Posted by Liam | 5 Comments

Maureen O’Hara’s Birthday Interview with RTE

Earlier this month, film legend Maureen O’Hara celebrated her 90th birthday. Especially for the occassion, Irish television featured an interview with her and have posted it on their website.

Watch the interview at www.rte.ie/news/2010/0816/nationwide_av.html

You are also welcome to send her your belated birthday wishes via the Irish Fireside Birthday Greeting.

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Posted by Corey | 4 Comments

Turlough Church & Round Tower

Ruined churches like this appear all across Ireland. This one in Turlough, County Mayo, is located very close to the Museum of Country Life.

It is believed that St. Patrick founded the church and monastery here and used the nearby holy well for baptisms. Not much is known about the monastery, but in 1351 the Pope settled a dispute over jurisdiction by placing it under the Archbishop of Tuam rather than the Archbishop of Armagh.

The Round Tower is especially squat and was built between 900 and 1200. Built into the 18th century church is an older window and Crucifixion plaque dated 1625.

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Posted by Corey | 3 Comments

Save 25% on Sites in the Shannon Region

I just found this great offer to get 25% Off some amazing sites in the Shannon Region… that’s covers the Counties of Limerick, North Tipperary, Clare and South Offaly. All you have to do is print out this card! There’s a list below of all the sites currently included, but you should check www.shannonregiontourism.com/ 25DiscountCard/#d.en.8347 for the most current information.

You can also get more information on their Facebook page.

See the List After the Break >>

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Posted by Corey | 48 Comments

What Would Get You to Ireland This Year?

I’m getting together with the folks at Tourism Ireland tomorrow, and I thought you might have an idea or two you would like me to deliver.

Ask yourself, “What would make booking a trip to Ireland in 2010 irresistable?”

In the comments section below, tell me…

• What types of things get you dreaming about Ireland?
• What would it take to get you to Ireland this year? (Oh, and since there is NO FREE TRIP on the table, you’ll need to get creative — Is there something else that would make cause you to throw caution to the wind and start planning a trip? Is there a service or experience that could be offered that would woo you over? Put your innovation caps on!)
• What is holding you back from travel in the next 6 months? 12 months?
• Have you noticed some things other destinations doing that is getting your attention and maybe even getting you to consider a visit there this year?

These questions are coming from me… not Tourism Ireland, and I’m hoping Irish Firesiders can bring some new ideas to the Tourism Ireland… and in turn help more people have Ireland stories to share.

I’ll report back to let you know how things go.

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Posted by Corey | 7 Comments

Irish Hunger Memorial

Among the skyscrapers of Manhattan, a plot of Irish land rises from the concrete. On it, the ruin of a cottage, stone walls, soil and plants relocated from the Ireland, it’s easy to forget I’m in the City that Never Sleeps.

A completely unexpected scene, New York’s Irish Hunger Memorial delivers a peaceful, Irish hillside that also commemorates the terrible conditions that forced many Irish to leave their lands and disperse across the globe.

For anyone with Irish ancestry, it gives them a bit of their heritage. Not only does it look like someone picked up a patchwork square from the Irish landscape and dropped it on the edge of the city, it includes a stone from every county in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The county name engraved on each rock, turns the visit into an ancestral county rock hunt that also draws attention to the plants rooted in the transported Irish soil… heather, blackthorn, heath and gorse… all from Ireland.

The memorial works to raise awareness of hunger and famine worldwide and is located in Battery Park City at the west end of Vesey Street. CLICK FOR PHOTOS>>

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Posted by Corey | 0 Comments

Ireland-Related Sites in the Big Apple

New York City… one of the American cities the Irish played a huge role in shaping. What sites with ties to Ireland should I visit while I’m here? Leave your suggestions in the comments

Sorry, folks, don’t list your favorite Irish bars… I’d never make my flight to Ireland next week if I tried to hit all of those

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