N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Morticia
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 01:12 PM

I don't mind splitting car hire costs and being the driver BUT I lost my driving license when my purse was stolen and I've done nothing about replacing it....if I can get my act together in time to acquire a new one we could look at that again

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: JudeL
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 01:56 PM

Who                       Where                Arrive                   Dept        

Micca                   Bfast Intnl               9.25 Fri           8.55 Mon
Morty                   
Catsphiddle

Jude                   Bfast Intnl               15.40 Fri           17.40 Mon
Paul            
Robert

Leadfin/s            Bfast Intnl               15.40 Fri           12.30 Mon

Skipjack              ?                          21.40 Fri           19.55 Sun
Eric                                   

Giok                      Bfast City               13.15 Fri    13.45 Mon

Alanww                    Bfast City               13.45 Fri           10.55 Mon

Noreen                            ?

Clan Mcmoo (3)             ?

Fibula Mattock               ?

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: JudeL
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 01:57 PM

What happened to my nice neat columns?

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 02:34 PM

Well I have driving licence, and am willing to partake. Micca & Co's early departure on Monday is a bit of a mouche in the oinkment, for them though.
Giok

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 02:58 PM

I'll be there already as I'm going to Pferry on the Wednesday to spend "quality" time with my folks ;)
Also, I'm staying on til the Tuesday whereupon my dear papa will kindly transport me to his work, from where I'll get a bus to the city airport.
I would love to be able to come and pick people up, but I don't have a car of my own, and I'm not insured for my parents' car.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: hacksawbob
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 03:10 PM

could someone post the dates? I have been trawling through the thread looking for them bu with no luck, I'm in Belfast from 14-23 of Feb will I miss you guys? me and Gerry would love to come and give you a few tunes.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: JudeL
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 03:13 PM

Friday Feb 28th - Mon 3 March

Sorry

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Noreen
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 03:17 PM

Thanks for that, Jude. My arrangements are the same as Skippy's & Eric's, and we're using Belfast International.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 08:28 AM

It looks like hubby won't be coming, but I'm still hoping to. I've just had a chat with mine host at Barholm (Linda) and although all the single rooms are gone, she's setting aside a group girlies room & a group laddies room, which seems like a grand idea :-) Checking funds & permissions tonight & will post if definite.

As a matter of interest there's still a few other rooms left, she's had a couple of cancellations from the conference that's happening.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Noreen
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 08:33 AM

And can we choose which of the group roomms we sleep in, my guru? :0)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: JudeL
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:14 PM

Mine host Linda, just sent me an email telling me that due to a cancellation she has changed which room we (Paul Robert & I ) have booked to one which is more suitable for us (i.e. one just big enough for the 3 of us so we have it in privacy) instead of the one she originlly reserved which had one spare bed (which might have been filled by anyone) so there is now a room with 1 double and 2 single beds free.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 03:35 PM

Noreen: My better half just heard my LOL and has demanded that I sleep in the correct room throughout the weekend. ROTFLMAO.... :-)
Just checking flights, nearly a definite!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 03:52 PM

Flights booked! Same as JudeL & Co (Hurrah), can't wait :-)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Noreen
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 04:10 PM

*grin*
Look forward to meeting you (again?), my guru, and a'body else!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: My guru always said
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:48 PM

Some say that the secret of life is being in the right place at the right time. It's possibly true, but drinking Guinness in Ireland beats drinking it here in the UK & it sounds like we'll have a whale of a time with the music.

Looking forward to hearing you again Noreen :-)
Hil

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 19 Jan 03 - 06:58 PM

Noreen-if you read this. )Lovely to see you last night by the way)-them's smiley brackets!   I can get you, me an skip a vauxhall corsa for £63-how does that sound? Pick up and return to airport.

Skip, Noreen let me know please.

Cheers

Eric

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: alanww
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 07:35 AM

My guru: Welcome aboard! Meeting again so soon after Whittlesey - people will talk ...!
Giok: I've sent you a PM on 15 Jan, considering the possibility of us two sharing a hire car. Have you seen it yet?

"I had a dream the other night, the strangest dream of all ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: GUEST,Interested
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 07:44 AM

Hello everybody,

Just a regular guest floating through, but i'm from Deisceart Ard Mhacha so i might head up for the weekend. Sounds great.

John Moulden: I know this is a wee bit pedantic, but the word 'craic' is equally of Irish origin than it is Scottish, if not even more so. It comes from Gaelige, of course, common language to Ireland and Western/Highland Scotland but which was introduced to Scotland by Gaelic Irish. Perhaps in north Antrim, people associate the word more with Scotland due to the strong link between the two areas?

Slán go fóill,
Tommy

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 07:52 AM

To the best of my knowledge, the word crack as we use it in Ireland and Scotland was always an Irish word, does NOT come from the Gaelic. Therefore, as John Moulden infers (though he says the meaning isn't ambiguous), the only logical reason to spell the word in Irish, "craic" when writing in English is to distinguish it from the drug

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: JudeL
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 08:04 AM

Eric my dear how & where did you manage to get a corsa for £63 it's going to cost us £78 for a focus for the 3 days (72 hours)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Noreen
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 04:16 PM

Sounds great to me, Eric, thank you! And it was lovely to see you too- a proper little reunion :0)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 04:21 PM

Yes AlanWW did get the PM, thought I'd replied, answer is affirmative. I'm going to try booking it at my local Europcar, where I have influence.
Giok

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 04:42 PM

Jude I got the car from Avis.
http://www.avis.co.uk

/http://www.avis.co.uk/

Eh I hope this link works-that means I got a little bit clever!

But I got a discount for being in the NUT- using a "countdown"card.

If you have some sort of union membership, then you might also get something off. I'm quite pleased with the deal.

cheers

Eric

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: MudGuard
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 04:59 PM

Eric, you get discounts because you are nuts? ;-)


I wish I was in Portaferry,
Only for a weekend in Barholm House
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
Only for a weekend in Barholm House.

But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over
Nor have I time my boss did say...
I wish I could meet some handsome 'catters
To ferry me over, to my love and die

MudGuard/Andy

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: mooman
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 06:40 PM

To your love Andy?

...this will start some conjecture over the weekend I'm sure!

Richard

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: alanww
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 06:44 PM

Not got your PM, Giok, but please go ahead and book, I'll split the cost and look forward to seeing you. We can make the detailed meeting arrangements in due course.

"Then to the Maypole haste away, for 'tis now our holiday ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: MudGuard
Date: 21 Jan 03 - 01:32 PM

As some of you are coming not only to Portaferry but also to Groningen, I have a request from two Euro-coin-collectors:

They both still need the complete Irish set of coins.

Could those coming from the Republic please bring these coins to Portaferry?
And could those visiting Portaferry AND Groningen buy them in Portaferry and bring them to Groningen?
I will then pay with German Euros ...

(it would have been much easier if I had the chance to come myself...)

TIA, Andy/MudGuard

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 10:17 AM

CAR HIRE: There's a much better deal than I've seen here. (Apologies if I've overlooked anything, I've only quickly skimmed the thread.)

Alamo (details here charge £44 for a Corsa from any time Friday morning to the same time Monday morning, plus an hour or so's grace (collect and return to either Belfast City or Aldergrowve). The only catch: there is a £500 damage waiver which they block on your card until you bring the car back in one piece.

Still not sure if I'll make Portaferry - I've got a can't miss appointment in London on the Monday afternoon, so I could be with Catsphiddle & co on the arly morning dash to the airport!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 10:25 AM

Just checked with Alamo. No problem providing as many cars as you like that weekend, at the £44 price, so long as they have a week or so's notice. Talk to Gareth there. He'd be happy for one Catter to fax details of all requirements if that was easier for Catters.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: GUEST,Still interested
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 10:53 AM

Just want to know how many people from Ireland are going to the get-together?

Philippa: When i say Gaelic, i am refering to the Irish language (Gaeilge) and to modern Scots Gaelic (Gaeidhlig), which are basically the same, well historically anyway. Craic indeed should always be written as craic, as it is a word from another language being used within English.

Now, enough of all this aul craic. :-)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Noreen
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 02:02 PM

But,GUEST,Still interested, is it?

What John Moulden and Phillipa are saying (I think) is that the word 'crack' is from the English language originally, and has latterly been spelled 'craic' to give it (false) Irishness. This agrees with what I've heard from other sources.

Noreen

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 03:56 PM

Oh the crack was good in Cricklewood,
They couldn't get them out of The Crown.
With the bottles flyin' and the biddies cryin'
Sure'n Paddies goin' to town.

As down the glen came McAlpines men,
With their shovels slung behind them
Twas in that pub that they drank their sub
And up in the spike you'll find them.
They've sweated blood, and they've washed down mud.
With pints and quarts of beer.
And now we're on the road again,
With McAlpine's fusiliers.

Memories of Murphy.

Giok

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Micca
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 05:06 AM

" Oh Mother dear, I'm over here
and I'm never coming back
what keeps me here
is the fags and beer
but most of all the Craic.."
Noel Murphys intro to MacAlpines Fuseliers!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 10:37 AM

as Noreen and John Moulden have also pointed out, "but most of all the Crack"
may have to start another thread to discuss spelling and etymology, if only for the crack.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: GUEST,Interested go fóill
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 12:05 PM

Noreen: I'm sorry but that's completely inaccurate.

The only word 'crack' of English origin is that which means crevice or sharp sound etc.

The word 'craic', however, meaning good fun etc, is entirely of Irish Gaelic origin. Just check any Irish language dictionary or any dictionary of English etymology.

Maybe we can continue the discussion in Port an Phéire, or even write a song for the craic!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: GUEST,Den
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 12:20 PM

I wish I was coming with you all. Sounds like it will be fun alright and to add to the mix:
For I come from the Co. Kerry

The land of eggs and bacon

And if you think I'll eat your fish and chips

By Jaysus you're mistaken.

Have the best of great fun all of you and remember to leave it the way you found it.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: ard mhacha
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 12:34 PM

Hope you are all enjoying your visit to lovely Portaferry, regarding Craic, the old people from way back used the Craic word all over Ireland.
How often in my youth did I hear, "We had great craic" and the people who had the fun or craic were all born in the late 1800s. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 10:14 AM

Not long to go now......Looking forward to seeing you all!!

Cat

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Noreen
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 02:14 PM

But, ard mhacha, how do you know how they were spelling it? *grin*
Not debating whether the word was used , just it's derivation and hence the spelling of it.

Philippa's started a related thread: Pedantic Crack where this point can be debated further.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: ard mhacha
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 03:30 PM

Never mind Noreen, hope you have good craic or crack in Portaferry. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 26 Jan 03 - 04:48 PM

Is there a sort of timetable to this? Me, skip n Noreen hope to get there about 23.00hrs. where will everyone be, what'll be happening at that time. how late can we play in the conservatory? Timetable for Saturday? Sunday (until the late afternoon for us three)?

Wot abowt grub on Saturday/sunday? anywhere open? Chipshop on friday night?

Loadsa questions........

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:21 PM

Refresh - I'm interested in any answers that Eric may get!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 06:08 PM

Well, I didn't get any!!!!!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: My guru always said
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 01:43 PM

I guess we all just turn up & see what happens then!

I reckon there might be some black & vile pints & a whole load of musicking going on. It's just a guess though...

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 07:18 AM

Don't worry folks, I'll come up with something - just madly busy right now!

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: My guru always said
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 08:34 AM

No worries Fibula, we're coming anyway so there's plenty of time :-)

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 06:12 AM

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: GUEST,John Moulden whose cookie seems to have expi
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 06:22 AM

I'm about to head for Portaferry seething at the claim made above that the derivation of the work "crack," meaning conversation, from an Irish word "craic" is supported by etymological dictionaries. This is a blatant untruth. While the word "craic" is given in recent dictionaries such as "Focloir Poca" (published by An Gum) as having an an English equivalent "crack, chat" it does not appear in older dictionaries such as Dineen. Further its use for over two hundred years in Scotland and Northern Britain is well attested.

If you want to prove something over which there is controversy, please cite evidence; assertion means nothing.

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: mooman
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 08:18 AM

Whoa John!

No need to seeth over etymological stuff! Head out to Portaferry to enjoy the crack/craic (...who gives a flying shaky egg what its derivation is!) and the crack/craic will be great...I know it will...I can feel it in my old bones!

Looking forward to meeting you and everyone else going...both old friends and new!

Slainte

moo

Subject: RE: N. Ireland 2003 gathering - need numbers
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 08:26 AM

~Refresh~