Information from the CIA yearbook (abridged) Republic of Ireland ONLY
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 is 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 shorter 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
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
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 Part 10.
Part 2. - Music & Art
Translation of Clannad/Enya/etc. lyrics
Translations of Enya-lyrics can be found at:
Discography can be found at:
Enya faq can be found at:
List of sessions
Seisiu/n list
IRELAND:
NORTHERN IRELAND:
USA:
ILLINOIS:
MASSACHUSETTS:
WISCONSIN
PENNSYLVANIA
CANADA:
Part 3. - Tourism
Contact numbers
If you require a list of Hotel or Bed and Breakfast accommodation then contact Bord Failte.
also
+1-212-418 0800 +1-416-929 2777 +612-299 6177 +43-1 941351
IRISH YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCIATION
YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN IRELAND
IRISH BUDGET HOSTELS LTD.
INDEPENDENT HOSTEL ORGANISATION
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).
[Thanks to Richard Barry for this information and Bord Failte numbers]
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.
Part 4. - Gaeilge na hE/ireann (Irish Gaelic) Language
Common greetings/sayings in Irish Gaelic
There are many greetings and responses in Irish. These vary even among the dialects. I will provide a few here as an example.
Irish Gaelic courses in Ireland and elsewhere
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
For the tape set (four cassettes);
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
U/dar: Ma/ire/ad Ni/ Ghra/da
Conradh na Gaelige (The Gaelic League) welcomes all who are interested in learning/preserving Irish.
6 Sra/id Fhearchair
Gaelic League, Pittsburgh Branch
Contact:
Email: dilmore@bns.pitt.edu
Audio Tapes
Here is a list of audio tapes (excluding music) available from...
(Book Distribution Center)
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 quotation that includes surface or air postage.
[Note: V.A.T. is Value Added Tax. It is applied to tapes but not to books unless the books and tapes are sold as a unit. However there seem to be exceptions to this generality. Purchasers outside the European Union should be able to claim V.A.T. exemption]
Am Sce/alai/ochta I
Am Sce/alai/ochta II
Foclo/ir Po/ca - Caise/ad
I/osaga/n & Sce/alta Eile.
Uair An Chloig Cois Teallaigh - AN HOUR BY THE HEARTH
Educational Services Teaching Cassettes
Educational Services Corporation
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. The division below is according to dialect:
Availability of Irish Gaelic books, videos and music
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
Name: Schoenhof's Foreign Books
Part 5. - Politics
Political parties in Northern 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, perhaps David Boothroyd can help here?]
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.
Contraception, Divorce, Abortion, Homosexuality in Ireland.
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 is now 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 advertise 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 had an abortion over the weekend [presumably in the UK ?] and 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. 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 & that the government is in no rush to deal with this hot potato.
Divorce
Divorce is not permitted in Ireland. It is however possible to get an annulment under certain restricted circumstances. Annulments only apply to religous marriages and not for civil ones.
[Does anyone know what legally happens if you remarry, is it considered as bigamy ?]
A referundum on divorce was going to be held in Autumn 1994, but a report in the Irish Times on Wednesday April 27th 1994 suggests that the referundum will not be held until Spring 1995.
Contraception
Condom machines are commonplace throughout the country.
Homosexuality
Homosexual acts were illegal in Ireland up until the summer of 1993. The offences against the person acted lifted the ban, and declared the age of consent to be 17, the same as that for heterosexual sex.
Part 6. - Sport
LOI soccer mailing list
Part 7. - History
Why Ireland is divided into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland?
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.
Chronological list of dates of Irish History
"Really" brief outline of some important dates in Irish history
c.3000BC - Megalithic tombs first constructed.
Part 8. - Books & Papers
Subscriptions to newspapers
The Irish Times is currently offering 32 issues for the price of 26.
The offer is open until 30 June, 1994.
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.
Hot Press (music press) is currently charging the following
Hot Press
'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-center and emphasizes internal political solutions for Northern Ireland.
Fortnight Magazine, 11 issues per year
UK: UK#23 unwaged/students/prisoners UK#15 IR18
'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,
List of books
FTP to ceolas.stanford.edu (/pub/misc/celtic.biblio) or yeats.csufreson.edu for an extensive list of Celtic books.
Name: A Treasury of Irish Myth, Legend and Folklore
Name: Modern Ireland 1600-1972
Name: In Search of a State - Catholics in Northen Ireland
Name: Ten Men Dead - The Story of the 1981 Hunger Strike
Name: The Druids
Name: The Celts
Name: The Celts
Name: Down by the Claddagh
Name: Classic Irish Recipes
*The Great Famine: Studies in Irish History: 1845-53* ed D. Edwards & D. Williams, 1956.
Fiction:
The playwrights:
The poets:
ftp.uwp.edu:/pub/music/artists/e/enya/lyrics/translate.txt
http://astrowww.astro.indiana.edu/personnel/link/enyaidx.html for WWW-users.
ftp.uwp.edu:/pub/music/artists/e/enya/discog2
http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsdra/enya/dicography.html for WWW-users.
rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/music/enya-faq
http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsdra/enya/faq.html for World Wide Web users.
this FAQ is updated monthly and very well kept by Dave Allum at Bath Univ.
[unlike this one :-)]
From: Seamus Keleher
From: Alan Ng
Ha ha Ha Ha Ha! This is a VERY funny description. I used to play there as well. I can update for you- 9 fiddlers of various skill levels, and maximum volumes is what I have heard lately from my friend Eric. Don't forget the free beer!!
From: Edward A Beimborn
last Friday of the month at the CB Vets Legion at Broadway and Cambie, contact Kevin Dooley.
From: David Dalton
Sunday jams 5--9 p.m. at the W.I.S.E. pub, 254-5858, usually mix of celtic music, acoustic blues and folk, varies.
From: David Dalton
Might be worth popping into the Scottish Cultural Centre (address in the phone book) to see if there's any events listed there.
Wed. nights at Bridgett's Pub. St. John's Folk Arts Council.
From: David Dalton
Bord Failte
The Irish Tourist Board
Head Office
Baggot Street Bridge
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel +353 1 676 5871
Tel +353 1 661 6500
Tel in US 1-800-223-6470
+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
Membership required.
43 Hostels in Republic.
Write to:
An Oige
Head Office
61 Mountjoy Street
Dublin 7
Ireland
Tel +353 1 830 4555
Fax +353 1 830 5808
Telex 32988 IYHA EI
Membership required.
6 hostels in Northern Ireland
Write to:
YHIANI
56 Bradbury Place
Belfast BT7 1RU
Northern Ireland
Tel +44 232 324 733
Fax +44 232 439 699
No membership required.
26 hostels in Republic
Write to:
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.
97 hostels in the Republic and 3 in NI.
Write to:
Independent Hostel Organisation
Information Office
Dooey Hostel
Glencolmcille
Co Donegal
Ireland
Tel +353 73 30130
Also in Dublin Independent Hostel Organisation
Information Office
Avalon House
55 Aungier Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel +353 1 475 0001
Fax +353 1 475 0303
Dia duit (Lit. God to you)
Dia is Muire duit (Lit. God and Mary to you)
Go mbeannai/ Dia duit May God bless you
Go mbeannai/ Dia is Muire duit May God and Mary bless you
Bail o/ Dhia ort The blessing of God on you
Bail o/ Dhia is Muire duit The blessing of God and Mary on you
Go raibh maith agat Thanks (Lit. May there be good at you)
Go dtaga do ri/ocht May thy kingdom come
Na/r laga Dia do la/mh May God not weaken your hand
Gura sla/n an sce/alai/ May the bearer of the news be safe
Gurab amhlaidh duit The same to you
Ta/ fa/ilte romhat You are welcome
Cad e/ (Goide/) mar ta/ tu/? How are you? (Ti/r Chonaill)
Ce/n chaoi 'bhfuil tu/? How are you (Connacht)
Conas ata/ tu? How are you? (Mumhan)
Ta/ me/ go maith I'm doing well
An bhfuil aon rud u/r ag dul? What's new?
Aon sce/al 'ad? What's new? (Connacht)
Sla/n leat Good Bye (said to one going)
Sla/n agat Good Bye (said to one remaining)
Sla/inte chugat Good health to you
Gabhaim pardu/n agat I beg your pardon
Gabh mo leithsce/al Pardon me (Lit. Accept my excuse)
Ma/s e/ do thoil e/ If you please
Le do thoil Please
Saol fada chugat Long life to you
For the following greetings Gurab amhlaidh duit is a common answer:
Oi/che mhaith duit Good night
Codladh sa/mh duit A pleasant sleep
Nollaig shona duit Happy Christmas
Nollaig faoi she/an is faoi A prosperous and pleasant
mhaise duit Christmas
Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit A prosperous New Year
Terms of Endearment
a ghra/
a ru/n
a sto/r
a thaisce
a chroi/
a chuisle
my dear darling/love/treasure
muirni/n
leanna/n
ce/adsearc
sweetheart
a ghra/ mo chroi/
love of my heart!
Curses
Imeacht gan teacht ort
May you leave without returning
Titim gan e/iri/ ort
May you fall without rising
Fa/n fada ort
Long travels to you
Go n-ithe an cat thu/ is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat
May the cat eat you, and may the cat be eaten by the devil
Teideal: LEARNING IRISH
Foilsitheoir: Yale University Press -New Haven and London
ISBN: 0-300-04224-8
U/dar: Mi/chea/l O/ Siadhail
Teideal: LEARNING IRISH CASSETTES
Foilsitheoir: Yale University Press -New Haven and London
ISBN: 0-300-04340-6
Teideal: BUNTU/S CAINTE Vol.(1, 2, or 3) Book and Cassettes
ISBN: X50153, X50154, X50155
Teideal: PROGRESS IN IRISH
ISBN: X71212
12 Sillogue Rd.
Dublin 11
+353-1-842-9372
Dublin 2
+353-1-475-7401
[bookshop +353-1-478-3814]
P. O. Box 97742
Pittsburgh, PA 15227-0142
Jim Dilmore
(412) 361-1757
A/isi/nteacht Da/iliu/cha/n Leabhar
31 Sra/id na bhFini/ni/
Baile A/tha Cliath 2
E/ire
(31 Fenian Street)
(Dublin 2)
(Ireland)
Stories for young children:
Sici/n Lici/n; Na Tri/ Bhe/ar
Book and Tape 3.99 (no tax?)
Stories for young children:
Na Tri/ Mhuc Bheaga
An Circi/n Beag Rua
Book and Tape 3.99 (no tax?)
Phonetic Tape prepared to accompany Foclo/ir Po/ca, an English-Irish/ Irish-English dictionary of the synthetic Standard
Irish dialect 4.00 + V.A.T.
Collection of short stories by Pa/draig Pearse. 4.87 +V.A.T. These stories are also available in print as "Short Stories of Pa/draig Pearse" which can be obtained for 4.95 (no tax).
Dual Language Book and Tape compendium of folk stories 10.00 (no tax?)
Language/30
Irish/Gaelige
Two cassettes with a small phrase dictionary.
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.
Here are three snailmail addresses to write to for info on those summer
courses:
("Oideas Gael") if you wish to learn Ulster Irish.
Seoladh(address):
Oideas Gael,
Gleann Cholm Cille,
Contae Thi/r Chonaill,
E/ire(Ireland)
("A/ras Mha/irti/n Ui/ Chadhain") 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)
("Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne") if you wish to learn Munster Irish.
Seoladh(address):
Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne,
Baile an Fheirte/araigh,
Contae Chiarrai/,
E/ire(Ireland)
Address:
580 Broadway, Room 1103,
New York, New York. 10012
USA
Phone: (212) 274-1923
Address:
76A Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts
02138
Phone: (617) 547 - 8855
Fax: (617) 547 - 8551
[Note: Abortion is technically legal in the North, but rarely carried out.]
For discussion of League of Ireland and Irish league soccer Email thomas@maths.tcd.ie [dwmalone@maths.tcd.ie during the summer]
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.
England, Scotland & Wales - IR#28.60
Airmail Continental Europe - IR#46.02
Airmail Outside Europe, Incl. US - IR#72.02
Subscriptions Department
+353-1-6792022 or Fax:+353-1-6791321
The Irish Times Newspapers Ltd.
P.O. Box 74
10/16 D'Olier St.
Dublin 2
Ireland
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.
UK: UK#30
Ireland: Ir#30
Rest of Europe: Ir#45
US/Canada: $90
Rest of World: Ir#85
13 Trinity Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
tel: (01) 6795077
Hot Press
Osnovina Ltd
c/o Stanley Plitt
230 East 44th Street
Cheques made out to Osnovina Ltd.
7 Lower Crescent, [So why is it called Fortnight ?]
Belfast BT7 1NR,
Northern Ireland.
Ireland: Ir#25.50
Rest of Europe: UK#26.50
Far East: UK#39
Rest of World: UK#32.50
PO Box 9086,
Lowell, MA 01853.
Tel. +1 413 467 7860
Subscription: U.S. $20.00 (10 issues, 1/94 price)
Author: R.F.Foster
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0-14-013250-3
Author: Fionnuala O'Connor
Publisher: The Blackstaff Press
ISBN: 0-85640-509-4
Author: David Beresford
Publisher: Grafton
ISBN: 0-586-06533-4
Author: Norah Chadwick
Publisher: Penguin
Author: Norah Chadwick
Publisher: Penguin
Author: Frank Delany
Author: Peadar O'Dowd
Publisher: Kennys of Galway
Price: #17.95
Author: Gerogina Campbell
Publisher: Grafton Books
ISBN: 0-8069-8444-9
*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.
The greats: James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift, Flann O'Brien, Brendan Behan, Oscar Wilde
The modern: John McGahern, Brian Moore, Edna O'Brien, William Trevor
The contemporary: Dermot Bolger, Colm Tobin, Patrick McCabe, Roddy Doyle, John Banville
Synge, O'Casey, Shaw, Beckett
Yeats, Paddy Kavanagh, Seamus Heaney, Gogarty
Name
SysOp
Speeds
Times
Phone No.
Connect-Ireland/aka TOPPSI
David Doyle
(Lines 2/3/4)
V21/22/22bis/32/HST
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
24hrs
+353-1-6711047
+353-1-6773547
Connect-Ireland is FidoNet node 2:263/151 and concentrates on community, youth, education and social topics. Official Apogee distribution site. GreenNet and K-12 links. Lines 2 to 4 are 'banked' on the same phone number. Internet Email access as (user)@toppsi.gn.apc.org
Infomatique
Liam Murphy
(Line 2)V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
V21/22/22bis/HST24hrs
24hrs+353-1-8721232
+353-1-8721239
Run on an AMIGA 3000 using DLG Professional - one of Ireland's first BBS! Supports Amiga, Atari and PC.
SIX
Stephen Kearon
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis(4 lines)
24hrs
+353-1-6789000
McAfee Agents for Ireland. FidoNet node 2:263/167. Alcom/ZyXEL/Gammafax/MegaHertz support.
Nemesis' Dungeon
Andy Mowatt
(Line 2)V21/22/22bis/32/32bis/HST16K8
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis/FAX24hrs
24hrs+353-1-324755
+353-1-326900
Amiga based, multi-computer support. FidoNet node 2:263/150
FrEd Mail
Conor Mac Hale
V21/22/22bis
24hrs
+353-1-2889783
(Free Educational Mail) Trans-Atlantic, European and Australian penpals and inter-school projects are encouraged. Co-SysOps are Tom O Briain and Damien Cox.
Electronic
Keith Whyte
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+353-1-6611433
Media Net Specialises in MIDI, music and the music industry. FidoNode 2:263/153
Alien Line
Gavin McConnon
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+353-1-2800742
Mainly Amiga but also IBM support. Co-sysop is Christian Hayden. Runs on Amiga 4000/030 using DLG Pro. Star Trek areas.
Quarterdeck International BBS.
George Hanratty
V22/22bis/32
24hrs
+353-1-284-4381
Provides support for QDK products. Many utilities available for DESQview and ported X-apps for DESQview/X.
i-Com
V21/22/22bis
24hrs
+353-1-679-8924
Commercial 'gateway' to USA - $25/hour. Enter 'o' (letter oh) when connected; then enter 'i-com' to sign up. First time callers get free demo.
CUGI-BBS
Jamie Ruane
V22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+353-1-2832829
Commodore Users Group of Ireland BBS, supporting all Commodore computers and providing User Group information. Running on an Amiga A1200 under DLG-PRO, online facilities include CD-ROM and FidoNet (2:263/155.0). SysOps - Jamie Ruane and Colin Dalton.
DNA BBS
Martin Shortall Kieran Reilly
V21-V32bis
24hrs
+353-1-549029
Atari ST based BBS.
Yukon Ho!
Mark Kerr
(Line 2)V21/22/22bis/32/32bis/HST
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis24hrs
24hrs+44-232-768163
+44-232-763639
Based in Belfast this is FidoNet node 2:443/59
Quasar!
Dave Byrne
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis/HST
24hrs
+44-846-693067
Dromore, Co. Down. This is FidoNet node 2:443/10
Starship
Gerry Martin
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis/HST
24hrs
+44-232-763014
Enterprise Based in Belfast. This is FidoNet node 2:443/21
NIBBS
John Marrow
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+44-662-247291
Based in Co. Tyrone. This is FidoNet node 2:443/70
The Village
Harry Broadrick
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+44-232-602972
Based in Belfast. This is FidoNet node 2:443/509
Special
John McCormac
V21/22/22bis/HST
24hrs
+353-51-50143
Specialises in Ham Radio/TV/Satellite Communications both European and American. FidoNode 2:263/402
Ireland On-line
Barry Flanagan
sales@iol.ieV21/22/22bis/32/32bis/ZyXEL
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis/ZyXEL24hrs
24hrs+353-91-592711
+353-1-285-2700
Commercial system based in Galway with lines in Dublin as well. Several access options depending on subscription paid.
InfoNet Services
Dairmaid O Cadhla
(line 2)V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis24hrs
24hrs+353-21-892582
+353-21-294914
Commercial system based in Cork. FidoNode 2:263/201
CommCubed
Tommy McCourt
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+44-????
A TOPPSI mirror system in Derry - currently being tested.
Connect West
Graham Lightfoot
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+353-61-????
A TOPPSI mirror system in Clare - currently being tested.
STYX
John McKeon
V21/22/22bis
24hrs
+353-61-338228
PC based BBS based in Limerick. FidoNode 2:263/271
Reflex AV-BBS
Richard Foley
V21/22/22bis
24hrs
+353-51-83771
Mainly concerned with virus and security issues. Fido 2:263/401
Digital Paradise
Martin Browne
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+353-1-8208291
Supporting Amiga/IBM PC users.
EXEC
Donal O Beirne
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+353-61-229998
Supporting a mix of Home/Games users
TechBase
John Buswell
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+353-66-28929
BBS dedicated to Star Trek and especially Deep Space Nine. Also online technical database. FidoNode 2:263/250
TheEnd! - part two
Des Gibbons
V21/22/22bis/32/32bis
24hrs
+353-1-8321673
Concentrates on PC software and utilities. FidoNode 2:263/79
GameStorm
Declan Lynch
V21/22/22bis
21:00-11:00
+353-1-920224
Run by computer game rental company. Contains stock lists and competition details. Fidonode 2:263/156
The Highway To Hell
Iain Black
V21/22/22bis
22:00-08:00 wk
+353-1-8475217
Concentrates on Amiga and C64. 22:00-13:00 w/e Online games.
Fidonode 2:263/154. Compuserve: via a PAD (+353-1-676 8800 @ 2400 b.p.s.)
Eirpac: Call 1-801 + the baud rate you wish to use (eg 1-801 19200 for v32 or 1-801 2400 for 2400 bps service, etc.) Subscription required. X.25 system
Genesis
sales@gpl.com
+44-232-231622
Internet access for Belfast and Cork +353-21-274141
Internet
admin@internet-eireann.ie
+353-1-278-1060
Eireann Internet access in Dublin
IEunet
info@ieunet.ie
+353-1-671-9361
main Irish backbone