Well-known visitors, a bump in tourism numbers, new travel apps, great deals for travel, and a renewed interest in Irish heritage filled the plus side

Rough economic times, an increase in taxes (not for Irish tourism products though), and the passing of Ireland Expert Pat Preston on the negative end.

As we look back on the year, we celebrate the many wonderful posts published last year by highlighting our favorite Irish-interest stories of 2011.

We’re starting with a copy of Michele Erdvig’s travel guide “Ireland Dream Trip.” Currently in its 20th edition, you’ll find the annually updated book a one-stop resource for planning a trip to Ireland… especially because it’s filled with all of Michele’s favorite places in Ireland.

The prize doesn’t stop there. Michele has added several other goodies to the mix… just for good measure:

• A copy of Ireland Dream Trip
• A Map of Ireland
• Celtic Christmas CD
• A copy of Bed & Breakfast Ireland 2011 Guide
• A copy of A Flavor of Ireland (71 page book about food in Ireland – includes recipes)
• A copy of Irish Country Hotels 2011-12
• A copy of Manor House Hotels 2011-12
• A Tourism Ireland shamrock pin

To win… Leave a comment below telling us the #1 site or experience you want to include in your Ireland Dream Trip. Winner will be announced in this post, on Facebook, and on Twitter on Monday, Dec 12, 2011. This prize is available to US-based entries only.

Congrats to our winner Roy Nelson!

More about Michele:

• Visit Michele’s Website and Irish Travel Q&A Forum
• Read Michele’s Irish Fireside Posts
  
• Read Our Interview with Michele
• Listen to Our Fireside Chat: Michele vs the Volcano
• Listen to Our Fireside Chat: Michele on Ireland

Keep track of all our 2011 Holiday Giveaways by bookmarking this page.

Emily on her rented Dublin Bike. Photo by Sebastian Rasch - all rights reserved.

Emily Westbrooks tells us, “One of the best ways to get around Dublin City Centre is on a Dublin Bike. The rental bikes arrived in Dublin last year, and they’re a huge hit!”

Emily gives us five excellent tips for a smooth ride at www.fromchinavillage.com/2011/10/dublin-bikes/

Emily Westbrooks is a freelance writer from Maine who now lives in Dublin. She writes daily about her life and travels on her blog, From China Village.

Founded in 1142, Mellifont Abbey in County Meath was the first Cistercian Abbey built in Ireland. The remnants of the octagonal lavabo (shown above) are one of the sites most notable features.

While you’re planning your itinerary, you may also include the Boyne Valley, Newgrange, Monasterboice, and the town of Drogheda.

I’ve been staying in B&Bs since my very first trip to Ireland. I’ve watched the days of shared bathrooms disappear, the rise and fall and rise again of a boutique breakfast menu, and sadly, the number of B&Bs in Ireland drop from 4,500 in 2000 to under 1,900 today.

It may come as a surprise, but even with fewer B&Bs, there are still plenty of rooms available. According to a recent article by Pól Ó Conghaile, 80% of Irish B&B guests come from outside Ireland… the Irish seem to have abandoned B&Bs in favor of hotels with leisure centres and restaurants. Adapting to the trend, Irish B&Bs are changing how they do business and relying on their greatest asset — personal service!

Recommendations

My advice… before you book your accommodation, make sure you’ve lined up at least a few nights in an Irish B&B. They will likely rank among your most memorable stays on the Emerald Isle. My other advice:

Read Brave New World for Irish B&Bs by Pól Ó Conghaile >>

Visit B&B Ireland >>

Read Our Review of the B&B Ireland iPhone app >>

Photo courtesy B&B Ireland

B&B Ireland now offers a free app in the iTunes Store that lets you browse and book B&Bs from your iPhone or iPod Touch. I’ve noodled around with it a bit, and I’m happy to say it delivers a clean interface with an abundance of features.

All the Features of the Website

Firstly, hat’s off to B&B Ireland for making their entire database of accommodations available for browsing… that gives me over 1,100 accommodation choices. Even better, I can book right in the app!

Several Ways to Search

The “Search” feature allows me to choose a county, date, number of guests, number of rooms, and currency (Euros, US Dollars, or British Pounds). The search can take a few seconds, but results appear with a list that includes B&B name, preview image of the property, star rating, and price per person. I appreciate being able to sort by price, star rating, and name. The app also lets you filter the search by Town House, Country House, or Farm House.

When I select a property, I get nearly all the details that appear on the B&B Ireland website! The sections I didn’t see were the “Activities” and “Special Offers” tabs from the website (maybe we’ll see those in the next version of the app). I’m not sure I can express how excited I was when I saw they included ALL that in their mobile app. This app does not take the back seat to the B&B Ireland website… it’s a full, mobile extension of it!

That means I can view description, directions, address, contact info, proprietor name, sat nav (GPS) coordinates, map view, ammenities, reviews, and galleries (I just wish more properties posted more than one photo and more guests posted reviews).

While in Ireland, “B&Bs Near Me” feature is especially nice as it uses your phone’s GPS location to recommend places within 25, 50, 75, or 100 km from your current location… just click the pins in the map. There is also a “Browse” feature which puts you two clicks away from viewing accommodations in any county… unfortunately, some of the information runs off the screen, so sometimes you won’t quite know all the options until you click through. I’m happy to see the app makes it easy to call or email a B&B with just a click.

Other Details

As for performance, I was satisfied with the overall speed of the app over the 3G network, and it’s slightly faster on wifi. The booking feature took longer to load than other sections which could be frustrating while traveling, but it did work well. The “Useful Info” section is stuck in “coming soon” mode at moment… one of my app and website pet peeves. We’ll forgive them because the app lets me add a B&B to “Favorites” to browse later… a feature not available on the website.

It’s important to note that the app requires an open wifi connection for iPod Touch/iPhone devices or access to cellular data for iPhones. For those traveling from outside Ireland, that means you’ll need to either search for open wifi or make sure you have a data plan that will support usage if you plan to use the app during your travels. Of course, you are subject to call and data rates if you decide to make a phone call or use this app over the mobile network.

The app does not let the user adjust font size, so users who struggle with readability when using apps may have similar issues with this one… especially in sections where green text appears over a faded B&B Ireland logo. Otherwise, this app easy to use and information is simple to follow.

Download the Correct App

When in the App Store, be sure you download the app named “B&B Ireland – Bed and Breakfast Ireland.” There is another free app called “B&B Ireland” that is not worth the time it takes to download. This one stands out on the page… it has the attractive B&B Ireland logo (vs the amateurish looking logo of the other app).

I must admit, if you’re looking for a comprehensive B&B app in Ireland that best uses the available features of your iPhone, this is it… need I say more?

Download the App on iTunes >>

Screenshots:

Note:according to B&B Ireland, there are currently no plans for developing an app for Android devices.

My Most Beautiful Post:

Finding Charlie

When traveling, there are times when a story simply unfolds… you don’t know where it will take you, but you feel something special with every step. That’s what happened when Liam and I made the trip to Ajo, Arizona, during our Irish-American Roadtrip. I still get teary-eyed when I watch the video from that day.

My Most Popular Post:

10 Things Not To Do in Dublin

Although our giveaways generate a lot of attention, our Dublin Don’ts continue to top the list. On a side note, Google seems to send us a constant stream of people searching for “leprechaun” and “Maureen O’Hara…” Go figure.

My Most Controversial Post:

Should I Change My Plans to Visit Belfast?

Any time we talk about “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland, we get a wide range of comments. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the blog or podcast or YouTube, tourists and Irish residents always have something to say about this topic.

As a result, our Belfast Bonfire Topples video from our visit during the Marching Season has gotten over 17,700 views and serves as one of the few posts where I had to remove comments (sorry folks, but swear words and graphic violent language just don’t fly around the Irish Fireside).

My Most Helpful Post:

Irish Pubs & Etiquette and Our Q&A Series

I must hand this designation to our Question & Answer series of posts… with the Irish Pubs & Etiquette post tackling an “under served” topic. Although we follow a standard Q&A format, we try to keep the replies “real” by citing specific examples that don’t sound like they’re coming from a chirpy tourist office or guidebook.

A Post Whose Success Surprised Me:

Secret Santa with an Irish Twist

We were entering uncharted territory when we asked our online community to interact in “real life.” I had my fingers crossed that we’d have at least 4 sign ups… we ended up with 42 on our first try!

The idea was simple — sign up, get the name and address of another participant, send an Ireland-inspired gift, and wait for your gift to arrive from someone else. In the end, participants raved about the experience — even the two who ended up with deadbeat Secret Santas stayed positive – don’t worry, I made sure they were sent a little something special).

We’ve expanded to three gift exchanges a year… Secret Santa at Christmas, Lucky Leprechaun at St Paddy’s Day, and Presents for Puck during the August Puck Fair… yes, there’s still time to sign up for that last one!

My Most Underrated Post:

6 1/2 Tips to Promote Irish Tourism

Very few people know I created an e-book especially for small businesses looking for basic ways to use the internet to promote Irish tourism

I’ll admit, I didn’t publicize it much on the Fireside because it’s not intended for the blog’s core audience, but those who have downloaded it have had good things to say. How can they complain? It’s FREE!

The Post I Am Most Proud Of:

It’s Our 100th Episode… Starring You

It was quite an achievement to produce our 100th podcast episode, but what pleased me most was the number of people who called and left voice mail comments for us to include in the episode. It’s amazing how reader involvement can make my heart swell.

My Nominees

Now it’s time to nominate five travel bloggers I’d like to answer these very same questions.

Married an Irish Farmer: Imen may not write a traditional travel blog, but her non-Irish insight into the land she calls home leaves me eager to learn which was her most controversial post.

Discover Ireland: Ireland’s official tourism and travel blog launched quietly last year and has provided a constant source of interesting reading… I want to know which post was their biggest surprise.

Pól Ó Conghaile: Here’s one writer and journalist covering a little bit of everything when it comes to Ireland… I’m most interested in the post he’s most proud of.

Thin Places: Mindie Burgoyne has a passion for finding unique places in Ireland… I want to know which she thinks is her most underrated post.

Ireland With Kids: Jody Halsted has been busy adding posts to her young blog… I’m wondering which is coming out as her most popular.

This post isn’t intended for the general Irish Fireside audience… it’s for all the small business owners connected to Irish tourism who read our blog and are looking for ways to help promote Ireland — and their company.

Since many of these businesses are struggling to make sense of even the basic principles of online promotion, I created an e-book especially for them.

Get a free copy of 6 1/2 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Boost Tourism in Ireland Using the Internet >>>

Here are some of Ireland’s best horseback riding destinations from www.Equitrekking.com.

Episode Guide Chat With Tom Sweeney – Podcast #89

We answer some questions about self-catering accommodations and chat with Tom Sweeney about Irish-American culture and Irish music. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes
00:00
The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin & Noel McQuaid

00:24
Liam in Ireland and his blog entries at www.irishfireside.wordpress.com under Summer 2009.

01:00
Irish travel & culture headlines are posted every week on the blog www.irishfireside.wordpress.com.

01:26
Pre-Trip Packing list http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/pre-trip-checklist

Friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Irish-Fireside/76119078717

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/IrishFireside.

02:06
A letter from Donovan from Fresno, CA

…My wife and I are planning a 2 week trip to Ireland.  I was thinking about renting a house for one of the weeks, and then… staying in a few BB’s for the second week.  Can you recommend a town or county in the south, east, or west that would be a good homebase to rent a house and stay for a week?  Something that has a lot of nearby attractions and activities that will keep us busy for the week.

Self-Catering = Home Rental

Some suggested locations – more details for each spot in the podcast

• Killarney – Popular tourist town with excellent natural, historic and architectural sites nearby – Ring of Kerry
• Kenmare – Smaller town on the coast near Killarney – Ring of Kerry
• Dingle Peninsula & Dingle Town – Slea Head Drive
• County Clare – South Clare: Loop Head, Shannon Estuary, Dingle Peninsula – North Clare: Galway, Connemara – County Clare Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Lough Derg
• Connemara – Beautiful region, the village of Cong where the John Wayne Film the “Quiet Man” was filmed
• Clifden & Westport
• County Wicklow – especially if you want to include Dublin

Irish Travel Forums

• www.Irelandexpert.com
• www.Irelandyes.com

06:10
A Chat with Tom Sweeney from the Twin Cities. He was part of our Irish-American Roadtrip (clip below).

• Doolin – McGann’s Pub
• Step Dancing
• Irish-American Community
• Irish Music
• Daithi Sproule (www.daithisproule.com), Paddy O’Brien (www.chulrua.com, www.doonceili.com), Brian Miller (www.evergreentrad.com) and Nora Rendell (www.norahrendell.com)

Tom Sweeney on our Irish-American Roadtrip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alysUoE5GNw

12:30
Brave Fenian Men performed by Tom Dahill and the Chancers (www.newgrangeproductions.com/bands/TomDahill.htm)

corey says…My task was simple. Visit my local bookseller, find a guidebook on Ireland and start planning the trip of a lifetime. With this strategy, I would be compiling a list of top ten sites and a rough itinerary before dinner, right?

My naivety became obvious the moment I approached the bookstore’s travel shelf. There I found one, two, three, four…TWELVE books on Irish travel. There were guides for hikers, bikers, parents and even dummies. Others claimed to reveal the best of Dublin, the highlights of the southwest, the most beautiful villages, the coziest B&Bs. It was a collage of superlatives, but deciding which book would actually deliver my dream vacation didn’t seem as obvious as my inclusion in the race for the “most clueless tourist in Ireland.”

In the end, I made the obvious choice. I bought the book with the most pictures. That was over a dozen years ago, and a lot has changed. I’ve thumbed through all twelve of those original travel books, even reading many of them. The Irish travel section of my personal library now exceeds my local bookseller’s, and I can usually rate a guidebook’s attributes by leafing through only a few pages. I’ve also learned that the right guidebook really depends on your travel style and budget.

Finding your “Dreambook”

For the first time traveler, I recommend starting with, what I call, a “dreambook.” “Dreambooks” are filled with pictures and a general overview of Ireland. These may range from a coffee table book of beautiful photographs to a guidebook with maps, cutaways and lots of photos.

If your itinerary is not already set, use a “dreambook” to help identify a region you want to visit. Some good books in this category include “DK Eyewitness Travel Guides,” “Fodor’s See It Ireland,” “AAA Spiral Guides: Ireland,” “Reader’s Digest Illustrated Guide to Ireland” as well as the many photo books out there.

More Content, Fewer Pics

For a more in-depth look, traditional guidebooks provide more information on regions, routes, sites, accommodations, restaurants and nightlife. These books will be text-heavy and may seem intimidating at first. When tackling these, I suggest starting with a region that includes a site on your must-see list and branch out from there.

Budget travelers will find “Lonely Planet Ireland,” “Let’s Go: Ireland” or “Frommer’s Ireland from $90 a Day” (which is due for an update) the best for making economical decisions. Meanwhile “Ireland for Dummies,” “Fodor’s Ireland,” “Frommer’s Ireland,” and “Rough Guide to Ireland” each provide thorough coverage of the Emerald Isle.

Personalized Attention

How often do you have direct access to a guidebook author? Both Pat Preston and Michele Erdvig break the mold of big publishers by supporting their books with their own websites and travel forums. Unlike group-authored books, these writers moderate their own forums, which means they answer questions themselves and invite their online communities to add their suggestions as well.

Michele Erdvig’s “Dream Trip Ireland” breaks trip planning into bite size segments and then focuses on her list of hand-selected accommodation choices for each region (www.irelandyes.com). Michele also publishes her book every year…that gives her the advantage of having the most up-to-date guidebook on the market.

Pat’s “Take a Break in Ireland” is one of my favorite daytrip books; she has fashioned routes that include many of Ireland’s greatest sites, and she has added shopping, eating and cultural suggestions along the way (www.irelandexpert.com). Pat also publishes the useful “The Smart Shopper’s Guide to Ireland,” and I’m I’m very curious and excited about the new book Pat has in the works that covers all of Ireland…I’ll be sure to keep you posted on its status.

Special Interest

If you have a special interest, such as golfing, biking, walking or traveling with children, exploring ancient history, there are books written especially for you. These books, as well as those dedicated exclusively to listing accommodations, can provide all the details you need to plan a personalized tour.

Nowadays, my biggest challenge at the bookstore comes from having to choose between guidebooks. My secret? I select the same area in each book and read the sections carefully. Most books do a good job of covering cities, so I inspect their coverage of places like Donegal or Cobh to see how the they handle the smaller destinations before making my decision.

I’m frequently asked what books I travel with in Ireland. Years ago, I packed five or six guides. Yikes, HEAVY! Now, I tend to rely on the internet (often using my iPhone)…especially for accommodation suggestions (that’s where Michele and Pat’s sites come in very handy). That said, the one physical book that still gets tucked in my carryon is Lonely Planet. The-road-less-traveled tends to make my itinerary and LP covers more of the obscure locales… the extra information might not be a big help for those sticking to the major sites, but it works for me. I have also been known to pick up a localized guidebook when I arrive in a region.

Ella McSweeney

corey says…Ella McSweeney’s work for Ireland’s RTE Radio 1 has taken her to every corner of Ireland. The Trinity College-educated producer and radio host has taken her listeners on the search for the endangered corncrank (that’s a bird, in case you didn’t know), the home of the elusive Irish otter and on treks along Ireland’s dramatic coasts and inland landscapes – she’s even introduced audiences to the recently discovered coral reefs of the Irish Sea, just to name a few.

Working with RTE and the BBC, Ella has a well-established répertoire earning her a Young Science Journalist of the Year award and a nomination for a Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI) Radio Award.

With three of her acclaimed programs now available as podcasts, Ella’s nature walks and science programs are finally available to audiences outside of Ireland. For visitors looking to enjoy some of Ireland’s natural wonders, her podcasts provide a fascinating peek into the flora and fauna of the Emerald Isle.

This Earth Day, we’re pleased to revisit our interview with Ella.

What is your idea of a perfect day?
It would be walking along the lakes of Burrishoole, Co. Mayo – my favourite place in the world! It’s just magical there – the landscape is so rugged and majestic, and the diversity of wildlife that you see is breathtaking.

What is your morning ritual?
At the moment, I’m completely taken with my seedlings. I’ve bought hundreds of seeds from the Irish Seed Savers Association (www.irishseedsavers.ie) – they do some brilliant native varieties – and so far, so good. Each morning I get up to see if they have grown through the soil.

Once I’m happy that they are watered and content, it’s the usual – shower, breakfast and off to work. I’ve been out and about recording a lot of late, and haven’t spent as much time in RTE as normal. That will all change once I get back to edit my programmes. I really like everyone I work with and morning coffee and chats are always fun.

The perfect place to live is…
Either Ireland or Cornwall in England. My mum is Cornish, so I’ve spent a lot of time there, and the landscape reminds me of here. Last year I spent a week in a small fishing village called Mevagissey, it was wonderful. Mayo is really stunning – there’s something about the evening light that transforms the landscape and makes it so special. The writer Michael Viney documented this vividly in his book, ‘A Year’s Turning,’ about a year in the life of Mayo.

What are the best places for visitors to immerse themselves in Ireland’s flora and fauna?
West Cork is always a favourite,and a walk along the Sheep’s Head Peninsula is a good bet. Leitrim is just marvelous – the landscape is breathtaking. The machair habitat just outside of Dunfanaghy in Donegal is really amazing – the orchids that grow on the machair are magnificent.

How has Ireland’s economic growth impacted the wildlife of the country?
I think badly, but obviously we’ve had an amazing boom in terms of jobs and opportunities. We don’t have a culture of caring for wildlife – probably because we have a lack of politicians who are educated in matters of the environment. Until 1971, there were no environmental studies taught in primary schools in Ireland, so we have a generation of politicians who don’t have core education in this area.

It’s all changing now – mainly thanks to the like of An Taisce (www.antaisce.org) and the Irish Wildlife Trust (www.iwt.ie) who do some great work, especially with the schools.We definitely missed an opportunity to make Ireland as sustainable and green as possible – we have too many roads, too little money invested in trains and buses, and we have an incredible amount of new, expensive cars on the roads. You can hear the hum of traffic in too many parts of Ireland, it’s a pity. Blackbirds are a much prettier listen!

What is the story behind the name of your show, Shanks Mare?
The shank is where your calf on your leg is, and to take shanks mare means to walk – that’s what I do in each programme, I walk!

How would you describe your sense of humor?
Now I’m blushing!

Name an off-the-beaten-path destination in Ireland you think more visitors should visit.
I’m obsessed by Mayo – it’s just incredible. I would always say Burrishoole – the lakes of Lough Feeagh and Furnace are wonderful. There’s a brilliant Youth Hostel called Traenlaur Lodge on the shores of Lough Feeagh – it used to be an old Guinness hunting lodge and is a brilliant place to stay.

If you’re in Dublin, Glencree Valley is near enough and there are some beautiful walks there, especially up Lough Bre to the Eagle’s Crag. It’s always worth popping in to Dublin’s Natural History Museum to get away from it all – we’ve got one of the best in the world.

What music are you listening to today?
I listen to a wide range of stuff, from Digital Underground to the Scottish folk singer Isla St Claire. Today, I was listening to my iPod on shuffle, so heard music by Charlotte Gainsbourg, Smokey Robinson, Gillian Welch, Debussy, Joan Baez, The Ethiopians, the brilliant Gabby Pahinui and songs by Gene Kelly, who I absolutely love. Gene and Cyd Charisse – the best ever!

In the event you are reincarnated, what would you like to return as?
Because I love eating fish, swimming in the sea and being in the countryside, it has to be my favourite of creatures, the otter. The Irish for the otter is ‘madra uisce’ – the waterdog – and it’s a perfect description for this majestic mammal.

Name one trait you most deplore in yourself.
Impatience. (That and my inability to find outer space exciting – it’s really frustrating why I’m not thrilled by it.)

Name one trait you most deplore in others.
Doing awful things because of superstitious beliefs – it’s
unforgivable.

What is one of your most treasured memories?
After I finished college, a group of us went body boarding on an incredible beach between Tralee and Dingle in Co. Kerry. It was the end of a long summer’s day and the huge glowing sun was slowing setting. As it winked goodbye over the horizon, we continued to float in the water on our boards for about an hour, listening to the sound of the sea. It was just supermagical.

What experiences most influenced your career path?
My biology teacher in school, Dr Burke.He was such a good teacher with wonderful energy. It’s because of him that I studied science in college. The other person who influenced me greatly is Keelin Shanley, a remarkable broadcaster who was the first person to help me in my wish to work in radio!

What three things are you most grateful for?
The fact I was born – imagine the chances of that! My family, including the new addition in the form of my sweet little edible nephew Sacha, and finally my health. I know that sounds cliched, but I’ve just completed a second series of Mind Matters, which looks at conditions of the brain such as Huntington’s Disease, migraine, obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, and it’s made me even more aware of how much people have to cope with when they are ill. Ireland’s public healthcare system isn’t as good as it should be considering our wealth, so it’s a hard struggle for people.

Which of your podcasts do think is the most useful to a first time visitor to Ireland?
The good thing about podcasts is that you can subscribe to the series and then pick and chose yourself. I’ve done three seasons of Shanks Mare from locations all over Ireland – from the shores of Donegal to a gem of a place called Canty’s Cove near Goleen in West Cork. The idea of the series is to find out more about Ireland’s natural history, and the programmes are full of local people who love their area.

Who are your personal heroes?
Whilst making Shanks Mare, I came across so many admirable people across Ireland who are volunteering on various projects in their local area for the greater good. It’s amazing and very uplifting.

What is your favorite meal?
Anything with fish, I just love it.

What is your favorite Irish tradition?
It has to be the annual Regatta na Lachain – the Dingle Duck Race in Kerry. Hundreds of ducks compete along the Mall River. It’s just so much fun.

Your philosophy on life is…
Worrying is overrated.

What would you like to achieve in the next 12 months?
I’ve been extremely lucky in my life – I have a lovely job, and I’m extremely content. My main aim personally is to grow as many plants in my garden as possible -I’ve just seeded hundreds of them and hope that this summer, the butterflies and bees will appreciate me!

In my work, I hope more than anything to continue working in the area I am at the moment. And of course, I’d like to do more of what I find admirable in others – volunteer in the community.

Ella’s Podcasts:

• www.rte.ie/radio1/shanksmare
• www.rte.ie/radio1/mindmatters
• www.rte.ie/radio1/intothedeep

Other sites Ella mentions

• Irish Seed Savers Association
• Michael Viney
• National Museum of Ireland – Natural History
• An Taisce
• Irish Wildlife Trust

• Poll: How do you like your Irish Music? www.diddlyi.com/profiles/blogs/poll-how-do-you-like-your (surprised by the results)
• We’ve put together a list of new and prospective UNESCO heritage sites in Ireland www.diddlyi.com/profiles/blogs/the-most-wonderful-places-in
• TIP: Using public transport to tour Ireland? Dublin, Galway, Killarney & Belfast are great daytrip hubs.
• Bones may mark grave of 57 Irish immigrants news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090325/ap_on_re_us/irish_immigrants_grave
• An Irish Holy Well How-To: www.examiner.com/x-895-DC-Ireland–UK-Travel-Examiner~y2009m4d14-Holy-wells-of-Ireland-and-England-heal-heart-and-soul-and-maybe-other-stuff
• Ireland wants to improve cycling infrastructure. www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0420/breaking60.htm
• RT @EngagingIreland: Our fave website for finding Irish megaliths and antiquities & other sites of interest. www.megalithomania.com
• Interview with a leprechaun. www.irishfireside.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/a-chat-with-an-extra-large-leprechaun
• Tips for taking great photos in Ireland. www.irishfireside.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/taking-great-photos-in-ireland
• Are you thinking of using a mobile phone in Ireland? www.irishfireside.com/54mobile.htm
• Translate Irish to English here. Online Dictionary. www.irishdictionary.ie (via @IrishRootsCafe)
• He Throws Cursed piece of Titanic back into Cork Harbour www.examiner.ie/ireland/idsneycwgb/rss2/ (via @IrishRootsCafe)
• The Many Meanings of “Oireachtas” www.transparent.com/irish/2009/04/18/the-many-meanings-of-%E2%80%9Coireachtas(via @irishlanguage)
• Tips for travel to Northern Ireland from the N.I. Tourist Board: www.geographia.com/northern-ireland/ukitip01.htm (via @EngagingIreland)
• It doesn’t mean go shopping: RT @irishlanguage: “go mall”: adverb meaning “slowly” in Irish. www.transparent.com/wotd/today/irish.htm?date=04-17-2009
• TIP: Ireland’s best touring peninsulas: Dingle, Beara, Iveragh, Hook Head, Cooley & Inishowen.
• RT @IrishRootsCafe: An online Guide to the National Library of Ireland http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=3126 #Irish
• True love the key, says Belfast 107-year-old www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0417/breaking58.htm
• One of Europe’s most prestigious literature & arts festivals is on its way to Belfast http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8003768.stm
• Shannon, Ireland’s “Other” Airport http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/shannon-irelands-other-airport/
• TIP: Shannon Airport (SNN) on the west coast is a great alternative to Dublin (DUB).
• RT @soultravelers3, @kimmance, @eyeflare: “Where to buy goods confiscated by the TSA” www.eyeflare.com/article/where-buy-goods-confiscated-tsa
• TIP: Newgrange is cool, but Loughcrew passage tomb is older with fewer tourists.
• Irish farmer from County Tyrone finds 3,000 yr old bracelet in field. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8001824.stm
• Unusual facts about Ireland www.associatedcontent.com/article/1506498/ireland_unusual_facts.html
• TIP: Temple Bar in Dublin is both the name of a bar AND an area of the city.
• It’s a shame the midlands get overlooked. Maybe it’s better to keep them a secret anyway. www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/ireland/ireitin.htm
• Shannon Airport handles emergency landing of Italian plane. www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0415/breaking64.htm
• RT @marc_gunn: Read the cool CD Baby review: cdbaby.com/cd/mgtdtc5
• RT @craig_martin: How can you save on airfares during this recession? www.indietravelpodcast.com/article/save-airfares-recession/ from @globtrav

corey says… Many travelers have never heard of Ireland’s Shannon Airport. But loads of repeat visitors insist on the virtues of this west coast terminal. I must confess, Shannon has won me over.

Compared to Dublin (DUB), everything at Shannon (SNN) is a bit calmer, quieter and more manageable. In fact, if you stand in the center of the terminal, you can see the arrivals hall, car rental desks, bank, tourist office, bathrooms, convenience store and even catch a glimpse of the check-in desks. You can’t say that for most international airports.

Shannon’s second level is just as amenable…cafe, gift shop, bathrooms and departures line. As my friend Wakako would say, “Easy-peasy.”

A Gateway to the West

But there are other advantages to using Shannon…it’s the gateway to Ireland’s scenic west coast…the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Galway, Killarney, the beloved Shannon River Region, even Cork city. It simply makes sense to fly via Shannon for these destinations rather than trekking across the country from Dublin.

Your Flight Might Already Have a Scheduled Stop in Shannon

Many flights from the US land their planes in BOTH Dublin and Shannon, so travelers can choose…most people simply assume Dublin is their only option.

Much Easier Driving

To me, the biggest advantage comes from the roads around Shannon. When I get off the plane, hopping in a rental car, engaging my left-side driving skills AND facing heavy traffic and construction are generally the last things I feel like carrying out. At Shannon, there’s only one main road out of the airport, so the first 2 miles are perfect for getting acclimated to the road.

Although Dublin Airport is outside the city, it can’t compete with Shannon on the accessibility front. My last experience driving out of Dublin airport really made me want to make it my last if possible. After 45 minutes following misguided detour signs that started immediately outside the car rental gates, I still had to stop twice for directions…and that was just to get to the main highway. Not exactly how I wanted to start my holiday.

Flying Open-Jaw

If your itinerary to includes Dublin’s fine attractions, consider flying “open-jaw.” That means you fly into one airport and out of another. This means your route around Ireland won’t require backtracking to the same airport.

Step By Step at Shannon

Two years ago, we recorded a basic introduction to Shannon Airport. The information is still relevant, and you can have a listen below (we’ve come a long way since this one was recorded).

[audio http://irishfireside.com/podcasts/03birishfiresideshannon.mp3"]

Details

Shannon and Dublin are Ireland’s international hubs…especially for North American travelers, but airports in Belfast, Cork, Kerry, Derry, Donegal, Knock, Sligo and Waterford are also options to consider…especially in this age of discount Eupean airfare.

1. Poor economy may be helping Irish B&Bs! http://is.gd/smIF
2. Get to know the Irish Wolfhound http://is.gd/smcc
3. Ireland’s whiskey trail. http://is.gd/smb1
4. It’s an Irish round tower AND a radio antenna. http://trcb.com/Travel/Destinations/The-Enigma-of-the-Irish-Round-Towers-Part-One-5366.htm
5. 10 Great Dublin Pubs www.irishcentral.com/travel/10-Great-Dublin-Pubs.html
6. RT @EWanderlust: Low fares boost travel to Europe http://tr.im/iKSH
7. Picky Irish women www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/love-sex/love-women-more-fussy-than-romantic-it-seems-1705233.html (via @IrishRootsCafe)
8. RT @mindieb Thoor Ballylee – 16th cen. Norman castle restored by W. B. Yeats – a very mystical place…read more here www.thinplace.net/2009/04/thoor-ballylee.html
9. I Just entered to win an iPod every week. You should too! Follow @nickbowditch and retweet. http://bit.ly/T5GKO
10. RT @IrishRootsCafe: RT @ArchaeologyDN Wood you believe it? Stonehenge find at Tara www.archaeologydaily.com/news/index.php?/Wood-you-believe-it-Stonehenge-find-at-Tara.html
11. This video still gets me choked up. http://is.gd/s5jg
12. Traffic is down 4% in Ireland…good news for roadtrips. http://is.gd/s3iH
13. RT @IrishTimes 2,000 gathered outside Dublin’s GPO to commemorate 93rd anniv of the 1916 Uprising www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0412/breaking10.htm
14. Let me tell you about the warm Irish-American welcome we received. http://is.gd/rP6L
15. A few more Irish Easter traditions www.yourirish.com/easter-in-ireland.htm
16. Looking back at the Easter Uprising of 1916. www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/easterrising/
17. Easter recipes from Ireland www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/rEaster.html
18. Ireland’s #Easter traditions www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/EasterSat.html
19. @irish3509 This podcast episode might help you with your phone in Ireland question…just hit Play Episode. www.irishfireside.com/54mobile.htm
20. So many interesting, wonderful people to meet when you #travel – have a listen http://is.gd/rP6L
22. A visit from Queen Victoria in 1861 turned Killarney into a tourism hub. Mtns, lakes, grand homes & quaint town
23. Oh to walk 112 gorgeous miles along the Dingle Way www.associatedcontent.com/article/164650/the_dingle_way_ireland_walking_trip.html
24. Five mistakes visitors make to ireland: www.irishfireside.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/five-mistakes-visitors-to-ireland-make-list-1/
25. Hey Canadians, your free trip to Ireland awaits http://is.gd/rVhU
26. RT @OutdoorsIreland Fab kayak trip on Lakes of Killarney past Ross Castle-last place in IRE to fall to Cromwell www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vJdjUB-VEo
27. RT @IrishRootsCafe: The Proper Spelling of #Irish Family Names – is there such a thing? video www.irishroots.com/id4918.htm
28. Virtual Tours of Ireland…choose a destination from the map www.lookaroundireland.com/mapofcelticireland.htm
29. Does the ‘Real’ Ireland Still Exist? http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/travel/18ireland.html
30. Gay Ireland www.examiner.com/x-2026-SF-Gay-Travel-Examiner~y2009m3d16-Dublin-welcomes-gays

corey says…Here’s something I haven’t seen in a while. This summer, even during high season, Aer Lingus is only running three flights a week from Chicago to Dublin…New York is down to five a week. For years, these have been daily routes.

The snapshot above reveals the airline’s limited schedule with the ORD to DUB route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Meanwhile, the New York route is not flying on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Boston route is still running daily.

I think it’s a sure indicator that tourism will be down this season. The good news for those who are traveling…the crowds will be very low this season and accommodations are offering all kinds of specials (a few are listed here).

As it stands, flights are running between $600 and $800 during high season…a big drop from last year’s fares that were well over $1,000.

I’ve also heard from Irish friends that in response to Ireland’s new recession-mindset, many restaurants have adjusted their menus to include some lower priced items. So there are money-saving opportunities on many fronts this season.

1. Warp Speed – An unreasonable list of must-sees will leave you seeing Ireland from the windows of your tiny rental car. If you’ve got a week, expect to see a quarter of the country. Exceed that, and you might be at risk for the accurately named Green Blur Tour.
2. Avoiding the Locals – After spending hours reading guidebooks and online reviews, don’t convince yourself you’ve got all the information you need. Ten minutes chatting with your B&B host, a shop clerk or a pub owner can provide insight no pre-trip resource can offer. Don’t just say you’ll do this, actually set aside the time for this interaction.
3. Sticking to the Big Sites – Each region in Ireland is loaded with attractions, but most itineraries string together only the major sites. Rather than rushing to the next big site, try choosing a major attraction and then find nearby destinations to fill the rest of the day and even the next morning.
4. Misunderstanding the “Real” Ireland – Thatched cottages and donkey carts? Ireland is not the same place your great grandparents left behind. Folk parks and heritage centres will provide a peek at what has happened in Ireland over the generations. Expect a modern, educated, vibrant population.
5. Following Those Who Have Gone Before – Your friends and family who visited Ireland are excellent resources for planning, but don’t let their experience be the end-all. Try to make the trip your own rather than an attempt to come home with matching photo albums.

liam says…At least once a week in the summer, I’ll be driving along the Tipperary countryside, and the Rock of Cashel will pop into view.

Depending on my route, it might appear steadfast on the horizon directly in front of me… or it might be more elusive and I might only catch a sliver of it between the hedgerows… or when I’m driving through the village of Cashel, I could very well miss it if I don’t look directly above me.

The Rock of Cashel is funny that way. It almost seems alive, and blogger Mindie Burgoyne would probably agree. She seeks out places where the natural world and the spiritual world seem to overlap. And of course, Ireland is one destination laden with “thin place,” as she likes to call them.

Read what she wrote about the Rock of Cashel here. http://writingthevision.com/rockofcashel.htm

Check out the All-Ireland/Irish-American Twitter List.

corey says…Our buddy Bit (from podcast episodes 69 & 70) alerted us to this article geared toward St Paddy’s Day, but filled with tips that will work on any visit to the Fair City.

Have a look http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TRAVEL_TRIP_DUBLIN_ON_A_BUDGET_TRVOL?SITE=SCFLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

More Dublin Tips

Audio Blog from Dublin

Podcast Episode #9

Podcast Episode #6

corey says…In case you’ll be visiting the Emerald Isle this St Paddy’s Day, here are a few things going at some of the attractions around Ireland.

http://www.heritageisland.com/st-patrick-s-day/

Watch in High Definition at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q57pc61fZA&fmt=22

Pat Preston over at www.IrelandExpert.com has a new blog post outlining the travel outlook in Ireland in 2009. Recession has hit the Emerald Isle, and that has a few positive effects for those traveling from the US…your dollar is a bit stronger, there are fewer tourists, accommodations are more competitive (especially on the higher end) and tour companies are offering discounts.

Read what Pat has to say about it at http://web.me.com/patpreston/Site_13/Blog/Entries/2008/12/30_Ireland_Travel_Outlook_for_2009.html

Episode Guide – Podcast #61 Merry Christmas, Armagh, Down and the Cooley Peninsula

After giving away a few things, we sit down and chat with the former mayor of Newry and Mourne. Click the arrow below to play episode. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

Celtic harp music courtesy of Anne Roos www.celticharpmusic.com

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - –

00:00
Excerpt from “Tales from an Irish Hermitage” Link no longer available.

02:39

Intro – Happy Christmas

03:05
Holiday Giveaway continues through the end of December
Sign up at http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/free-stuff/

03:50
Pat Preston’s “Ireland Memories” book www.irelandexpert.com/books-ireland-memories.htm

04:17
GIVEAWAY “Haste to the Wedding” CD and Book by Anne Roos www.celticharpmusic.com goes to Eric Wells from Ozark, MO

GIVEAWAY “Abramo’s Gift” by Donald Greco. Read a review at Here’s a review… www.compulsivereader.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2056

Details at www.amazon.com/Abramos-Gift-Donald-Greco/dp/193445429X goes to Liz Kirchgatter from Arizona

GIVEAWAY Knappogue Whiskey Pitcher www.knappoguewhiskey.com goes to Franklin Roberts from Independence, MO

5:40
Please Add Some Turf to the Fireside to help maintain website, pay for postage and help us continue doing special things like our Holiday Giveaway. Every little bit helps. http://irishfireside.com/contribute.html

A special thanks to Bill, Alan, Thomas, Tony, Judy, Emily, Suzette, David, Jessie and Raydra for already contributing to the Irish Fireside.

6:20
GIVEAWAY “Ireland of the Welcomes” magazine subscription goes to
Brad Wilson of Lexington, KY, and Patricia Beck of Ormond Beach, FL…we’ll have more subscriptions to giveaway over the next three days. https://www.harmonia.ie/xcart/product.php?productid=6

07:00
Patrick Kavanagh Irish Author and Poet www.patrickkavanaghcountry.com

“A Christmas Childhood” www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Poetry/PatKavanagh.html

07:30
Areas near Kavanagh’s hometown that visitors often miss:

Cooley Peninsula – www.carlingford.ie

Mountains of Mourne www.armaghanddown.com

Gathering mussels outside of Carlingford

08:36
Irish-American Roadtrip starts mid January. Drop us a line if you live along the route or if you can suggest some Irish-American stops along the way. http://irishfireside.com/roadtrip/

09:18
Interview with Michael Carr former mayor of Newry and Mourne a region between Belfast and Dublin. www.armaghanddown.com

Photos from Warren Point, Michael’s home town.

Warrenpoint, County Down, Northern Ireland

Episode Guide – Podcast #60 The Giveaway

This one is a little different as we share some details about our big Holiday giveaway, our Holiday Gift Guide and even announce some more ways you can experience the Irish Fireside. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro

00:07
Giveaway is underway – 25 packages to 19 states and we’re only halfway through the month. Daily Giveaway announcements are posted on our TravelBlog http://irishfireside.wordpress.com.

00:40
Celtic harp music by Anne Roos www.celticharpmusic.com. Irish Turf Incense from www.turfpeat.com.

1:30
Some of our favorites: Earthen Craft Pottery, Jasper’s Knot Dog Leash, Burren Smokehouse, Ultimate Ireland Vacation Kit

03:07
Holiday Gift Guide: http://irishfireside.com/2008GiftGuide/

03:20
GIVEAWAY Irish Fireside Oatmeal Soap www.soapourri.com goes to Shannon Stackwood from Ontario, Canada.

04:52
Help us pay for shipping and web hosting by making a contribution at www.irishfireside.com/contribute.html

05:30
Give $25 or more and get a special thank you gift from us.

05:40
GIVEAWAY Knappogue Castle Whiskey Pitcher, Boru Vodka Glasses, Clontarf Whiskey cap and Celtic Crossing Liqueur Playing Cards go to Michelle Wently from Wichita, Kansas.

6:00
Irish-American Road Trip = Liam and Corey are going on an adventure. They are driving from Milwaukee to Los Angeles, and they want YOU to help plan their route. If you’d like to meet up along the way for a drink or enjoy a cuppa tea…or know of a great Irish-American Pub…or can share a bit of Irish-American history from along the route, let them know. Send an email to Corey@IrishFireside.com or Liam@IrishFireside.com.

07:46
Liam’s wishes for dishes to help build his collection of shard jewelry. Check it out at www.LamplighterStudio.com. Use coupon code: FIRESIDE to get 10% through the end of 2008.

08:39
Irish Fireside Holiday Gift Guide http://irishfireside.com/2008GiftGuide. Daily Giveaway announcements are posted on our TravelBlog http://irishfireside.wordpress.com.

08:50
GIVEAWAY Lenox Smiling Shamrocks Statues http://irishfireside.wordpress.com – You’ll just have to listen to find out if you won.

10:00
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Ryan Air, originally uploaded by Danner Gyde.

corey says…
Ryan Air, the Irish company that introduced low-cost, no frills air travel to Europe, says it plans to start offering über cheap flights from Dublin and London’s Stansted airport to New York, Florida, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston.

€10 + taxes and fees!

Read the article:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=76428-qqqx=1.asp Ryan Air on the web at www.ryanair.com

Watch the clip (WARNING…some of you may find the clip below vulgar, so don’t say you haven’t been warned:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIY24BErBE

Episode Guide – Podcast #59 Irish Turf & Free Stuff

We’re giving away FREE STUFF and chat with the master of Irish Turf Incense. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro – Opening song: “The Devil’s Bit” Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

00:22
Visit www.podcastawards.com and vote for the Irish Fireside for favorite Travel Podcast and the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast for best Podsafe Music. You can vote once every 24-hours, so visit every day until Thursday, Nov 6.

01:21
FREE Stuff – Sign up for our drawing for all kinds of great FREEBIES at www.irishfireside.wordpress.com/free-stuff

01:35
Irish Fireside Holiday Gift Guide – send us your ideas for great Irish and Celtic gifts – www.irishfireside.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/its-holiday-gift-guide-time/

02:08
Support the Irish Fireside – We need help paying for shipping on the all the free stuff we’re giving away. Make a contribution at www.irishfireside.com/contribute.html

03:13
TravelBlog Headlines at www.irishfireside.wordpress.com: Ryan Air €10 flights across the Atlantic (www.ryanair.com) and Magners Irish Film Fest (www.irishfilmfestival.com/BIFFhome.html)

05:13
Interview with Joannes Berkery: Gifted Hand: Irish Turf/Peat Incense at www.turfpeat.com

12:47
Bostrom Brothers play “Be Thou My Vision” from their album “Electric Stew” at www.thebostrombrothers.com.

Be sure to leave a comment, and if you’re extra observant, you’ll even be able to spot Liam’s relatives Kay and Jerry.

Episode Guide – Podcast #58 Belleek China, South Armagh & the Brobdingnagian Bards

We enjoy our nomination to www.PodcastAwards.com, interview Tony Hearty about Irish Belleek and south County Armagh and feature the Brobdingnagian Bards. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

Photo credit: Anne Gordon – http://flickr.com/photos/75976921@N00/2501600227/

00:00
Intro – Opening song: “The Devil’s Bit” Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

00:50
We’ve been nominated and YOU can vote for us for BEST TRAVEL PODCAST at www.podcastawards.com . The polls close on Thursday, November 6th.

01:17
While you’re there, also vote for Irish and Celtic Music Podcast in the Peoples Choice and the Best Podsafe Music categories.

2:31
Liam’s Lamplighter Studio site where he makes jewlery from broken dishes…including Irish Belleek

02:42
Interview with Tony Hearty about Irish Belleek and his home in south County Armagh.

13.22
Brobdingnagian Bards (www.thebards.net) “Green Grow the Rashes” from “Real Men Wear Kilts” – Buy there CDs at www.thebards.net/cds.shtml

Episode Guide – Podcast #5

We enjoy a chat with Katherine Webster from County Clare and feature an original song honoring musician Tommy Makem. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro – Opening song: “The Devil’s Bit” Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

00:19
www.podcastawards.com vote for the Irish Fireside for favorite Travel Podcast and the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast for best Podsafe Music Podcast. Polls close at the end of the month, so hurry!

01:00
Another Aer Lingus sale www.aerlingus.com

01:50
Interview with Katherine Webster from The Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience. She gives us all the juicy bits on the scandal at O’Brien’s Tower, where to go in Clare and shares some lesser-known activities in the Shannon Region.

22:14
The Man Who Dug the Well” a tribute in song to Tommy Makem by Deanna Smith Scotland.

Since the group was likely not interested hearing about RSS, subscriptions, uploads, downloads and other tech terms, we decided to talk about these features by showing the group various Ireland-related websites that have these interesting features.

Our list of sites was quite popular, so we thought we’d share it with everyone. Go ahead and download the MicrosoftWord (.doc) version or the PDF version.

Episode Guide – Podcast #55 The Spirit of Galway

We chat with Ann Milia from the Spirit of Galway to talk about Galway City and County. We also feature the Irish Fest Galway Bay Song Contest winner. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro – Live from Milwaukee Irish Fest at the Dance Pavillion

00:22
Liam talks about Irish set dancing

03:03
Intro to The Spirit of Galway with Ann Milia

04:02
Spirit of Galway

05:35
Keith Finnegan’s Galway Bay FM www.galwaybayfm.ie

06:02
Galway County and City, Connemara, Aran Islands (fly or drive)

09:10
“Craic” = Irish for “good times”

10:35
“Sessioun” = Music session

10:45
Failte Ireland: West Ireland http://www.discoverireland.ie/west.aspx

12:40
Galway Bay Song Contest Winner the Irish folk duo Sean and Mike Manning from San Gabriel Valley, CA

Episode Guide – Podcast #54 Using Mobile Phones Abroad

A look at mobile phone options for those traveling to Ireland as well as some listener mail and a song from Craic Wisely. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro – Opening song: “The Devil’s Bit” Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

00:52
Episode #53 covered the iPhone & photoblogging in Ireland

01:04 Summer E-newsletter has been published

01:34
Liam’s Photoblog from Ireland

01:48
Listener Mail – Tom and his dream of owning an Irish cottage with a garden, Jeff is on his first visit to Ireland, Diane wonders about locations in Waking Ned Devine.

04:20
Cell phones are better known as mobile phones in Ireland

04:45
Should you break the wireless tether or stay connected? I say, if you can go without, you should

06:10
Most common reasons for wanting a mobile phone in Ireland: keeping in touch with family and friends, emergencies, making reservations, conducting business

06:25
Three mobile options – using your US-based phone with an international plan, using an Irish-based carrier, renting a phone in Ireland

06:55
USING YOUR U.S. BASED PHONE – It must be compatible with the European network

07:22
Most US carriers charge a monthly fee, plus per minute rates (usually $1-2 per minute)

07:43
Smart Phones with email and internet usually require an additional data package for use abroad

08:08
Advantage is that you won’t miss any of your usual calls…things will be just like you were at home – Disadvantage can be the per minute rate and in some cases unexpected charges

8:48
PAY-AS-YOU-GO PHONE from an Irish-based carrier

08:54
You can get set up at a mobile phone shop where you can purchase a phone, SIM card and top-ups

09:30
If you bring a phone from home, it must be unlocked to be used abroad – often available on ebay or you can pay to have them unlocked

10:25
Per minute rates usually run 10-50 euro cents ($.15-.75) for calling Irish numbers – Mobile to Mobile calls might cost more than mobile to landline calls

10:58
Advantage is that you get a real Irish phone number, great for making calls within Ireland, phone default to emergency numbers – Disadvantage is that people who call you from home must call internationally.

11:24
RENTING A PHONE IN IRELAND – Pat Preston turned us on to this. You can use the company she recommends by visiting www.irelandexpert.com and cliking on her Links page

12:13
Renting can be a good idea for most travelers (the company Pat recommends has FREE incoming calls)

12:37
Vodaphone, O2, Meteor, Three – all have good coverage

12:57
Voice over Internet (VOIP) – need internet connection

13:43
Note that the Republic of Ireland (011) and Northern Ireland (44) are two different countries and have different country codes and although your phone will likely work seemlessly as you travel between the two, you may need to dial different prefexes.

14:16
It is illegal to use a cell phone in Ireland while operating a vehicle

14:38
Liam’s Photoblog from Ireland

14:43
Music courtesy of Liam the Extra Large Leprechaun. Interview with Liam. If you’re in Grand Rapids, MI, visit Lynch’s Lair

15:30
Craic Wisely and their song Pride

Episode Guide – Podcast #53 Using Your iPhone in Ireland

Corey has returned from Ireland and he’s sharing some of your comments and feedback. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro – Opening song: “The Devil’s Bit” Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

00:38
Preview of Episode #54 Using Mobile Phones in Ireland

00:49
iPhone Coverage in Ireland uses both O2 & Vodaphone
The Irish landscape can inhibit coverage
Drivers are not allowed to use mobile phones while driving

01:32
Calls – International plans range from 99 cents to $1.99 per minute
Available Features
International Assist
Visual Voice Mail

02:20
Why AT&T advises users to turn off their iPhone when not taking calls

03:00
Internet and Email
Our “Edge” network coverage
iPhone 2G vs iPhone 3G

04:05
Mapping Features
Maps are often labeled by townlands
Map View vs Satellite view
Visit Google Maps to sample

04:50
WiFi Usage
Free WiFi at Shannon Airport (not free at Dublin Airport)
Free WiFi access in Ireland is limited
WiFi in Hotels and B&Bs – Realize there may be passwords, dead zones and technical difficulty

06:15
Data Roaming OFF or ON

06:33
Easy to email photos
Liam’s case study – anniversary gift & Father’s Day

07:45
iPhone 2.0
Apps Store
Liam’s iPhone photo gallery
Liam’s PhotoBlog using the Flickr App
Blogging with the iPhone – www.flickr.com/photos/irishfireside/sets/72157606114432995/
Photo blogging: Clare Glens and Dingle Boat images
Limitations of the camera

09:15
AT&T service 1-800-331-0500
AT&T/iPhone Billing
Checking the usage status right on the iPhone

11:00
3G? & using the iPhone in Ireland and around the world

11:16
Close – “Wissahickan Drive” Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

NOTE: Shortly after recording this episode, there was a problem with our bill. Although Liam set up his international data plan for 3 months, AT&T somehow turned it off somewhere between days 30 and 40. That bill just arrived and included expensive per KB data roaming charges.

Fortunately, a call to AT&T quickly remedied the situation.

NOTE 2: It’s a year later, and the exact same problem occurred… the international data plan was turned off after 30-some days. A call to AT&T turned a $550 bill into $120 (Liam went slightly over the data limit of his plan… even though he was diligently checking his usage on the AT&T MyWireless Mobile App – it’s always about 48 hours behind).

Although no one from AT&T would acknowledge the “auto-reset” of the international plan as a known “glitch,” I suspect their system automatically “resets” international data plans after the first full month’s billing cycle (the dates on my bill seemed to reflect this).

Anyway, I hated having to make the call, but it was fixed before I hung up and I didn’t have to argue with anyone.

Corey has returned from Ireland and he’s sharing some of your comments and feedback. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Huntington Castle

Show Notes

00:00 Intro

00:59 TravelBlog Milwaukee Irish Fest, August 14, 15, 16 & 17, 2008 www.irishfest.com

01:52 Photo Albums

02:00 Corey visited 27 of Ireland’s 36 counties this summer.

02:49 Listener/reader emails

03:00 Fred who is stationed in Harat, Afghanistan

04:00 Thanks to Robert and Matthew for clicking the Contribute button

05:04 Tracey & Karen make some music suggestions

06:06 The Celtic Classic in Bethlahem, PA, Sept 26, 27 & 28, 2008 www.CelticFest.org

06:30 Kelly’s question

07:09 Nancy’s feedback on the Silvermines Mountain Hike

08:08 James Burke Carlow Garden Trail – James’ photo of Huntington Castle, County Carlow

08:48 Theresa writes in about Posh Day, Gresham Hotel and www.TripAdvisor.com

10:40 Heritage Island Competition – Trinity College Dublin have generously donated a prize of 4 admission tickets to the Old Library and the Book of Kells exhibition and 4 Trinity College Library sweatshirts.

To be in with a chance to win this great prize simply answer the following question: In what century was the Book of Kells given to Trinity College? A) 19th Century B) 18th Century C) 17th Century

Please send your answers and contact details to competition@heritageisland.com.
Competiton closes on the 11th of July.

For more information on Trinity College and to purchase a wide range of books, souvenirs and clothing associated with the Book of Kells please visit www.tcd.ie/Library/Shop/

Music for this episode:
Plastic Soul
Gray Young
Mike Hanrahan

Tom Joe shares “Rising of the Moon” at a session at Jim O’ the Mill near Upperchurch, Co. Tipperary. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

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Episode Guide – Podcast #48, #49 & #50 Dublin Visit

Audio accounts from a few days in Dublin CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

PART 1 Food, Folk & Fairies – Corey stays in a Dublin Hostel and spends the evening with Johnny Daly from Irish Folk Tours.

• Budget Travel Dublin
• Hostels
• www.irishfolktours.com – Irish Folk Tours

• www.carmelites.ie/ireland/Whitefriar%20St/whitefriarstreet.htm – White Friar Street Church
• Grafton Street
• Dublin City Hall
• Dublin Castle & Revenue Museum
• www.cbl.ie – Chester Beatty Library

• www.morrisonhotel.ie – Morrison Hotel
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Park – Phoenix Park
• Bloom’s Lane & Henry Street
• www.gresham-hotels.com – Gresham Hotel
• www.abbeytheatre.ie – Abbey Theatre

Show Notes

Corey is on-the-road and visits rugged Achill Island in County Mayo. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

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And while you’re there, be sure to leave her a comment and let her know what you thought…Heck, you should also leave a comment on this blog as well

Still on the road, Corey changes things up with a visit to the sea. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Corey is on-the-road and visits some Roscommon sites and finds himself in an ancient underground room. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

Boyle Abbey – www.heritageireland.ie/en/West/BoyleAbbey

Strokestown Park – www.strokestownpark.ie

Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre, Tulsk, County Roscommon – www.cruachanai.com

The sites featured in this podcast are on private property. As a general rule, access is permitted, but the utmost respect is expected, and entrance is at the visitor’s risk. Entering the cave requires a high level of fitness and balance as well as a level of comfort in small, tight places. The inside of the cave is muddy, wet and slippery and the risk of injury is high, so enter at your own risk.

Failte Ireland’s much-loved publication “Ireland of the Welcomes” has changed hands. Its new owner, Harmonia, produces a range of lifestyle titles that fill magazine racks throughout Ireland, but many long-time readers ask, “What does this mean for the magazine?”

At the center of it all stands Harmonia owner and CEO Norah Casey. The Dublin-born entrepreneur, took a moment to chat with us about “Ireland of the Welcomes” and offered her thoughts on Irish travel and culture.

First off, what is Harmonia? How did the company get its name?

Harmonia is Ireland’s largest magazine publisher (check out www.harmonia.ie for our full stable of titles). We publish some well-known and enduring titles in Ireland such as “Irish Tatler,” “Woman’s Way,” “Food&Wine Magazine,” “Auto Ireland,” “Eat Out,” “Garden Designs” and of course now “Ireland of the Welcomes.”

We have a web site called iVenus.com – aimed at women of course. When I was trying to find a name for the company a number of years ago, I came across the story of Venus who had a daughter called Harmonia from an illicit affair with Mars – I really liked the concept of harmony in a publishing company.

Harmonia is in the process of taking over “Ireland of the Welcomes.” What attracted you to this endeavour?

We took over “Ireland of the Welcomes” last month but our first issue is July/August, which goes to press in a few weeks. I love the title, and having spent many years publishing “The Irish Post” in London, I have long harboured a desire to work with the Irish Diaspora again and to create strong communities of people of Irish origin in various countries of the world.

We already celebrate what’s best in Ireland whether it be food, design or the arts so it’s great to have a much wider audience to connect with. I am also really excited about developing a magazine that has such a great history and read by so many people around the world.

What do you see as the biggest challenge in taking on this project?

Building and networking readers is the biggest challenge – given that there are 80 million people across the globe that claim Irish roots, we have plenty of room for growth! Taking on “Ireland of the Welcomes” is a great challenge and we hope to create great editorial and photographic content and opportunities to hear from our current readers about their needs and expectations.

Can we expect any changes or new features?

It is inevitable that there will be changes – enhancing rather than radical change. We loved the format and content – it’s one of the things that attracted us to the title. We’ve appointed a great new editor – Sean Carberry. He is a former journalist with “The Irish Times,” “The New York Times,” RTE (our radio and television station) and he worked in New York for the Irish Tourist Board for some time – he’s perfect for the job and has lots of great feature plans.

In our first issue Sean has interviewed author Maeve Binchy; we also have a great new (beginners) Irish language section with Daithi o’Shea – voted Ireland’s sexiest man for two years running (and of course a native Irish speaker). We also have some shorter guides to various cities and counties and some great genealogy. Irish Times journalist Martin Doyle has written a feature on the Aran Islands – and there is plenty more…

How would you describe the “Ireland of the Welcomes” audience? What special attributes do your staff possess that make them well-suited for producing “Ireland of the Welcomes?”

I am passionate about Irish communities abroad, I still Chair the St Patrick’s Day Festival in London, and I am on the board of the South African one. I spent more years away from Ireland than I did here, and I have a strong connection to people who retain their Irishness through the generations. I think Sean is going to be a great editor – he’s an experienced journalist and spent seven years with the Irish tourist board, so he has a strong sense of the audience. We have a great sales manager who we have just appointed Romy Carroll and the Creative Director David Gibbons is a very experienced concept and creative designer. We employ over 50 people and use a panel of freelance photographers and journalists who we have personally selected to work on our magazines. I think the magazines speak for the company – they are all beautifully designed with high quality editorial.

Are there plans to continue or expand the publication’s Internet presence?

Yes – its top of our list. We are currently migrating the site onto our own server space and we hope very quickly to offer digital editions of “Ireland of the Welcomes” and the ability to pay for subscriptions online. It’s a work in progress as we are just in the soft launch phase of our web site iVenus.com, but we will have it ready pretty quickly.

Any more hints regarding topics we can expect to find in upcoming issues of “Ireland of the Welcomes?”

I have given a few details of the features for the next issue above and we have some famous Irish names who have agreed to do interviews in forthcoming issues. We have some wonderful historical and genealogy articles, and we really want to hear from readers about their own experiences of Ireland.

When you’re away from Ireland, what do you miss most?
My family and friends if they’re not with me, and of course, I never miss the Irish weather or work!

What is your favourite “hidden” Irish getaway?
I hate revealing these things because then they don’t stay hidden! I love using Derrybawn House in Wicklow (www.derrybawnhouse.com) for great weekends with friends and family. Monart is one of our best spas (and what’s even better you don’t mingle with conference goers or wedding parties – its perfect for couples who want to get away – www.monart.ie). I adore The K Club (www.kclub.com) it has a great restaurant and a wonderful spa – of course most people go for the golf as it has the amazing Ryder Cup course.

Who is your favourite figure from Irish history?
Countess Markievicz (or Constance Gore-Booth to use her given name). She was an incredible woman and a real force in Irish politics – born well ahead of her time.

Do you have any favourite Irish traditions?
We always celebrate St Patrick’s Day in both London and Dublin – one year I managed to go to New York. Irish cooking (especially our new trend towards artisan producers) forms a big part of our life.

Do you have any suggestions for unique souvenir ideas from Ireland?
I think art is one of the best things you can bring back or buy from Ireland – its wonderful to have something on the wall which reminds you of your time away. I love books of course and would always encourage people to buy Irish books and to keep our literary tradition alive. But the best souvenir is always what you retain most in your mind – learn an Irish song, rediscover Irish poetry and trace your family and its origins – these are things which are irreplaceable.

Do you have any special tips for experiencing some authentic Irish culture while visiting?
The great thing about Ireland is that wherever you go you will experience culture, traditions and that wonderful sense of Irishness that is often indefinable. I think that the people are still amazing here – when I came back home one of the great benefits was being among people who were open and friendly again. You’ll find that Ireland is a vibrant country mixing old and new comfortably – I adore Dublin – my hometown – but the best of Ireland is often in the remotest corners. While Kerry and Galway have a lot to commend them as beautiful counties try to visit the relatively under populated counties of Leitrim, Donegal and Mayo where the scenery is wild and the people especially welcoming.

The US dollar is weak right now, any money-saving suggestions for our US readers who might be visiting in the upcoming months?

In coming issues we will be featuring some unusual places to stay, the best castles to stay are in the next issue. We will also look at country houses and the best B&B and cottages. You don’t have to do five star to experience the best of Ireland – often staying in family homes is a great way to get to know people. I don’t think the exchange rate problems are long term, and hopefully we will see improvement in coming months. Whatever your budget there will be something to suit you here.

What Internet resources do you recommend for visitors to learn more about Ireland’s culture and history?

Obviously I would like readers to log to www.irelandofthewelcomes.com (please be patient as the site is being relocated). There are so many Irish geology web sites I hesitate to recommend one but Ireland’s national archive is a good place to start – www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy. You’re currently on a very good starting point – www.irishfireside.com.

How can our readers and listeners contact “Ireland of the Welcomes” with suggestions and feedback?
Full contact details will be published in every issue but any suggestions or comments in the meantime to myself is fine – ncasey@harmonia.ie.

Corey chats about the beautiful days Ireland has been having this week.. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

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When it comes to spectacular photo ops, the Emerald Isle delivers something to delight your camera around every corner. But the weather, the landscape and the sites in Ireland present some very specific challenges. We’ve got our list of photo tips especially for your travels around Ireland.

BEAT THE CLOUDY SKIES
Light rain and overcast skies appear regularly in the Irish forecast and can make your photos look dull and grey. Plus, some digital cameras have a hard time focusing in cloudy or foggy conditions. To combat this, take fewer wide shots and concentrate on close ups and details. Also, before you snap, look for shapes and colors that show contrast between light and dark, bright and dull. And if all else fails, use editing software (which often comes with a new camera) and try adjusting the saturation and contrast.

CAPTURE THE CASTLE
With the number of castles in Ireland, you are certain to add a few to your photo collection. From the outside, try photographing the fortress from an angle rather than straight on and attempt to squeeze in a patch of grass, sky or gardens to counter the castle’s dark grey stones. From inside, it is often difficult to capture the space without a wide angle lens, the best alternative is to photograph from a doorway or whenever possible from a perch above.

CARRY THE CAMERA EVERYWHERE
The camera is no good to you if it’s stuffed in the glove compartment of your rental car. Make a point to take out the camera anywhere you go, including restaurants, shops and roadside stops.

GET TO KNOW YOUR CAMERA
New digital cameras have added several features that can dramatically improve your photos. Get to know your device’s scene features and be sure you figure out how to turn the flash on and off as well as quickly preview and delete photos.

Get photos of architectural details.

GET CLOSER
Is there a reason you keep taking photos of people who look like specks in the distance? Get up close and fill the frame with people, architectural details whatever you are trying to capture.

BRING ALONG A WEATHER-PROOF CASE
Digital cameras tend to be more sensitive to water, sand and rough handling than traditional cameras, so a good weather-proof case can protect it from the elements and provide some extra cushioning. When in Ireland, go to great lengths to keep your camera dry, and if it does get seriously wet, turn off the camera, remove the battery and let it air dry.

BUY THE POSTCARD
Postcards usually capture a landmark better than most novice photographers or provide an angle the average visitor isn’t able to get. Buy a postcard with the view you want and then use your own camera to take photos of your favorite details or of your family. Be sure to buy postcards that will fit in your photo album…jumbo and panoramic postcards sometimes just don’t fit.

Photographing the locals.

ROUND UP THE LIVESTOCK
Be it on a farm, in a field or in the middle of a country road, farm animals are a common sight in the Irish countryside. If you come upon an Irish traffic jam (cows or sheep), stay in the car and take photos through the window. Baby animals are extraordinarily cute, but remember their parents are exceptionally protective, so beware! Use your zoom to get up close and personal rather than approaching animals and never get close to an animal without its owner present.

Look at things a little differently

THINK ABOUT LIGHTING
The best natural lighting tends to be when the sun is lower at around sunrise and sunset. Faces tend to glow in this kind of light and squinting eyes tend to be less of a problem. If you’re lucky enough for sunny skies, watch out for dark shadows on faces; turning on your flash in these situations can help fill-in those shadows. When indoors try the shot with and without flash.

STOP THE CAR AND GET OUT
If you’re in too much of a rush to get out the car to take a photo, you’re probably traveling at a faster pace than you should. Don’t hesitate to cautiously pull over or turn around and go back to capture a great shot. While you’re stopped, carefully wander over to the other side of the road and see if there is anything noteworthy on that side as well.

Get some action photos.

STOP POSING AND START DOING SOMETHING
Oh look, there’s a photo of the family standing and smiling at the Cliffs of Moher. Here’s the same pose in front of Dublin’s Molly Malone statue. Oh and again at the Rock of Cashel. Try getting pictures of people doing things…inspecting the Liscannor stone on the walk at the Cliffs, climbing Croagh Patrick or sharing a latte at Bewley’s Cafe. You’ll find such photos tell the story of your vacation much better than a forced smile in the usual pose.

TAKE THREE; SAVE ONE
The biggest advantage of digital cameras is the fact that you can take more photos without having to pay for developing, so take more shots than you’ll ever need. Be sure to try different angles and camera modes and keep only your best images. Saving redundant images clogs memory and can make your photo album a drag to look through.

Path at Woodstock Gardens

The path at Woodstock Gardens

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
For some people, turning the camera from horizontal to vertical is a pretty radical move, but get more variety by trying the same shot from very high and very low angles. That might mean standing on a chair or lying on the ground to get the perfect shot. Also don’t be afraid to turn the camera on an angle; canted or diagonal shots can be quite interesting.

CARRY A SPARE BATTERY
Don’t be caught without power. Be sure to have an extra battery charged and ready to go. Look at the specifications printed on your charger. If it says AC Input: 100-240V, it can handle handle Ireland’s 220 volt outlets and all you need to bring along is a plug adapter that will allow you to plug it in to the wall at your B&B.

Liam & Tony aboard the Dunbrody

ENJOY THE CRAIC!
The word “CHEESE!” causes some people to contort their faces into an almost frightening, tooth-bearing expression. A gentle laugh tends to look more natural in photos.

PASS THE CAMERA
There’s one thing missing from vacation photos with a designated photographer…the person behind the lens. Let everyone in the family take photos, ask fellow travelers to snap a pic of your group or use your camera’s self-timer to get everyone in the shot.

KEEP IT SAFE
Whether your camera or the memories it contains are more valuable to you, keep your camera secure. Pack it in your carryon luggage (airport x-ray equipment will not damage your digital camera or the information on your memory card). If you need to leave it in the car, b&b or hotel, keep it out of sight or ask your host for their recommendation.

River reflections in Drogheda

LOOK AROUND
Taking a moment to stop thinking about what you’re looking at and start noticing what you’re seeing can completely change your photographic style. Look for shadows and reflections and be sure to look up…the ceilings and sky reveal often-missed wonders.

STOP THE CHURCH BLUR
The low-light conditions in churches and other buildings can result in blurry photos and the flash tends to eliminate any sense of mood. Use your camera’s museum or low-light settings and lean your camera against a column, pew or other steady object to avoid camera shake.

SNAP YOUR SUITCASE
Before you leave, snap a photo of the contents of your suitcase. In case something goes missing, you’ll have documentation.

FIRE UP YOUR “DIGITAL COPY MACHINE”
Use your digital camera to take photos of information signs, posted maps, train schedules and passports. You’ll have information handy without having to carry extra hard copies.

Not everything is perfect.

CAPTURE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD
Just because it’s pouring rain, your luggage is missing and you just found out your self-catering cottage is missing a roof, doesn’t mean you should stop taking pictures. Documenting the entire trip will tell the whole story. Plus, the photos might come in handy for refunds and insurance purposes, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to look back on those moments and laugh.

BULK UP ON MEMORY
The memory card that comes with most cameras simply isn’t big enough to accommodate an entire Irish holiday. Get a card that will hold at least 100 photos at a high setting – which still might not be enough memory! Remember, higher megapixel cameras need larger memory cards. If you find yourself running low on memory, stop by a one-hour photo store and clear your memory card by having your images put on a CD or purchase another memory card while on the road.

USE THOSE MEGAPIXELS
You paid for those extra megapixels, so why aren’t you using them? Keeping your photo size set at “basic” or “low” means you probably won’t be able enlarge your photos beyond 4”x6” and you likely paid for a bigger camera than you needed.

A perfect end to the day

CHOOSE A CLOSING SHOT
Before you end your visit to any site, stop and think about a closing shot…something that sums up the visit and captures your mood. These images often make the best additions to your Irish photo album.

PUBLISH THOSE MEMORIES
Photo albums are great, but new technology makes it easy to turn your digital photos in to books, cards and stickers. Online services such as Blurb, Flickr, Moo, Shutterfly, Kodak and Apple’s iLife make it easy to produce amazing products. And remember, be ruthless in your editing – only include your very best images or the photos that best tell a story; it’ll save on printing costs and keep your collection interesting.

You can visit the Irish Fireside PHOTO ALBUMS.

It’s springtime and that means a new edition of “Michele Erdvig’s Ireland Dream Trip” is hot off the presses. Michele puts out a very specialized book filled with her personal favorite places to stay, visit and relax.

She covers the whole island, so the book can be a great resource for anyone planning their “dream trip.” In addition to places for eating and sleeping, she also walks readers through the various facets of planning a trip to Ireland…airlines, weather, packing, driving, tipping and loads more.

Michele has been around the Fireside since it all began, and she’s generous with her expertise. She contributed to our “Favorite Gardens in Ireland” list and spent some time with us for a Fireside Chat last year.

You can learn more about her book from her website at www.irelandyes.com/book.html

For those with an interest in Ireland, especially North Americans looking to connect with their Irish roots, Ireland of the Welcomes has been a favorite publication since the 1950s.

Well, the magazine is going through some changes. Starting this month, Board Failte, the Irish tourist board, will no longer serve as publisher. It has been sold to Harmonia, Ireland’s largest magazine publisher.

No announcements on how this might change the publication, but it looks as though Harmonia is committed to maintaining a quality publication as they extend their business to the North American marketplace.

You can read what Harmonia had to say at www.harmonia.ie

corey says…Dublin has been a popular topic around the Fireside lately with lots of emails, questions and suggestions coming in regarding the city.

All this talk about Dublin makes me wish I was there right now. So, I thought a virtual tour was in order. Enter www.DublinJourney.com, a website offering a walk around the city without having to buy a plane ticket or exchange any euros. It takes a while to get used to the website’s interface, but once you do, the historical info posted along each “step” of your tour provides loads of detail.

And to make it even more authentic, you’ll likely find yourself “tracing your steps” and “walking in circles” as you explore the site…just like you would if you were meandering your way around the city for the first time.

Take some time and poke around the site and get a flavor (flavour) of the city.

corey says… I’ve just added another item to my itinerary for this summer… next visit to Dublin, I’m definitely checking out the Irish Folk Tours. The trip to Ireland’s past takes place at the Brazen Head, Dublin’s oldest pub, and includes dinner, history and folklore.

Confession time… food… history… folklore… in an old pub! I absolutely can’t resist! The experience gets great reviews, and I’m looking forword to checking it out for myself.

Speaking of Ireland’s old ways, I’m reminiscing about the great trip we had to the Doagh Famine Village on the Inishowen Peninsula up in County Donegal. You can read our trip report from that visit at www.irishfireside.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/trip-report-inishowen-peninsula/ or listen to our Inishowen podcast at www.irishfireside.com/10inishowen.htm.

Episode Guide – Podcast #41 & #42 Gardens of Ireland

Spring is on its way, and we’re heading to the Gardens of Ireland. And we take a tour of Knockpatrick Gardens in County Limerick and answer some listener mail. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

PART 1

PART 2

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PART 1 Show Notes

Our Favorite Gardens Map PDF for printing GIF for web-browsing

00:00 Intro – Gardens

00:50 Saint Patrick’s Day and Hometown Tales – Details about their Elves, Gnomes, Fairies and Other Little Things episodes can be found on our March 19, 2008 blog post.

01:20 New subscribers: Rachel in Iowa, Sunny in Tuscan, Macy in Minneapolis, Spencer in Florida, Eileen in New Hampshire, Nancy in Illinois, Tom in Krakow Poland, Carrie in Virginia and Theresa in Hales Corners WI – Sign up for our e-newsletter

01:44 Bill Sweeney, Episode #32 Dual Citizen & his trip to Ireland

02:40 Question “When referring to the language, is it Irish or is it Gaelic?”

03:30 Garden-lovers delight with public and private gardens that can be found on grand estates, in forests and within in-town courtyards

04:12 Knockpatrick Gardens, Co Limerick, [read our blog about this destination] which was mentioned in Episode #20 Shannon Estuary

05:02 Foynes Flying Boat Museum [read our blog about this destination]

05:58 Limerick Garden Trail

06:09 Carlow Garden Trail: Altamount Gardens, Duckets Grove & Huntington Castle Gardens

07:00 The cellar of Huntington Castle and the Fellowship of Isis

07:42 Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal – be sure to hike to the top of the hill if you’re able

08:17 Birr Castle and Demesne, Co. Offaly – a horse-drawn carriage is the best way to see the entire demense…and be sure to check out the 19th century telescope

09:00 Heywood Gardens, Ballinakill, Co. Laois [read our blog about this destination]

09:20 Celtic Plantarum in Dundrum, Co. Tipperary

09:36 Woodstock Garden, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny – Circle of Friends and other films have been filmed in this town and it has a great Monkey Puzzle Tree Avenue

10:36 Eerie Giant Redwood photo, have a look for yourself.

12:02 Hundreds of Gardens – Mount Usher, Co. Wicklow [read our blog about this site], the Garden County; Powerscourt, Co Wicklow; Japanese & Saint Fiachri’s Garden and National Stud, Co. Kildare [read our blog about this site]; Annes Grove Gardens, Co. Cork; Kylemore Abbey, Co. Galway

12:45 Portumna Castle Kitchen Garden, Co. Galway; Knappogue Walled Garden, Co. Clare; Belvedere House, Co. Westmeath; Mount Congreve, Co. Waterford; a Map of our favorite gardens

13:15 Tip: use an internet search engine and enter a county and the word “garden” or contact a regional tourist office for a list of gardens in the areas you’ll be visiting

13:35 Our TravelBlog

13:53 Amanda Ginn – Fermanagh – Florence Court grounds and walled garden

14:33 Song Tipperary Waltz by Patrick Bergen

PART 2 Show Notes

00:00 Intro – Just Corey Today because Liam is out of town.

00:30 Our Favorite Gardens in Ireland

00:50 Thanks to Michele Erdvig from www.irelandyes.com, Bit Devine from www.cowboycraic.com and Pat Preston from www.irelandexpert.com for contributing to our list of gardens

01:26 Listener Mail

01:33 Johnny Daly from Dublin www.irishfolktours.com

02:30 Other Folk Parks and Museums include: Bunrattty Castle and Folk Park (mentioned in Episode #2), Ulster-American Folk Park (mentioned in Episode #13), Doagh Famine Village (mentioned in Episode #10) AND Ag Museum Johnston.

03:25 De Valera Museum and Bruree Heritage

04:26 Athlone Castle Museum, located in the keep at Athlone Castle.

04:43 Lea Anne from Washington DC writes in about her honeymoon

05:44 Ask yourself, do you want pampering, castle stays, nightlife, hiking, ocean views, mountain views, a mix of all of the above. Elements of each of this can be found in every corner of Ireland.

07:43 Contact us or click the Contribute button on our website for details on how you can “add some turf to the fireside.”

08:05 Knockpatrick Gardens with Tim and Helen O’Brien.

08:24 Foynes is located on the Shannon Estuary, near Adare and Limerick along the coastal route to Kerry/Dingle.

09:10 Tour

09:26 Former Cowpath

11:52 Hydrangeas

13:39 Reject Row

14:37 Sycamore Maple

15:51 Great Contrast

16:11 Old Growth, New Growth

16:53 Astilbe

18:39 Valencia Island

19:39 Favorite Derrynane House (Home of Daniel , Doreen (Kenmare), Mount Stewart, the Limerick Garden Trail

22:40 Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Glin Castle Hotel and Restaurant and Gardens (Bob Duff), Drive along the Shannon estuary (featured in Episode #20), Shannon Ferry (lighthouse & dolphins), the Burren.

26:35 Song Wissahickan Drive performed by Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid.

corey says…There’s nothing like a few coupons to thrill a budget traveler, so I thought I’d hook you up with some publications that offer coupons for some of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations. Pat Preston from www.irelandexpert.com offers the Glimpse of Ireland coupon book at her website for $13.95. You can get details at http://www.irelandexpert.com/ money_savers_ireland_at_a_glimpse.htm

Heritage Island also has their touring guide that gives an overview of their listed sites and various coupons for presenting the booklet. That one will set you back €5.99 (that’s about $9.33). Check it out at http://www.heritageisland.com/Touring%20Guide.asp

Since everyone should be rested and recovered from Saint Patrick’s Day by now, I thought I’d direct you to a fun little dose of the leprechauns and little people.

Gene and Bryan at www.HometownTales.com featured some of Ireland’s leprechaun and fairy folklore in their Elves, Gnomes, Fairies and Other Little Things episodes (#s 211 & 213). In Part 1 they get into Ireland at about the 10 minute mark. In Part 2 they talk about Scottish/Irish elves at about 11 minutes. It’s a fun podcast and I thought some of our listeners might want to check it out.

FYI – Each week Hometown Tales talks about, well, hometown tales…that means legends, folklore, notable characters, historic events, urban legends, even UFOs…anything that makes a town unique.

You can visit their website or find them at iTunes or click on the specific episode at Podcast Alley (#s 211 & 213).

We celebrate the Irish language in song as Emer de Barra talks to us about Oireachtas na Gaeilge at Milwaukee Irish Fest. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are available on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00 Intro

00:40 Safe travels to Liam and any of our listeners who are out and about over St Patrick’s weekend.

01:00 Five podcasts this month.

01:18 Send me an email at corey@irishfireside.com.

01:40 Add some turf to the fire.

02:08 Irish travel news – the dollar vs. the euro (get the most current exchange rate at xe.com).

02:38 Money Saving Tips from Episode #34…Part 2 of our interview with Ireland Expert Pat Preston.

02:50 Dublin Guides at www.TripFilms.com , a tip we posted on our TravelBlog last week.

03:08 Emer de Barra from Oireachtas na Gaeilge: Song, Dance, Storytelling.

06:40 Website: www.antoireachtas.ie

08:15 Spoken in Irish (Gaellic).

08:40 The tradition is extending beyond the Gaeltacht regions.

09:10 Milwaukee Irish Fest.

09:29 Episode #39.

10:09 Warm welcome to Mary in Iowa city, Mike in Paris, Tennessee, Claire in New Hampshire, Frank in Bay City MI, Patricia in Danbury CT, John in Vermont, Christina in Canada and Mary in Oregon.

10:30 Share irish travel or culture 414-455-5473.

10:50 Irish Song: Bean a’ Leanna sung by Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta.

TG4 Television – www.TG4.com
The words might sound strange, but TG4, Ireland’s Gaelic-speaking television station, now airs their programs on the Internet. Just open the Web TV window and choose a program. If the Irish culture documentaries don’t have you hooked, Ros na Rún, the Irish-language soap opera, will.

Most shows have English subtitles, and who can resist a reality dating show like Paisean Faisean where the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes flirt in Gaelic?

Gael Saire www.gaelsaoire.ie
A showcase of Ireland’s seven Irish-speaking Gaeltacht
areas with colorful regional overviews that include links
for sites, travel and accommodations in both Irish and
English.

Irish & Gaelic Translator www.irishgaelictranslator.com
Part Speak & Spell, part dictionary, the Irish Gaelic
Translator provides common Gaelic words and phrases in
three different dialects and offers resources for helping
with English-Irish translations.

Baby Names of Ireland www.babynamesofireland.com
Yep, an entire website dedicated to Irish names; thank
goodness Angela’s Ashes author Frank McCourt is on
board to reveal the meaning and pronounciation of each
name.

Here’s a session from Philadelphia’s Irish Center, during the city’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations last weekend. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to watch.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

Irish Dancers at the Philadelphia Parade

We spent the weekend in Philly and headed downtown on Sunday to catch the very looooong parade. Afterwards, it was off to the Irish Society Center for some Smithwick’s and Guinness and a traditional music session.

All in all, it was a great time…and those folks in Philly sure know how to have a great time. Thanks to our host Liza for showing us a great time.

Episode Guide – Podcast #36 Belfast: Bonfires & July 12th

Heidi from Belfast In Your Pocket gives us a local’s perspective of the celebrations that happen in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland on July 12th. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

PART 1

PART 2

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

PART 1 Show Notes

00:00 Introduction – sounds of one of the 12th of July marching units in the background

00:35 12th of July or Marching Day or Orange Fest

01:12 Battle of the Boyne

Heidi with Scarlett

01:45 Belfast In Your Pocket was named one of the Best Websites for Dreaming About Ireland, and the publication’s editor invited us to visit around July 12th – You can read a little article about Belfast In Your Pocket editor Heidi McAlpin by clicking here.

02:35 BBC Interview – Are Marching Days Ready for Tours?

03:12 Tour with Heidi and Ray.

11:23 Open-top bus tour.

12:00 Building the bonfires.

13:30 Safety

13:49 More to come… Watch Part 1 of this podcast ans watch a video of the Shaw’s Bridge Bonfire.

14:18 Photo Slideshow. Blog entries:

Road to Belfast – http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/2007/07/10/road-to-belfast/

BBC Interview – http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/2007/07/11/bbc-interview/

Belfast Bonfires – http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/2007/07/11/belfast-bonfires/

Marching Day – http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/marching-day/

14:20 Best Websites, thanks Bill for adding some turf to the Fireside

Closing music: Music in the Glen by Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

PART 2 Show Notes

00:00 Introduction – The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin

00:54 Those friendly folks in Belfast

01:43 Birthplace of the Titanic

01:55 Bus Tour & Black Taxi Cab Tour

02:15 “Those” Neighborhoods

02:55 Shankhill Road & Falls Road

03:28 The Murals of Belfast

03:48 Peace and Safety In Belfast

04:45 July 12th Parades

05:45 Interactive Walking Tour

06:04 SS Nomadic

06:24 Chat with Heidi from Belfast In Your Pocket

07:23 Industry in Belfast – Shipbuilding and Linen

08:04 Linen Museum – Irish Linen Centre in Lisburn

08:24 Souveniers

09:00 Space Craft – Fountain Centre – Near Belfast City Hall (online virtural tour available and the Linen Hall Library

10:24 Smyth’s Irish Linen

11:04 Sports Shirts

11:17 Belfast Giants Ice Hockey Team

12:20 Just a Drive Away & Belfast’s Airports

13:09 Those Friendly Belfast Folks II

14:42 Planning Your Visit

14:58 Belfast to Derry and Derry to Belfast

15:10 Touring Northern Ireland: Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dunluce Castle, Derry – Walled City, Lough Foyle, Donegal, The Mournes, Lough Nee – largest lake in British Isles, Newcastle – Slieve Donnard, Golfing, Driving, the Sperrins, Lakelands of Fermanagh, Belleek Pottery, National Trust Properties – Mount Stewart, Strangford Lough, Ards Peninsula.

18:00 We’re getting wet.

18:10 What does Belfast In Your Pocket Offer?

18:41 Bus Tour, Stormont/Parliament Building, North Belfast Cave Hill Belfast Castle and Basic Info

19:20 It’s All Available for Download at Belfast In Your Pocket

20:39 Paddy Wagon Tours – Bonfire Tours & Other Tours Out of Belfast

20:16 Thank You Heidi and Ray…and Belfast In Your Pocket

21:47 Best Websites for Dreaming About Ireland

22:00 Last Thoughts – Some places are closed

22:56 Different People Spend July 12th in Different Ways

23:09 Politics and Religion

23:30 Close – Miss Jane MacInnes Dandelleith by Theresa Larkin and Noel McQuaid

We share our experience at one of the many bonfires we visited on July 11, 2007, the eve of the Belfast Marching Day. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to watch.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

Heidi McAlpin, editor of Belfast In Your Pocket, took Liam and Corey on a tour of the Belfast bonfires. We’ve got an audio podcast about the experience in-the-works. Until then check out the Belfast In Your Pocket article about the 12th of July.

Read our blog entries from these our visit to Belfast during the Marching Season:

July 10 – GoToBelfast

July 10 – Road to Belfast

July 11 – Our BBC Interview

July 11 – Belfast Bonfires

July 12 – Marching Day

We weren’t the only people catching the Shaw’s Bridge Bonfire on video. Thanks to the magic of YouTube, we can watch the same bonfire topple from several angles:

I don’t want to go Dublin-overboard this week, but I must admit, I was pleased to learn that the In-Your-Pocket family has expanded to include Dublin.

The magazine is part guidebook, part magazine and 100% downlable for FREE!

Liam and I met managing editor Heidi McAlpin this summer in Belfast…she also runs Belfast In Your Pocket. She and her team are committed to providing straightforward reviews of restaurants and attractions in and around Dublin and Belfast.

I strongly recommend you check out both.

Belfast
www.inyourpocket.com/ni/city/belfast.html

Dublin
http://www.inyourpocket.com/country/ireland.html

Full City Downloads
www.inyourpocket.com/static/download/downloads_main.html

corey says…Visit Dublin has unveiled their new website. It’s a little more whimsical/futuristic than their earlier incarnation.

They’ve got their visit Dublin video posted…which features music by U2…and they’ve got some webcams and podcasts too.

www.visitdublin.com

Episode Guide – Podcast #33 & #34 Ireland Expert Pat Preston

We welcome a very special guest, Ireland Expert Pat Preston. In this episode, she shares with us all kinds of details about Irish travel. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

PART 1

PART 2

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes PART 1

00:00 Intro – The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin

00:15 Welcome

00:45 Thanks to Jen from Hartford, WI

01:10 Ireland Expert Pat Preston

02:00 Interview

02:15 Pat’s October Trip (read her blog from that trip here)

10:30 How did you get your start in Irish travel?

15:25 Ireland Memories book

16:20 Farewell – We’ll have Part 2 up in just a few days!

Show Notes PART 2

00:00 Intro – The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin

01:40 www.IrelandExpert.com & Pat’s Q&A Forum

04:48 Money Saving Tips

• Check the Ireland Expert Money Savers Page – CIE is offering $200 Off tours www.cietours.com
• Check the Ireland Expert Hot News Page
• Check the Ireland Expert Forum
• Travel in the Off Season – July and August are the most expensive
• Be Adaptable – have flexible travel dates – Sat & Sun flights might be more expensive
• Seek out bargains – search internet, sign up for e-newsletters, contact tourist offices, check newspaper ads
• Book Airfare Early – up to 330 days ahead
• Ask for Discounts – seniors, AARP, AAA, government, military, et al
• Join Frequent Flyer & Frequent Stayer Programs
• Enjoy DIY Meals – shop supermarkets and delis for picnic lunches – saves time and money
• Book an Escorted Tour – especially for a first trip – includes transportation, accommodation and many meals for one upfront price

10:48 Pat’s April Tour – 10 spots left

13:58 Join the www.IrelandExpert.com join the community

14:48 Check out our e-newsletter

Closing Song – The Coming Spring performed by Theresa Larkin And Noel McQuaid

We chat with listener Bill Sweeney about his experience obtaining dual citizenship…without ever having to leave the United States. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00 Intro – The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin

Notes from Bill Sweeney’s experience obtaining dual citizenship:

The United States allows dual citizenship with numerous countries, including Ireland.  A few years ago I found out Ireland offers citizenship by descent.  It is called “Citizenship through Foreign Births Registration (FBR)”.  The background work took me a couple of months and the whole process cost a few hundred dollars.  The FBR application takes about 16-18 months to process.  I received my dual citizenship on May 25, 2007.  I then applied for an Irish passport which I received on August 5, 2007.

The rules:

One can become an Irish citizen be descent even if your parents were not Irish citizens.  If one of your grandparents was an Irish citizen you can apply for entry in the Foreign Births Register.  There is no requirement that you have ever stepped on Irish soil.  Since 1986, citizenship only takes effect as of the date of registration so any children born prior to your becoming a citizen are not automatically also citizens.

You need three forms of identification for your grandparent.  I sent in information for both my grandfather and grandmother since as you will see below I was afraid someone might question the link to my grandfather.  I used their Irish birth certificates, marriage certificate, and death certificates.  All these records can be obtained through contact information on the Internet.

Why:

I was interested in genealogy and had created a fairly extensive record of my family history in the Family Tree Maker tool based on the research my parents had done.  My father made copies of my grandparents’ birth records on a visit to Ireland but I never paid much attention to the details.  I decided to pursue Irish citizenship for the following reasons:

1. After my father died I rekindled my interest in my family history.  I realized I could no longer get first hand answers to my questions and my children would have little hope of finding information if I did not document it.
2. I thought it would be easier to travel in Europe with an EU passport.  I found that to be true recently on a trip to London where my wife and I bypassed a long line at Heathrow.
3. I thought it would be fun – a nice novelty/conversation piece.
4. I thought my wife would finally prioritize Ireland higher on the list for future travel.  Much to my dismay, Spain and Italy remain above Ireland on her list

What I learned along the way:

You think you know what your name is?

When I looked more carefully at my grandfather’s birth entry, I realized his name was “Sweeny”, not “Sweeney” which we have all carried since his arrival in the US in 1903.  This made me question the validity of my father’s research.  I subsequently did enough research to convince myself that my father was correct.  The place of birth, the rough time period, the names of siblings and their birth records, and census information leaves little doubt that Sweeny became Sweeney when the first sibling arrived in the US.  I also checked with other relatives to link various uncles together.  All the links are there, just no explanation of the reason for the name change.  Maybe it was an error entering the name into the ship manifest.  I’ll never know the reason.  Perhaps, when the other siblings needed to put down the name of a relative already in the US, they used the same spelling to avoid questions.

You think you know when your grandfather was born?

In my research I found no less than 5 documented birth dates for my grandfather that differed from his birth certificate.  These dates spanned 12 years and two seasons!  I obtained copies of his birth certificate, the passenger manifest on the ship from Ireland to the US, census information in Ireland, multiple census records in the US, his immigration and naturalization papers, and his World War I draft registration card.  As the years progressed he failed to age at the proper rate.  That leads me to guess as a laborer he wanted to appear younger to keep his employment.  There are still two living siblings of my father.  However, neither has the slightest idea of their father’s birth date or even the season.  Hard to imagine they never celebrated his birthday.  Although as a child I don’t remember a birthday party for him.

Thank goodness my grandmother told the truth about her birthday.  It was a treat to see everything match when I obtained similar records for her.

What kind of information can you obtain?

I made one trip to the National Archives in Waltham, MA.  Everything else was researched on the Internet or through Ancestry.com and requested by postal mail or fax.  I must credit an extremely helpful person at the National Archives with unlocking the key to many records of my grandfather as he found the immigration and naturalization records.  I assumed my grandfather came into Boston as my grandmother did since they both moved to Providence, RI.  As it turns out he arrived at Ellis Island in New York.  Once I found this out, the process became easier.

Here are the records I obtained:

• Irish birth certificate
• Passenger manifest entry for the ship coming to the US
• Irish and US census information
• Immigration and naturalization papers
• World War I draft registration
• Marriage certificate
• Death certificate
• Social Security record

In case you are curious:

My grandfather was born in Gubnaveagh, Ballinamore, county Leitrim

My grandmother was born in Ballaghboy, county Sligo.

Web site links:

http://www.irelandemb.org

http://www.embassyofireland.org/home/index.aspx?id=30818

http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/home/index.aspx?id=253

http://genealogy.about.com/library/weekly/aa030802b.htm

http://www.movetoireland.com/movepag/pascitzn.htm

http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/08/real_estate/mil_life/twopassports/

http://www.archives.gov/

http://www.ancestry.com

http://www.uscis.gov

http://www.ssa.gov

http://www.health.ri.gov/chic/vital/index.php

My contact information:

Bill Sweeney, bill@sweeney.net

Episode Guide – Podcast #31 Winter Memories, Irish Farmstays and B&Bs

We kick off the New Year with some memories of winter in Ireland. Then we chat with some experts in Irish B&Bs. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00 Intro – The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin

00:48 Memories of Winter in Ireland

05:27 Rachel Barton Pine www.rachelbartonpine.com
Podsafe Music Network music.podshow.com

05:48 Website “Redecorating”

06:06 E-newsletter – Submissions and Contributions

06:27 Comment Line 414-455-5473

06:47 Ways to Contribute

07:42 Irish Farmhouse Holidays www.irishfarmholidays.com
Town & Country Homes of Ireland www.townandcountry.ie

17:35 Safe Travels

Today it’s off to the Irish-speaking region known as the Dingle Peninsula. Our neighbor Aine tells us all about her summer school experience there, and she tells us a story that is sure to leave you in stitches. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Episode Guide – Podcast #28 Celtic Colours

October in Ireland is the theme of this episode where Corey talks about visiting Ireland in the fall, the Celtic Colours Festival and some plans he has made for his trip to Ireland. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00 The return of the rain

00:48 Intro – The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin

01:14 Back in Ireland and podcast overview

01:35 Ireland in October

02:00 Today’s weather

02:40 Regions influence weather conditions

03:30 Some sites and B&Bs may close for season, but there is still plenty open

04:00 Days are shorter

05:00 October colors

06:05 Song: Ashokan Farewell/The Grey Chair

06:20 Irish Fireside Treasures of Ireland Tour

09:20 Song: Ashokan Farewell/The Grey Chair

09:45 Celtic Colours Festival – October 5-13, 2007, www.celtic-colours.com
interview with Gordon from Music Nova Scotia.

16:29 Theresa and Sheelagh plan a surprise party for Kathleen…Theresa’s song Allegro Moto.

Roche (with Liam) shares “Ned of the Hill” at a session in Grace’s in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to watch.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

We share a moment from a session at Grace’s in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary.

Anyone who followed our blog this summer knows we enjoyed a lot of great music. One of our favorite sessions was held at Grace’s on Monday nights. We thought we’d share a moment when Roche, a Grace’s regular, sings Eamonn a’ Chnuic, which translates to Ned of the Hill.

The song tells the story of a Tipperary man named Edmond (Ned) Ryan, an Irish Earl displaced by Cromwell. His outlaw reputation began when he killed a tax collector over a confiscated cow belonging to an old woman. He was later killed by fellow Irishman for reward money.

This movie was shot on my digital camera, so I was surprised to discover that the footage and sound was decent enough to include on the podcast.

You’ll get to see Liam singing in Irish with Roche. Tony on Fiddle, Theresa on tin whistle and Kathleen on piano. Our friends Breda, Tilly and Liza are also there…and several other folks who stuck around for the end of the session. Here’s the TravelBlog entry from that evening.

Enjoy…here are the words of the song in Irish and English.

EAMONN A’ CHNUIC Ce-h-é sin amuigh Go bhfuil faor ar a ghuth A’ reaba mo dhorais dúnta?” “Mise Eamonn a’ Chnuic Tá báidhte fuar fluich O shior-shúil sléibhte is gleannta” “A lao ghil’s a chuid Cad do dhéannfainnse duit Mara gcuirfinn ort béinn dom ghúna? ‘S go mbeidh púdar dubh Is go mbeimis araon muchta” “Is fada mise amuigh Faoi sneachta is faoi shioc Is gan dánacht agam ar éinne Mo bhranar gan cur Mo sheisreach gar sgur Is gan iad agam ar aon chor Nil cairde agam (Is danaid liom san) Do ghlacfadh mé moch na déanach Is go gcaithear mé dul Thar farraige soir O’s ann na fúil mo ghaolta

NED OF THE HILL “Oh who is without That with passionate shout Keeps beating my bolted door?” “I am Ned of the Hill Forspent wet and chill From long trudging marsh and moor” “My love, fond and true What else could I do But shield you from wind and from weather? When the shots fall like hail They us both shall assail And mayhap we shall die together.” “Through forest and through snow Tired and hunted I go In fear both from friend and from neighbor My horses run wild My acres untilled And they all of them lost to my labor But it grieves me far more Than the loss of my store That there’s none who would shield me from danger So my fate it must be To fare eastward o’er sea And languish amid the stranger”

Liam and I have been working with Chris from EnchantingIreland.com to create a very special luxury motorcoach tour of Ireland April 3-10, 2008.

This exclusive tour takes in some of our very favorite sites in Ireland…including the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, the medieval town of Kilkenny and Dublin.

Plus, it includes admission to:

But best of all, the tour ends with dinner and an overnight stay at DROMOLAND CASTLE! This 5-Star fairytale castle hotel is one of the best in Ireland and will put you in the lap of luxury.

For more information, you can visit EnchantingIreland.com, download our Irish Fireside Treasures of Ireland Tour flier or contact Chris at 1-800-659-3800 or chris.woolson@enchantingireland.com.

Of course, you are always welcome to email us with questions
corey@IrishFireside.com
liam@IrishFireside.com

If you’re thinking of a tour of Ireland…I must admit, this would be a fantastic choice.

Episode Guide – Podcast #24 Glenstal Abbey

We take you to Glenstal Abbey, where the monks celebrate Mass in Gregorian chant, the gardens provide a peaceful respite for visitors and the Icon collection present a look into Church history. On the day we visited, Abbot Christopher, the leader of the Glenstal Benedictine community took us on a tour of the icons. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro

00:28
Organ Prelude

00:45
The Church and Mass

02:00
Chime & Procession

03:00
Reception & the Icons

03:46
The Tour of the Icons

06:15
Into the Icon Chapel

08:35
The Icon of Christ

10:30
The Icon of Mary and the Christ Child

11:45
The Madonna of Sweetness & Connections to the Book of Kells

13:50
Closure

14:25
The Entire Tour with Abbot Christopher – M4A File – 34 minutes
The Entire Tour with Abbot Christopher – MP3 File – 34 minutes

14:40
The Gardens at Glenstal & the Paths at Clare Glens & Jasmine Palace on O’Connell Street Limerick for Sunday Buffet

15:00
Marian Antiphon: Salve Regina

Episode Guide – Podcast #23 Finding and Climbing LePoer Tower

We visit a hidden tower in County Waterford, try speaking a little Irish and get a traditional Irish song. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro – Music “The Devil’s Bit”
by Theresa Larkin

00:46
Our newly designed website, blog and photo albums

01:30
A special mention to Harry, Ric, Patty, Joe, Mike, Mike, CJ, Laurie and Pat Preston from www.irelandexpert.com and her bus tour who will be in Ireland soon, so please say a little prayer for their safe travel.

02:15
A visit with Bridget and Sean.

02:30
Mount Congreve Estate & Gardens

02:50
LePoer Tower

03:15
Torch = flashlight

03:30
The Dying Cow

03:38
Liam’s china shard jewelry at www.LamplighterStudio.com

04:25
The walk to LePoer Tower

06:46
Lamplighter Studio shard jewelry

07:50
Music conversation

09:30
Bridget sings “Black is the Color”

11:12
Ardmore Round Tower, Cliff Walk & St Declan’s Well

12:00
Arrival at the Tower

12:50
Sean & Liam go up

13:35
Corey & Tony go up

17:27
More info on the tower from the Waterford Library

18:00
Coumshingaun, Waterford Crystal, Mount Congreave Estate & Gardens, Mahon Falls & Ormond Castle

18:12
Irish Language Segment – Céad míle fáilte romhat! = One Hundred Thousand Welcomes to You!
Sponsored by IrishGaelicTranslator.com – free community-based Irish translations

20:01
Bridget sings

Buachaill On Eirne
Buachaill ón Éirne mé ‘s bhréagfainn féin cailín deas óg
Ní iarrfainn bó spré léithe tá mé féin saibhir go leor
‘S liom Corcaigh ‘a mhéid é, dhá thaobh a’ ghleanna ‘s Tír Eoghain
‘S mura n-athraí mé béasaí ‘s mé n’ t-oidhr’ ar Chontae Mhaigh Eo

Rachaidh mé ‘márach a dhéanamh leanna fán choill
Gan choite gan bád gan gráinnín brach’ ar bith liom
Ach duilliúr na gcraobh mar éideadh leapa os mo chionn
‘S óró sheacht mh’anam déag thú ‘s tú ‘féachaint orm anall

Buachailleacht bó, mo leo, nár chleacht mise ariamh
Ach ag imirt ‘s ag ‘ol ‘s le hógmhná deasa fá shliabh
Má chaill mé mo stór ní dóigh* gur chaill mé mo chiall
A’s ní mó liom do phóg ná’n bhróg atá’r caitheamh le bliain

A chuisle ‘s a stór ná pós an seanduine liath
Ach pós a’ fear óg, mo leo, mur’ maire sé ach bliain
Nó beidh tú go fóill gan ó nó mac os do chionn
A shilfeadh a’n deor tráthnóna nó’r maidin go trom

English Translation:
The Boy From Ireland
I’m a boy from ireland and I could charm a nice young girl
I would not ask for her wealth as I am rich enough myself
I own a good part of Cork, two sides of the glen in Tyrone
An not to repeat myself I’m the heir of County Mayo

I will go tomorrow to make ale in the wood
Without a cot without a boat without a pinch of gruel with me
But leaves of the branches as bedclothes over my head
And think well done for you as you watch me from over there

A cowherd, my pet, I’ve never been accustomed to be
Instead of playing and drinking with the nice young women on the mountain side
If I lost my riches I probably didn’t lose my senses
And your kiss is no more to me than a shoe worn for a year

Episode Guide – Podcast #22 Packing Tips for Ireland

On the eve of his departure to Ireland, Corey shares some of the items he typically packs for touring around Ireland. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Am5rI6MUo

Printable Packing List (PDF)

Carryon Essentials

• Passport
• Drivers License
• Tickets or Printed Confirmation
• Accommodation & Car Rental Details/Confirmations
• Medications (original packaging recommended)
• Glasses or Contact Lenses
• Money (credit card, ATM card, travelers checks, dollars, euros or pounds)
• Any item that would be difficult to replace

Gear (Optional)

• Camera
• Extra Memory or Film
• Batteries or Battery Charger (charger will require an adaptor or currency converter)
• Travel Umbrella
• Earplugs
• Washcloth (not all accommodations provide them in Ireland – towels are provided)
• Moist Towelettes
• Mini Binoculars
• Mini Flashlight
• Ziploc Bags to organize and protect items
• Noise Canceling Headphones
• Travel Journal & Pen
• Bag for dirty laundry
• Toiletries (most products are available in Ireland, but they might not have your favorite brand)
  • toothbrush
  • toothpaste
  • floss
  • deodorant
  • hair products
  • soap
  • shampoo
  • shaving products
  • contact solution/eyeglass cleaner
  • toiletry caddy or bag (especially handy if you will be sharing a bathroom)

Clothing

• Two Pairs of Comfortable Walking Shoes (consider waterproofed hiking shoes)
• Waterproof Hooded Windbreaker (may be more effective than an umbrella on windy days)
• Heavy Long Sleeved Shirt (for layering)
• Sweater or Sweatshirt (for layering)
• Light or Medium Jacket depending on season
• A Mix of Long Sleeved and Short Sleeved Shirts (heavier versions might be preferred in winter)
• Pants
• Shorts (a summer option)
• Socks
• Underwear
• Pajamas

Other

• Copies of your passport, tickets, accommodation confirmations, credit cards (especially the numbers to call if your card is lost or stolen) – these items should be kept separate from the originals.

Tips

• Try to leave excess gadgets and electronic devices at home… maybe there’s a blow-dryer and curling iron-free hairstyle out there for you
• Limit the amount of jewelry and accessories you bring
  Pack clothes that are “interchangeable” so you easily mix and match and save room on accessories
• Check with your airline for luggage restrictions
• Check requirements regarding liquids in your carryon luggage (currently, liquids cannot be in containers larger than 3 ounces and all liquids must fit in a one-quart clear Ziploc bag.

Don’t Bother Bringing…

• Laptop Computers – there are plenty of inexpensive, convenient internet cafes throughout Ireland to keep you connected
• Galoshes, Wellingtons or other waterproof boots – most visitors don’t find themselves trouncing through a bog on their first trip… and those that do can always swap out with their second pair of shoes
• Fancy Clothes – unless you have 5-star accommodations planned, casual attire is standard in Ireland

Episode Guide – Podcast #21 South Ireland: Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Cork & Kerry

We chat with Mary O’Halloran and Marrie Keane about the southern most portion of Ireland. We also let you in on Matt Lauer’s visit to Ireland and a possible sale at Aer Lingus. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

Links for sites Mary and Marie mention in this espisode – links were all active when published, apologies if they have since broken.

Mary O’Halloran: www.southeastireland.com
Marrie Keane: www.corkkerry.ie

Aditional Tourist Information Sites for this region

Kerry
www.kerry-insight.com
www.wexfordtourism.com
www.eastcorktourism.com

Carlow
www.carlowtourism.com

Cork
www.westcork.ie

Kilkenny
www.kilkenny.ie
www.kilkennytourism.ie
www.kilkennycity.net

Waterford
www.waterford-dunmore.com
www.waterfordtourism.org

Tipperary
www.tipp.ie
www.cashel.ie
www.casheltouristoffice.com
www.cashelheritagecentre.com
www.countytipperary.com
www.carrickonsuir.ie

Wexford
www.wexfordtourism.com
www.northwexford.com

Desinations Features in this Episode

Rock of Cashel www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/South/RockofCashelTipperary
Our podcast featuring the Rock of Cashel is at http://irishfireside.com/01cashel.htm

Waterford Crystal
www.waterfordcrystalvisitorcentre.com/html
Our podcast featuring the Waterford Crystal is at http://irishfireside.com/04waterford.htm

Episode ?Heritage Park & Johnstown Castle, Wexford
www.wexfordweb.com/Johnstown/index.htm

Altamont Gardens, Carlow
www.heritageireland.ie/en/ParksandGardens/
East/AltamontGardensCarlow

Kilkenny Caslte, Kilkenny
www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/East/KilkennyCastleKilkenny

Jerpoint Abbey, Kilkenny
www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/East/JerpointAbbeyKilkenny

Fota Wildlife Park
www.fotawildlife.ie

Fota House and Gardens
www.fotahouse.com

Old Midleton Distillery
www.jamesonwhiskey.com

Cobh Heritage Centre – Titanic’s Last Port of Call
www.cobhheritage.com

Cork City Gaol
www.corkcitygaol.com

Lifetime Lab – in the old Waterworks
www.lifetimelab.ie

Muckross House and Gardens
www.muckross-house.ie

Killarney
www.killarneytown.com/tourism

Cragg Cave
www.cragcave.com

Aquadome, Tralee
www.discoverkerry.com/aquadome

Skellig Experience – World Heritage Site
www.skelligexperience.com

Bantry House and Gardens
www.bantryhouse.com

Skibbereen
www.skibbereen.ie

Clonakilty
www.clonakilty.ie

Kinsale – Gourmet Capital
www.kinsale.ie

John F Kennedy Park and Arboretum, New Ross 1963
www.heritageireland.ie/en/ParksandGardens/East/
TheJohnFKennedyArboretumWexford

Dunganstown
www.from-ireland.net/lewis/wick/dunganstown.htm

Ballyporeen – Reagan
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballyporeen

Carlow & Tipperary less touristy
www.carlowtourism.com
www.countytipperary.com

Cahir Caslte
www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/South/CahirCastleTipperary

Swiss Cottage
www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/East/SwissCottageTipperary

Carrick-on-Suir – Manor House (Ormonde House) & Farmers Market
www.carrickonsuir.ie

Callan & Castlecomber in Kilkenny
www.kilkennytourism.ie

New Ross – Dunbrody Famine Ship
www.newrosstourism.com
www.dunbrody.com

Enniscorthy
www.wexfordtourism.com/towns_enniscorthy.htm

Dungarvin
www.dungarvantourism.com

Ardmore
www.southeastireland.com/content.asp?id=89

Lismore Castle & Gardens
www.lismorecastle.com

North Cork County
www.corkkerry.ie

Anne’s Grove Gardens
www.annesgrovegardens.com

Donaraile Park
www.heritageireland.ie/en/ParksandGardens/
South/DoneraileWildlifeParkCork

Blackwater Valley
www.blackwater.ie

Liscarroll – Donkey Sanctuary & Liscarroll Castle
www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/site/4/home.html

Ardpatrick
www.ardpatrick.net

Dunmore Cave – Kilkenny
www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/East/DunmoreCaveKilkenny

Mitchelstown Caves – Tipperary
www.tipp.ie/placesofinterest/mitchelstowncaves/mitchelstoencaves.htm

The Vee Drive – Lismore & Clogeen
www.southeastireland.com/content.asp?id=202

Milstreet Country Park
www.millstreetcountrypark.com

Ballyhas Lakes
www.corkkerry.ie/individual_results.asp?sID=10699

Ring of Kerry
www.kerry-tourism.com/

Dingle Peninsula
www.dingle-peninsula.ie

Killarney Lakes boats & jaunting car
www.killarneyonline.ie/tis/Top_Regional_Attractions/ti13458.shtml

Waterford to Wexford Coastal Drive
www.southeastireland.com/content.asp?id=213

Fort Towns – Youghal, Cobh Kinsale Crosshaven (oldest yatch club)
www.youghal.net/
www.cork-guide.ie/cobh.htm
www.cork-guide.ie/crosshav.htm

Episode Guide – Podcast #20 Shannon Region, Toasted Sandwiches and Limerick You’re a Lady

We head to the lesser visited treasures of the Shannon Region, enjoy toasted ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches and Liam sings Limerick You’re A Lady. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro – Song “The Devil’s Bit” by Theresa Larkin

00:50
Shannon Region

2:13
John King – Shannon Region Development
Shannon Region Tourism (www.shannonregiontourism.ie)
Shannon Heritage (www.shannonheritage.com)

03:10
Major sites: Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Bunratty Banquet; County Clare heritage, music, Atlantic coast, the Burren.

04:00
River Shannon & Limerick City (oldest city charter & home of King John’s Castle).

04:30
Lough Derg

05:00
Hidden Spots

05:24
Suggestions: smaller villages for local heritage, Special tours and day trips (Golf, Fishing, Walking, Cycling)

06:12
Drives: Burren/North Clare, Lough Derg (Counties Clare, Galway, North Tipperary & Limerick)

07:40
Most-missed highlights: County Limerick, west Limerick & north Tipperary, Silvermines & Nenagh

09:10
Large area: Athlone, Lough Derg, Limerick, Atlantic Ocean

09:56
Killaloe and Ballina: Brian Boru Heritage Centre in Killaloe Brian Boru Fort, Graves of the Leinstermen, Seven Counties Lookout.

10:46 West Offaly Railroad: A tour through the Black Water Bog – learn about peat/turf, Ireland’s energy opportunities, Bog Bodies at the National Gallery in Dublin, nearby Clonmacnois and a photo of Liam cutting turf.

11:30
Loop Head: Lighthouse and coastal views, Bridges of Ross, The Little Ark at Kilbaha.

11:58
Limerick City: new pedestrian streets, hotels and shopping.

12:30
The Jasmine Palace Chinese Restaurant: they have an amazing all-you-can-eat buffet on Sundays – 12:30-3:00pm, reservations recommended 061-412484.

12:40
Scenic N69: between Limerick and Tarbert.

13:00
Adare: our starting point.

13:30
Curraghchase Forest Park: Manor House, forest hikes and a pet cemetery.

13:50
Askeaton: Tourist Office, local tour guide/historian Anthony Sheehy, castle, Hell Fire Club, abbey (with a very complete cloister).

15:38
Foynes Flying Boat Museum

16:00
Tarber-Killimer Ferry: 30 minutes

16:30
More Shannon Region sites in Episode 2 and Episode 8 and photos from our visit to the area.

16:30
Food From the Fireside: Toasted Sandwiches

18:24
Limerick You’re A Lady

Here’s a clip from our appearance on the FOX6 WakeUp News in Milwaukee www.myfoxmilwaukee.com. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to watch.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Episode Guide – Podcast #16 Saint Patricks’ Day 2007

Enter our Trip to Ireland Giveaway, visit some Best Websites for Dreaming About Ireland and hear Liam sing Salley Gardens. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro

00:24
We pay a visit to the FOX6 Wake Up News Friday morning. Visit their website at www.myfoxmilwaukee.com.

00:40
We’ve got a GIVEAWAY. Win 7 days and 6 nights in Ireland…click the button at www.irishfireside.com to enter. A special thanks to Chris at www.enchantingireland.com for making this offer possible.

01:28
Best Websites for Dreaming About Ireland…St Patrick’s Day Shortlist:
www.ireland360.com
www.comhaltas.ie
www.irishcultureandcustoms.com

02:35
Check out last year’s Saint Patrick’s Day episode

03:00
Liam sings Salley Gardens

Episode Guide – Podcast #15 An Irish Fireside Update

Unfortunately Corey’s down with the flu, but Liam has some updates for everyone in this pre-St. Patrick’s Day Podcast. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro

00:20
Best Websites Podcast is on hold until Corey recovers from the flu. The list is available at www.irishfireside.com/bestsites.

00:30
An interview with a 300 pound leprechaun! Sign up for the e-newsletter.

00:56
Comment Line – 414-455-5473 – comment about Ireland, ask us a question, share your favorite moment from your trip to Irleand, tell us a tip or Irish joke

01:30
Lamplighter Studio Jewelry www.lamplighterstudio.com. The Irish section can be found in the “Shop the Online Collection section.

01:55
Find more great podcasts at www.blubrry.com.

02:05
Close

You can view the list by visiting
www.irishfireside.com/bestsites.

Some details about the list…sites were chosen based on content, innovative use of medium and the likelihood of impacting a virtual traveler’s experience. Nominations came from listeners to the Irish Fireside podcast and readers of the Irish Fireside E-Newsletter.

Episode Guide – Podcast #14 O Come Ye Back to Ireland, A Tour Deal and Our Comment Line

We go to our comment line to hear what our listeners have to say and field a few questions. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Intro

00:55
Chris from Ormond Beach, Florida – “O Come Ye Back to Ireland” by Niall Williams and Christine Breen http://www.niallwilliams.com/nonfict.html.

2:44
Paul from Dallas, Texas.

3:06
Meredith from Buffalo, New York – Budget Travel Deal http://www.budgettravelonline.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2007/02/13/AR2007021300592.html

3:59
Corey’s response – Sceptre Tours (www.sceptretours.com) Glimpse of Ireland (http://www.sceptretours.com/SCP_Escorted_Glimpse_Ireland.htm) & Treasures (http://www.sceptretours.com/SCP_Escorted_Treasures.htm), Michele’s Free Tour Finding Service (http://www.irelandyes.com/findtour.html).

5:50
Liza from Philadelphia – John Bustard photo (http://www.irishfireside.com/13northernireland.htm).

6:50
Liam’s Mother

7:15
Call our Comment Line at 414-455-5473, next week is Best Websites For Dreaming About Ireland. Music by Bonnie Lies.

Episode Guide – Podcast #13 Northern Ireland, Frozen Black Irish and Star of the Conty Down

We reveal Northern Ireland as an up and coming tourist hotspot and visit with John Bustard from the Causeway Coast and Glens. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

01:14
Best Websites for Dreaming About Ireland – we’re looking to collect a list of websites that celebrate the things you love about Ireland

01:40
How’s your trip planning going…even if you’re just dreaming? Send us an email (corey@irishfireside.com) or leave a message on our comment line (414-455-4573).

02:00
Northern Ireland Background
http://www.discovernorthernireland.com
http://www.causewaycoastandglens.com – Causeway Coast Pocke Guide
http://awakin.com/

02:25
Changes in Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement

03:20
Consolidation of Tourist Boards
http://www.discovernorthernireland.com
http://www.discoverireland.com

03:58
Northern Ireland for the Visitor

04:19
John Bustard Causeway Coast and Glenn
Giants Causeway
Carrick-a-Rede
Glens of Antrim
The Essential Irish Journey
Belfast
Limavady
Derry (Londonderry)
Causeway Coast Rambler

06:00
Giants Causeway
Established Walks
National Trust Guides

06:54
Legend of the Giants Causeway

09:05
Cliff walk Carrick-a-Rede to the Giants Causeway and the ruins of Dunseverick Castle

09:40
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

10:43
Downhill
Bishop’s Palace
Mussenden Temple
Glens and Downhill

12:04
Benone Strand
Michael Palin – Train between Derry (Londonderry) to Coleraine

12:47
World War II – Causeway Coast as a US military base

13:10
Safety in Northern Ireland

13:51
Causeway Coast Route Map
Bushmill’s – Oldest licensed distillery in the world

14:52
Downloadable Northern Ireland resources available for FREE for a limited time
www.causewaycoastandglens.com
www.awakin.com
www.blubrry.com

16:17
Inland Regions
Armagh
Omagh
Derry
Beetling Mill in Cookstown

16:40
Titanic sites
http://www.discovernorthernireland.com

16:54
C.S. Lewis birthplace
http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/downloads/CSLewis.pdf

17:14
Food form the Fireside
Frozen Black Irish

18:01
The Star of County Down

http://www.shannonheritage.com
http://www.lakehotel.com/dingle_tour1.htm
http://discoverireland.com/us
http://www.escapeartist.com/ireland/resources.html
http://www.townandcountry.ie
http://www.ireland-bnb.net/
http://www.ireland.ie/
http://www.anirishvacationsite.com
http://www.knockahopple.com
http://www.meteireann.ie
http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp?database=I
http://www.irishtourism.com
http://www.spirited-ireland.net/map/_counties/
http://www.shannonregiontourism.ie/content.asp?id=7
http://www.lookaroundireland.com/

A special thank you to Chris, Nancy and Mike for contributing to our list. If you have some sites you think belong here, post them below by clicking “comments.”

We keep you dreaming about Ireland by telling you about a special coach tour of Ireland, several downloable resources, our comment line and music by Culann’s Hound. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00
Introduction – Just Corey today, Liam is out of town.

01:10
Marc Gunn makes his dream trip to Ireland a reality, and he’s inviting everyone from around the fireside to join him. Trip runs June 7-15 and reservations are due  by February 23rd.

• Marc’s website www.marcgunn.com
• Trip Info www.thebards.net/ireland
• Irish & Celtic Music Podcast www.celticmusicpodcast.com

03:48
Rough Guides FREE Eating and Drinking Dublin Guide for you iPod – includes cafes, restaurants and pubs in 13 sections of Dublin. You just follow the simple instruction to load the Rough Guides Podscroll to your iPod.

• www.roughguides.com

04:22
Tourism Brochure Downloads. We’ve been hearing that Tourism Ireland has been a bit slow lately sending out their free information packets, so we’ve found a few helpful brochures you can download today.

• Discover Ireland Booklet http://discoverireland.com/us/ireland-plan-your-visit/VacationPlanner2006/
• Cork Kerry Tourism http://www.corkkerry.ie/?id=383
• VisitDublin City Maps http://www.visitdublin.com/travel/maps
• VisitDublin Video http://www.visitdublin.com/multimedia

05:14
Tell us your favorite sites for dreaming about Ireland

05:37
The Irish Fireside Comment Line is ready to take your call. This is a chance for you to share your comments about your trip to Ireland give us feedback or ask any burning questions you might have.  Just call us at 414-455-5473 and leave your message.

If you’re not sure what to say, how about you let us know how you envision your trip to Ireland …or you can just let us know what keeps you listening to our podcast. We’re really interesting in testing this comment line out, so please…please, please, please, give us a call. If you happen to have a Skype account, you can Skype us at irishfireside for FREE.

• 414-455-5473

06:35
Culann’s Hounds are our musical guest playing Hagshole

• www.garageband.com/artist/culannshounds

Sites Our Listeners Have Bookmarked

http://www.shannonheritage.com

http://www.lakehotel.com/dingle_tour1.htm

http://discoverireland.com/us

http://www.escapeartist.com/ireland/resources.html

http://www.townandcountry.ie

http://www.ireland-bnb.net/

http://www.ireland.ie/

http://www.anirishvacationsite.com

http://www.meteireann.ie

http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp?database=I

http://www.irishtourism.com

http://www.spirited-ireland.net/map/_counties/

http://www.shannonregiontourism.ie/content.asp?id=7

http://www.lookaroundireland.com/

http://www.castlesireland.com/main/map.html

A special thank you to Chris, Nancy and Mike for adding to our list. If you have some sites you think belong on this list, email us at corey@irishfireside.com.

Episode Guide – Podcast #11 Plan Your Dream Trip

Stop dreaming about a trip to Ireland and start planning with our podcast dedicated to helping you get your trip to the Emerald Isle on its way. We provide you plenty of resources and talk to Marie McKown from Tourism Ireland. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

LENGTH OF STAY

We recommend a minimum of 10 days

Remember, you generally lose two days in travel, because most flights from the US leave at night and you arrive in the morning. Also, don’t count on seeing the sites on your last day either.

It is best to keep your arrival day somewhat flexible with options to go for walks and  taking a two-hour nap.

Any time is a good time to visit Ireland!

However, June, July and August are the most popular and the height of the tourist season, but the days are long and the weather usually cooperates.

May, September and October are a great alternative; prices might be a little lower, the weather is still decent, and probably the biggest advantage is fewer crowds.

The winter months are a great alternative. The days are short and some attractions are closed (beautiful scenery is available year-round), but the music and pub culture comes to life.

December, January and early February would be the least desirable months for a first time visitor, the days are short and the weather can be cold and wet.

We aren’t well versed in motor coach tours, so we’ve got two pros who can help you with the ins and outs of planning a packaged trip. Both Michele and Chris have the inside scoop on planning trips to Ireland.

Michele Erdvig (www.irelandyes.com) is a certified Ireland expert who offers a FREE Tour Finding Service. Her website and message board also provide a great resource for anyone planning a trip to Ireland, and her itinerary planning and book on Ireland can help you put together the details of your trip.

Ireland has an extensive public and private bus system. Prices are very reasonable and all major towns are covered.

The train system primarily radiates from Dublin, so east-west routes tend to be covered. Meanwhile, traveling north-south and routes to a few other areas are limited.

Most large towns have a taxi service.

All the major tourist destination have bus trips from nearby cities.

The best bit of advice we can offer is to focus on specific regions rather than trying to cover all of Ireland.

Divide a map of Ireland into quarters. Then figure on giving yourself a week to cover each quarter. Don’t worry if that means sacrificing your chance to see a different region. There will be plenty to see in the area you choose, and you can always save it for your next visit.

If you want to take in the sites, review the routes many of the tour buses take. This will give you a realistic amount of area to cover, but remember, many bus tours don’t leave much time for exploring and their professional drivers are well-versed in putting in lots of extra miles.

Dublin isn’t the only airport in Ireland. Most flights from North America also stop in Shannon on Ireland’s west coast. There are several smaller airports with service to other European cities.

Consider flying into one airport and out of the other. This will allow eliminate backtracking in your itinerary.

Airlines often offer the best price for airfare from their website.

Packages that are “land only” do not cover airfare.

“Fly and Drive” packages include airfare and car rental.

Voucher packages include coupons for accommodations. Most vouchers cover a standard room and breakfast at a participating B&B, hotel or castle. You may have to pay extra for an en suite room (a room with its own bathroom). Just buying vouchers generally doesn’t save you money over paying cash, but they may save you money when purchased as an air or ground package.

When getting a quote, make sure to note which airport the quote begins at. You may pay extra to fly from an airport closer to your home.

www.discoverireland.com

Pick up car at Shannon

Dublin

Trinity College

Waterford Crystal

Cork City (Blarney Castle – 5 miles north)

County Kerry (Ring of Kerry – Killarney as a base)

County Clare (Cliffs of Moher)

Galway City (City of Tribes, Galway Bay, Claddagh Ring)

Conemara

County Donegal (Glenveigh National Park and Castle)

Derry, Northern Ireland, and its medieval walls

Golf Courses (Royal Portrush, Royal County Down)

Bushmill’s Distillery

Giant’s Causeway

Antrim Coast

One Hundred Thousand Welcomes

Hotels, Castle Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts

Bus and Rail Tours

Longest daylight April, May and June

1-800-223-6470 or www.discoverireland.com

Galway Bay

The dramatic front door of Charleville Castle

A wrong turn down a forgotten road kept the turrets of Charleville Castle just over the treeline and disappointingly out of reach. Realizing we were not getting any closer, Liam and I abandoned our car and, instead followed an ancient path through the woods, hoping it would lead us to the castle’s entrance. Overgrown rhododendrons blocked the midday sun and the rustling leaves and snapping twigs around us served as reminders that although the area lacked “no trespassing” signs, we were probably still in a place we were not supposed to be.

It was a relief when the path ended at the castle’s front gates. Slightly beyond the wrought iron entrance, we saw the enormous, ivy-clad gothic castle standing just as it did at the turn of the19th century. The giant wooden front door was studded with ancient metal rivets and the darkened windows hid any signs of life. We approached slowly, confused as to whether the grounds were open to the public.

We rang the brass bell that hung next to the massive door. From inside, we heard the shuffling of little feet and then, just on the other side of the door, a child’s giggle. We both held our breath waiting to hear the sound again. Quiet. Spooked, but not deterred, we rang the bell once more. This time the door creaked open to reveal the castle’s keeper, Dudley Stuart, who looked more like a professor than a ghost.

He smiled as he welcomed us, “I’m afraid I don’t have a tour guide today, but you are welcome to look around.” Inside, we were greeted by a dark wood foyer surrounding a dramatic staircase and a large chandelier.

“Was that a child we heard?” Liam inquired.

“Ah yes, that would be one of our resident ghosts,” he said with a wink as he discretely pointed to the door under the stairs. A young girl could be seen peeking through the crack.

Partly relieved and partly disappointed that our giggling greeter was of the living world, we followed our host. A bit disheveled and clearly juggling a variety of tasks, Dudley dug up some papers from a desk tucked in the shadows and handed us a pamphlet about the castle. “Which of you two is the eldest?”

Liam sheepishly raised his hand.

“Then you’re in charge. I’m interviewing someone for a job, and then I have to go into town. Feel free to look in the rooms on the upper level and go ahead and walk around outside.”

Noticing that the papers he handed us stated a price for tours, I asked where we should pay. “Ah, no tour, no charge. Just take good care of the place while I’m gone.” With that, he marched up the stairs to his interview

An example of the extraordinary plasterwork on the ceiling of a room in Charleville Castle

This relatively young castle was built in an era when fortification was not an issue, so the gothic showcase had large windows and elaborate plasterwork. There we were, unescorted and snooping through the large dusty rooms filled with antique furniture and dozens of handwritten placards demanding we refrain from smoking. As we wandered from one grand but worn space to the next, we were mindful of whether we left the doors open or closed, for we had heard tales of Charleville’s playful ghosts and their reputation for locking cabinets and closing doors.

Eventually, we found ourselves at the last door on the upper level. As Liam pushed it open, the air on the other side was distinctly cooler than the air in the hall. The dust was three times thicker on the sills and baseboards in this area, and the windows were frosted with dirt. “I don’t think this area is open to the public,” I said quietly.

Being a bit more adventurous, Liam whispered, “I didn’t see a sign,” as he approached a very unusual, cantilevered staircase that clung to the wall. The stairs did not appear safe and a frayed rope drooping across the stairs reinforced the idea. Liam twisted his neck over the banister to see the passage to the upper floors. “Wow,” was all he could utter as he looked up the ornately carved railing that extended all the way to the top floor.

As we made our way from the staircase to a room in one of the round turrets, the floor creaked below us and, oddly, above us. The sound stopped when we stopped, making it difficult to tell if we were being tracked by the paranormal or just hearing the groans of an old home.

Inside the turret room there were tables covered in hundreds of old dishes, which were distinctly cleaner than anything else in the room. Beneath the dishes, the room was still outfitted in antique furniture. Eerie paintings watched over us from the walls. As I stepped in for a closer look at an old clock on the mantel, Dudley’s voice interrupted the silence. “I’ll be off now, but wanted to check in with you before I go.”

Hiding my uneasiness with the space, I asked, “What’s with all the dishes?”

“It’s for a local charity, they sell them here about once a month.” With that, Dudley escorted us back to the main hall before packing his interview guest and a bicycle in his car. Before ducking into the car, he said, “Take care, now, Liam and Corey.” He remembered our names.

Outside, the castle proved to be as interesting as the inside. The overgrown gardens still offered traces of their formal past, and a bank of outdoor showers and various tarps scattered about the ground revealed that the property was offered as a summer campsite for backpackers. The lived-in feeling of the outside contributed to the overall strangeness of the site.

A view from the back of Charleville Castle

Aged grills and discolored plastic furniture served as modern relics in the back garden. Near the once grand stables, a young woman was hanging a modern array of fashions on a communal clothesline. Beside her, the girl we saw inside giggled as she played with the various toys strewn about. Both ignored us as we peered into the windows of the derelict stables.

Around the back we found a volunteer named Sullivan who was tending a garden. He was eager to take a break to tell us about the American woman who held the lease on the castle, Dudley’s slow-going efforts to restore it and the Woodstock-like music festivals held on the grounds each summer. “It’s a communal place. I work here a couple times a week for some quiet, and they give me soup. There’s some in the kitchen. Would you like some soup?”

We politely declined his offer, but pressed him for more details about the castle. He told us of the cycle of extravagance and destitution that has accompanied the estate. Then we asked about the ghosts.

“I’d say I’m not the one to tell yee about that sort of thing.”

Not sure if he had no story to tell or if he was simply afraid to share the details, we asked again.

“I’m really not the one to tell yee about that,” he emphasized, quickly transitioning the conversation to Dudley’s search for a new tour guide. “Come back another time, and he’ll have a new guide. They’ll know about that sort of thing. It doesn’t take ‘em long to have a ghost story.” With that, he wished us well and returned to his gardening.

As we walked to the front of the house, we lost sight of Sullivan and the mysterious child and her mother were nowhere to be seen. The castle garnered a lonely, isolated atmosphere. The two of us were already planning our next visit and discussing who among our friends would appreciate this unusual and potentially haunted treasure.

Once again at the gates, we glanced back for one more look. At that very moment, the front door slowly closed. Liam and I looked at each other, and without a word headed down the path and back to our car.

Charleville Castle is located one mile south of Tullamore in County Offaly. It is available for tours-by-appointment from noon to 6pm in high season. Price is €16 for one adult or a couple and €6 for additional guests. Note that this castle is pronounced CHAR-leville, not SHAR-leville. www.charlevillecastle.com

Looking For A Few Haunted Castles In Ireland?

Huntington Castle
Located in Clonegal, County Carlow, Huntington Castle is still occupied by decendants of Lord Esmonde. Although it has seen better days, the 17th century castle provides a perfectly eerie backdrop. If the two resident ghosts don’t leave guests unsettled, the peculiar shrines constructed in the dungeon by Fellowship of Isis churchgoers, certainly will.
fellowshipofisis.com

Leap Castle
Considered the most haunted in Ireland, Leap Castle in County Tipperary also delivers one of the most ghastly tales. In the 1920s a bricked-in room was discovered behind the chapel…and inside the secret room, three cartloads of human remains.
www.castles.org
hauntedcastlesandhotels.com

Still haven’t gotten enough haunted Ireland? Try these websites.

Haunted Britain & Ireland
Featuring history and hauntings throughout Ireland,sites in the North, West, Central, East and South are highlighted..
http://www.haunted-britain.com/

Irish Culture & Customs
Includes stories of some of Ireland’s creepiest castles and homes.
www.irishcultureandcustoms.com

Haunted Hotel Guide
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more complete guide to haunted accommodations in Ireland.
www.hauntedhotelguide.com

Episode Guide – Podcast #09 Dublin Interview with Jenny Finegan

We introduce our e-newsletter and get the inside scoop on Dublin from Jenny Finegan from Dublin Tourism. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Our other Dublin Episodes

Episode Guide – Podcast #08 The Cliffs of Moher, Roasted Salmon and The Devil’s Bit

Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Centre updates on their construction, we taste some of Fionn mac Cumhaill Salmon and we finish up with a song by Theresa Larkin.

CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

A special hello to the listeners we met at Milwaukee Irish Fest:

• Anita and Patrick, Illinois
• Helen and Alvey, Wisconsin
• Bill and Peggy, Florida
• Chloe, Ontario
• Christin, Michigan
• Theresa and Kathleen, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher interview with Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience.

Food from the Fireside

• Fionn mac Cumhaill’s Whiskey Roasted Salmon

Irish Fireside Song

• The Devil’s Bit

The Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience

• www.cliffsofmoher.ie
• Scheduled to open February 2007
• New, partialy underground visitor centre
• Extended and improved pathways
• Raised viewing platforms
• Katherine also mentions the legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) and Hag’s Head.
• Places mentioned: Loop Head, Miltown Malbay, Kilkee, the Burren, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Lough Derg, St. Fachtna Cathedral in Kilfenora, Killaloe (Heritage Centre, Brian Boru Fort, Graves of the Leinstermen, Lookout), Kilbaha (the Little Ark), Corkscrew Road.

• Written by: Theresa Larkin
• Performed by: Noel McQuaid – Bouzouki/Mandolins/Banjo
• Theresa Larkin – Flute/Fiddles/Accordion/Synthesizer
• Martin – Shakers/Snare Drum
• Adele – Cello

Here’s another segment of our trip report. Other parts are posted below.

CAUSEWAY COAST
I have to say, the Causeway Coast is beautiful…not quite as rugged and
dramatic as Inishowen, but with so many great views and sites so close to
each other, it is ideal for site seeing. We managed to squeeze in all the
sites below in one day and still found time to do a lot of hiking. In fact, this day
was one of our most physically active days because each site requires some
level of walking (especially Carrick-a-Rede and Downhill).

Downhill Estate and Mussenden Temple: What a great ruined house on an
amazing location. It’s hard to believe it was lived in until the mid 1900s.
We also walked the glen, which I think most tourists skip; it was really a
beautiful walk.

Dunluce Castle: I don’t think they could have built a castle more on a cliff
than this one. Wow. It really is a must-see. We arrived to overcast skies,
but after wandering around and heading to the caves below the rain started
pouring down and the cave became a waterfall. We were drenched when we got
back to the car, but it was worth it.

Bushmill’s Distillery: It was great to finally visit a distillery/brewery
tour in Ireland that still makes their product. We were there on a Sunday
over a bank holiday, so it was one of the few times they weren’t in
operation, but it was still a great tour. Liam managed to get selected as
one of the volunteer whiskey tasters. They’re gearing up for their 400 year
anniversary, so there was a little construction going on at the distillery,
but it didn’t impact the experience.

Giant’s Causeway: Yep, it’s great…even if it’s packed with tourists. We
started with the upper trail, which had a lot fewer people and some great
views…however, the rock formations look really small from up there. Not
being a fan of heights, I stayed on the land side of the trail. We then took
the stairs from the upper trail to the main trail. Once down there, the
formations took front and center. For those who are able, definitely walk
the trail beyond the main causeway; you will be treated to an entire ridge
that would otherwise be missed and the view back is one of the best views of
the causeway. Unfortunately, a rock fall a few years back has closed the
rest of trail, so you can’t continue beyond that.

Carrick-a-Rede: Yes, I mustered the courage to cross. After the long walk
in, I couldn’t go home without crossing the bridge…and boy were the views
a treat (made even better by the measures we had to take to get there). We
were taken aback by an Irish father who had his 4-year-old son cross by
himself while dad took photos…the kid was running and jumping on the
bridge. Everyone was watching in horror until the park worker ordered him to
mind the child. I have to admit, the crossing isn’t too bad…until you step
out into the wind, then it feels like your going to get blown right over the
edge.

Episode Guide – Podcast #07 Irish Fest, Ulster American Folkd Park, Bread & Butter Pudding and Farewell to Nova Scotia

We celebrate the one time of year when Ireland comes to us, Milwaukee Irish Fest, we test out some new podcasting equipment, Liam gives us his secret to the best Bread and Butter Pudding just before singing us Farewell to Nova Scotia. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

Milwaukee Irish Fest -  www.irishfest.com

Ulster-American Folk Park – www.folkpark.com

Discovery World Podcasting Equipment – www.discoveryworld.org

The Knockahopple Irish Fireside Cookbook – Bread and Butter Pudding

Irish Fireside Song – Farewell to Nova Scotia

Milwaukee Irish Fest has grown to become the largest celebration of Irish
culture in North American. The event welcomes 125,000 visitors, features 19 stages and showcases over 100 artists. Visitors are also invited to participate in lessons in Irish song and dance, meet Irish dog breeds, conduct geneological research, shop the Market place, enjoy Irish foods and plenty more.

Our tips for your visit to Irish Fest:

• Read over the schedule before you arrive and highlight one or two
  must-sees. I wouldn¹t recommend planning a full entertainment itinerary. You¹ll just end up rushing from stage to stage.
• Dress comfortably. You¹ll be doing a lot of walking as you explore the grounds.
• You can visit the Market Place which is a great way to find all kinds of Irish and Irish-inspired items, but for something a bit more interesting, catch the Cultural Village. This area tends to be a little less crowded, and you often get to meet a craftsperson, author or Irish musician.
• When it comes to enjoying the festival, I¹ve always found it fun to find a comfortable spot near one of the smaller stages and just spend an hour or two in one spot. While you¹re soaking in the entertainment, food and drink, be sure to strike up a conversation with anyone who happens to sit nearby. A simple “Have you been to Irish Fest before?” or “Are you familiar with this artist?” provide great conversation starters.
• Don’t miss the Irish dancers. There are several groups and there¹s a good chance one of them will be performing somewhere on the grounds almost every hour.
• The Sunday morning mass can be quite an experience with its full choir, processional led by bagpipes and prayers in both Irish and English. And as a reward for going to church, you¹ll also get free admission to Irish Fest after mass. Additional admission discounts are listed on the Irish Fest website.
• Just for fun, be sure to try one of the free Irish dance lessons.
• And probably our best bit of advice is to experience Irish Fest on
  Thursday evening. It¹s a smaller, more intimate affair with a crowd made up of volunteers, locals and performers who are in town for the festival.

Irish Fest Details:

• www.irishfest.com
• August 17-20, 2006
• August 16-29, 2007
• August 13-16, 2008

Located near Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, the Ulster American Folk Park uses costumed guides and authentically furnished buildings to tell the story of Ulster emigrants to the Americas in the 18th & 19th centuries.

Each building in the open-air museum focuses on a different family and their lives either before or after their passage to the New World. Half the park is set in Ireland, the other half lies just on the other side of the full-size reconstruction of an early 19th century ship and shows immigrants lives in North America.

www.folkpark.com

www.discoveryworld.org

Some podcast music courtesy of www.RoyaltyFreeMusic.com

SHANNON ESTUARY
Greeted by a sunny Irish morning, we decided to head west. No destination, no plans, no idea what we would find.

After a lackluster start in the tourist mecca of Adare, we decided to mix things up a bit. We left behind the cute, but tour bus-laden Adare for the Shannon estuary about 12 miles north.

Lucky for us, we found Ireland’s scenic N69, an almost forgotten stretch of road that includes spectacular views of the Shannon estuary and some wonderfully charming towns. For those heading from Shannon/Limerick to Dingle or the Ring of Kerry, this route provides a “secret” and scenic alternative.

Dromore Castle: You can only view it from the road, but it’s huge and has a fairytale look to it. It was fun wandering the roads in this area.

Celtic Park and Gardens: This place offers a nice forested walk and they have reproductions of a lot of structures, like standing stones, mass rock, a church, a crannog, etc. The gardens aren’t huge, but they are nice. Having seen much of these types of things for free in other parts of Ireland (including the Celtic Plantarum in Dundrum), I wasn’t as impressed, but I wouldn’t discourage anyone from stopping in. They serve a great cuppa tea, but their biscuits have probably exceeded their shelf-life.

Curraghchase Forrest Park: I really liked wandering the paths around here. There is a beautiful lake and the remains of a mansion on the site. My favorite find was the tombstone of the former residents’ pets.

Askeaton: This town is a real treasure as is local historian/tour guide Anthony Sheehy. We stopped in the tourist office and the woman there immediately rounded up Anthony for us. He took us on a very entertaining and informative hour-long tour of the castle (which includes the old Hellfire Club). The tour was free, but we each gave him 5 euros (he isn’t allowed to charge for the tours because the castle belongs to OPW, but he is allowed to take tips and sell photographs to help cover his efforts). We also left a donation in the jar at the tourist office. The tour covered so much and was so much fun, I can’t wait to go back and have him show us around the town’s Franciscan Friary. We did a self-tour of the friary, and the cloister is absolutely amazing. It is in pristine condition and even includes a small carving of St. Francis and loads of places to climb around. For DaVinci Code fans, there is a Knights Templar Tower in the churchyard. This town is really working to embrace its medieval past and is truly off the tourist trail. I really enjoyed my time there.

Foynes Flying Boat Museum: We arrived just a little too late to get to see the museum…and Maureen O’Hara was there last month to open a new exhibit. We were bummed, but we plan to stop in again when we return for Anthony’s tour of the friary. We also took a peek at Glin Castle. It’s really only open for tours by appointment only so we just took a peek from the road.

Lislaughtin Abbey: It’s a nice old abbey with lots of graves. It’s still an active cemetery, so many of them are modern. It’s a pretty good place to poke around.

Carrigafoyle Castle: We got there after the castle closed, so we couldn’t go inside. It’s in a beautiful spot on the Shannon and it look great. We enjoyed it from the outside and headed onward.

Ballybunion: Wandered around the beach in Ballybunion. It’s nice, but it’s a resort town, so we walked around for a little over an hour and then headed out. There was just more activity there than what we were looking for.

Tarbert Ferry: The crossing was very simple. However, when they say they cross every half hour, they actually mean they go in one direction on the hour and the other direction on the half hour.

More posted soon, be sure and stop back and visit us soon.

INISHOWEN PENINSULA
I have to say, we really enjoyed Inishowen. It has a great mix of spectacular scenery, beautiful sites and very friendly people. We also saw more thatched roofs in this area than others; however, the Celtic Tiger has also had it’s impact with loads of new holiday homes dotting the coastline. Inishowen wasn’t on our planned itinerary, but we were in Northern Ireland and near the border, and since we hadn’t changed any money over to pounds sterling, we thought we’d slip into Donegal for the night and use euros. The sites were great and the B&Bs were a really high standard for a great price. Here were our favorite spots:

Grianan Aileach: We couldn’t go inside this enormous ring fort because of conservation work, but the views from up there were fantastic, and the structure is very interesting.

Buncrana: This nice resort-type town was a great stop. Our B&B was right on the river and we could take the riverwalk to the castle and town centre. We enjoyed a very nice meal at The Cranberry restaurant.

Dunree Fort wasn’t open yet when we were passing through, so I can’t comment on that.

Gap of Mamore: Wow! We came over the crest and there in the distance was the ocean and the road wound down the mountain from there. It was really beautiful. There was an interesting holy well on the side of the road as well.

Leenan Strand: We drove down to the beach and enjoyed the low tide and morning air. It was very peaceful and the misty skies were quite atmospheric.

Glenevin Waterfall in Clonmany: Our server at the Cranberry recommended we stop here. It was a great 25 minute hike to the waterfall (there’s a smaller waterfall on the way as well). The paths are well-groomed with packed gravel, so I’d say it would be wheelchair accessible too. They have some nice picnic areas set up on the route and the B&B/restaurant next to the entrance has great scones with cream and jam (we checked out their B&B prices and they were quite reasonable and the place seemed very nice).

Doagh Famine Village: This was one of the most interesting stops of our trip. The village is a homespun collection of “the old ways,” but it offers a very unique perspective on the famine by looking at it in a global and modern light. In addition to learning about the historic tools, customs and diet of the region, we left thinking about modern-day famines and asking ourselves how we are contributing to these conditions…many of which are similar to those that plagued the Irish. Also walked by Carrickbrackey Castle (just down the road from the Famine Village).

Malin Head: What a view from Ireland’s northernmost point. It was cloudy and raining when we were there, but that just added drama to the scene. The locals said that on clear days you can see Scotland. We hiked to Hell’s Hole. This was quite an adventure as the wind and rain made it especially treacherous. Down the road we stopped at the Wee House of Malin, an old hermit’s cave with a church ruin near it.

The ferry from Greencastle to Northern Ireland is very convenient.
INISHOWEN ACCOMMODATIONS
Westbrook House B&B, Buncranna: Great house right on the river. Hostess Mary Margaret Grant is an avid gardener and has the yard landscaped right to the river. There is a path just across the street that leads to the riverwalk which includes a butterfly garden, the angling club headquarters, a castle keep, big house, arched bridge and town centre. Breakfast was delicious and Margaret took very good care of us. Tea was available near the veranda that overlooked the garden and river. 40 euro per person. PH# 074 93 61067 (international # 011 353 74 9361067) mgwest@eircom.net
Admiralty House, Moville: Another great old house with views of the Lough Foyle. Our room was enormous, had it’s own fireplace and hostess Suzanne McFeely had the heat turned on, so the place was nice and warm when we showed up at her door. Breakfast was great and well-presented. We could hear a little bit of sound from a TV somewhere else in the house, but otherwise there was nothing to complain about. This home was not ensuite, but there were two large private bathrooms right outside our door. There was a sink and vanity as well as tea, biscuits and chocolate waiting for us in the room. 27.50 euro per person. PH# 074 93 82529 (international # 011 353 74 93 82529)

The Glen House, Clonmany: We stopped here for tea and would definitely have picked this place if we were planning to stay in the area. It’s a mix of modern design that still has old world charm. It has great views of the ocean and has a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere…even though there are several towns nearby. 43 euro per person. PH# 074 93 76745 (international # 011 353 74 93 76745) www.glenhouse.ie

Check back again for more from our report.

Dublin is loaded with attractions that unfortunately most visitors miss. In this episode we visit a few of our favorite lesser-known sites and offer some tips for traveling to Dublin. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

We’ve added a few more tips to help you enjoy Dublin. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

• 09 Dublin Interview with Jenny Finegan
• 48/49/50 Dublin Visit

Lesser-Visited Sites In Dublin

• Kilamainham Gaol
• St. Michan’s Church
• St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral
• Merrion Square
• Suggested Link for the Irish Tourist Board: http://www.ireland.ie/ or call 1-800-223-6470 to have information sent to your home.

The Irish Fireside Cookbook: Dublin Coddle

Dublin Tips

Irish Fireside Song: Grace

Episode #6B: Bonus Episode

• Arbour Hill Cemetery
• Glasnevin Cemetery
• iWalk Dublin tours
• Tips for Free Guinness and Irish Whiskey
• High Tea in Dublin’s Grand Hotels

Irish Fireside Song: Finnegan’s Wake

Episode #9: Dublin Interview

• E-Newsletter Sign Up
• E-Newsletter Subscriber Prizes
• Jenny Finegan from Dublin Tourism
• Irish polka played by Tony Keegan

Kilmainham Gaol

For an interesting look at Ireland’s battle for independence, a trip to Kilmainham Gaol provides a rich lesson in history. Housing inmates from at least six notable Irish rebellions between 1798 and 1916, the prison earned a reputation for keeping political prisoners.

Today, visitors tour the prison and hear the stories of its famous inmates. The tour embraces its rebellion history and guests are invited to explore the cells, the chapel and even follow the final steps of the leaders of the 1916 Uprising. England’s severe response to the rebels’ week-long holdout at the General Post Office and the swift execution of the uprising’s leaders at Kilmainham did more to ignite Irish Independence movement, than the Uprising itself.

While you wait for the guided tour of Kilmainham, be sure to explore the museum. It reveals the varied and often grim history of the criminal justice system and includes a variety of artifacts.

Admission to Kilmainham is about 5 euro for adults and free for Heritage Card holders. Your visit will take at least one and half hours and there is a tea room on the premises.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmainham_Gao

Dublin is filled with underground crypts and burial vaults, but one crypt stands out among them all, St. Michan’s Church. Above ground, the church features an organ Handel supposedly favored and rehearsed his Messiah. The church’s features are interesting, but for the most part unremarkable.

Underground is another story. In the church crypts, you will be introduced to the death mask of early Irish rebel Wolff Tone and the coffins of the Sheare brothers who were executed during the 1798 rebellion. The Sheare brothers’ sentences, fully documented in court records, became an example of cruel and unusual punishment throughout the world.

To add yet another morbid layer to the experience, the conditions under the church just happen to be perfect for natural mummification, and the visit is highlighted with a viewing of four mummies. With preserved fragments of flesh, hair and even fingernails still intact, the bodies are as much a curiosity as they are a piece of history.

St. Michan’s is located between the Jameson Distillery and the Four Courts building and costs about 3.50 euro for adults. Although there are only a few steps required to reach the crypt, the low headroom may be challenging for those who have difficulty with stairs and folks who are very tall. Once inside, maneuvering in the crypt is relatively easy.

http://www.dublintourist.com/details/st__michan_s_church.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Michan’s_Church

In a backstreet just off O’Connell Street, St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral offers a unique blend of architectural styles, interesting side chapels and a reminder of Ireland’s political struggles.

The façade is modeled after the Temple of Theseus in Athens and the interior offers a glimpse of the Renaissance style. The Pro-Cathedral provides a welcome contrast to the many Gothic Revival churches in the city, and the series of chapels and shrines on the interior perimeter of the church are well worth viewing.

Dedicated in 1825 before Catholic emancipation, the cathedral was originally to be built on O’Connell Street, but the side street location was the best the Anglo-Irish ruling class would allow. The term Pro-Cathedral was adopted because the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, now known as Christ Church Cathedral, is still recognized by the Vatican as Dublin’s Cathedral…even though it has been in the hands of the Anglican church for over 400 years. Dublin’s other Cathedral, St. Patrick’s, is also an Anglican church. Rather than asking Pope to revoke the title from Christ Church, the bishops of Dublin have chosen to keep the title Pro-Cathedral for their mother church.

Admission is free, and the reknowned Palestrina Choir sings the Latin Mass every Sunday at 11am.

http://www.procathedral.ie/

St. Stephan’s Green, at the end of fashionable Grafton Street, is definitely one of Dublin’s most popular and accessible parks, but I prefer the lesser-visited Merrion Square a few blocks away. This quiet Georgian square, which is actually a rectangle, is full of surprising niches that are surrounded by trees and filled with beautiful flower beds.

A visit to Merrion Square is made even more enjoyable by a dozen or so monuments placed throughout the park. This sculpture walk feels a bit like a treasure hunt because the statues are of such varied styles and are often very subtle. I should note, the statue of Oscar Wilde on the northwest side of the park is a popular photo op, so you might want to check it out.

Merrion Square is surrounded by Dublin’s famous Georgian homes. Many of the buildings, known for their colorful doors and fan-shaped transom windows were at one time occupied by the country’s leading poets, writers, politicians and academics. Now most of the buildings serve as offices, but plaques are in place to honor their former occupants.

The square is open from dawn to dusk, and in the evening, the caretaker will ring an old-fashioned, handheld bell to alert visitors that the park is closing for the night.

Dublin Coddle

(tips are discussed in greater detail in the podcast)

• A car is not usually necessary
• Hop On/Hop Off bus is a great way to get a taste of Dublin
• If you drive, have a good map and decent directions, ask your accommodations if they have parking, what kind of parking, how much it costs and how far away it is
• Ask locals where they recommend for meals and try to break away from the typical tourist spots
• The airport shuttles and cabs are the best ways to get between city centre and the airport.
• Most stores in Dublin are open from 9am to 5:30pm with many being open until 8pm on Thursdays; some stores will be closed on Sundays.
• Trinity College offers on-campus accommodations in the summer http://www.tcd.ie/accommodation/Visitors/

The song “Grace” which takes place at Kilmainham Gaol. It is based on the story of Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford. The two were set to be married, but because of his involvement in the Easter Uprising, he was set to be executed. Joseph and Grace were allowed to marry in the prison chapel. The gas lines in the city had been shut off due to the Uprising, so the chapel was lit by candles.

After the ceremony, Grace was sent away. She returned a few hours later asking for one last moment to see her husband. She was escorted by two guards to her husband’s cell where she was granted ten minutes. The story goes that afterwards, Grace exited the Kilmainham and waited by the prison walls until she heard the sound of gunfire; then she walked home a widow.

Arbour Hill Cemetery: Located behind the Collins Barracks north of the River Liffey, Arbour Hill Cemetery is the resting place of the 14 leaders of the Easter Uprising who were executed at Kilmainham Gaol. A simple memorial marks the location.

Glasnevin Cemetery: The Irish National Cemetery opened in 1832 and includes memorials to James O’Connell and Charles Parnell. Also buried here are Grace Gifford-Plunkett, the subject of last episode’s song; the Countess Markiewicz, one of the most notable women involved in building the Irish Republic; Eamon de Valera, the American-born rebellion leader who became Ireland’s first taoiseach (prime minister); writers Christy Brown and Brendan Behan; as well as James Joyce’s parents. It was also included in Joyce’s Ulysses.

• http://www.glasnevin-cemetery.ie/
• http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/easter.htm
• http://www.visitdublin.com/seeanddo/tours/SelfGuidedWalkingTours
• http://www.visitdublin.com
• www.patliddy.com
• www.walkingtours.ie

Tips for Free Guinness and Irish Whiskey

High Tea in Dublin’s Grand Hotels: High Tea in Dublin usually runs from 3 to 5pm and prices begin at about 24 euro. The Tea will include a selection of breads, sandwiches with meats and cheese, various pastries and desserts. The luxurious High Tea emphasizes savoring delicious food and good company. Dress is not formal for High Tea; however, guests may want to inquire if there is a dress code.

• The Shelbourne (closed for remodeling until September 2006; aka Le Meridien Shelbourne www.shelbourne.ie)
• The Merrion
• The Westbury
• The Herbert Park
• The Gresham

Irish Fireside Song

• E-Newsletter sign up
• http://www.visitdublin.com

Map of Irish Crystal Producers

NOTE: MUCH HAS CHANGED IN IRISH CRYSTAL SINCE THIS SHOW WAS PRODUCED IN MARCH 2006. PLEASE RESEARCH CRYSTAL DESTINATIONS BEFORE PLANNING A VISIT.

Be aware that the precise definition of Irish Crystal varies between producers. Some consider Irish Crystal any crystal that is cut by an Irish mastercraftsperson (the craftsperson purchases “blanks” from other crystal producers in Ireland or in other parts of the world). Other producers hand-blow their own crystal “blanks” for cutting. In some cases, a craftsperson may only provide engraving services on pre-cut crystal produced in Ireland or elsewhere.

Contact producers prior to visiting for showroom hours and to find out if they offer factory tours.

Please note, the information on this page was published in 2006 and may have changed since then.

Irish Fireside Recommends

Galway Crystal

• Galway, Co Galway
• Showroom and Visitor Centre
• www.galwaycrystal.ie

Tyrone Crystal (Closed)

• Dungannon, Co Tyrone

Waterford Crystal

• Waterford, Co Waterford
• Showroom and Factory
• www.waterford.com
• www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com

Also Making Our List

Cavan Crystal

• Cavan, Co Cavan
• Showroom
• www.cavancrystaldesign.com

Dublin Crystal Glass Ltd

• Dublin, Co Dublin
• Showroom
• www.dublincrystal.com

Kilkenny Irish Crystal

• +353 056 7761377
• Canal Square
• Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny
• Showroom

Kinsale Crystal

• Kinsale, Co Cork
• Showroom and Workshop
• www.kinsalecrystal.ie

Tipperary Crystal

• Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary
• Showroom
• www.tipperarycrystal.com

Other Crystal Producers We Found

Unfortunately, we don’t know much about these

Athlone Crystal

• 28 Pearse Street
• Athlone, Co Westmeath
• +353 090 6492867

Belfast Crystal

• Belfast, Co Antrim
• www.belfastcrystal.com

Blarney Irish Crystal

• Blarney, Co Cork
• www.blarneyirishcrystal.com

Cuchulainn Crystal

• Dundalk, Co Louth

Derryveagh Crystal

• Letterkenny, Co Donegal
• derryveaghcrystal@eircom.net
• +353 (0)74 9167845

Donegal Crystal

• Donegal, Co Donegal
• +353 (0)74 9723546

Leitrim Crystal

• Market Yard Centre
• Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim
• +353 (0)71 9622255

Episode Guide – Podcast #4 Waterford Crystal, Shin & Guinness and The Old Dungarvan Oak

We visit the Waterford Crystal Factory and some interesting sites nearby; then it’s time for our recipe for shin and Guinness and Liam sings The Old Dungarvan Oak. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

NOTE: MUCH HAS CHANGED IN IRISH CRYSTAL SINCE THIS SHOW WAS PRODUCED IN MARCH 2006. PLEASE RESEARCH CRYSTAL DESTINATIONS BEFORE PLANNING A VISIT.

Show Notes

Making the most of your visit to the Waterford Crystal Factory:

• History of Crystal Making in Waterford
• Factory Tour
• Tips for visiting Waterford Crystal and buying Irish Crystal
• Waterford responds to Corey’s inquiry “How do I know which Waterford Crystal is produced in Ireland and which crystal is produced elsewhere?”
• Other Sources for Irish Crystal

Sites nearby we recommend:

• Waterford Treasures at the Granary
• Christ Church Cathedral and Holy Trinity Cathedral
• Reginald’s Tower
• Tramore
• Hook Head, Duncannon, Loftus Hall
• Ormonde Castle, Carrick-on-Suir
• Commeragh Mountains, Coumshingaun

The Knockahopple Irish Fireside Cookbook

• Shin and Guinness

Irish Fireside Song

• The Old Dungarvan Oak

Waterford Crystal Factory Overview

The history of crystal making in Waterford goes back to 1783 when the Penrose brothers opened their factory in the heart of Waterford city. After 68 years, the company was forced to close due to high taxation. One of the final pieces made by the company was it’s entry into the Great Exposition of 1851 which was held in, of all places, London’s Crystal Palace.

The Waterford Crystal we know today began in 1947, shortly after the end of World War II. With the support of the Irish government, 30 master glassblowers, cutters and engravers were brought in from mainland Europe to begin the nine-year training of Irish apprentices. The company has since grown to become the largest industry of its kind and one of the world’s most famous luxury brands.

www.waterford.com

www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com

Waterford Treasures

Waterford Treasures at the Granary is a modern museum that uses exhibits and multimedia to explore the history of Waterford. The artifacts from an extensive archaeology dig in the city are on display and reveal’ Waterford’s Nordic past. The museum collection includes the many of the finest examples of ancient Celtic craftsmanship. The building also houses the tourist office, a café and serves as the starting point of the city’s guided walking tours.

www.waterfordtreasures.com

Reginald’s Tower

Reginald’s Tower served as one of Waterford’s most important defensive structures. Built in the 13^th century with upper levels being added in the 15^th century, the tower is the oldest civic structure in Ireland and has been in continuous use for 800 years. The massive walls are over twelve feet thick in some places and at one time the tower was only accessible through passages built within the town walls. It has served as a mint, prison and military store; today it is open for tours and houses a museum.

Tramore

Duncannon

Ormonde Castle