Early Equinox Startles World: Scientists Puzzled as Earth's Axis Wobbles

 Irish Publisher Forced to Launch Novel Early. Writer states, "Dolphin Song was supposed to be an Autumn Read. Now it's a Beach Read!"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Dateline: Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Ireland, Aug 9 2021)

Astronomers at Ireland's Dunsink Observatory today announced a startling discovery. Due to an unanticipated, rapid shift in the Earth's axis, the annual equinox is occurring approximately 6 weeks earlier than scheduled.

As most people know, the equinox is the instant in time when the plane of our planet's equator passes through the geometric center of the Sun's disk. Occurring twice each year, daytime and nighttime hours are approximately the same all over the planet. 

Dunsink's operational director,  Professor Jake McSky,  stated: "Einstein is turning in his grave because this proves the end to the theory of relativity. Astronomers and physicists all over the world will have to tear up past astronomical assumptions."

Forced Early Launch of New Novel

The managing director of Storylines Entertainment Ltd, an Irish media company, explained that the Earth's wobble caught the publisher by complete surprise, which disrupted months of planning.

"The brilliant new novel, Dolphin Song  by Tom Richards, was scheduled for release on 21 September of this year - on the day of the equinox because that day is unique (as is Tom's book)," she stated. "However, because the equinox has shifted, we have been forced to bring forward the release date to today, 9 August 2021.

"The Kindle eBook edition, scheduled for September release, has been moved forward, too. This version will be published in two-day's time. As we have updated the Amazon page, you may find it a bit 'clunky'. However, you can pre-order now and the eBook will be delivered to you ASAP. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Introductory Price Remains at $1.49

This reporter asked the Storylines Entertainment MD if the current presales price of the Kindle edition would be maintained.

"That's what we promised our customers and we keep our word!" she re-iterated. "The $1.49 presales price will be maintained until 20 September. After that, it will revert to the RSP of almost five bucks. We stand by our promises."

(Later, the executive was caught on a hot-mic, griping: "Lord only knows how much this will cost the company. Heads will roll like it was the Siege of Wexford!")

Author Grouses About Scheduling Change

When contacted by this reporter, novelist Richards was at a loss for words. 

"I don't know what to tell you," he gasped. "We've worked so hard to stay on schedule. Dolphin Song was supposed to be an Autumn read. You know...one of those 'I'll cozy up to the fireplace and enjoy a little Irish romantic fantasy' sort of books. But now it's a Beach Read? Unbelievable!"

Should readers have questions, they might want to contact the author on his new website: www.tomrichards.ie, which is about to go live. "At least that's still on schedule", the author whined. 

DOLPHIN SONG IS OUT NOW!

Due to the scheduling screw-up, you can order the Irish Romantic Fantasy Dolphin Song right now:

Order the eBook Kindle copy (due to rescheduling, it is available ASAP):

o   Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards-ebook/dp/B099QRTH62/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628076120&sr=8-2

o   Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B099QRTH62/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

o   Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/Dolphin-Song-English-Tom-Richards-ebook/dp/B099QRTH62/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628238314&sr=8-1

o   Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards-ebook/dp/B099QRTH62/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628238862&s=books&sr=1-1

Order the Paperback copy:

o   Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards/dp/0955021219/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628515724&sr=8-1

o   Amazon.co.uk - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards/dp/0955021219/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628515787&sr=8-1

o   Amazon Germany - https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Tom-Richards/dp/0955021219/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+Richards&qid=1628515834&sr=8-1

o   Amazon Australia - https://www.amazon.com.au/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards/dp/0955021219/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628515880&sr=8-1

…  and in all Amazon marketplaces across the globe. Note that the shifting earth axis has not affected Amazon service levels

Other

Follow Tom on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/tommyjohn and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dolphinsongthenovel/

Download your Free First Chapter of Dolphin Song here and pass it on: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KNn2v7-DOKJnX4_-4Yki59j-SdjUSVeb/view?usp=sharing  - That's right. Absolutely FREE!

- 30 - 

Visit and Discover the Mystery of Irish Legends

As Ireland continues to reopen (and yes, that really is going to happen. Our esteemed government has indicated that international travel restrictions will be lifted in two weeks' time - which, of course, is subject to change), many American friends of mine have shared their plans to visit this lovely country. Their usual itinerary goes something like this: a visit to Dublin and the Guinness Hop Store or similar tourist attractions, a drive to the west coast to perhaps take in Dingle or the Kerry Way, and maybe a visit to Blarney to kiss the famous stone and inherit the Gift of the Gab. 

When they list these usual tourist sites, I'll often frown and shake my head. My thinking goes: "Why visit a place thronged by visitors when so much other magic is available and often forgotten?"

So, if they ask me for advice I tell 'em straight: Stay off the tourist trail and find the mystery of Ireland for yourself. And nothing better sums up that mystery than the wonders of Irish Legend. Often, these destinations are well off the tourist trail. So, while you're learning about Irish lore, you can take a breath of fresh air at the same time. And, there's so much to learn...

From the Salmon of Knowledge to the Legend of the Banshee; the mischievous Puca to the mystery of Tir na nOg; the Hag of Beara to the Cattle Raid of Cooley - Ireland is imbued with a deep well of stories that will make your skin tingle. And what's quite fun is you can often visit the very locations that make these stories come alive. 

Allihies and the Children of Lir

I'll start by pointing out a village just down the road from where I live. Allihies, located at the very western tip of Beara Peninsula, is an isolated little spot with some of the most stunning views in all of Ireland. On a clear day, the Skellig Islands rise like a fleet of invading warriors from a wild Atlantic ocean. Take a walk through the village and you'll soon learn that it is the site of one of Ireland's oldest copper mines. But look closer and you'll find the magic of Irish Legend.

The Children of Lir is an ancient tale involving romance, betrayal, transformation and banishment. It is a fairly long legend but the short version goes something like this: the second wife of Lir was jealous of his four children, born to him from a previous marriage. In a pique of rage, she transformed the children into four swans, banishing them for nine-hundred years. For the last three-hundred years, the children were forced to fly above the Atlantic, never touching land.

The spell ended only when Saint Patrick came to Ireland, bringing Christianity with him. Upon hearing a holy bell toll across the barren waters, the children flew to the remote village of Allihies. There, they were blessed by a monk and transformed back into human beings. But of course, and as many legends do, the tale ends in tragedy because they immediately perished and were then buried.

The question remains, however: where are Lir's four children interred?

Many places across the country claim the Children of Lir as their own. But in Allihies, locals believe that Lir's four children are buried at a site not far from the sea. Allihies is, therefore, the true location of their resting place.

And what makes it even more interesting is: you can visit the place. It's simple to do.

Drive to Allihies and start looking for the sign: Children of Lir Mythical Site. Park, and after a short walk, you'll stumble on the white stone which marks their grave. Say a prayer, however, because you might be transformed into a white swan, too!

The Beara: a Place of Legends

Living in Eyeries as I do, and as a resident of Beara Peninsula, I can look out my back door to find an endless source of legends. It is part of the tapestry of living here; of the rich fabric that I'm fortunate enough to find myself in. As Ireland gets back to business, and as visitors again flock to these shores, I hope you'll discover the legends for yourself. 

Can I help?

If you have questions about Ireland - where to go, how to get a job here, how to get a visa, or similar... or if you just want to say hello, feel free to drop me an email:

tomjrichards@gmail.com. 

I may not have the answers but I'll try to point you in the right direction. And if I don't get back it just means that I'm overwhelmed.... and apologies if that happens.  Slan!

The 2021 - and Final! - Edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland
is Now Available on Amazon!

Though the world is a poorer place right now, we still look to the horizon with hope. If you're dreaming of living and working in - or traveling to - Ireland, this book might be for you. At over 90,000 words, A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021, gives readers an insight of what it's like to immigrate to this beautiful country: of how to become a citizen, how to get a job and work visa, how to enjoy a perfect pint of Guinness, and the amazing tapestry that is Ireland. 

For more information, visit Amazon and A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021 Edition. 

Ireland's Slow Reopening: One Careful Step at a Time

Since last Christmas, Ireland has been closed for business. Except for a few essential services that we could all count on one hand (chemists, most food stores, hardware stores, healthcare facilities), Ireland had been shut down as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on our population.

Clothing and footwear shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, motor home parks, tent camping sites, construction sites, church services, cafes, museums, sporting venues, football fields, all schools of education - if a location had the potential to attract a crowd of any type, thereby offering the virus an opportunity to breed, it was ordered closed. Period. 

For months, we all had to stick within 5 km of our place of residence. Travel to another Irish county was verboten. Travel abroad, except for extenuating circumstances, was forbidden. Those caught driving to the airport to catch an outbound flight for non-essential reasons were subject to an immediate fine. 

Inbound travel sagged as Ireland imposed additional travel restrictions. Today, and as I noted in a previous blog entry, passengers traveling into Ireland from 'red-flag' countries are subject to mandatory hotel quarantine. Those same travelers are responsible for the cost of their stay.

The strict government intervention came as a reaction to the pre-Christmas 2020 opening of the country. Back then, only a few months ago, the Irish government believed that a careful reopening of the country, enabling people to enjoy Christmas in a manner approaching 'normal', would not only help small businesses, but also provide a bit of breathing space to a weary Irish population.

The only problem was that it didn't work. Within weeks, hospitals around the country were filled to capacity with COVID victims. The day after Christmas, on Saint Stephen's Day, the country was closed tight as the government realised its error and fought back.

We've been closed ever since. 

But as we continued to count the rising number of virus cases and bury our dead, hope lit the horizon in the form of vaccines. That hope spread like wildfire as Ireland's health services rolled out its vaccination programme. AstraZenica, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are names that roll from everyone's lips. As with many people across the world, we greet each other by asking: "Are you scheduled for your jab, yet? Or did you have it? If you had it, what kind did you get? When are you scheduled for your second jab?"

It is a greeting that now looks toward a brighter future, rather than back at a deadly past. 

As I write this, almost 30 percent of Ireland's adult population has received at least one dose of a vaccine. We've still a long way to go to ensure full protection. But, the government and our health officials believe that it's enough to start a carefully-considered reopening.

In short, the lights in Ireland are being switched back on.

Those Careful Steps

The reopening of Ireland is happening in planned phases. In April, kids went back to school as the government threw the dice to continue children's education, hoping that the facts where correct and that schools would prove an unlikely place to spread the virus. Fortunately, to date that has paid off. However, college and university on-campus learning is still closed. 

Now, we consider additional steps.

On 10 May 2021:

• All construction reopened
• We can travel between counties as local travel restrictions are lifted
• A few people can gather together in houses to visit friends 
• 15 people can gather together outside
• Hairdressers reopened
• Galleries, museums and libraries can open their doors
• 50 people can attend Mass or other religious services

Yesterday, the 17th of May, all retailers (including non-essential retailers such as clothing stores, boutiques, and similar) could again welcome shoppers.

On June 2nd, the next phase of reopening kicks in as hotels and B&B's can finally open up. However, what are deemed 'higher risk' activities and businesses including pubs, indoor restaurant dining, indoor team sporting matches, and international travel will just have to wait. The government is talking about reopening these activities sometime in July or August. But it is dependent on new infections, monitoring of COVID variants (such as the new variant that is sweeping India), and the continuing success of the vaccination programme.

Until then we must watch our step.

Disruptors to Patience

Unfortunately, as we all begin to breathe a bit there are some - both inside and outside this country - who continue to put Ireland's reopening in peril.

A few days ago, the HSE (our national health services administration) experienced a serious breach of its IT systems by criminal gangs. The Wizard Spiders, a Eastern European gang of malicious hackers, infected HSE infrastructure with sophisticated Ransomware. Not only have they encrypted vital data and applications, but the organised group is now demanding a reported €20 million to unlock that information - a ransom the government is apparently refusing to pay.

The malware infection has closed most essential hospital services across the country. Patients who had been scheduled to receive vital treatments or scans have found that their appointments have been cancelled. Fortunately, the IT outage has not disrupted the vaccination rollout. 

But having to cope with international thuggery isn't Ireland's only challenge as it struggles to reopen. Across the country, it has been reported that some shady businesses are ignoring government regulations. These crooks are putting short-term profit above the health and well-being of their customers. From secret home party gatherings to back-of-a-lane Shebeens where the Guinness has never stopped flowing; motor home parks illicitly welcoming caravans of visitors, to shuttered restaurants offering on-the-sly indoor dining... the owners and managers of these establishments forget a vital fact:

Almost five-thousand people have died from COVID-19 in this country. Their illicit, selfish actions only imperil more lives. Instead of considering their neighbours, I gather these eejits have said to themselves: "Feck it, anyway. I've suffered enough. I'll reopen no matter what the government says."

To these unthinking souls I can only say: "We're so close now. We're almost there, only months away from a safe reopening. Don't be an arse. Instead, do as most Irish do. Stay kind and put the lives of others first."

After all, we've made it this far by sticking together. If we stay together, we'll make it out of this dark hole, and live to see another day.

Mind you, I doubt the illegal eejits will ever listen.

The 2021 - and Final! - Edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland
is Now Available on Amazon!

Though the world is a poorer place right now, we still look to the horizon with hope. If you're dreaming of living and working in - or traveling to - Ireland, this book might be for you. At over 90,000 words, A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021, gives readers an insight of what it's like to immigrate to this beautiful country: of how to become a citizen, how to get a job and work visa, how to enjoy a perfect pint of Guinness, and the amazing tapestry that is Ireland. 

For more information, visit Amazon and A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021 Edition. 

U.S., Canada, France, Italy, Others Join Ireland's Growing Mandatory Quarantine List

The Irish government last night added the United States, France, Italy and thirteen other countries to its growing mandatory quarantine list for inbound travelers. From April 15 2021, people arriving from these countries are subject to mandatory hotel quarantine.

Those subject to quarantine are responsible for the cost of their stay. The rate for the 12 nights is €1875.00. 

Irish news organisations report that, to date, over four-hundred people have been subject to the new quarantine legislation, and are staying in government approved hotels. RTE reports that ten confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been detected through testing at the quarantine hotels since 26 March. 

Those facing quarantine are advised that it is a criminal offence to leave a designated facility without authorisation. A person found guilty of breaking quarantine faces a fine of €2000, one month in prison, or both. 

A total of 59 countries are now on the government's red list. 

The addition of the United States and EU countries comes following terse inter-governmental discussions and arguments. Many legislators cite existing EU freedom of travel laws, as well as the historic relationship with the U.S. as reasons not to expand the list to include these countries.

However, Irish health officials' growing worry about COVID variants, and the effect they would have on Ireland's population and economy, at last resulted in government agreement.

Today marks Ireland's one-hundredth day in lockdown. As of this writing, citizens can only travel 5 kilometers from their homes. Most shops are closed as are church services, concerts, sporting events, and similar public gatherings. While restrictions will ease from next Monday, additional relaxation of COVID guidelines is dependent on the continued roll out and ramping up of vaccinations.

Ireland, as with all EU countries, has seen significant delays in deliveries of many vaccines, in particular the Astra Zeneca jab. The government had hinged the country's recovery on the millions of doses it had expected to receive. 

The government is now playing catch up as additional doses are finally being delivered.

For more information, visit the Irish governments mandatory quarantine website. For additional news, go to RTE. 

The 2021 - and Final! - Edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland
is Now Available on Amazon!

Though the world is a poorer place right now, we still look to the horizon with hope. If you're dreaming of living and working in - or traveling to - Ireland, this book might be for you. At over 90,000 words, A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021, gives readers an insight of what it's like to immigrate to this beautiful country: of how to become a citizen, how to get a job and work visa, how to enjoy a perfect pint of Guinness, and the amazing tapestry that is Ireland. 

For more information, visit Amazon and A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021 Edition. 

 

Ireland Institutes Mandatory Quarantine for Travelers

If you're thinking of traveling to Ireland in the near future, think again. 

This Friday, March 26, 2021, sees the start of mandatory hotel quarantines for most people coming to Ireland. Passengers arriving into the Republic from a list of designated 'Category 2, high risk' countries will be required to stay in a designated hotel for twelve nights.

What's more, those people will have to bear the cost: €1,875 for the period of their stay. 

Category 2 is made up of a list of 33 countries experiencing high levels of COVID-19. Right now that list includes many African nations (including South Africa), a number of South American countries (Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela make the list), as well as Austria and the United Arab Emirates.

But be warned: Countries can be added to this 'danger' list at any time, and at the government's discretion. 

Moreover.... all inbound travelers now require valid proof of a negative PCR test for the virus. If you haven't got a certificate on you, proving that fact, you will also face mandatory quarantine at a daily rate of €150. In other words, if you don't have a valid negative test document, you will be whisked directly from the airport to your quarantine hotel. And don't even think about appealing.

Some people are exempt from the new regulations: aircrews, maritime crews, drivers of heavy goods vehicles transporting items to and from this country, and a few others. And that's it.

But for anyone else? Before you book your next trip to Ireland, make certain that your country of origin hasn't been designated Category 2 by the Irish government or you could be in deep trouble.

Background 

After twelve weeks of lockdown, the people of this country continue to suffer from the third wave of the global pandemic. Over 4,500 are now dead from the virus. Analysis suggests that part of the reason for the continuing spread of COVID in Ireland (particularly new variants) is unregulated inbound arrival of travelers from countries that are suffering from the virus worse than we are. Too, some Irish have also been at fault. A few of Irish travelers have chosen to holiday abroad even during the pandemic. When they came home, they've brought back the unwelcome gift of illness.

For weeks now many people including scientists, politicians, as well as members of the general public, have clamored for travel restrictions to choke off entry points for the virus. With the arrival of mandatory quarantine, it seems the government has finally listened to their demands.

Check Before You Book

You might be reading this from a chair in London or a couch in Florida. At this point, neither the United Kingdom nor the United States is on the Category 2 list. But as I point out above, if I were you...

Before you book your Irish-bound trip, check the list. And also realize that even if you book a trip for the summer right now - thinking everything is okay - but should your country of origin make the list before you depart, you might want to cancel. Or, you could find yourself spending almost 2 weeks in quarantine before you can make your way into the Irish countryside.

For more information:

• Today's The Journal article
• Today's RTE News article
• New Irish Government Mandatory Hotel Website

The 2021 - and Final! - Edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland is Now Available!

It's been a long journey. What started as a series of notes about this Yank's uncertain decision to uproot his life and replant his soul in Ireland has turned into an Eleven Edition exploration. 

Most years, I've edited A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland to reflect this country's current events, imparting the challenges and opportunities present in this country, hoping that it might be of help if you are considering a similar voyage. This year, just in time for Saint Patrick's Day, I offer an edition which explores the difficulties this country faces: pandemic, Brexit, and everything else.

At over 90,000 words, it's the biggest edition yet. 

I include an extensive guide that explores how to immigrate into this country and get a job here. I look at the faint, glimmering light of hope that is creeping over the country as its people are vaccinated, and to the opportunities that will again skyrocket heavenward when Ireland re-opens for business. 

Once again, I try to answer those questions friends have posed to me over the years: Tom, why did you immigrate to Ireland? How did you become a citizen? How did you get a job there? 

And the big one: Can I do that, too?

The answer to the last question is the most challenging. The short answer is: Yes. But the process is much more complicated than one simple word. Which is why I wrote the book in the first place.

This is the final edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. After all the years of writing it, I guess I've finally run out of things to say. Too, this head of mine isn't as young as it once. It's time to move on, just as the world is moving on.

To all those who have purchased past editions of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland (and there are over twenty thousand of you), please know how grateful I am.

To those of you who are looking for an easy read about a nutty Yank's wild journeys in Ireland over the past 39 years, I hope you buy a copy of this 2021 edition.

And to everyone else: living the life of an expatriate has been one hellofa crazy ride. Recently, someone asked me if I'd do it again. The truthful answer is, probably not. It was far more work than I could have imagined.

Yet, though I didn't know it when I first moved here, I was given an immense gift. I've learned that living in a country different from your birth is a tremendous opportunity. Circumstances that are part of an immigrant's experience push you to perform to your very best. You're constantly reaching farther and higher because no one is there to catch you should you fall. 

You're on your own, and you learn that the only one you can rely on is the person inside.

I didn't always succeed. Often, I failed miserably. I probably would have made much more money had I never ventured to a country so different from that of my birth. But I know that had I stayed in America, I would never have tried my hand at so many different things to make a living for my family - from weighbridge salesman to writer; owner of a marketing agency to operations director of leased offices company, to the owner of a 'Tent Camping' site resting next to an amazingly beautiful Atlantic Bay. I was forced to learn. Either that, or perish. 

I chose the former and decided to survive.

Being an immigrant isn't easy. In fact, it's damned hard. (Think about THAT when you read about a family of immigrants trying to cross a U.S. border river to make a new life). But, it is also incredibly rewarding. And I'm not talking about the pocketbook definition of that word.

'Rewarding', as in learning to realize the innate goodness of people because you've met so many; 'rewarding', as in learning that even when you want to give up and drown yourself because you can't earn a proper crust, you discover that you are stronger than you thought because you'll keep trying; 'rewarding', as in waking up one day after 39 years of expatriate life, and finally understanding that the challenges you've encountered have also taught you many valuable lessons. You'll smile a bit, realizing that your struggle has burnished your soul with the heat of fear and heartache, transforming at last to hope and a bit of joyful triumph. 

'Rewarding', as you suddenly realize that the decision you made to stay here was the right one, after all.

To all those who yearn for the life of an expatriate, I wish you well. I also stress how carefully you should plan your journey. If you don't, you might bite off more than you can chew.

Mind you, I never planned and looked what happened to me?

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021 Edition is out now on Amazon. Just click here.

(If the link doesn't work, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Guide-Living-Ireland-2021-ebook/dp/B08YRP3Z9N/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+survivor%27s+guide+to+living+in+ireland+2021&qid=1615887557&s=books&sr=1-1)

My best to all.

Tom