Newsletter

1. Autumn Programme

2. Embassy Party

3. CCAA Visit to Dublin

A delegation from the Chinese Centre of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) and The Bridge of Love Adoption Service (BLAS) visited Dublin from the 3rd to the 5th July. The Delegation was lead by Zhang Zhong, the Deputy Director General Of CCAA. They had a full program of meetings with state and voluntary groups involved in the area of Chinese Adoption.

Sally Keaveaney Managing Director of International Orphan Aid Ireland hosted a reception for the delegation, many of the couples and their children who have adopted already also attended.

It was a great evening at the City West Hotel with plenty of Chinese finger food, speeches, Photo sessions and even an impromptu sing along. Thanks go to Sally and her team for putting on a splendid function.

4. ICCS Barbecue

5. ICCG Summer Picnic

About 100 attended the Irish Chinese Contact's Group picnic at the heritage park in Blackrock, Cork.

The day turned out ok weatherwise and it was great to see so many families who have recently returned with their precious children. The afternoon was fun filled with events starting with grub, which went down a treat.

One could browse through the museum before meeting the clown who could do weird things to balloons. This clown then transformed into a magician and DJ and kept everyone entertained. Also in attendance were some children recently adopted from Vietnam. As a result of the many recent adoptions from Vietnam a group called the Vietnamese Adoption Group with a similar focus to the ICCG has been formed. More details can be found on our website.

6. Visit to Newbridge House and Farm

The Society outing to Newbridge House and Farm took place on Saturday 6th July. It was a beautiful day, certainly a good day in relation to the dismal summer we have experienced. As part of our programme, we had arranged a guided visit of the house and an escorted visit to the farm, which is a working farm - many of the animals on display are prized stock. Many of these animals have their origin in the Far East, and Pascal Mooney, the Parks Supervisor, gave a very detailed account of their history.

It was a very enjoyable day, finished off with a visit to their private garden and greenhouses.

Much planning was put into this visit, and indeed the guides put extra effort into their presentation for us. However, we had only 10 members attending: the future of such visits would have to be re-thought if such small numbers were to participate in future events.

Needless to say those who attended had a great day.

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7. Fancy a Trip to China Next Year?

And now for something completely different......

The Irish-Chinese Cultural Society, on the suggestion of Youxie (The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries), is exploring the idea of acting as facilitator for a self-paying group trip to China for Members and their friends, to be hosted in China by Youxie (programme, accommodation and internal travel). Youxie has a network of representatives in virtually every city and town in China, and so is particularly well placed to cater for non-standard requirements - say, getting to some places that you may have read about and might like to visit: e.g. some of China's 27 World Heritage Sites; parts of the Silk Road; a particular museum; or a special bargain market. But, of course, most people will surely want as well to fit in at least some of the most famous sights, like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

The details are far from finalized, but what is envisaged is roughly as follows. Those who express interest in such a trip will be asked for any special preferences they may have as regards itinerary, and also dates of travel. In the light of the replies, and possibly after a meeting of those interested, definite proposals with itinerary, dates and costings will be circulated. If a sufficient number of people (we are thinking of perhaps twenty) would definitely like to travel on this firm basis, we will go ahead. (If not, the project ends there - those who were hoping to go should have plenty of time to organize an alternative standard holiday.)

This type of arrangement is a fairly new departure for Youxie, and a totally new one for us. We hope that this trip, sometime in 2003, will be the first of many, but this obviously depends on how successful it is. Based on the Society's experience over 22 years of exchange visits with Youxie, through which some warm and long-lasting personal frienships were formed, the trip is likely to be thoroughly enjoyable, and distinctly special. As to creature comforts, it may be helpful to know that the delegation who were guests of Youxie this year were fortified for their official visits and sightseeing, from the Great Wall to the Dai Minority homeland in remotest Yunnan, by really splendid accommodation and marvellous food - changing with the regions, but always delicious. And Xu Fenghua and his Youxie colleagues could not have been kinder, more knowledgeable, or more helpful.


This idea is worth a serious think.


If you feel you might be interested, please contact the Hon. Secretary, 3 Pacelli Ave., Sutton, Dublin 13,
E-mail: Colm Coleman, iccs@oceanfree.net ,    Tel/Fax 01 8394194.

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8. 2000-year-old Tomb Unearthed in Northwest China

A 2,000-year-old tomb, believed to be that of a feudal prince, has been unearthed in northwest China.

The tomb is the largest found in the region, and from the quality of the burial articles, experts assume that it belongs to the Marquis of Shangluo from the Eastern Han Dynasty (24 BC - 220 AD).

The brick tomb on Donglong Mountain in Shangluo City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has four chambers and a hall.

The double parallel tunnels, both 32 meters long and connectingthe chambers, makes the tomb different to others of the period, experts say.

The two chambers in the east and west, the most important, are for a couple and contain a large number of bronze coins. The male body in the west chamber is obviously of higher rank, in view of oblations like a bronze "ding", a three-legged cauldron, jade cicadas, iron swords and incense burners, according to Yang Yachang, an archaeologist.

The tomb is special because it features both northern and southern Chinese cultures, which evolved relatively independently during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD), Liu Daiyun, also an archaeologist, pointed out.

The tomb was located at the border of the orbits of the ancient Kingdom Chu, representing the culture in south China, and the Han Dynasty in the north. Its unique nature was revealed in the excavation of pieces of glazed pottery with typical Chu characteristics, Liu said. The pottery will also give valuable clues to the actual reach of the Chu culture, he added.

Tiles found in the earth mound over the tomb indicated annexes could be found nearby, according to experts.

Shaanxi has one of the "eight wonders of the world" -- the Terracotta Horses and Warriors -- in its capital Xi'an, and the country's most important site, the Donglong Mountain relics of the Xia (c.2200 BC - c.1700 B.C. ), Shang (c.1700 BC - c.1200 BC) and Zhou (c.1200 BC - 221 BC) Dynasties.

(Story courtesy of China People's Daily)

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9. Attention Parents & Children Wishing to learn Chinese

There are still some places for the Chinese Language School next September. These courses will not be run by the Irish-Chinese Cultural Society but by the newly formed Irish Chinese Information Centre.

Parent and Child Language School: primarily directed at Chinese children adopted into Ireland. It is planned to hold the course probably every Saturday afternoon for about 2 hours in a near-city-centre location. This course will be open to children from 4 years of age in the company of one or both parents.

Adult Language Classes: It is proposed to hold these classes one night a week commencing in September. Details have yet to be finalised for the adult Chinese classes.

There will be fees for both classes to fund teachers and rental/insurance costs.

If you are interested in either course would you kindly e-mail me at iccs@oceanfree.net, or phone the

Irish Chinese Information Centre
01-8881086 (Mon, Wed, Fri 1-4 pm)

Time is running out if you want to take part.

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10. Language School

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11. Chinese Proverb

Hear all sides and you will be enlightened. Hear one side and you will be in the dark. Wei Zheng to Emperor Tai Cong, Tang Dynasty.

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12. Reminder: Subscriptions for 2002.

The Subscription Year for the Society coincides with the Calendar Year, 1st January to 31st December. The Treasurer wishes to remind any members who have not yet paid their subscription for 2002 to do so now.

The annual subscription is €25.00,
with a reduced student rate of €8,
and a lifetime subscription of €250.

As a concession, the first subscription paid by a NEW MEMBER who joins after the AGM in May is effective until the end of the next Subscription Year; i.e. if a first subscription is paid between 9th May 2002 and 31st December 2002, the second subscription is not due until 1st January 2004.

Subscriptions to be sent to:

Denis Mullen, Hon. Treasurer,
130 Mount Merrion Avenue,
Blackrock, Co.Dublin.

Cheques to be made payable to:
"Irish-Chinese Cultural Society".

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This Newsletter is published by the Irish-Chinese Cultural Society.
Views expressed by individual contributors do not represent any official policy of the Irish-Chinese Cultural Society.
We would be delighted to receive articles, photos and stories for our newsletter.
The Editor welcomes all submissions, but cannot absolutely guarantee the return of any photos or documents supplied, and reserves the right to shorten or modify any letter or material submitted.
Please send to Hon. Secretary
Colm Coleman, 3 Pacelli Ave., Sutton, Dublin 13.
E-mail: iccs@oceanfree.net

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