That the megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange, Co. Meath was built around 3200 BC? It is estimated that it would have taken a workforce of 300 at least 20 years to complete.
That a “caubeen” in Irish means hat?
Did You Know
Jul 23rd, 2010 by admin
A Wee Bit of Irish Humor
Jul 19th, 2010 by admin
Tim opened the morning newspaper and saw his name in the obituary column. He rushed to the phone to call his friend. “Did you see the paper?” asked Tim. “They say I died.”
“Yes, I saw it,” replied his friend. “Where are you calling from?”
Ireland’s Oldest Rock Star
Jul 16th, 2010 by admin
The Giant’s Causeway on the north Antrim coast has been awarded three million pounds sterling lottery grant to rebuild the visitor’s centre from a rickety set of huts to a proper building.
The Causeway is a jagged promontory of hexagonal rocks created by a volcanic eruption sixty million years ago. The columns of perfect, symmetical rocks reach out into the Irish Sea, and millions of people have come to wonder at the savage beauty. It is called the eighth wonder of the world.
But the Irish love their own story behind the Causeway. That’s the one about Finn MacCool building it so he could do battle with a giant in Scotland. But Finn was daunted by the size of the giant and went home with the giant in pursuit. Finn’s wife, being a clever Irishwoman, dressed Finn in baby clothes and told the giant that this was Finn’s son. The giant beat a hasty retreat, ripping up the rocks as he went so that Finn couldn’t follow him.
Visitors have been coming since 1700. In 1986 it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and in 2008 it was nominated as one of the world’s seven natural wonders. Source: BBC
Glasnavin Cemetery Museum
Jul 14th, 2010 by admin
Dublin’s newest attraction is the museum at Glasnavin Cemetery. It is Ireland’s largest museum. Such famous people as Daniel O’Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Eamon DeValera, Countess Markiewicz, Michael Collins, Maude Gonne Mac Bride and Brendan Behan are among those buried here. From the earliest years, the cemetery has been open to everyone regardless of religion, nationality or political persuasion.
Lunasa(Lughnasa) – Garland Sunday
Jul 12th, 2010 by admin
Lunasa (Lughnasa) or Garland Sunday is also known as Fraughn Sunday. (A fraughn is a small berry which has ripened and people now enjoy the fruits they have gathered.) It is celebrated on the last Sunday in July (July 25) and marks the end of summer. It has been a place of pilgrimage since pagan times. It is also called Crom Dubh or the dark, crooked one who was the most feared of all the pagan gods.
On this day in July, pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick (2,533 feet) in Co. Mayo, many in their bare feet. Legend says St. Patrick prayed and fasted on the top of the mountain for forty days and forty nights. New potatoes are dug in the following week, and the incantation of “Death to the red-haired girl” is heard. The red-haired girl symbolizes ‘famine.’
“French Week” in Dublin
Jul 10th, 2010 by admin
The first ever “French Week” is being celebrated in Dublin July 13-18, appropriately around Bastille Day (July 14). The Irish and French have a long history of alliances. The French Revolution in 1789 was the spark that inspired the Irish to rebel in 1798. The Irish rebels were called “croppies” because their short hair resembled that of the French revolutionaries, and several times in Ireland’s history the French have attempted to come to the aid of those Irishmen fighting the British. This time they will be there with shops along the Liffey and French food to savor and perhaps some dancing by the Folies Bergere. http://www.alliance-francaise.ie
News from Dove House in Derry
Jul 9th, 2010 by admin
The following is correspondence Conway Mill Trust received from Deborah Cross, Manager of Dove House in Derry, Northern Ireland.
At the moment all of our services are secured until March 2011 as we have retained all of the full-time and part-time posts associated with each project. This is fantastic and will ensure the same level of delivery as previous years.
However, we have limited running and programme costs attached to each of the projects and this in itself can be difficult due to the amount of funds necessary to keep things ticking smoothly. We have been fundraising to help build up a reserve at this time which can be used for running and programme costs; this, however, is not exhaustive and we continually need to keep fundraising.
Aside from the funding pressure of the last few months, everything has been great here at Dove House. We are presently in the process of planning for the summer months and also the feile 2010 which Dove House plays a central role in delivering.
More recently we have employed six new members of staff through the step ahead government funded programme for unemployed people. This has helped six people gain employment and furthermore has enabled Dove House to put community support services in place for older and vulnerable individuals throughout the local community. This includes services such as gardening, painting, decorating, respite support, befriending, listening ear, etc.
Deborah
News from Conway Education Centre, West Belfast
Jul 8th, 2010 by admin
The following is correspondence from Pauline Kersten, Manager of the Conway Education Centre in West Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The GCSE students are in the middle of their exams at the moment, with the last Mathematics exam having taken place on the 11th of June. The results will not be known until mid-August, so it’s a bit of a wait for them!
With regards to our own funding, we are still unsure. Our current contract for our core costs finishes in March 2011 and we are currently conducting a review of all our services and examining different options for improvement. The review will contribute to the development of Conway Education Centre’s strategic development plan 2010 – 2015.
Because we will be in competition with other organizations in the voluntary sector to obtain core funding, we need to ensure that the organization and its services are the best that it can be, that we know where we want to be in 5 years time and that we have support and a sound strategy in place to get there.
A busy couple of months are coming up, but it’s exciting as well. Please give our regards to all our friends and supporters in Conway Mill Trust.
Pauline
Letter from Fr. Des Wilson
Jul 7th, 2010 by admin
The following correspondence from Fr. Des Wilson was sent to Conway Mill Trust President Bob Kaniecki.
Thank you for your very welcome message. All is well here.
Changed times — one of the Ministers in the present Administration here, Sammy Wilson, visited Conway Mill and was very courteously received. Sammy is a member of the DUP — Democratic Unionist Party founded by Ian Paisley. The party and the founders and the members have been at times in opposition to the Mill Project and at times indifferent.
Now, however, with the redevelopment of the Mill due to be completed in October, one minister who is a member of the SDLP has already visited the Mill and now Sammy Wilson arrived, both of them welcomed and both of them bearing messages of goodwill.
We are welcoming changed times not only in the refurbished buildings but also in the hands extended in encouragement. Now comes the time when we all have to climb out of the deep economic depression. Brian Cowen is hopeful and we are all anxious about possible cuts to essential services including health and education, but with united effort on the horizon we can hope with all that!
Thank you for all your help.
Des
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