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

		IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland 
=== New free resources at the site
=== A Poem for Molly         	by Gord Wilson
=== Cara Irish Penpals Success Story 
=== Remembering 1916 		by Janet Moloney
=== The Irish in Canada		by Ralph McKenny
=== Clovers and Hearts 	    by Jeffery Macintyre
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Site of the Month: irishnation.com
=== Monthly free competition result

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

FOREWORD
========

Hello again from Ireland where the build-up to 
Christmas has begun in earnest. It seems to get 
earlier and earlier every year. Not everyone is 
in the Christmas frame of mind though. There are 
some people in this world who want to rip you off! 
If you receive an email message from an unknown 
person encouraging you to assist them in claiming 
money locked away in an African bank vault after
a revolution (or similar rhetoric) then your 
course of action is very clear: 
DELETE THE EMAIL MESSAGE.

Similarly if you get an email stating that you are 
a mega-winner in some Irish, American or other 
lottery, (but you never entered any such lottery!)
then your course of action is again clear: 
DELETE THE EMAIL MESSAGE.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it more 
than likely is.

Many thanks to our contributors who have again 
sent us in their stories, poems and reports.

Why don't YOU submit an article, story or poem 
for the next edition?

Until next month,

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? Go here for more information:
 
https://www.ireland-information.com/newsletter.htm

Do you have access to a website? You can help to 
keep this newsletter alive by adding a link to 
any of our websites below:

https://www.irishnation.com
http://www.irishsurnames.com
https://www.ireland-information.com
http://www.allfamilycrests.com
http://www.irishpenpals.com

If you have an AOL or HOTMAIL account then you 
will get much better results by viewing this 
newsletter online here:
 
https://www.ireland-information.com/oct04.htm

The only way that you could have been 
subscribed to this newsletter is by filling 
out a subscription form at the site whereupon 
a confirmation notice would have been issued.

If you wish to unsubscribe then go here:
 
https://www.ireland-information.com/newsletter.htm

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

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

HEALTH SERVICE REFORM GAINS PACE

Recent reports of a severe overcrowding in the 
Accident and Emergency wards of Irish hospitals 
have prompted the new Minister for Health to 
promise immediate action. Hospitals are to 
rewarded financially for improved performance 
and private doctors are to be prompted to work 
longer hours to encourage patients to attend 
their private practioneer instead of visiting 
a public hospital. Non-urgent cases of drunks 
and drug-addicts are to be diverted away from 
emergency wards. The fund available to patients 
to get private treatment is to be expanded. The 
new Health Service Executive which will have 
overall responsibility for the running of the 
Irish Health Service will be formed on January 
1st 2005.

IRISH PEACE-KEEPING TROOPS MAY SERVE IN IRAQ

The United Nations has asked Ireland to ready 
itself for peace-keeping duties in Iraq, 
according to reports. Kofi Annan recently 
visited Ireland and it is believed he made the 
request to the Minister for Defence. It is 
likely that any deployment of UN forces would 
be made after the January elections in Iraq.

IRISH SUICIDE RATE IS AMONG HIGHEST IN EU

Ireland has the fifth highest rate of suicide 
in the EU, among 15 to 24 year-olds. In 2003 
there were 444 deaths by suicide in Ireland, 
the highest rate being among men in their 
twenties.

SMOKING BAN ENCOURAGES HOME PUB CREATION

The recently implemented smoking ban has had a 
number of unusual side effects. It is now easier 
for shy Irishmen to strike up a conversation with 
like-minded women who congregate outside pub 
doors to indulge their habit. Overall alcohol 
consumption is also down as people go to the pub 
less often than they used to. Another side effect 
of the smoking ban has been a big increase in the 
number of 'home pubs'. Garden cabins and even 
spare rooms in a house are being converted into 
private drinking establishments complete with pool 
tables, juke boxes, cold beer on tap and no 
smoking ban! A pint of beer from your own keg 
costs about 2 EURO, compared with the average pub 
price of about 4 EURO. The exorbitant cost of 
taxis and baby-sitters are being cited as yet 
another reason to stay at home.

PROPERTY PRICES CONTINUES TO SOAR

Despite predictions of an imminent crash in the 
Irish property market, most notably the magazine 
'The Economist', the cost of Irish property has 
continued to rise. House prices are expected to 
increase by as much as 10% in 2004. The average 
cost of a house is Ireland is now over 
EURO 250,000. In Dublin the average cost is 
nearly EURO 330,000, a EURO 32,000 increase over 
the last 12 months. Low interest rates and a 
healthy jobs market as well as immigration are 
among the factors responsible for the continuing 
buoyancy of the property market.

IRISH SOCCER TEAM PROGRESSES TOWARD GERMANY 2006

Despite being drawn in a very tough qualifying 
group the Irish soccer team have made a very 
encouraging start with away draws to Switzerland 
and France being matched by good home victories 
against Cyprus and the Faroe Islands. Over 
30,000 Irish fans visited Paris for the clash 
with the former world champions. The French 
mobile telephone network collapsed on the day 
and night of the big match as a result of 
overwhelming use by the Irish visitors.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

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

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

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

NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:

The following 6 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:

J: Judge
M: Mayo, Meade
N: Neligan
Q: Quinlan
S: Scanlon

View the Gallery here:

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

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT:
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

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



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

A POEM FOR MOLLY		by Gord Wilson		
================ 

This is a little bit of verse I've been working 
on since seeing the statue of Molly Malone on 
Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland. For those who 
don't know the story, Molly Malone was a woman, 
made famous in song, who sold fish (alive, 
alive-o) from a cart that she wheeled around the 
city. What I learned from a tour guide and people 
in Dublin is that Miss Molly was thought to be 
selling something other than fish, if you know 
what I mean - and that her area was around 
Trinity College, quite a distance from the nearest 
fish market. The Irish refer to the statue as 
'The Tart with a Cart'.

~~~

A POEM FOR MOLLY

An Irish girl is in my heart
she's just as real as her cart
and though we shall never meet
she waits for me on Grafton Street.

Not far from St. Stephen's Green
for many years, there she's been
and while many say that she was not true
who can guess what she'd been through?

It's been said she sold near Trinity
with no market in the vicinity
though her reputation has been smudged
by me, my friend, she'll not be judged.

She did what she felt she must do
in order to earn her daily stew
I'm sure some details she'd like to alter
Who, pray tell, are we to fault her?

She made her choices as best she could
to make her way in the neighbourhood
As decades pass we see the folly
of being too hard on dear Miss Molly.

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

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.

Anne MacDonald ordered a family crest plaque:

 Hello, Michael,

 Received my plaque, carefully wrapped, 
 in good order. It is splendid! I am 
 thrilled, and I know that my dad, for whose 
 81st birthday this was ordered, will love 
 it. I would like to order another one! 

 Everyone who has seen the plaque has been 
 really impressed, even those who, as my 
 daughter says are 'not into ancestor 
 worship!'

 Again, my hearty thanks for this 
 first-class product.

 Best wishes for happy holiday season.

 Sincerely, Anne MacDonald

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT!

View family crest plaques here:

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

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

ANOTHER CARA IRISH PENPALS SUCCESS STORY
========================================

Here is a true story from a down to earth Dutch 
girl. Firstly a bit of an introduction. I am 
Corrina, 28 years old, living in Holland, where I 
originally come from. I always had a thing with 
Ireland, although for a few years it was never 
possible for me to go and visit that enchanting 
country. 

I could never explain it but, it was some strange 
kind of attraction to the country. People always 
asked me why, but I really could not give an 
answer. I just wanted to go there, especially 
seeing documentaries on tv and pictures in 
travel guides. And dreaming away I was until that 
day I was surfing the internet and I came across 
Cara Irish Penpals, so I thought 'why not register 
here and I might make some new Irish friends.' 

I got loads of replies, but there was one that 
stood out. Patrick was his name and he came from 
Cork, he was my age, and he had interesting things 
to email me. After a while I found myself waiting 
at the computer to see if there was an email from 
him!

For months we emailed each other every single day. 
I developed feelings for him especially after we 
swapped phone numbers and hearing his voice for 
the first time. My family declared me officially 
over-romantic, and thought it wouldn't be possible 
to have feelings for someone you haven't met 
before. But my mind was made up, and I found out, 
so was his! 

Sending each other e-cards and pictures every day, 
and phoning each other twice a week, he asked me 
to come over to Ireland to meet him for the first 
time. That was the first day of a new start for 
the both of us. He payed the trip for me, arranged 
hotels, nice getaways, and I kept thinking: where 
is the catch? But there was no catch. I was 
nervous because this was the first time for me 
flying on my own, and meeting someone new in a 
'strange' country. But from the first time we 
looked into each others eyes, we have been a 
couple. And we are still together. Patrick came to 
Holland to live with me, an we got engaged in 
Bunratty Castle in October 2003. And to make the 
story complete, I am now expecting our first 
child! 

So fairytales sometimes do come true. 
Never stop believing!

Corrina.

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

REMEMBERING 1916		by Janet Maloney
================

As I walked the streets of Dublin 
my heart began to race
I walked down by the Liffey 
cool breezes blowing on my face

I could feel the spirits of those Hero's 
from so long ago.
Who held their ground against the crown 
inside the GPO

I went inside the GPO and gazed upon 
the painting, Oh so grand
Outside now rises The Spire where 
Nelson's Pillar use to stand

Here's to those brave men who gave 
their lives to make Ireland free
Not for themselves but for children 
they would never see

May 3rd, Padraic Pearse, Tom Clarke, 
and Tom MacDonagh were the first to be shot
The 4th Willie Pearse, Joe Plunkett, 
Ed Daly, and Mike O'Hanrahan, 
Did it end there — no it did not

The next day John MacBride was shot, 
alone he was to fall
Then on the 8th Con Colbert, Eamonn Ceannt, 
Mike Mallin and Sean Heuston, 
but that was not all

Sean MacDermott was executed 
on the 12th day of May
To weak to stand, tied to a chair 
Connolly was the last to die that same day

As you walk through the streets of Dublin 
along the Quay's, past Four Courts, 
or St. Stephens Green
Maybe you will hear rebel cries 
whispered on the wind, 
if not one of these brave souls, 
perhaps Michael Collins or Dan Breen

So walk across the Ha'Penny 
and stroll down Bachelor's Walk with me
These rebel hero's gave their lives 
that this land should be free

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

JEWELRY MADE FROM GENUINE IRISH COINS!
======================================

Get fantastic mementos of Ireland's past coins 
that have been made into necklaces, cufflinks, 
money-clips, tie-tacs and even earrings!

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT!

View these unique Irish gifts here:

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

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

THE IRISH IN CANADA		by Ralph McKenny
===================

Let me begin by thanking Michael Green, the Editor 
of this Newsletter for offering me the opportunity 
to submit a monthly article about the 'Irish in 
Canada'. I sincerely appreciate this opportunity 
and look forward to bringing to you each month, 
news, views and anecdotes from Canada that I hope 
will be of interest to everyone. I have called 
upon the many Irish-Canadian Clubs established 
across Canada to assist me in this endeavor. 
This being my first submission to the Newsletter, 
I'll probably jump around a bit, topically 
speaking.

During the 18th and early 19th century, 
significant numbers of Irish immigrants began to 
arrive in Canada. By 1867, 20% of the Canadian 
population was made up of people of Irish descent. 
They were out-numbered only by the British and 
French-Canadians. According to a 2001 Census, 
3.8 million people in Canada report their ethnic 
origin as Irish. The Irish came here unemployed, 
homeless and poor however they were rich in 
spirit, optimism and determination. Among other 
things, they brought with them their work ethic, 
their music, their sense of humour, their 
resourcefulness and extreme pride. 

There are numerous Irish Clubs and Associations 
in most provinces and in many larger cities across 
Canada. According to the Society's records, the 
first regular meeting of the Charitable Irish 
Society of Halifax Nova Scotia was held on the 
17th of February 1786. Over 200 years later the 
'mission' of the Society remains the same: 
donating funds and services to those in need, as 
well as supporting various local cultural and 
educational initiatives which are Irish in nature, 
including a major scholarship through the Chair 
of Irish Studies at Saint Mary's University.

Another of the long established clubs in Canada 
is The Irish Canadian Club in Hamilton Ontario. 
Originally named St. Patrick's Society of 
Hamilton, it was founded in 1830. It was formed 
as 'a benevolent and cultural association to meet 
the needs of newcomers…combining social welfare, 
moral uplift and entertainment'. This club helped 
immigrants to find family members, employment and 
a place to live. Hamilton today has a very active 
Irish community who carry on the tradition of 
helping others in a number of ways including 
'moral uplift'. Some of the best 'craic' in 
Ontario can be found in Hamilton.

Personally speaking, my father (McKenny/Freeman) 
and mother (Buckley/Byrne) raised 7 children 
working a farm that originally belonged to the 
McKenny ancestors who settled in Canada in 1830. 
My mother's side of the family settled in Canada 
in 1832. These settlers eked out a living working 
farmland that would not be considered among the 
best in Ontario and I would love to have a 
conversation with my great great Grandparents 
about how that came to be. As was often the case 
though, many were assigned these lots of land by 
the government of the day. The land is somewhat 
hilly, has an abundance of rocks and trees grew 
where rocks didn't. The work that must have been 
involved in clearing this land is unimaginable. 
These pioneers used horses, dynamite, axes and 
sheer determination, muscle and stubbornness to 
get the job done. Not to mention a bit of blood, 
sweat and tears.

The fields I worked in my youth have stone-pile 
boundaries with cedar rail fences on top. I spent 
many hours every spring picking stones and loading 
them onto a 'stone boat' or wagon. Steel crowbars 
and pitch forks were the tools of the trade. Any 
stone that would not fall through the tines of a 
pitchfork were size enough to remove. Each spring 
my father, two brothers and myself spent hours 
methodically criss-crossing the ploughed fields, 
fork in-hand and I cursed the blasted stones and 
wondered how there seemed to be no end to them 
regardless of how many times the field was worked. 
I'm only '40-something' and there were 4 
generations before me that worked the very same 
fields. But at least we had a tractor for the 
boulders and we didn't have to clear a few 
thousand trees just to get to the stones. My 
father always felt work like this built character. 
I suppose it was the only positive thing he could 
think of to encourage us. I hope he was right but 
at the time it only seemed to build blood 
blisters and sore backs. And now I realize how 
fortunate I really was in having experienced farm 
life and can appreciate now how difficult it must 
have been for those Irish settlers who sacrificed 
so much more than I ever did hence allowing us to 
have the freedom, the luxuries and 'easy living' 
that we enjoy today. My parents now in there 
seventies, live and still manage that same farm 
today.

I must admit I do not know a lot about my Irish 
ancestry and culture. My parents, being 4th 
generation Canadians did not take an interest in 
it and it was not taught to them. My father once 
told me that his grandfather was taught not to 
speak of their Irish heritage. The Irish were 
treated like second-class citizens in some circles 
and so in their minds I guess, it was better to 
keep the peace. They worked endlessly and did what 
they could to raise and support their families in 
a difficult time. And let's not forget supporting 
the Church. These were their priorities.

Despite whatever effort was made to squelch the 
culture, it could not be suppressed. It has passed 
very naturally generation-to-generation. For 
example, our homestead being next door to the 
Church was a popular drop-in spot. Especially 
after Mass on Sunday. Family and a gathering of 
family and friends was very important. By early 
Sunday afternoon it was not uncommon to have music 
playing, singing and dancing, plenty of laughter 
and more than the odd pint passed through those 
doors and into the hands of whoever dropped by. 
And it's not that different today. I live miles 
from there now but I can always count on seeing a 
house-full at some point during a visit. 

Going forward I would like to use the space that 
Michael has allotted to talk in more detail about 
Irish History across Canada and hopefully through 
words, demonstrate the contributions the Irish 
have made. The Irish who came here worked as 
fishermen, lumberjacks, blacksmiths, farmers, 
politicians and policeman. They worked in steel 
mills, they built canals, roads and railroads. 
They persevered, experienced success, made their 
mark and managed to do so under very difficult 
conditions. There is a lot to talk about.

And of course we will write about the 
contributions that Irish-Canadians continue to 
make in their communities today. I would also 
like to promote some of the Festivals and Events 
taking place across the country. If you are 
reading this and you're Irish-Canadian please 
contact me with your ideas or other information 
you would like to submit.

At this point I would like to shamelessly (and 
proudly) promote my own website. You can find it 
at www.WeAreIrish.ca. We highlight and promote 
Irish culture, Irish businesses, tourism between 
Canada and Ireland and assist in furthering work 
already being done in this regard. We include what 
we believe to be a thorough listing of Irish 
Canadian Clubs and Associations across Canada and 
Ireland. These clubs plan and host a number of 
activities each year such as St. Patrick's Parades, 
Irish Music Festivals and other events rooted in 
Irish tradition. Irish cultural workshops are 
plentiful where one can learn the Gaelic language, 
how to play the tin whistle or perhaps a bit of 
Irish Dancing. If you're planning to visit Canada 
you will find a number of useful resources that 
may assist you in planning your itinerary…tourist 
destinations, hotels, B&B's, rental cars, pubs and 
much more. You can find a listing of upcoming 
events by visiting our home page www.WeAreIrish.ca 
and clicking the link for 'Festivals and Events'. 

Ralph McKenny
www.weareirish.ca 

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

CLOVERS AND HEARTS 	 by Jeffery Macintyre
==================

Shall I never know the feel
of your grass beneath my feet.
Shall I live without living
and never speak a name so sweet.
Shall I see without eyes,
but dream of home.
Shut me up in my grave
for I'll know not of love,
Just tales of a land
where my heart cries to be.
Just stories of the home
that I'll never see.
Sweet Ireland O' Ireland
I call out to thee.
Ireland aye, sweet Ireland
In my mind I kiss your emerald ground

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

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.

Timothy Meade got some family crest watches as 
gifts for his wedding groomsmen:

 Michael,

 The watches are amazing. They arrived at just the 
 right time. I really appreciate that you didn't 
 bill me for the extra shipping. It warms the 
 cockles of me heart.

 Thanks for making my wedding day just that much 
 more beautiful.

 Tim

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT!

See here for family crest gifts:
Visit 
https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestgifts.htm

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

GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
===========================
 
PHRASE: 		Aibrean/Bealtaine/Meitheamh
PRONOUNCED:	obb-rinn/beowl-tinn-eh/meh-ivh
MEANING:		April/May/June

PHRASE: 	Deardaoin/De hAoine/De Satharn/ De Domhnach
PRONOUNCED:	dare-deen/day heena/day satt-urn/day dow-nock
MEANING:		Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday

PHRASE: 		Ta se a ceithir/cuig/se a chlog
PRONOUNCED:	taw shay a kerr-ihh/koo-igg/shay a clug
MEANING:		It is four/five/six o'clock

View the archive of phrases here:

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

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

SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH: irishnation.com

Get your Christmas gifts in early!

Visit: www.irishnation.com

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

OCTOBER COMPETITION RESULT
============================

The winner was: pskeegan2000@yahoo.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. 

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

I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.

Until next time,

Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.


https://www.ireland-information.com

Click here to contact us