Posted by Liam | 39 Comments

Secret Santa Report

Photo Credit: "Santa Goes Green" Cover illustration, originally uploaded by Elisa Chavarri.

This winter, the Irish Fireside tried something new. We held our first Secret Santa gift exchange.

42 Irish Firesiders signed up. Corey and I randomly distributed names, and gifts have been zipping around the country ever since.

Now, we’re checking in with everyone who signed up to find out what goodies arrived in their mailbox. If you were part of the exchange, feel free to leave a comment below or email a photo of your gift to corey (at) irishfireside.com.

We look forward to hearing about how you got in the holiday spirit via your Irish Fireside friends.

So we arrived at Corey’s parents today, and his mom sent me down their looooong driveway to get the mail. You should have seen her excitement that her Secret Santa gift arrived.

Here’s a picture of the book that the Owen Family sent her… Celtic Vampire Stories… cool. I’ve already snatched it from her and started reading it. I looked on Amazon, and it looks like there is another version with a different cover.

Send us pics of your gift, and we’ll post them here as well!

–Liam – 21-Dec-09

Milo (Michael Connolly) sent us this photo of his Secret Santa Gift from John S. of Virginia.

Click the photo to see it at full size.

Remember to send us your Secret Santa photos and reports. It’s great fun to see and read what everyone got!

– 23-Dec-09

Diana Goings sent us this photo of the ornament she got from her Secret Santa Kim H. from La Jolla, CA.

Notice the Celtic design around the Partridge in a Pear Tree.

BTW – did you know the Twelve Days of Christmas is rumored to have Irish roots. Irish Firesider Kat Behling did a little digging around and we posted what she found at www.irishfireside.com/2009/12/26/twelve-days-of-christmas.

– 26-Dec-09

Posted by Corey | 11 Comments

Irish and Celtic Holiday Gift Guide 2009

Our team of holiday elves have sifted through your nominations and we’ve come up with a fine list of Irish and Celtic gift ideas. A special thank you to everyone who took the time to send us their recommendations… there were a lot of you, and kudos to our team of judges who helped sort through the suggestions.

If you like any items you see, send a note to the artisan or business. Many of the items are handcrafted, and the makers would love to hear from you.

And, remember you can still sign up for our Holiday Giveaway.

Happy Holidays,

Posted by Guest | 10 Comments

10 Irish Words You Should Know When Traveling Around the Emerald Isle

One of the great things about traveling to Ireland is that the Irish people speak English. Or at least most of them do! In fact, over a half million Irish claim to speak Irish, the native language, often referred to as “Gaelic” by visitors.

Normally, you do not need to know any Irish language words in the course of staying at hotels or B&Bs, eating in restaurants, going shopping, or taking part in the conviviality of pubs.

However, it is useful to know some Irish words when traveling around the countryside – because there are certain areas in Ireland where Irish is the everyday spoken language and signs on the roads are all in Irish. Here are the top 10 words you should be able to recognize, if not actually pronounce. (Most Irish words are not pronounced the way they look).

1. Gaeltacht – Region or district in Ireland where Irish (Gaelic) is the predominant language. There are Gaeltachts in Donegal, Meath, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Waterford, and several other pockets around Ireland. Place names and road signs in Gaeltacht areas are usually in Irish, so it is wise to carry a map that lists places in both Irish and English. Otherwise, you can get lost pretty fast!
2. Fáilte – Word you’ll see and hear over and over again. It simply means: Welcome. You’ll also see Céad Míle Fáilte which means 100,000 Welcomes.
3. Sláinte – The toast you will hear in the pubs. It means “To Your Health!”
4. Céilí – A traditional social dance event or party. You will see signs in pubs and tourist offices announcing a local céilí – and everyone is invited to join in. (pronounced Kay-lee)
5. Craic – This word, pronounced “crack,” causes lots of consternation when you hear it first. No, it has nothing to do with drugs. It is an Irish word that simply means music, good times, entertainment and conversation – all in good fun. You’ll hear people say “Where’s the craic tonight?”
6. Garda síochána – The police. The words mean “guardian of the peace.” Usually people just use the first word, Garda.
7. Géill Slí – A road sign meaning “Yield right of way”
8. Stad – A road sign saying: “Stop”
9. Téigh – A road sign telling you it is safe to “Go.”
10. Go Mall – Anther important road sign if you are tempted to go speeding on twisty roads – it means “Slow.”

By Patricia Preston from www.IrelandExpert.com and author of several must-read books on Ireland and Irish Travel. Pat also hosts her own Q&A forum where you can ask your questions about Irish Travel

TWO MORE TO ADD TO YOUR LIST

There are two words we’d add to the list as well… they are often used to label the “toilets” (the Irish don’t usually use the word “bathroom”)

Mná - Women & Fir – Men

We wouldn’t want you walking into the wrong “restroom” (they don’t use that word either)!

Posted by Michele Erdvig | 10 Comments

10 Things You MUST DO in Ireland

Ross Castle, Killarney © M. Erdvig

1. Explore Ancient Castles: Ireland is chock-a-block with castles. You see them in farmer’s fields, atop rocky outcrops, guarding rivers and in towns. Some are romantic ruins entwined with vines and trees. Others have been restored to their former glory and furnished with paintings, antiques and expensive fittings. Many castles rent by the week. One has been turned into a bank.

I prefer the lonely, battle-scarred castles that wear their age like a badge of honor. Observe how part of a wall was blown up by Cromwell’s soldiers leaving a gaping hole open to the elements. Notice a rusty cannonball from the Elizabethan Wars still stuck in a tower. Wander up small, spiral stone stairs that are waiting to stumble the unwary tourist – just as they were meant to slow down invaders. Look through arrow-slit windows at glimpses of the countryside. Feel the damp air and smell musty stone rooms. Battlements that once hid soldiers now house nesting birds. In the old ruins you can let your imagination run wild – to battles won and lost, pirate queens, bards entertaining at banquets, lords and ladies, serfs and knights. Each one has its legends, history and ghosts…if only you take the time to observe.

2. Walk the Beach: Choose a beach. Any beach. With a coastline over 3,500 miles long, Ireland has

Posted by Corey | 20 Comments

Things You Should NOT DO in Dublin

http://www.flickr.com/photos/_fabrizio_/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Visitors to Dublin all seem to make the same mistakes. So we’re going to lay out those errors and offer some travel-wise alternatives.

Don’t Drive

The challenges of driving on the left side of the road are only made worse by Dublin traffic and aggressive urban drivers. Having a car in city centre also means you’ll be faced with parking in a city that was never intended for automobiles.

Instead, drop the rental car at the airport or stay outside of city centre and take the train or bus into town (towns along the DART – train line – are excellent options). Sites in Dublin are generally within walking distance of each other, so take advantage of your own two feet as well.

Don’t expect breathtaking views from Guinness’ Gravity Bar

If Ireland’s rainy weather isn’t clouding your view, the truth is, Dublin’s skyline isn’t particularly impressive. On a clear day, this bar atop the Guinness Storehouse gives an interesting perspective of the city and the Wicklow Mountains, but it’s really the Black Stuff that draws the crowd.

Instead, see the city from the top of the hop on/off bus. Dublin is much more appealing from street level, and riding atop a double-decker bus is my favorite quick-fix for experiencing the city. The trip is even more engaging when the drivers provide their live commentary… not all tour companies have talking drivers, so you’ll need to

Posted by Guest | 9 Comments

A Beginners Guide to Planning an Ireland Itinerary

Submitted by Wendy

The Basics

For First Timers, a southern loop around the island is a good introduction to Ireland; it has an excellent mix of scenery, towns and options that cater to visitors. It’s best to take at least 10 days for such a tour, this number just happens to extend beyond the one-week vacation most US citizens allot and the more ideal length of two weeks of travel.

With only a week and flying into/out of Dublin, time is extremely limited and distance – how far you can go versus how far you want to travel each day – must be considered. Driving in Ireland is not like driving in the US. Short distances can take a long time because of small winding roads, traffic, etc.  Even the larger “motorways” can be slow due to traffic, accidents or just taking in the beautiful scenery and unfamiliar roads and signage. Visitors should expect to