“Ireland Calling” --your Irish Culture Newsletter

Happy New Year to all our readers. I have not exactly started things off on the right foot----slipped on some ice last week ( after 13 inches of snow) and thought I just twisted my knee. Now I have discovered that I have fractured by knee and I will be in a brace and on crutches for the next 3 to 5 weeks. Looking at the glass half full??? --maybe this is my bad “karma” for 2008 and the rest of my year is going to be fantastic from now on!

I hope all of you had a great New Year’s Day and that your dreams and hopes with be fulfilled and that your sad days will be far outweighed by your glad days.

The winter here is tearing at us full blast---lots of snow , biting wind, ice-rain and all the treacherous driving that brings.

But -----------Spring IS just around the corner. That is the great blessing in all of our lives. No matter how severe our winter may be ; no matter how long it may seem to last, Spring is ahead of us will all its freshness and rebirth. Yet the winter can also bring us the beauty of snow capped mountains and the pleasures of winter sports. It all depends on our attitudes.

FEATURE ARTICLES
URL: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54597.asp
The Irish are known for their romanticism---- which includes their love of nostalgia and a good "tear-jerker".

URL: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54431.asp
James Joyce is recognized as one of Ireland´s greatest writers and one of the pioneers of the modern concept of"free speech" in writing.

Irish Culture Forum Discussions:

The most recent question has been opened for debate as follows:
Hi everyone! Happy New Year.
In the light of the Bhutto assassination; a new government in both Australia and fairly new in Britain; Sarkosy in France having problems; Vladamir Putin being named as "Man of the Year"; and USA Elections coming up---what are your predictions for the most IMPACTIVE EVENT that will occur in 2008 or perhaps the most influential ( good or bad) person in 2008????

***EDITOR'S PICKS!***

Music: Johnny Mc Evoy
You can go to “YouTube” and search for music by Johnny Mc Evoy -----one of Ireland’s most distinguished and yet under-rated singer/songwriters.


I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!

Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Slainte mhath,
Tony King, Irish Culture Editor
http://irishculture.bellaonline.com

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