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Newsletter of the Irish Special Interest Group of American Mensa Uimhir 89: Mna Samhna/Nollaig 1998 Opinions expressed are those of individual authors. Mensa as a whole has no opinions. |
A chairde,
Go raibh m„le maith to Lisa Shea, both for doing an excellent job as guest editor of the May-August issue and for setting up our SIG website! The website, which contains information for prospective members and articles from Litir Sceala, can be visited at http://www.geocities.com/ Heartland/Valley/1410/irishsig/ind_ main.html. We ran out of space this time because of two special things, Michael Greaney's article in Military History and a new U.S. postage stamp honoring Irish immigration, but Lisa's Irish travelogue will be back next time.This issue is appearing after Christmas rather than (as usual) before, because I have been especially busy. On top of everything else, I have been composing a Mass setting for the harp and working on a proposal to provide health insurance on a sliding scale. The health insurance idea has caught on to the extent that some of the state legislators are backing it and plan to introduce it in the next legislative session. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and will have a great year in 1999!
We have received some interesting correspondence since the last issue. Se€n ÌO Briain, Pr„omhoide (Headteacher) of the Gaelic elementary school in Bantry, which teaches all subjects through the medium of Irish, writes that his school is attempting to raise funds to add an Information Technology Department and Music Department. These subjects are available at the English-language schools and are needed so that students will not be disadvantaged by attending the Gaelic school. For more information, please check the school's website: http://www.westcork.com/gsbeannt
We also received a review copy of Northern Mysteries and Magick by Freya Aswynn, published by Lewellyn Publications, P.O. Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164 ($19.95; includes a music CD). Although this is a "New Age" book written for people who want to use runes for magical purposes, it is evident that a good deal of scholarship has gone into it, especially in the areas of the Norse runes and the ancient Norse religion. A fascinating book!
Festivals of Celtic music, dance, and culture sponsored by "Project Saint Brendan" are held frequently at Garden in the Heights in Houston. If you live close enough to attend (or even if you don't), you can receive their beautifully designed postcard announcements by writing to Garden in the Heights, 3926 Feagan, ÀHouston, TX 77007 (phone 713-880-1065; www.garden-heights.com).
I would like to mention yet again that Doirse Dochais (Doors of Hope) is still publishing its newsletter. Doirse Dochais is an organization that supports peaceful economic and social self-help projects in Northern Ireland, and the newsletter keeps people informed about its projects. The address is: Doirse Dochais, P.O. Box 485, HoHoKus, NJ 07423; e-mail ejlogue@worldnet.att.com.
Litreacha
Michael Halm (2062 Yoast Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45225) writes: "Last month I was invited by Marianne, our music minister (who actually has Italian - Cornish ancestry) to go with her to the annual Celtic festival along with the Egan sisters, 13-year-old Elizabeth and 7-year-old Anna. I took the occasion to wear the kilt I'd been working on. (I have no idea what the tartan it was made from means; however, probably not either Driscoll or McKenzie, the Irish and Scottish branches of the family.) It had been a long time since I'd dressed up like that, since leaving behind my medieval costume and medievalist group in North Dakota. It was fun -- both Irish and Scottish music and dancing, lots of other kilts (though an authentic, imported one can cost hundreds of dollars! It's hard to believe a Scotsman would part with that much money.) and long skirted ladies. Marianne, Elizabeth and Anna ironically wore pants."Tom Culhane (954-A Stuyvesant Ave., Union, NJ 07083) writes: "Concerning the new US Commemorative postage stamp honoring Irish immigration scheduled to be issued in February or March, I would like to congratulate all the Irish-American organizations whose support turned this idea into a reality. One hundred years from now there will be millions of stamp collectors who will be aware of this stamp. 1999 will afford Irish-Americans the opportunity to request this stamp when buying postage. The success of a stamp design can go a long way toward future design decisions. When the US Postal Service realizes Irish-America has finally been recognized with a stamp and in turn wants it in very large numbers, eyebrows will certainly rise.
"I am aware that not everyone was entirely pleased with the artwork, which is certainly open to interpretation either positively or negatively. The two impressive sailing vessels depicted seem a far cry from the coffin ships I've always read about. The best light I can cast upon the design is to mention the empty pier devoid of any people and to assume it represents the bleak greeting most of the starving Irish faced at the outset of their new lives here in America. The overall design of the work is indeed very similar to the German immigration stamp of 1983; yet I hope the desolate pier the artist included will lead people to appreciate the foreboding prospects these starving Irish faced. The stamp does help retell the saga of the Irish forced out of their homeland, and having tens of millions of these stamps sent to all corners of the world helps assure us that this story will not be forgotten.
"I am hoping that Irish-American groups duly celebrate this event in our nation's postal history and press their local post offices to approve a pictorial postmark for this stamp. Usually a two to three month lead time is needed to put together all the details involved. The Postal Operations Manual can be checked locally if your organization wishes to mark the occasion, and perhaps the cancellations can bring more details together in their design to broaden the emphasis on the Great Hunger."
I have done my part, Tom, and have asked the local postmaster to order the stamp as soon as it is available so that I can start using it on the earliest possible issue of Litir ScŒala
Michael Greaney (6166 Leesburg Pike, #A08, Falls Church, VA 22044) writes that recently the editor of Military History received the following missive:
(Hard copy by Michael Greaney) Not available in on line edition
(Hard copy by Michael Greaney - Liturgical Tradition, Part IV Not available in on line edition