IGO March 24 News Extra
Hello to everyone,
In March we have the joy of celebrating St Patrick’s day and the clocks go forward on Sunday 31st March – yippee! But did you know about World Piano Day on the 28th?
Here’s a link to Scott Joplin’s ragtime piece The Entertainer and a great picture from wiki commons of a woman at the piano with a Cockatoo, painted in 1870 by Gustave Leonard de Jonghe.
Helen Titherington, Trust Volunteer - IGO News Extra Editor
Slow French on Tuesdays is a weekly, slow conversation in French. We've been a stable group since we formed in October 2021, and we've got to know each other and become friends, while talking and improving, all slowly, in French.
From Stephen, group member
Any keen learner could set up a similar group in any (popular!) language. Contact the editor if you would like to talk about it.
Image from Wiki commons
Long Read - IGO members take part in the Big Garden Bird Watch
Tales from four IGO members about their experience of tthe Big Garden Birdwatch in January.
Read more in the article IGO Members take part in the Big Garden Bird Watch, and get inspired to watch the birds in your garden.
I joined the traditional Irish music group at the end of last year. It is fascinating. Each programme gives us a wealth of information. including the history of Irish music, a description of instruments used (this month the harp) Different facets of Irish music are also described such as the development of Irish dancing over the years from a very complicated dance form to a more relaxed and freer style as exemplified by ‘River Dance.’
We enjoyed the music too, of Clannad, a Donegal group who first came to fame with ‘ the theme from Harry’s Game-’ a real musical treat. Finally, the afternoon ended with a rendering of Turlough O’Carolan’s first composition for harp. Wonderful! A big thank you to Catherine Wykes.
Happy St Patrick’s Day! (Bheannacht La le Phaidrigh!)
From Catherine, group member
In the last meeting of the Irish Music group, I gave a brief talk on the Irish harp. Instead of giving a historical overview, I started from the harp I know, the one in a symphonic orchestra. Though there are some significant differences between the two, both harps share their unique sweet sound that in the hands of an expert easily reminds us of what music in heaven may sound like.
From Tomy, group member
Picture from wiki commons in the public domain – woman playing Irish harp
We are a small but select group exploring a variety of topics on Irish History and Culture.
A recent example is the "Brehon Laws" - a presentation based on the ancient Irish Legal System of restorative justice. Modern retributive legal systems could do well to emulate some aspects of this.
From Hubert, group member
Picture from wiki commons in the public domain – the Brehon Laws
Where does the expression Beyond the Pale come from?
The expression was first used in Ireland in the 13th century, to describe people who lived outside the parts of Ireland controlled by the English. Called the Pale, it originally consisted of parts of counties Meath, Louth, Kildare and Dublin in the east of Ireland.
Within the Pale, settlers lived under the protection of the crown. But once you passed "the Pale," you were outside the authority and safety of English law. There was also a Pale of Calais – ruled by England from 1347 to 1558.
