the trees, the grass and the wee lambs. Bridget knew she would go back up to be with her guardian Angel again very soon. She gave herself a little shake and ran down the stairs to see if there was anything to eat.
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WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM IRELAND
By comparison the annual rent in 2011 (after the property market had collapsed) was 9180 euro (765*12). It was never expected that the cost of renting would remain that low forever but the fact that rents have increased by nearly 300% over the last 11 years lays bare the extreme nature of the problem.
The catastrophic war in Ukraine has achieved at least one of Russia's intentions in that it has caused chaos throughout Europe.
He fought in the GPO alongside Padraig Pearse in the Easter Rising of 1916; he ran a guerilla war against the British forces from 1919 that resulted in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921; and he led the new Irish Free State against his fellow Irish citizens, and Eamon deValera in particular, in the brutal Irish Civil War from 1922.
He even managed to break deValera out of prison in England. The War
against the British continued on through 1920 and 1921
despite the introduction of the 'Black and Tans' - mercenary
soldiers introduced into Ireland by Churchill.
The Civil war ended in 1923 when the brutal execution of so many of the IRA rank and file ground down their resistance with deValera leading calls for the war to end.
