Eire - Ireland -------------- Contents 1 - Information from the CIA yearbook: 2 - What to call the Repubic and the North: 3 - Music & Art: 4 - Tourism: 5 - Gaeilge na hE/ireann (Irish Gaelic) Language: 6 - Politics: 7 - Sport: 8 - History: 9 - Books & Newspapers: 10 - Tracing Irish Ancestors: 11 - Internet information services: 12 - Mythology: 13 - Cuisine: 14 - Getting jobs in Ireland: 15 - Applying for Irish Citizenship: 16 - Claddagh Rings: 17 - Irish National Anthem: ##### 1 - Information from the CIA yearbook(RoI only, with additions) --------------------------------------------------------------- Area: total area: 70,280 km2 land area: 68,890 km2 Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver Population: 3,529,566 (July 1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish Ethnic divisions: Celtic, English Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981) Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard, English is the language generally used. There are also a lot of Irish speakers in the large cities (particularly Dublin), but they are less concentrated in the cities than in the Gaeltachts. Labour force: 1.37 million by occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5% (1992) Capital: Dublin Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK) Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1937 Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March Political parties and leaders: Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fa/il, Albert REYNOLDS; Labour Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fe/in, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Mary HARNEY note: Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna Fa/il and the Labour Party Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2% Senate: last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fa/il 26, Fine Gael 16, Labour 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6 House of Representatives: last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June 1995); results - Fianna Fa/il 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labour Party 19.3%,Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fe/in 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fa/il 68, Fine Gael 45, Labour Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5 Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of an upper house or Senate (Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) Leaders: Chief of State: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990) Head of Government: Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992) Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-3939 consulates general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is srter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1992) Unemployment rate: 22.7% (1992) Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal Currency: 1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence Ports: Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Rosslare, Drogheda Telecommunications: modern system using cable and digital microwave circuits; 900,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 45 FM, 86 TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station Telecom Eireann now have about 1.17 million lines, and some 61,000 mobile phone customers (according to The Irish Times, July 29th 1994). They are in the process of laying a submarine fibre link from (I think) Wexford to Land's End, which can carry about 180,000 voice conversations (I think it consists of 6 pairs of fibre strands). Apparently it's the longest such link of it's kind (something to do with having no repeaters) in the world -- some 270km. ##### 2 - What to call the Republic and the North ------------------------------------------- Regularly posters get flamed for calling the Republic of Ireland, Eire or Southern Ireland. This is seen by some as pandering to the British as the British Media insist on using the terms Eire or Southern Ireland, as a way of differentiating between the North (the part inside the UK) and the Republic. If you don't wish to offend use the term Republic of Ireland when refering to the 26 counties. In a similar vein use Northern Ireland when refering to the part inside the UK as Ulster consists of nine counties, three of which are in the Republic. The Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hEireann) states in Article 4. "The name of the State is Eire, or in the English language, Ireland" The total island of Ireland has 32 counties, 26 are in the Republic of Ireland and the remaining 6 are in the North of Ireland. The island is historically divided into the four provinces of Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. The province of Ulster has 9 counties, of which 6 are in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, and the remaining 26 counties make up the Republic of Ireland. This is further confused by the fact that articles 2 & 3 in the constitution claim the North as part of Ireland. Article 2: "The national territory consists of the whole of the island of Ireland, its islands and the territorial seas." Article 3: "Pending the re-integration of the national territory, and without prejudice to the right of Parliament and Government established by the Constitution to exercise jurisdiction over the whole of that territory, the laws enacted by that Parliament shall have the like area and extent of Saorstat Eireann and the like extra-territorial effect." More information can be found from various ftp and www sites given in section 11. ##### 3 - Music & Art --------------- 3.1 - rec.music.celtic etc.: 3.2 - Translation of Clannad/Enya/etc. lyrics: 3.3 - List of Sessions: ##### 3.1 - Rec.music.celtic ---------------------- Discussion of Celtic music should take place in the Usenet group rec.music.celtic or in the Irish Traditional music mailing list IrTrad-L. IrTrad-L (Irish traditional music) list: irtrad-l@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Subscribe: Listserv@IRLEARN.UCD.IE ##### 3.2 - Translation of Clannad/Enya etc. lyrics: ---------------------------------------------- Translations of Enya-lyrics can be found at: http://astrowww.astro.indiana.edu/personnel/link/enyaidx.html or ftp://ftp.uwp.edu/pub/music/artists/e/enya/lyrics/translate.txt The Enya Discography can be found at: http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsdra/enya/discography.html or ftp://ftp.uwp.edu/pub/music/artists/e/enya/discog2 The Enya FAQ can be found at: http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsdra/enya/faq.html or ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/music/enya-faq ##### 3.3 - Session List ------------------ 3.3.1 - Ireland: 3.3.2 - North America: 3.3.3 - Everywhere else: ##### 3.3.1 - Session List - Ireland: ------------------------------- Dublin: The Ferryman, Sir John Rogersons Quay. I was there on two consecutive nights with different musicians.. An Beal Bocht, On the banks of the Grand Canal Merrion Road near St. Stephen's Green. I think on Wednesdays.. O'Donoghue's, Baggot St., Every night, 1st and if necessary 2nd floors Slattery's, Capel St., Different nights depending on schedule Galway: Flanagan's, Monroe's Tavern, Dominick Street area. Probably every night. Taylor's Bar, Waterfront The Quay, Quay Street area. Probably every night Naughton's Also the Crane Bar and Club Ora na Galway. Mayo: Matt Molloy's, Westport. Kerry: Buckley's, Killarney. Belfast: Maddens, off Castle Lane, near Castlecourt Shopping Centre main car park, Belfast City Centre. Sessions on Friday and Saturday nights, sometimes other nights. Popular with locals as well as German, Spanish, and American backpackers. Clare: Gus O'Connor's pub in Doolin. It's world famous, has music every night, and attracts internationally known acts. ##### 3.3.2 - Session List - North America: ------------------------------------- USA --- ILLINOIS: --------- - The (Irish) Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace, Chicago IL. Sessiuns every Sunday night from 8pm on. Some of the best musicians in Chicago play here regularly (Liz Carroll, Marty Fahy, Martin Hayes--before he moved to Seattle). The noise is a little more than desirable, though. - Irish Times, 8869 Burlington, Brookfield (western suburb of Chicago). Open sessions every Wednesday night. The attitude here is a little less formal than at the Abbey. Last I was there, there was one other fiddle player, a bodhran/harmonica player, a guitarist, and a whistle player who considered themselves regulars. The drummer and guitarist also play in the local band "Donnybrook". - Tommy Nevin's Pub, Evanston. 1450 Sherman Ave. (708)-869-0450. Sessiuns every Sunday afternoon at around 2pm. BOSTON: ------- - The Green Dragon, Downtown. Saturdays 4pm - 9pm+ - The Green Briar,Brighton. Mondays, 9pm on.. - Mr. Dooley's, Downtown. Wednesdays 9pm on.., Sundays 7pm on.. WISCONSIN --------- - Mickey's Tavern, 1524 Williamson St.,Madison. (608)251-9964 Wednesdays, 9:30-close. Small, redneck-looking bar, cheap (in both senses) beer. Two extremes of setting: standing-only crowded, smoky, very noisy / quiet, empty, laid-back. Musicians: several regulars of commendable repertoire, plus 3-10 irregulars of various backgrounds. Very friendly, low-pressure, but 95% Irish, 100% traditional. Fiddle-heavy, wind-light, one banjo and one uillean piper always there. PENNSYLVANIA ------------ - Murphy's Pour House, 215 East Main, Carnegie, Pittsburgh. 279-0770. Every Thursday from 9 PM - midnight. About 5 - 10 players (mostly guitarists and fiddle players and occasionally a dancer). Open to who wants to participate. Friendly place with good atmosphere. - Mullaney's Harp and Fiddle, 2329 Penn Ave, Strip District. Pittsburgh. 642-6622. The first and third Sundays of every month. Very friendly place. [Every Tuesday there is Ce/ili/ dancing with instruction for beginners and more advanced classes for those able to do them.] CANADA: ------- VANCOUVER --------- - CB Vets Legion at Broadway and Cambie, Vancouver, BC. Contact Kevin Dooley (604) 873-9948. Hall/family atmosphere, purely acoustic sesiun, some dancing. May be suspended in the summer months. Last Friday of the month. - Koerner's Pub at the UBC grad centre, (604) 822-3203. Format is celtic or celtic influenced headline act 6--8 p.m., followed by a session and an open mic, often followed by a round table unplugged jam. Outdoors in summer. - W.I.S.E. pub, Vancouver, BC. 254-5858, Usually mix of celtic music, acoustic blues and folk. Also informal sessions, Wed--Sat, often late. here is one I forgot for Vancouver, Canada - Comhaltas 251-4749 holds Irish music and language classes every Tuesday night, with a bit of a session at the end. Currently they meet in the green room behind the upstairs stage of the W.I.S.E. Club (254-5858) and it is not open to an audience so that beginners can feel welcome. Musicians often go downstairs for a pint of the dark stuff and more music later. ST. JOHN'S NEWFOUNDLAND ----------------------- - Humphrey's Pub. St. John's Folk Arts Council folk night, with some of the top Newfoundland musicians, and usually an on stage session at the end, and sometimes some unplugged stuff at a table as things wind down. - The Captains Quarters, (pub in a good small motel), hosted by Kelly Russell (or someone else if he is on tour). Usually Kelly does some solo stuff on many instruments, then there is a headline artist who does two sets, some open stage spots, and then a killer round table session to end the night. Arrive early to get a good table. ##### 4 - Tourism ----------- 4.1 - Contact numbers: 4.2 - Places to visit in Ireland: 4.3 - Festivals: ##### 4.1 - Contact Numbers --------------------- BORD FAILTE (The Irish Tourist Board), Head Office, Baggot Street Bridge, Dublin 2, Ireland. + 353 1 676 5871 or + 353 1 661 6500 or 1-800-223-6470 (USA) also +1-212-418 0800 +1-416-929 2777 +612-299 6177 +43-1 941351 +32-2 673 9940 +45 33 15 80 45 +358-0 646 006 +33 1 47 42 33 15 +49 69 23 33 41 +39 2 869 0543 +31 20 622 3101 +47 22 92 00 80 +351-1 386 2041 +34-1 577 5458 +46 8 662 8510 +411 401 5260 +44 71 493 3201 IRISH YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCIATION, An Oige, Head Office, 61 Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, Ireland. Membership required. 43 Hostels in Republic. Tel +353 1 830 4555. Fax +353 1 830 5808. Telex 32988 IYHA EI YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN IRELAND. YHIANI, 56 Bradbury Place, Belfast BT7 1RU, Northern Ireland Tel +44 232 324 733. Fax +44 232 439 699 Membership required. 6 hostels in Northern Ireland IRISH BUDGET HOSTELS LTD. Kinlay House, 2-12 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2. Ireland. Tel +353 1 269 7696. Fax +353 1 269 7704 No membership required. 26 hostels in Republic. INDEPENDENT HOSTEL ORGANISATION. Information Office, Dooey Hostel, Glencolmcille, Co Donegal, Ireland. Tel +353 73 30130. Or Independent Hostel Organisation, Information Office, Avalon House, 55 Aungier Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel +353 1 475 0001. Fax +353 1 475 0303. No membership required. 97 hostels in the Republic and 3 in NI. Gulliver is a reservations database for Ireland run by the Tourist Board. It covers hotels, guest houses, car hire etc. All Bord Failte international offices are connected to Gulliver. Call toll free in Ireland on 1-800-600-800, or +353 1 284 1765 outside Ireland to make a reservation using a credit card number to guarantee arrival. Gulliver is also accessible via the major airline computer reservation systems (CRS). ##### 4.3 - Festivals --------------- Music festivals are covered by ceolas at ftp://celtic.stanford.edu/pub/Ir.and.Scot.festivals Belfast Festival. Similar in format and style to the renowned Edinburgh Festival, and second in size only to Edinburgh. It takes place in November each year, mostly around the University area of Belfast, although some large events are held in the city's main concert halls. It hosts events of all types, Music, Theatre, Comedy, from all over the world. The Royal Shakespeare Company have been regular visitors, and Orchestras and Dance troupes from Eastern Europe have met with a great acclaim. Around the main festival, in smaller venues, halls, bars, is a lively fringe festival offering folk music, poetry etc. ##### 5 - Gaeilge na hE/ireann (Irish Gaelic) Language: ------------------------------------------------- 5.1 - Common greetings/sayings in Irish Gaelic: 5.2 - Irish Gaelic courses in Ireland and elsewhere: 5.3 - Availability of Irish Gaelic books, videos and music: ##### 5.1 - Common greeting/sayings in Ireland ---------------------------------------- 5.2 - Irish Gaelic courses in Ireland and elsewhere: ----------------------------------------------------- 5.2.1 - Introductory courses in the Irish Language: 5.2.2 - Summer courses in Irish Gaelic: ##### 5.2.1 - Introductory Courses to the Irish language -------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Additional information is available in the file RPAYNE1 TYIG via the LISTSERV@IRLEARN.UCD.IE with command GET RPAYNE1 TYIG U/dar : Mi/chea/l O/ Siadhail Teideal : LEARNING IRISH Foilsitheoir : Yale University Press -New Haven and London ISBN : 0-300-04224-8 For the accompanying tape set (four cassettes); Teideal : LEARNING IRISH CASSETTES ISBN : 0-300-04340-6 NOTE: Irish lessons to be used with above texts are available in the file IGSTENS1 TYIG via the LISTSERV@IRLEARN.UCD.IE with the command GET IGSTENS1 TYIG As a learner, you might consider a set of cassettes and booklet titled BUNTU/S CAINTE. They come in three levels. This is convenient as you don't have to purchase all three at once. It is recommended that you use BUNTU/S CAINTE for pronunciation in combination with PROGRESS IN IRISH. U/dar : T. O/ Domhnallain Teideal : BUNTU/S CAINTE Vol.(1, 2, or 3) Book and Cassettes ISBN : X50153, X50154, X50155 U/dar : Ma/ire/ad Ni/ Ghra/da Teideal : PROGRESS IN IRISH ISBN : X71212 Conradh na Gaelige (The Gaelic League) welcomes all who are interested in learning/preserving Irish. They can be contacted at the following addresses. 12 Sillogue Rd. Dublin 11 Ireland Phone: +353-1-842-9372 6 Sra/id Fhearchair Dublin 2 Ireland Phone: +353-1-475-7401, [bookshop +353-1-478-3814] Gaelic League Pittsburgh Branch P. O. Box 97742 Pittsburgh, PA 15227-0142 ##### 5.2.2. - Summer courses in Irish Gaelic --------------------------------------- Note: Additional information is available in the file IGSGUSA CLAS via the LISTSERV@IRLEARN.UCD.IE with the command GET IGSGUSA CLAS Information concerning courses in spoken Irish (for adult learners) is available from the contact numbers given below. If you are thinking of visiting Ireland this summer, you might consider building into your holiday plans one of these short, intensive courses in Irish Gaelic. Here are three snailmail addresses to write to for info on those summer courses for different dialects of Gaelic: (a) Gaeilge Chu/ige Uladh: if you wish to learn Ulster Irish. Seoladh(address): Oideas Gael, Gleann Cholm Cille, Contae Thi/r Chonaill, E/ire(Ireland) Fo/n: +353-1-213566 or +353-73-3005 (b) Gaeilge Chu/ige Chonnacht: if you wish to learn Connacht Irish. Seoladh(address): A/ras Mha/irti/n Ui/ Chadhain, An Cheathru/ Rua, Contae na Gaillimhe, E/ire(Ireland) Fo/n: +353-91-95101 (c) Gaeilge Chu/ige Mumhan: if you wish to learn Munster Irish. Seoladh(address): Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne, Baile an Fheirte/araigh, Contae Chiarrai/, E/ire(Ireland) Fo/n: +353-66-56100 ##### 5.3 - Availability of Irish Gaelic books, videos and music ---------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.1 - Irish Gaelic Cassette tapes (not music): 5.3.2 - Bookstores: ##### 5.3.1 - Irish Gaelic Cassette tapes (not music): ------------------------------------------------- Here is a list of audio tapes (excluding music) available from... Book Distribution Center 31 Fenian Street Dublin 2 Ireland Prices are in Irish pounds but do not include postage (which can be considerable for air mail orders). If you wish to order any of this material you should first write, phone (Dublin 616522), or fax (Dublin 616564), for a price that includes surface or air postage. Note: In Ireland VAT (value added tax) does not apply to books, but does apply to tapes. However if you live outside the EU (European Union) you are exempt from VAT. Am Sce/alai/ochta I Stories for young children: Sici/n Lici/n; Na Tri/ Bhe/ar Book and Tape #3.99 Am Sce/alai/ochta II Stories for young children: Na Tri/ Mhuc Bheaga An Circi/n Beag Rua Book and Tape #3.99 Foclo/ir Po/ca - Caise/ad Phonetic Tape prepared to accompany Foclo/ir Po/ca, an English-Irish/Irish-English dictionary of the synthetic Standard Irish dialect #4.00 I/osaga/n & Sce/alta Eile. Collection of short stories by Pa/draig Pearse. #4.87 + vat These stories are also available in print as "Short Stories of Pa/draig Pearse" which can be obtained for #4.95 Uair An Chloig Cois Teallaigh - AN HOUR BY THE HEARTH Dual Language Book and Tape compendium of folk stories #10.00 Educational Services Teaching Cassettes Irish/Gaelige. Two cassettes with a small phrase dictionary. Educational Services Corporation 1725 K St., N.W., Suite 408 Washington, D.C. 20006 +1-(202) 298-8424 Review: This is a conversation course with minimal grammar (next to none). I'm finding it very useful to start off with, as it teaches phrases, which give me a useable foothold with the language, and it repeats the Gaelic twice after the English is spoken. ##### 5.3.2 - Irish bookstores ------------------------ Note: Additional information is available in the file IGJTM1 BIBL and IGJTM2 BIBL via the LISTSERV@IRLEARN.UCD.IE with the commands GET IGJTM1 BIBL GET IGJTM2 BIBL Name: Irish Books Address: 580 Broadway, Room 1103, New York, New York 10012, USA Phone: (212) 274-1923 Name: Schoenhof's Foreign Books Address: 76A Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Phone: (617) 547 - 8855 Fax: (617) 547 - 8551 ##### 6 - Irish Politics ------------------ 6.1 - Political parties in Northen Ireland: 6.2 - Contraception, Divorce, Abortion and Homosexuality in the Republic: ##### 6.1 - Political parties in Northen Ireland: ------------------------------------------- The terms used to describe the various groups in Northern Irish politics are sometimes misunderstood, and misused. The two major divisions are Nationlist and Unionist. Nationalist is used to describe those people who wish to see Ireland as a single independent Nation, whereas Unionist refers to those people wishing to see the continuance of the Union between N. Ireland and Great Britain. Current estimates of the population of N. Ireland put the split at roughly 60% unionist, 40% nationalist. (Note that there is sometimes a subtle difference in whether the word is written with an initial capital or not, e.g. 'unionist' indicating a general connection with the idea, 'Unionist' implying a more direct political involvement especially relating to one of the Unionist political parties.) The terms 'Republican' and 'Loyalist' will also be heard. Republican imples an extreme form of Nationalism, Loyalist an extreme form of Unionism. The terms are usually used to describe groups who advocate the use of violence to achieve political aims. Within the two main groups are a number of smaller divisions, usually defined by their representative political parties. This list offers a spectrum of the major parties, from generally 'most pro-Irish' to 'most pro-British" [note, any more accurate voting figures are welcome] Sinn Fe/in. The political representatives of the Republican Movement. This is the more extreme minority of the nationalist groups, generally regarded as being in sympathy with the IRA's use of violence to achieve political change. Supported by approximately 12% of the population in Northern Ireland, 1.4% in the Irish Republic. Led by Gerry Adams. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). Regarded as the representative of moderate nationalism, it is commited to the establishment of a single Irish nation, but adamantly opposed to the use of violence to force this on people. Its representatives are forthright in their criticism of the IRA and its methods. Supported by approximately 30% of the population in NI. Led by John Hume. The Alliance party. A centrist party often viewed as unionist in its leanings, but its stated aims are simply to bring people in NI together as one community. Not well supported, it draws support from very moderate unionists, and also from some catholics who feel their future lies with the UK but who cannot support the outright bigotry of some unionist parties or politicians. [voting %?]. Led by John Alderdice. The Official Unionist Party (OUP). The larger of the two Unionist parties, it is firmly committed to maintaining the links with Great Britian. Not overtly religious in nature, but has close if indirect links with the protestant Orange Order. Drawing support mainly from moderate and middle-class unionists it opposes the use of violence, condemning that from both IRA and Loyalist groups such as the UVF and UFF. Led by James Molyneaux The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Formed in 1971 by Ian Paisley as a breakaway group from the Unionist Party, because of fears that the mainstream party was weak. As to be expected from its fundamentalist leader, the DUP is fiercely protestant and pro-British in character. It draws support from the moderate-to-extreme parts of the unionist population. Although publicly opposed to violence, the same cannot be said for a section of its supporters. ##### 6.2 - Contraception, Divorce, Abortion and Homosexuality in the Republic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.2.1 - Contraception: 6.2.2 - Divorce: 6.2.3 - Abortion: 6.2.4 - Homosexualtiy: ##### 6.2.1 - Contraception --------------------- There are no laws against any form of contraception in the Republic of Ireland, apart from the RU-486 abortion pill that is also banned in the UK. For example ten years ago condoms weren't available to under anybody under 16. Now, possibly as a result of AIDS, these laws have all been repealed. Condom machines are also commonplace in most bars throughout the country. ##### 6.2.2 - Divorce in the Republic ------------------------------- Divorce is not permitted in Ireland. It is however possible to get a annulment under certain restricted circumstances. Annulments only apply to religous marriages and not for civil ones. If the husband is legally resident in the UK for a year he can apply for a divorce in the UK, which allows him to legally remarry in a civil ceremony in the UK. This option is not available to the wife [please correct me if anybody knows better]. An announcement on a divorce referundum is expected in the not TOO distant future. ##### 6.2.3 - Abortion ---------------- [Note: As recommended in the "Welcome to talk.abortion" posting, I am referring to the sides as prolife and prochoice. This is not intended in anyway to reflect my personal feelings on the use of these terms]. Abortion has been illegal in Ireland since at least 1869. The 1983 referendum added a clause which guarantees the "Right to Life" to the Unborn from the moment of conception. The general consensus among the prolife campaigners was that there was now a constitutional prohibition on abortion, and abortion would never be introduced into Ireland. It was then illegal to give out names & addresses of abortion clinics in Ireland. As a result no imported magazines or newspapers were allowed to sell issues which advertised abortion clinics. In 1992, the Attorney General placed an injunction against a 14 year old rape victim (Ms. X) going to England to have an abortion. The family of statutory rape victim X had approached the police and offered to let the aborted foetus be used as evidence against the (alleged) rapist. Police then approached the Attorney General who went to the High Court as allowing X to go abroad would breach the "Right to Life" of X's foetus. The High Court then granted the injunction. In a state of near national hysteria, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling, and declared that under the 1983 amendment, Ms. X was entitled to have an abortion in Ireland as she was threatening to commit suicide. The preliminary verdict was given on Friday, X went to the UK that weekend to have an abortion but miscarried before the abortion actually took place. The full ruling followed on Tuesday suggesting that X has a right to have an abortion in Ireland. The government moved fairly quickly, and a second referendum was held in November 1992, at the same time as a General election. The referendum consisted of three questions, the Right to travel, the Right to information and the Substansive Issue. While people voted for the right to information and the right to travel, the results from the vote on the Substantive issue were less conclusive, with both sides claiming victory. However, the government has failed to legislate on the basis of the ruling in X. The governments case was not helped by the Irish Medical Council ruling that any doctor who performs an abortion should be struck of the register, a decision later endorsed by the Irish Medical Organisation. The majority of the IMO regard abortion as unneccessary for life-saving reasons & doctors can be struck off. The Medical Insurance companies (for doctors) believe failure to peform abortion in life threatening circumstance could result in neglience charges etc. The whole situation is desperately confused and no one knows if abortion is legal or illegal, constitutional or unconstitutional and the government is in no rush to deal with this hot potato. [Note: Abortion is technically legal in the North, but rarely carried out.] ##### 7 - Sport --------- 7.1 - League of Ireland soccer mailing list: 7.2 - GAA & Hurling: ##### 7.1 - LOI soccer mailing list ----------------------------- For discussion of League of Ireland and Irish league soccer e-mail thomas@maths.tcd.ie to subscribe There is also a LOI HTML page. http://www.maths.tcd.ie/hyplan/thomas/soccer/soccer.html ##### 7.2 - GAA & Hurling ------------------- Michael McGrath runs a GAA results page in Belfast http://jupiter.qub.ac.uk/michael/Gaelic.html ##### 8 - History ----------- 8.1 - Why is Ireland divided? 8.2 - Chronological list of dates of Irish History ##### 8.1 - Why is Ireland divided? ----------------------------- Ireland (all or part of it, at various times) was a colony of the English (originally the Anglo-Normans) from the 12th century. From the late middle ages it was a kingdom, under the same monarch as England, but a separate country. In law and in practice, the Irish government was usually subordinate to the English government. The 17th century saw several wars in England and Ireland: civil wars, colonial wars, and at least one war (c. 1690) that was part of a wider European conflict. Following some of these disruptions, the winners forcibly transferred ownership of large amounts of land to new landlords, and sometimes new tenants: those who had supported the winning side, and/or those who they felt would support them in the future. The net effect of this was to disenfranchise and alienate the Gaelic/Catholic (Roman Catholic) majority population (aristocracy and common people alike) and some of the older Anglo-Irish families, and establish a new ruling elite of Anglo-Irish (people of English background, and also anglicized Irish) members of the Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopalian). This "Protestant Ascendancy" lasted well into the 19th century, with traces still in evidence today. In addition, there was another transplant population in Ireland, mainly in the north-east (part of the northern province of Ulster): Presbyterians (historically know as Dissenters) from Scotland (also England and even Germany), and other nonconformist Christians (especially Friends (ie Quakers)). They started arriving in the 16th century, and their numbers grew in the 17th. During this period they and the Protestant Ascendancy were not close allies: there were significant differences in background, social class and style of Protestantism. Both the Catholic majority and the Presbyterians were the victims of discriminatory laws favouring the Church of Ireland. Generally, though, the discrimination against Catholics was worse than that against the nonconformists. In 1800, Ireland was technically made one with England, Scotland and Wales, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In some ways, this was a Good Thing for Ireland, as it led to electoral reform, land reform, and the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland and its right to tax the whole population. But the colonial relationship remained, and as freedoms grew without real equality with England and the English, so did Irish nationalism develop and flourish. As the 19th century moved on, independence became inevitable. But there was a complicating factor. In the late 18th and early 19th century, the Ascendancy and the Presbyterians had begun to become allies on political and nationalistic issues. As Irish nationalism developed (mainly among Catholics), so, in response, did unionism (the desire to preserve the United Kingdom) develop and strengthen among both kinds of Protestant. Several times, the unionists threatened insurrection against their own government in order to stay under that government. Fast forward to the First World War. The British Parliament had passed an Irish Home Rule bill, but its implementation was delayed because of the war. A small band of Irish Republicans, holding that independence was Ireland's of right and not in England's gift, staged an armed rebellion (the Easter Rising) in 1916, briefly taking over a small part of central Dublin. The government acted harshly, executing several of the rebels, and cracking down hard in general. This led most of the country to side with the rebel cause. It quickly became ungovernable by Britain. But the unionists still held the north, and they would in turn rebel if Britain cast them loose. To avoid a civil war, the government in late 1921 forced nationalist negotiators to accept partition. The Irish Free State and Northern Ireland were born. Each had its own Parliament; each was to be separate from Great Britain but under the Crown. But it didn't work out like that. The South altered it's constitution in 1937 severing most of it's links with the UK. It then declared itself a Republic in 1948/49 ending all links. However, there were other ways in which the arrangement failed, too. Firstly, civil war was not avoided; its focus was just shifted. Instead of being between unionists and nationalists, it turned out to be between those in the Free State who accepted partition and other conditions of the peace treaty, and those who refused to accept it. Secondly, the northern unionists, suddenly a majority in their new state, discriminated against the nationalists, and in turn the nationalists never fully accepted the legitimacy of the new constitutional arrangements. Some of them, known as republicans, continued a violent campaign against the London and Belfast governments; in turn, the authorities continued to exercise extraordinary powers to fight them. The community was divided. The fact that this division of national identity was roughly along Protestant-Catholic lines only made things worse. Thirdly, the Boundary Commission which was set up as part of the Treaty to examine a realignment of the Border failed. Instead of returning Fermanagh, and parts of Derry, Armagh and Down to the South, the chairman ruled that parts of the Free State be handed over to the North. The Free State rejected this and there was no realignment. As a result that areas that would have preferred to be in the South were denied that opportunity. This exacerbated the problems mentioned in the previous paragraph. In the 1960s, the republicans gave up violence and turned either to politics or to retirement. But a new civil rights movement arose, to protest and correct the discrimination against Catholics. This met a hostile and violent response from sections of the Protestant population, including sections of the police force. The Irish Republican Army was revived, in a new and more vicious form. Civil disorder grew. The Belfast government could not cope and was biased. The London government put troops on the streets to keep the factions apart at the end of the 1960s, and abolished the Belfast government (known as Stormont, for the place where it was based) a couple of years later. The level of violence is now much less than it was in the early 1970s, and Northern Ireland is actually a much safer place than the news makes it seem, but it still has not achieved full and "normal" political and social stability. The gun is still regarded by too many as a means of political expression. Large parts of the population refuse to accept the legitimacy of the political views and sense of national identity of "the other sort." For most of the century, the North has been more prosperous than the South, but the gap has been closing. The South has become richer; the Troubles have been a drag on the Northern economy in spite of financial support from London. Common membership in the European Union (formerly Community) has also served to lessen differences and remove the customs and excise function of the border. Another way in which differences are lessening is the religious makeup of the population. Catholics, though still a minority in the North, are now a larger proportion than earlier. In another few decades, it's conceivable that they may hold the majority. ##### 8.2 - Chronological list of dates of Irish History -------------------------------------------------- c.3000BC Megalithic tombs first constructed. c.700BC Celts arrive from parts of Gaul and Britain. Ireland divided into provinces. (This according to a contributor is reconstructed folk history and not based on the archaeology.) c.AD350 Christianity reaches Ireland. 432 Traditional date for the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland. 700-800 Irish monasticism reaches its zenith. 795 Full-scale Viking invasion. 1014 Brian Boru/ defeats Vikings at Clontarf, but is murdered. 1169 Dermot MacMurrough, exiled king of Leinster, invites help from 'Strongbow'. 1172 Pope decrees that Hery II of England is feudal lord of Ireland. 1366 Statues of Kilkenny belatedly forbid intermarriage of English and Irish. Gaelic culture unsuccessfully suppressed. 1534-40 Failed insurrection by Lord Offaly. 1541 Henry VIII proclaimed king (rather than feudal lord) of Ireland 1558-1603 Reign of Elizabeth I. Policy of Plantation begins. System of counties adopted. 1595-1603 Failed uprising of Hugh O'Neil. 1607 Flight of the Earls; leading Ulster families go into exile. 1641 Charles I's policies cause insurrection in Ulster and Civil War in England. 1649 Cromwell invades Ireland. 1653 Under the Act of Settlement Cromwell's opponents stripped of land. 1689-90 Deposed James II flees to Ireland; defeated at the Battle of the Boyne. 1704 Penal Code enacted; Catholics barred from voting, education and the military. 1775 American War of Independence forments Irish unrest. 1782 Grattan's Parliament persuades British to declare Irish independence, but in name only. 1795 Foundation of the Orange Order. 1798 Wolfe Tone's uprising crushed. 1801 Ireland becomes part of Britain under the Act of Union. 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act passed after Daniel O'Connell elected as MP. 1845-48 The Great Famine. 1879-82 The Land War; Parnell encourages boycott of repressive landlords. 1914 Implementation of Home Rule postponed because of outbreak of World War I. 1916 Easter Rising. After the leaders are executed public opinion backs independence. 1920-21 War between Britain and Ireland; Irish Free State and Northern Ireland created. 1922 Civil war breaks out. 1932 De Valera elected. 1969 Rioting between Catholics and Protestants. British troops called in. 1971 Provisional IRA begins campaign to oust British troops from Ireland. 1972 UK and Republic of Ireland join European Community. 'Bloody Sunday' in Derry. 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement signed. 1994 Peace Declaration and IRA ceasefire. ##### 9 - Books & Papers ------------------ 9.1 - Subscriptions to newspapers 9.2 - List of Books ##### 9.1 - Subscriptions to newspapers --------------------------------- 9.1.1 - Irish Times 9.1.2 - Hot Press 9.1.3 - Fortnight 9.1.4 - Northern Ireland Report 9.1.5 - The Irish Emigrant ##### 9.1.1 - Irish Times ------------------- The Irish Times is offering 32 issues for the price of 26. England, Scotland & Wales IR#28.60 Airmail Continental Europe IR#46.02 Airmail Outside Europe, Incl. US IR#72.02 Subscriptions Department The Irish Times Newspapers Ltd. P.O. Box 74 10/16 D'Olier St. Dublin 2 Ireland +353-1-6792022 or Fax:+353-1-6791321 Yearly subscriptions for $417 are available in the US from:- The Irish Times c/o Stanley Plitt 230 East 44th Street New York NY 10017 There is also an IT HTML page http://www.ieunet.ie/ois/irishtimes The Irish Times is available in NYC in "Hoatling's International News" Hoatlings is on the south side of 42nd st. Most Borders stores in the Mid-West (USA) also stock it. The Bay Area is very good for Irish papers. In Berkeley, you can get the Saturday edition of the Irish Times, the Sunday Independent and the Monday edition of the Irish independent at Whelan's on Bancroft and Dave's Smoke Shop in the shopping mall off Durant. Harold International news stand in San Francisco is even better, offering the above, plus the Sunday Press, Sunday World (!), Saturday's Cork Examiner and most of the weekly provincial press, as well as Hot Press. Book Soup on Sunset Boulevard in LA stocks the Sunday Independent. ##### 9.1.2 - Hot Press ----------------- Hot Press (music press) is currently charging the following UK: UK#30 Ireland: Ir#30 Rest of Europe: Ir#45 US/Canada: $90 Rest of World: Ir#85 Enquiries to either of the following adresses:- Hot Press 13 Trinity Street Dublin 2 Ireland tel: +353-1-6795077 Hot Press Osnovina Ltd c/o Stanley Plitt 230 East 44th Street Cheques made out to Osnovina Ltd. The Hot Press as well as a lot of other Irish publications are available in most Borders stores. ##### 9.1.3 - Fortnight ----------------- 'Fortnight' magazine: a monthly dealing with politics, arts and culture in Ireland and beyond, with an emphasis on Northern Ireland. Non-partisan. Editorial is slightly left-of-centre and emphasizes internal political solutions for Northern Ireland. There are 11 isues a year which begs the question, why is it called Fortnight? Fortnight seems to be in all the newsagents in the Republic and is definitely worth a look. Political magazines are very thin on the ground since the demise of Magill. Fortnight Magazine, 7 Lower Crescent, Belfast BT7 1NR, Northern Ireland. Subscriptions are as follows:- UK: UK#23 -- unwaged/students/prisoners UK#15 IR18 Ireland: Ir#25.50 Rest of Europe: UK#26.50 Far East: UK#39 Rest of World: UK#32.50 ##### 9.1.4 - Northern Ireland Report ------------------------------- 'Northern Ireland Report': a newsletter on Northern Ireland politics. Its banner states: "NIR is an independent publication and is not affiliated with any political party, group or organization in Northern Ireland or the United States" Editorial is left/republican-leaning, but articles from all shades of political opinion in Northern Ireland are printed. Northern Ireland Report, PO Box 9086, Lowell, MA 01853. Tel. +1 413 467 7860 Subscription: U.S. $20.00 (10 issues, 1/94 price) ##### 9.1.5 - The Irish Emigrant -------------------------- Ireland has an excellent weekly electronic news available from Liam Ferrie at a yearly subscription rate of IR#25, STG#24 or $35. Its free for academic sites. Irish Emigrant (News from Ireland) list: Subscribe: ferrie@iol.ie If you are an Irish ex-patriate then this is the best way of keeping in touch with home. I couldn't recommend it any higher. Past issues are archived at gopher://gopher.iol.ie/11s/emigrant ##### 9.2 - List of Books ------------------- 9.2.1 - Non-fiction 9.2.2 - Fiction 9.2.3 - Famine books ##### 9.2.1 - Irish Non-Fiction ------------------------- Name: A Treasury of Irish Myth, Legend and Folklore Name: Modern Ireland 1600-1972 Author: R.F.Foster Publisher: Penguin ISBN: 0-14-013250-3 Name: In Search of a State - Catholics in Northen Ireland Author: Fionnuala O'Connor Publisher: The Blackstaff Press ISBN: 0-85640-509-4 Name: Ten Men Dead - The Story of the 1981 Hunger Strike Author: David Beresford Publisher: Grafton ISBN: 0-586-06533-4 Name: The Druids Author: Norah Chadwick Publisher: Penguin Name: The Celts Author: Norah Chadwick Publisher: Penguin Name: The Celts Author: Frank Delany Name: Down by the Claddagh Author: Peadar O'Dowd Publisher: Kennys of Galway Price: #17.95 Name: Classic Irish Recipes Author: Gerogina Campbell Publisher: Grafton Books ISBN: 0-8069-8444-9 Name: A guide to Irish roots. Author: William and Mary Durning. Publisher: Irish Family Names Society. P.O. Box 2095. La Mesa, California 92044-0600 ISBN: 0-9601868-1-6 Review: I got it in 1989 and I think it cost me about $15. I find the book fascinating in that it traces many historical and legendary kings all the way back to Adam (ie. through Mil and then some!), according to the medieval writers. The scholarship is generally sound as far as I have checked. I have some problems with the book. First, the authors do not cite their sources within the genealogical charts. I have found different versions for some of their lineages, but they do not give convenient references. Their spellings of alot of the names are also weird, and again they give no handy justification. Second, the book has an amateurish look to it. It is apparently the pages from the authors' typewritten manuscript. In all, I'd still recommend giving it a look. [More contributions please !!! ] ##### 9.2.2 - Irish Fiction --------------------- Ireland has produced some of the worlds greatest writers and continues to produce excellent fiction. It has always been something that the Irish were world beaters in. Here are a selection of my favourites, please feel free to e-mail me anymore. James Joyce: Ulysses, Finnegans Wake, Portrait of an Artist as a young man and a collection of short stories called the Dubliners (which is worth it for The Dead alone). There is also a mailing list for discussing Finnegans Wake. Samuel Beckett: Famous for both his plays and prose. Most famous plays would include End Game, Waiting for Godot and Krapp's Last Tape. Molloy, Malone Dies and The Unnameable make up The Beckett Trilogy of novels. Approach with caution. George Bernard Shaw: Plays include Pygmalion (My Fair Lady), Superman and Heartbreak House. Jonathon Swift: Author of Gullivers Travels. Flann O Brian: The Third Policeman should be read by everyone before they die. Also known as Myles Na Gopaleen and Brian O'Nolan, this Irish Times columnist also produced outstanding works such as The Poor Mouth (An Beal Bocht), At Swin Two Birds and The Dalkey Archive. Brendan Behan: The hard man of Irish writing. Try Borstal Boy, The Quare Fellow for someone who did it all before Shane McGowan or Luke Kelly. Oscar Wilde: Picture of Dorian Grey, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Happy Prince, Salome and Lady Windermere's Fan. John McGahern: Amongst Women was shortlisted for the booker prize. The Leavetaking, The Barracks, The Dark and the Pornographer are all worth reading. Dermot Bolger: Foremost in the new generation of Irish writers. The Journey Home and Emily's Shoes are both excellent. Patrick McCabe: Shot to fame with The Butcher Boy. Roddy Doyle: Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha won him the Booker prize. The Commitments and The Snapper were both made into films and The Van is due for release next year. His play The Family which was a joint RTE/BBC production is picking up prizes by the armload on the European circuit. John Banville: Mephisto, Kepler, Doctor Copernicus. Sean O'Casey: Plays include Juno & the Paycock, The Shadow of a Gunman and The Plough and the Stars. If you still want more you can try John Millington Synge (Playboy of the Western World), Brian Moore (The Colour of Blood), Edna O'Brien (The Country Girls), J.P.Donleavy (The Ginger Man), Oliver J. Gogarty, John B. Keane (The Bodhran Makers) or William Trevor. There are also many famous Irish poets such as Yeats, Kavanagh, and Seamus Heaney. ##### 9.2.3 - Famine books -------------------- *The Great Famine: Studies in Irish History: 1845-53* ed D. Edwards & D. Williams, 1956. *The Great Hunger: Ireland 1845-1849* Cecil Woodham-Smith. 1962. Reprinted as Penguin ppbk 1991. Currently available in major book stores. *History of the Great Irish Famine of 1847* J. O'Rourke. 1874. Reprinted by Veritas 1989. 1st major book about Irish famine. *The Famine in Ireland* Mary Daly. 1986. 138pp. *The Great Irish Famine* Cormac O Grada. Repr. 1992. 87pp. *The Visitation of God?: The Potato and the Great Irish Famine* Austin Bourke. ed Jacqueline Hill, Cromac O Grada. 1993. 230 pp. *Paddy's Lament: Ireland 1846-47* Thomas Gallagher. 1982. 345 pp. American author. Currentyly available in ppk in major bookstores. *Famine: The Irish Experience 900-1900 - Subsistence Crisis and Famines in Ireland* ed E. Margaret Crawford. 1994. "The History and Social Influence of the Potato* Redcliffe Salaman. 1949. Repr 1987. ##### 10 - Tracing your anscestors. ----------------------------- A discussion of sources of information can be found at http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/saw/genealogy.html ##### 11 - Internet Information Sources --------------------------------- 11.1 - Irish Emigrant [see 9.1.5] 11.2 - RTE radio via ftp 11.3 - http sites 11.4 - ftp sites 11.5 - mailing lists 11.6 - Irish bulletin boards 11.7 - Irish internet providers ##### 11.2 - RTE Radio via ftp ------------------------ The 8 a.m. RTE radio news is available by FTP, WWW, and Gopher from ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/academic/languages/gaelic/Rte The files are sound files of about 2-3 Mbytes. This area is an EXPERIMENTAL demonstration project. Its aim is to assess the viability of making small segments of news broadcasts from RTE, the Irish National Radio service, available on the internet via anonymous ftp and the world wide web. There are currently two programs recorded: RTE Radio 1 "Morning Ireland" 8AM News (7 minutes weekdays, 5 minutes weekends) and RTE Radio 1 Nuacht (news in the Irish language, 3 minutes). The latter will be available from July 28 on, barring technical problems, and will have filenames prefixed with "nuacht_". *** Users in the RTE listening area are asked to please use their radios; the primary aim of this experiment is to make a little bit of RTE broadcasting available to those of us who are out of range and cannot pick up RTE directly. Your cooperation in keeping the bandwidth on this server down is appreciated. *** Australian users please note! The latest .au file can be obtained from pell.anu.edu.au (150.203.33.4) in /pub/obrien/latest.au. It is copied starting at 1845 Australian EST Monday-Friday and usually takes 30 minutes to copy. Earlier files are *not* maintained there, and the service is "as is"; please don't complain to Eamonn O'Brien (who was kind enough to set this mirroring up) if the file has problems. ##### 11.3 - http sites ----------------- The Stanford music archive. It also has a myriad of other links to all things Irish. First stop on your list of Irish http sites. http://celtic.stanford.edu/ceolas.html Fionn Murtagh's alternative Irish list, another must. http://http.hq.eso.org/~fmurtagh/ireland-resources.html Kennys Bookshop and Gallery (of Galway, Ireland) now have their entire book catalogue on the Web. http://www.iol.ie/resource/kennys/welcome.html University College Cork Home Page http://curia.ucc.ie/ Includes the Thesauraus Linguarum Hiberniae project. Trinity College Dublin Home Page http://www.tcd.ie/ Includes the usual University information plus images from the Book of Kells, a Bank of Ireland page, Electronic Foundation of Ireland's home page and a listing of films in Dublin in the Maths department's page. Pat Murphy's maze of twisty little passages http://orangutan.cv.nrao.edu/ University Limerick Entry Point http://itdsrv1.ul.ie/ Includes a list of some of the Web sites in Ireland, a good starting point for further Irish exploration. http://itdsrv1.ul.ie/Information/ServerMapIreland Ireland-On-Line http://www.iol.ie/ University College Dublin www://www.ucd.ie/ Including a comprehensive listing of all the IRLEARN mailing lists. Irish Constitution http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/Constitution/index.html Peace Declaration http://www.bess.tcd.ie/dclrtn.html Broadcom http://www.broadcom.ie Note: Choose option [1] from the home page to get to pointers to other sites. Don't forget there are also pages for the Irish Times and the League of Ireland soccer list. ##### 11.4 - ftp sites ---------------- Gaelic-L archive: ftp://yeats.ucs.csufresno.edu Music archive: ftp://ftp.uwp.edu Celtic Music archive: ftp://celtic.stanford.edu Celtic gif/jpeg archive: ftp://orangutan.cv.nrao.edu/pub/images/pmurphy ftp://orangutan.cv.nrao.edu/pub/images/celt Irish Emigrant archive: ftp://ftp.cs.cornell.edu/pub/irish-emigrant ##### 11.5 - Mailing lists -------------------- Finnegans Wake list: Fwake-L@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Subscribe: via above Celtic Linguist list: celtling@MIT.EDU Contact: Andrew H Carnie carnie@MIT.EDU Subscribe: via above Irish Studies list: irish-studies@CC.SWARTHMORE.EDU Contact: Michael Durkan mdurkan1@CC.SWARTHMORE.EDU Subscribe: Listserv@CC.SWARTHMORE.EDU Celtic-L list: celtic-l@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Subscribe: Listserv@IRLEARN.UCD.IE IrTrad-L (Irish traditional music) list: irtrad-l@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Subscribe: Listserv@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Irl-Pol (Irish politics) list: irl-pol@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Subscribe: Listserv@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Ireland (Mostly politics) list: ireland@RUTVM1.RUTGERS.EDU Subscribe: Listserv@RUTVM1.RUTGERS.EDU Irl-News (News and articles) list: Irl-News@RUTVM1.RUTGERS.EDU Subscribe: Listserv@RUTVM1.RUTGERS.EDU Gaelic-M (Same as Gaelic-L except for MIME support) Contact: kelley@ede.sanders.lockheed.com Gaelic-L List: gaelic-l@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Irish, Scottish, & Manx Gaelic (GAELIC-L) (not restricted to linguistics; also for learners; contributions in a Gaelic language preferred) Subscribe: listserv@irlearn.bitnet, listserv@irlearn.ucd.ie Contact: mgunn@irlearn.ucd.ie (Marion Gunn) League of Ireland Mailing List: LOIsoccer@maths.tcd.ie Mailing list for Irish - North & South - soccer discussions, including LOI, ROI Internationals, Northern Ireland league etc. Contact: thomas@maths.tcd.ie ##### 11.6 - Irish bulletin boards ----------------------------- 11.6.1 - Connect Ireland's List 11.6.2 - OnLine's List ##### 11.7 - Ireland's Internet providers ----------------------------------- Ireland On Line Nodes in Galway and Dublin. Well established. Very nice windows interface or normal internet access. SLIP/PPP also available, no ISDN as yet. #25 registration and charges from #10/month for up to 20hrs/month, #20/month unlimited access for a dialup, SLIP/PPP connection. Higher charges if you want domain names. Phone: 091-592727 or 01-285-2700 email: barryf@iol.ie [Barry Flanagan] IEUNET The main internet backbone in Ireland. Nodes in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Shannon. Charges #3/hr (#1.50/hr off peak). Phone: 01-671-9361 email: info@ieunet.ie Internet Eireann New provider. The intention is to provide a straight no frills internet access similar to Demon in the UK. #15 registration and then #10/month for unlimited use. Node in Dublin. Phone: 01-278-1060 email: admin@internet-eireann.ie Genesis Nodes in Belfast, Dublin and Cork. #12.50 registration and then #10/month Phone: 08-0232-231-0622 email: sales@gpl.com Note: Please email me if you have use Genesis in Dublin or Cork (godfrey@iol.ie). Infonet Computer Services Node in Cork. Phone: 021-293593 Note: Compuserve also have a node in Dublin, while not strictly Internet access you do have email & usenet feeds, as well as all the other Compuserve stuff. Phone: 01-676-8800 Try Electronic Frontier Ireland's getting on the internet page for further information http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/efi/EFIGuide.html ##### 13 - Cuisine (Recipes) ---------------------- 13.1 - Corned Beef & Cabbage 13.2 - Colcannon 13.3 - Irish Soda Bread 13.4 - Shortbread 13.5 - Boxty 13.6 - Potato(e) Cakes ##### 13.1 - Corned Beef & Cabbage ---------------------------- From: Stepanie de Silva 1 3/4 lbs onions 2 1/2 lbs carrots 6 lb corned beef brisket or round, spiced or unspiced 1 cup malt vinegar 6 oz Irish stout 1 tablespoon mustard seed 1 tablespoon coriander seed 1/2 tablespoon black peppercorns 1/2 tablespoon dill seed 1/2 tablespoon whole allspice 2 bay leaves 3 lb cabbage, rinsed 2 1/2 lb small red potatoes 1/2 cup coarse grain mustard 1/2 cup dijon mustard To serve 12, use a 14 to 20 quart pan. Coarsely chop enough onions and carrots to make 1 cup each. In pan, place onions and carrots, corned beef with any liquid, vinegar, stout, mustard seed, coriander, peppercorns, dill, allspice and bay leaves. Add water to barely cover beef. Cover pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer until meat is tender when pierced, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Meanwhile, cut remaining onions into wedges. Cut remaining carrots into 2-inch lengths; halve them lengthwise if large. Cut cabbages in half through cores, then into wedges. Scrub potatoes. Add onions, carrots and potatoes to tender corned beef, place cabbage on top. Cover and return to simmering over high heat; reduce heat and simmer until cabbage is tender when pierced, 15 to 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon scoop out vegetables onto warm serving dishes. Using tongs and a slotted spoon, remove beef to a cutting board; cut off and discard fat, slice meat across the grain and place on warm platters. Serve meat and vegetables with coarse-grain and dijon mustards. ##### 13.2 - Colcannon ---------------- From: Stepanie de Silva 4 lb russet potatoes 1 lb cabbage, cute into fine shreds 1/2 cup butter 1 1/4 cup milk 1 cup sliced green onions salt and pepper To serve 12, you'll need a 5 to 6 quart pan. Peel potatoes; rinse. Drain; cute into 2 inch pieces. Place potatoes in pan; cover with water. Bring to a boil, covered, over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer until tender when pierced, about 15 minutes. Drain; mash, part at a time, in a heavy-duty mixer or by hand in a large bowl. As mashed, transfer to a very large bowl; cover. Place cabbage and butter in pan sued for potatoes. Cover; steam cabbage over medium-high heat until well wilted, stirring often. Meanwhile, stir milk and onions often in a 3 to 4 quart pan over medium heat until simmering. Stir milk mixture into potatoes until smooth, stir in cabbage. Season with salt and pepper. From: Chuck Narad 8 large potatoes, peeled and cubed 1/2 head of cabbage 1 bunch scallions (green onions), chopped milk butter dill (dried, or fresh chopped) fresh ground black pepper Shred the cabbage. Sautee it with a little butter, then reduce heat and cover; let it steam. When it is almost limp, add the scallions. (I'd probably add some garlic and an onion if I made this). Meanwhile, boil, drain, mash the potatoes, add some milk and a little butter. Add the cabbage mixture, and stir in the dill and pepper. ##### 13.3 - Irish Soda Bread ----------------------- From: Stepanie de Silva 3 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon salt 9 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon caraway seed 1/2 cup golden raisins 1/3 cup dried currants 1 cup buttermilk for dough 1 1/2 tablespoons buttermilk for brushing In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, soda and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or rub tih fingers until fine crumbs form. Mix in caraway, raisins and currants; add buttermilk for dough. Stir until evenly moistened. Gather dough into a ball and knead about 16 turns on a lightly floured board. Pat into a smooth ball, then into a falt 1 inch thick round. Place on a greased 12 by 15 inch baking sheet. Slash an X about 1/4 inch deep completely across each round; brush with remaining buttermilk. Bake in a 375F oven until deep golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve warm or cool. Cut into wedges. ##### 13.4 - Shortbread ----------------- From: Stepanie de Silva Elaine's Shortbread 1 cup softened butter 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white rice flour (or more all-purpose) In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with the larger amount of sugar until smooth. Gradually add all-purpose and rice flours until well combined. Spread in a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Bake in a 275F oven until pale golden, 55 to 65 minutes. Place on racks and let cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle lightly with sugar, then cut into 24 bars. Let cool completely. Serve. From: Iain G Liddell Balmoral Shortbread 375g plain flour 250g butter (nothing else will do) 125g sugar salt Note the 3:2:1 ratio - what could be simpler. Preheat oven to 350F / 180C / Gas 4 Sift flour onto a board. Put sugar in a separate pile on the board, and work in butter. Gradually knead in flour: you should end up with a firm dough. Flour the board and roll to a thickness of 3mm to 5mm. Cut into circles and prick with a fork. Bake on a greased tray for 30 minutes. Petticoat Tails 200 g plain flour 75 g butter 25 g lard 50 g icing sugar (powdered sugar) 2 tsp caraway seeds Preheat oven to 350F / 180C / Gas 4 Sift flour and sugar into a bowl. Add butter and lard, and rub in completely. Add caraway seeds; turn out onto a board, and knead till firm. Roll out to 5mm thickness into a circle (or cut out a circle). Cut into wedges the size you want and bake for 20-30 minutes until the shortbread is pale golden brown. Dredge with caster sugar (superfine sugar) while still hot. ##### 13.5 - Boxty ------------ From Deirdre Barr Here's the recipe for boxty, as per the Monica Sheridan cookbook. 2 Large raw potatoes 1 teaspoon baking-soda 2 cups of mashed potatoes 2 tablespoons flour (approx) 1 teaspoon salt. Grate the raw potatoes & squeeze out the liquid. Add to the mashed potatoes & add salt. Mix the soda with the flour and add to the potatoes. Roll out on a floured board to a circle of a 1/2" thickness. Cut in 4 quarters & put on an ungreased griddle. Cook on a gentle heat for 30 to 40 minutes, turning the bread at half-time. The farls or quarters, should be well browned on bothe sides. Serves 4 You may add a teaspoon of caraway seeds, if you like. ##### 13.6 - Potato Cakes ------------------- From Deridre Barr Potato Cakes (1) 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 cups freshly mashed potatoes. Rub the butter into the flour. Add the baking powder and salt and mix well. Add the potatoes and bind all together with your hand. Roll out to quarter-inch thickness on a well floured board with a well-floured rolling pin. Cut in squares or stamp out with a cutter. Bake on an ungreased griddle until brown on both sides. Serve hot with running butter. Yields 12 cakes. (Cold potato cakes are often fried with the breakfast bacon) Potato Cakes (2) 1 tablespoon flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups freshly mashed potatoes 2 teaspoons bacon drippings for the griddle. Sprinkle the salted flour over the potatoes and knead lightly together. Roll out on a floured board to quarter-inch thickness. Cut in quarters or stamp out into rounds. Put on a greased griddle and cook on an even heat until both sides are well browned. When cooked, butter generously and eat at once. Yields 6-8 cakes. Major heart attack food but extremely tasty. ##### 14 - Getting jobs in Ireland ---------------------------- The unemployment rate in the Republic of Ireland is currently over 20%. It is possible to get a job in Ireland but it is difficult. The best place to look are in Friday's Irish Times or the Sunday Independent. 14.1 - International Network for Ireland 14.2 - Email addresses for Irish Recruitment agencies 14.3 - Moving to Ireland 14.4 - Applying for Irish citizenship 14.5 - Work Visas for students 14.6 - Irish jobs mailing list ##### 14.1 - International Network for Ireland ---------------------------------------- INI, the International Network for Ireland will send you a monthly list of jobs available in Ireland for #30 a year. They also run a jobs fair every Christmas called the `High Skills Pool', which has taken place in Buswell's Hotel for the past couple of years. They are partly funded by the IDA and will give you information on companies in Ireland for free if you have any queries. You can also get an information pack on moving back to Ireland, e.g. what the tax rate is, etc. INI Powerhouse Pigeon House Harbour Dublin 4 Ireland Phone:+353-1-668-7155 or Fax: +353-1-668-7945 As yet they STILL do not have an email address. ##### 14.2 - Email addresses for Irish Recruitment agencies ----------------------------------------------------- Several Irish recruitment agenices have email addresses. Skillbase: pschmitz@skillbase.ie Computer Placement: sarah@cpl.ie As with all recruitment agencies, do not expect a reply unless they are interested. ##### 14.3 - Moving to Ireland ------------------------ The INI have an excellent free pack on moving back to Ireland. Brent Irish Advisory Service produce a handy booklet called, unsurprisingly, 'Moving to Ireland'. It details most of the important information you might need to know (health, education, housing, employment, etc.) about. You can obtain a copy from them at Electric House, 296 Willesden Lane, London NW2 5HW England Tel +44 81 459 6286 Fax +44 81 451 8865 There is also an FAQ for moving from the USA to UK which might help. http://www.charm.net/~web/uk_faq.html ##### 14.4 - Applying for Irish citizenship ------------------------------------- Anyone who has a parent or grandparent born in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland can get an Irish passport by applying to your local embassy or consulate. You need to have the following :- 1) For the Irish grandparent, birth certificate and marriage license to whoever was the other grandparent of the applicant. 2) For the parent (child of the Irish grandparent) birth certificate and marriage license to your other parent. 3) For you: birth certificate ALL of the above documents must have complete details that prove the connection. In other words, the birth certificate must show the names, dates of birth and places of birth of both your parents, so that they can be conclusively identified to be the same person mentioned on the marriage license and their own birth certificate. Irish documents seem to include these details automatically, but in the U.S., you may have to contact the Vital Statistics Bureau in the state of birth to get an official copy containing more details. ALL of the documents must be official, i.e., must bear the raised stamp of the issuing agency. You have to fill out forms, attach photographs and have it all witnessed, not by a notary public, but by a "clergyman, high school principal, lawyer or bank manager". It costs about $160 if you are claiming through your parent(s), in addition to the cost of getting copies of the documents. If you are claiming citizenship based on your grandparent(s) then you need to pay $270 for Registration of Foreign Birth. There's about a one-year backlog in processing applications. ##### 14.5 - Work Visas for USA students ---------------------------------- If after you realise that you are unlikely to get a job in Ireland for the summer, yet you still want to come, then it is possible to get a work visa for 6 months. Ireland & Britain operate exchange schemes whereby Irish & British students can work in the USA for up to six months on J-1 visas and USA students can work in Ireland or Britain. Contact an Irish consulate or BUNAC for more information. ##### 14.6 - Irish jobs mailing list ------------------------------ jobs@access is a freely distributable collection of job vacancies in Ireland which is emailed to a large mailing list of active job seekers once a week. jobs@access is produced by Access Technology Ireland and you may subscribe by sending a request to jobs-request@access.ie If you are interested in placing vacancies on the list, please send email to jobs-submit@access.ie ##### 16 - Claddagh Rings ------------------- There are many stories about the Claddagh ring. Claddagh itself refers to a small fishing village just near Galway city. The Claddagh ring supposedly originated in this area. The ring has a design of a heart being encircled by a pair of delicate hands with a crown above the heart. In earlier times this design was the symbol of the "Fishing Kings of Claddagh" meaning 'in love and friendship let us reign'. In the 17th century the symbol was first depicted on a ring which became the fashionable exchange of friends or lovers. In marriage the heart was worn towards the wrist otherwise towards the fingertips. There are many modern versions of the Claddagh Ring. Here are some folk legends about the Claddagh: (a) Way back in the sandy mists of time, so the story went, it seemed as there was this king. This king was madly in love with a peasant woman, but as she was of a lower class the love had to go unrequited. In dread despair the king killed himself and had his hands lopped off and placed around his heart as a symbol of his undying love for the woman. (b) It symbolizes love (heart), friendship/faith (hands) and loyalty (crown). Two hands Joined together in love and Crowned by the Glory of Christ. (d) There was a Dublin version of this Ring that appeared some 100 years back with two hands and two Hearts but No Crown Some call this Version the Fenian Claddagh. (e) The Crown to The Father, The Left hand to the Son, and the Right Hand the the Holy Ghost. This Explanation is directly Correlative to the Shamrock, one of the Earliest Symbols of the Holy Trinity among the Irish. (f) Some will say Beathauile is the Crown, Anu is the Left hand, and the Dagda Mo/r is the Right hand and the Heart is the Hearts of all mankind and that which gives the everlasting music to the Gael. (g) As legend has it, the town developed the ring (originally a sigil to be painted on ships and sails) to be worn by sailors of Claddagh. When these sailors would run into other fishermen in their waters, they would check for the sigil, and if they did not find it, they would kill them. (h) The original Claddagh ring is generally attributed to one Richard Joyce, a native of Galway, who while being transported as a slave to the plantations of the West Indies was captured by Mediterranean pirates and sold to a Moorish goldsmith who trained him in his craft. In 1689 he was released and returned to Galway and set up his shop in the Claddagh. (The Claddagh is said to be the oldest fishing village in Ireland). By tradition the ring is taken to signify the wish that Love and Friendship should reign supreme. The hands signify friendship, the crown loyalty, and the heart love. The ring has become popular outside Connamera since the middle of the last century- its spread being helped by the vast exodus from the West during the great Famine in 1847-49. These rings were kept as heirlooms with great pride and passed from mother to daughter. Today, the ring is worn extensively across Ireland, either on the right hand with the heart turned outwards showing that the wearer is "fancy free" or with the heart turned inwards to denote that he or she is "spoken for". The pride of place is on the left hand, with the heart turned in, indicating that the wearer is happily married. ##### 17 - The Irish National Anthem ------------------------------ 17.1 - As Gaeilge: 17.2 - In English: ##### 17.1 - Amhra/n na bhFiann ------------------------- Seo dhibh a Seo dhibh a cha/irde duan O/glaigh, Cathre/imeach briomhar ceolmhar, A/r dtinte cna/mh go buacach ta/id, 'S an spe/ir go min re/altogach Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo 'S go tiu/nmhar gle/ roimh thi/ocht do'n lo/ Fe/ chiu/nas chaomh na hoiche ar seol: Seo libh canai/dh Amhra/n na bhFiann Curfa/: Sinne Firnna Fa/il A ta/ fe/ gheall ag E/irinn, buion da/r slua Thar toinn do ra/inig chugainn, Fe/ mho/id bheith saor. Sean ti/r a/r sinsir feasta Ni/ fhagfar fe/'n tiora/n na/ fe'/n tra/il Anocht a the/am sa bhearna bhaoil, Le gean ar Ghaeil chun ba/is no/ saoil Le guna screach fe/ la/mhach na bpile/ar Seo libh canai/dh Amhra/n na bhFiann. Cois ba/nta re/idhe, ar a/rdaibh sle/ibhe, Ba bhuachach a/r sinsir romhainn, Ag la/mhach go tre/an fe/'n sa/r-bhrat se/in Ta/ thuas sa ghaoith go seolta Ba dhu/chas riamh d'a/r gcine cha/idh Gan iompa/il siar o/ imirt a/ir, 'S ag siu/l mar iad i gcoinne na/mhad Seo libh, canai/dh Amhra/n na bhFiann Curfa/ A bhui/on na/ch fann d'fhuil Ghaeil is Gall, Sin breacadh lae na saoirse, Ta sce/imhle 's scanradh i gcroi/the namhad, Roimh ranna laochra a/r dtire. A/r dtinte is tre/ith gan spre/ach anois, Sin luisne ghle/ san spe/ir anoir, 'S an bi/obha i raon na bpile/ar agaibh: Seo libh, canai/dh Amhra/n na bh Fiann. Curfa/ ##### 17.2 - Irish National Anthem - English translation -------------------------------------------------- We'll sing a song, a soldier's song, With cheering rousing chorus, As round our blazing fires we throng, The starry heavens o'er us; Impatient for the coming fight, And as we wait the morning's light, Here in the silence of the night, We'll chant a soldier's song. Chorus: Soldiers are we whose lives are pledged to Ireland; Some have come from a land beyond the wave. Sworn to be free, No more our ancient sire land Shall shelter the despot or the slave. Tonight we man the gap of danger In Erin's cause, come woe or weal 'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal, We'll chant a soldier's song In valley green, on towering crag, Our fathers fought before us, And conquered 'neath the same old flag That's proudly floating o'er us. We're children of a fighting race, That never yet has known disgrace, And as we march, the foe to face, We'll chant a soldier's song Chorus Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale! The long watched day is breaking; The serried ranks of Inisfail Shall set the Tyrant quaking. Our camp fires now are burning low; See in the east a silv'ry glow, Out yonder waits the Saxon foe, So chant a soldier's song. Chorus #####