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.

It’s almost 2012 (at least in my corner of the world), and I was thrilled to spot this list of Irish toasts at the Irish American Mom blog…

http://www.irishamericanmom.com/2011/12/30/irish-toasts-blessings-for-a-happy-new-year/

Irish Moonshine from Richard Bangs on Vimeo.

Richard Bangs has a very nice series of Irish segments that are worth a viewing. This one gives us a taste of poitín!

It reminds me of this day from our Irish-American Roadtrip… which includes our friend Bit telling us the connection between cowboy music and Irish music…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1BpDvP3UjI

• Felicity’s Blog: An Irish Christmas Eve Tradition
• Irish Culture and Customs: An Irish Christmas – the Day Before
• Irish Culture and Customs: Memories of Christmas Eve Past
• Merry Little Irish Mince Pies
• Engaging Ireland: Christmas Traditions Episode
• Bitesize Irish Gaelic: Phrases for an Irish Christmas
• Irish Christmas Music
• The Irish Connection to the Twelve Days of Christmas
• Recipe: An Irish Kiss for Christmas
• Christmas in Ireland: Married an Irish Farmer Interview
• Perceptive Travel: Oiche Nollag, Christmas Eve
• Every Christmas we listen to this song by our friend Theresa Larkin

In the Perceptive Travel post by Kerry Dexter that we found this video featuring Máire Mhac an tSaoi’s Christmas Eve poem… it’s in Irish but the English words appear in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GallVs75Qw

Our Christmas gift to you

Bitesize Irish Gaelic is offering Irish Firesiders an exclusive FREE LESSON and 50% OFF coupon code. After you enjoy the free lesson, you’ll find an exclusive coupon code for 50% off your first month of Bitesize Irish Gaelic. They offer a full 30-day moneyback guarantee, so if it’s not your thing, you can try it risk-free… AND a portion of your membership will benefit the Irish Fireside!

Here are a few of the gift reports… we’ll add more as they come in:

Episode Guide – Podcast

Karl Elliston answers all our questions about the new Certificate of Irish Heritage.

CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes – here’s our link for Techies

Show Notes

http://www.heritagecertificate.ie/

00:00

• Intro

00:20

• Intro: The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin & Noel McQuaid

00:40

• Giveaways
• Michele Erdvig Ireland Dream Trip guide book
• Ursula Cerano notebooks
• Irish Coin Cufflinks
• Jodi Halsted’s Favorite Irish Recipes
• www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com Membership
• Irish Tea Cozy
• Liam Shard Jewelry

01:12

• Our Favorite Ireland-Inspired Gifts
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Blog
• www.irishcultureandcustoms.com
• Secret Santa

01:33

• Certificate of Irish Heritage

02:30

• Karl Elliston

02:50

• The Global Irish Economic Forum

04:00

• Purpose of the Certificate

04:20

• Certificate Designs and Content

06:20

• A Unique Program

07:00

• Benefits for Certificate Holders

08:11

• What Are the Steps for Application?

10:00

• Online Application and Timeframe

11:40

• Validation and Behind the Scenes Support

13:10

• What has been the Response from Certificate Holders

14:40

• Certificates as Gifts
• Celebrating Heritage

15:30

• Reminding Young People of Their Irish Background

16:40

• Family Members Usually Share Documentation

17:40

• How Much Does It Cost?

18:40

• Any advice for people having trouble tracing their ancestors?
• Help locating your documents

24:40

• Using Irish Talent and Craftspeople

Closing Song – Ashokan Fareweel / The Grey Chair by Theresa Larkin & Noel McQuaid

http://www.heritagecertificate.ie/

2011 Continental Christmas Market by Patrick Dinneen www.photoblog.ie

Patrick (Pa) Dinneen hails from Cork but lives in Galway. His photos capture many scenes from around Galway and elsewhere. This image was from the 2011 Continental Christmas Market in Galway’s Eire Square. Be sure to visit Patrick’s website where you can see more gorgeous photos from Ireland and purchase cards and prints of his work.

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Celtic Christmas

The fellowship and festive side of things is the focus of Celtic Christmas, a collection from Putumayo World Music which includes artists from Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, and the United States through its eleven tracks. That hearty song of holiday invitation Here We Come a-Wassailing is the opener, as performed by the Albion Christmas Band. You can almost see the steps of medieval dancers and you listen to Druid Stone sing Noel Nouvelet, and David Huntsinger continues the dance idea, turning the carol Angels We Have Heard on High into a piece that will have your feet tapping as well. Harpist Aine Minogue adds a wintry feeling with the Jezebel Carol, Lasairfhiona Ni Chonaola sings White Christmas in Irish, and Dougie MacLean closes things out with a song from his fellow Scot Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne.

Song of Solstice

Jennifer Cutting and the Ocean Orchestra hold both festive and contemplative sides of the season in good company with each other on Song of Solstice. The orchestra comprises instruments including bouzouki, acoustic bass, accordion, flutes, whistle, bodhran, guitar, keyboards, and voice. The title track, Song of Solstice, celebrates both the joys and the work of winter, and the good fellowship which come along with all that. It may just become a seasonal classic, and it will certainly have you singing along, and as the song suggests, raising your glasses high, as well. People Look East invites a quieter look at the season, as does Christmas Day in the Morning, which is offered in a spare version featuring just Celtic harp and bodhran. Green Man takes things in a lively direction, in a celebration of flourishing through winter and the male spirits of Celtic legend. From celebration to contemplation and back again, Song of Solstice is a fine weaving of traditional and original music for the winter season.

An Nollaig

Her parents came from the west of Ireland to New York, which is where Eileen Ivers grew up and became, among other things, a top notch fiddle player and composer whose background includes Cherish the Ladies and Riverdance. With the album An Nollaig, she offers holiday themed jigs and reels mixed in with seasonal favorites to make a collection of music both old and new, “Like the ornaments of the Christmas tree, lovingly passed down over the years,” Ivers says. Susan McKeown adds her voice to Don OIche Ud i mBeithill, and there’s a very Celtic twist on Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring among the offerings.

Fine Winter’s Night

You’ve met Matt and Shannon Heaton’s music in the Irish gift list here at the fireside, and I’ll second that recommendation. Their seasonal album, Fine Winter’s Night, is a lovely mix of voice and instrument, lead and harmony, and new songs with familiar ones. The title track, in which Shannon contemplates the work, beauty, and changes of winter, is one of my favorites, as is Matt’s original imagining of the beginning of a holiday romance, First Snowfall of December. There’s a tender version of O Little Town of Bethlehem, and the crisp instrumental set Day Dawn which pairs a an air on the flute with two jigs on guitar is also a keeper, as are all the tracks in this gathering of song and tune.

The Best of Celtic Christmas

Narada Presents the Best of Celtic Christmas really sounds like Christmas in Ireland and Irish America. There are two discs. One is all music by the Ireland based group Dordan, and it’s called The Night Before. Through songs and tunes including Wayfarer’s Welcome, Oiche Nollag, and Mistletoe Waltz, they invoke the sense of anticipation that the holiday season brings. On the second disc, Cathie Ryan starts things off with an understated take on It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, with just her voice and guitar, and fiddler Bonnie Rideout caps the collection fifteen tracks later with an anthemic version of Adeste Fidelis.. In between, Kathy Mattea offers a lullabye, Boys of the Lough play a set of jigs, Mairi MacInnes and William Jackson join for Silent Night, and Maddy Prior takes a rollicking look as I Saw Three Ships. John Whelan, Altan, and Natalie MacMaster are among the artists who also join in.

Irish music around the fireside is always a good choice. May these suggestions add to your holiday celebrations.

Kerry Dexter writes about music, the arts, Ireland, and Scotland at Music Road. Strings, Perceptive Travel, and other places

The Christmas Market in Eyre Square, Galway from Mark Coughlan on Vimeo.

Because it’s Christmastime and I’m feeling a bit homesick for Ireland right now… Here’s the scene in Galway’s Christmas Market in Eyre Square.

This holiday season has Irish Firesider Pam Stucky thinking about great tunes. Here are two brilliant CDs she recommends from two amazing sister acts:

Sephira Starlight

The brand new Christmas CD “Sephira Starlight” features Ruth O’Leary and Joyce O’Leary, violists/vocalists/sisters from Ireland. Ruth and Joyce, who together are Sephira, toured for two years with the group Celtic Thunder and are now touring on their own with their unique, emotive, engaging and energetic sound. “Starlight” is their first Christmas CD and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Their Carol of the Bells is heart-pounding and dynamic; their Believe and O Holy Night top Josh Groban’s versions. This is absolutely a perfect gift for oneself or anyone with the Christmas spirit!

Web – www.sephirastarlight.com
iTunes
Amazon

Gothard Sisters’ Christmas

The Gothard Sisters are three amazingly talented sisters from Edmonds, Washington, a little north of Seattle. They started Irish dancing when they were young, and then to help pay for competitions they began doing performances with a little singing, a little dancing, a little singing, a little dancing. They have won world titles in Irish dancing and are now making waves in the music world with their vast talents. They sing, play violin, and each of them is also skilled on several other instruments. Their newest album, “Story Girl” is their sixth CD, full of original compositions that will get feet tapping!

Web – www.gothardsisters.weebly.com/store.html
Recent article – http://edmonds.patch.com/articles/family-matters-a-trio-of-singing-sisters-releases-their-6th-album
iTunesAmazon

You can read more from Pam Stucky on her blog at www.pamstucky.com

With Christmas just around the corner, here’ s a list of great gift ideas that might round out your holiday shopping this year. Have a look, but be warned, you might be adding a few things to your own list for Santa.

Donegal Pens

They’re only 14 and 10, but brothers Ronan and Conor from Loughanure in West Donegal craft each pen by hand. Not only are they the youngest members of the Irish Woodturning Guild, they have established themselves as two of Ireland’s most promising entrepreneurs.

Ursula Celano’s Irish-Themed Notebooks

Launched earlier this year, Ursula Celena’s cheerful notebooks capture scenes from Ireland… Irish dance, Dublin landmarks, Irish hedgerows, the Aran Islands, and my favorite, Green Cottages. Each notebook has been crafted in Ireland.*

Artware by Wannaree

Wanaree Tanner has created a line of Celtic-inspired artwork that is unlike anything we’ve seen… a bit ancient Irish, a touch steampunk, a hint of elegance. For those with an interest in Celtic knotwork and ancient symbolism, her work is sure to please.

Aileen Clarke Crafts

Much of Aileen’s work is inspired by her favorite remote parts of Ireland and Scotland. To create her vibrant jewelry and art pieces, she combines hand dyed and carded fibres to felt her artwork using traditional wet felting and needle felting techniques.

Irish Song and Sayings Posters by Paul Gibson

Dublin-based artist Paul Gibson takes his favorite Irish phrases and traditional music lyrics and gives them his own visual artistic spin. His collection of striking graphic posters manage to be both modern and nostalgic… not an easy task.

Irish Turf Fire

There’s no substitute for a real Irish fireside, but Dermot Ryan at least gives us an alternative. His Irish Turf Fire DVD brings that wee bit of Ireland to any home without the cost of an airplane ticket. As an added bonus, this video features hand-cut turf! Dermot also handpicks the products featured at www.Eportireland.com.

Liam Shard Jewelry

With a keen eye for detail, Liam recovers pieces of antique and contemporary dishes in Ireland. He then transforms them into shard jewelry. His collection includes Irish Belleek, Donegal Parian, Nicholas Mosse Pottery, Arklow Pottery, and transferware shards dating to the 1800s.*

Dublin, Ireland Print

Featuring the Fair City’s landmarks – the Poolbeg Chimneys, the Spire, Liberty Hall, and a PINT OF GUINNESS, this screenprint from me&him&you uses the same paper on which the original Guinness posters were printed… and for good measure, there’s a drop of Guinness in the ink.

Favorite Irish Recipes

Jody Halsted put together this assortment of recipes, photos, and recollections from Ireland for her website www.irelandwithkids.com. Fortunately, family members of all ages can enjoy this book which is available in hardbound and digital editions.*

Charles Gallen Irish Linen

It’s becoming harder and harder to find true Irish linen, but Charles Gallen Irish Linen in Northern Ireland has been in the business since 1870. And if you’re looking for a more contemporary style for your linen, be sure to check out their line from Jackie Llewelyn.

Irish Coin Cufflinks

These unique cufflinks are made in Ireland from old Irish coins — the Irish Punt coins that were Ireland’s official currency before the euro). To make your gift even more personal, they also offer coins based on a specific year and you can also choose coins from other countries.*

Ruby Clover Bookmarks

An Ireland photo bookmark from Ruby Clover would perfectly compliment a great Irish book… for those who haven’t gone completely digital yet. In addition to three bookmarks, you may also find other photos, jewelry, and art for that creative Celt on your list.

Bitesize Irish Gaelic

Whether someone wants to tap their Irish heritage or are planning to visit one of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions, the online lessons at Bitesize Irish Gaelic help them understand the basics and begin learning to speak the language at their own pace.*

A Cut Above Coins

Wally Charm captures the beauty of Ireland’s old coins and continues the ancient craft of piercing which involves drilling small holes in a piece of metal (in his case unique coins) and cutting out an often detailed design by hand. He works with coins from around the world and includes many Irish coins… including coins that were in circulation before the introduction of the Euro in Ireland.

Celtic Harp Music by Anne Roos

The splendor of the Celtic harp in the hands of Anne Roos creates an absolutely mesmerizing experience. She offers a diverse collection of CDs for everyone on your holiday list. May I recommend “Blue Jeans” for a mix of something contemporary with a classic feel?*

Icons by Agnessa Kessiakova

Agnessa Kessiakova from Sofia, Bulgaria creates old-style icons in the orthodox tradition. She combines traditional centuries old techniques with modern materials by using tempera paints on wood panel, gold leaf and matte finishing varnish. Her Saint Patrick, Christ, and Virgin Mary icons might be of special interest to Irish-Americans.

Music from Matt and Shannon Heaton

The Heatons have been creating beautiful music together for quite some time. Their holiday album is always a favorite, and those with an love for traditional Irish music will savor any musical treasure from their acclaimed collection.

Ireland Dream Trip Guidebook

Our regular contributor Michele Erdvig has been publishing her travel guide for over 20 years. With that many Irish breakfasts and fairy-led adventures under her belt, she has acquired an unmatched volume of knowledge about where to visit and memorable places to stay.*

A few other items to consider:

• Bit Devine’s Ireland-Inspired Calendars & Accessories*
• Camillion Creations Celtic Mermaid Prints
• CapallGlas Fine Art and Hand-Pulled Prints
• Celtic Journey Artwork
• Christy Nicholas’ Magic of Ireland Calendar*
• Earthen Craft Pottery*
• Irish & Celtic Music Podcast
• Irish Turf Incense
• Michele Erdvig’s Ireland-Inspired Items*
• Michelle Masters’ Irish & Celtic Topiary Art*
• Soapourri Irish-Themed Soaps
• Tanya Bond Art from Ireland
• Texas Eagle Gallery Ireland Art Prints
• The Wider Eye Panoramic Prints of Ireland*

Did I miss anything? Feel free to suggest a few things in the comments section

* These businesses have provided items in our holiday giveaway or have served as site sponsors in the past.

Bitesize Irish Gaelic‘s online language lessons teach Irish from the perspective of a beginner, and Eoin from Bitesize Irish Gaelic has offered year-long memberships to FIVE Irish Firesiders!

To enter, you’ll have to post a message in Irish below. Include the Irish and English versions, and PLEASE, let’s save the naughty words and phrases for another time

Need some help learning a bit of Irish? Get some inspiration from this article from their blog or these Irish Fireside articles. Winners will be announced Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

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

The online application is open to persons who were not born on the island of Ireland who provide supporting documentation connecting them to one or more Irish ancestors. The process is easy to use provided you have a digital copy of your ancestor’s birth certificate, death certificate, census document, affidavit, or other document.

Applicants can choose from three certificate designs and they also offer an selection of Irish-made frames. Certificates begin at €40.00 (US-$54 plus delivery costs). Learn more about how to apply >>

Tell Us What You Want to Know

We’ll be interviewing the folks coordinating the program later this week, and we’d love to hear what you’d like us to ask. Feel free to leave your questions in the comments. In the meantime, you’ll find a video about the program below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5McSnfPduY

For your chance to win, tell us about your favorite Irish/Ireland-inspired recipes in the comments below. The winners will be drawn Monday, Dec 19, 2011.

This book makes a great gift, and you can purchase a hardbound copy for $25 or a digital copy for $4.99 (save an extra $2 by using the code IRLXMAS through December 24, 2011). Details at http://irelandwithkids.com/best-irish-recipes-st-patrick/.

Congratulations to Julia Sacco for winning this prize!

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

Here’s a giveaway item you probably haven’t seen before… Ursula Celano’s new line of handcrafted Ireland-themed notebooks.

Ursula’s handcrafted notebooks are designed and made right in Ireland and feature images inspired there… Irish dance, Dublin landmarks, the Aran Islands, Irish hedgerows, and the cottages of Eire.

Ursula is giving away some of these beauties, but in order to be entered into the giveaway, you’ll have to visit www.ursulacelano.com.

Once you’ve poked around her website (be sure to read her detailed product descriptions), come back here and use the comments section below to tell us why you’d choose her notebooks for yourself and for a gifts.

The winner will be drawn Sunday, December 18, 2011.

Congratulations to SJ Velasquez… her comment was randomly selected as the winner of this giveaway!

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

A vintage shard of Irish Belleek china from Co Fermanagh

Liam is offering a piece of his Irish Belleek shard jewelry to one lucky Irish Firesider, by offering a $115 gift certificate to his online store (answer the question at the bottom of the post to enter).

He has several pieces crafted from broken dishes that were recovered in Ireland, so you can take home a bit of Ireland.

$10 OFF

Use the coupon code “IRISHTEA2” and get $10 off your online order or shard jewelry (one coupon per customer/cannot be combined with other promotions/online sales only/expires December 31, 2011).

To enter, simply leave a comment below by Thursday, December 22, 2011, that tells us:

What is your favorite Irish or Ireland-inspired product?

Leave your reply below… winner will be announced December 24, 2011…

Congrats to Tonia M the winner of the $115 gift certificate.

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

For those who don’t know, these cufflinks are made from the coins used in Ireland before the arrival of the euro in 2002.

This prize will be given away on Saturday, December 17, 2011. To enter this giveaway, you’ll have to answer the following trivia question.

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

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.

The Local Way Dublin—from Trad to Jazz from RPP PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

Thought you might appreciate this look at some of Dublin’s music venues with the city’s residents at www.dublinthelocalway.com.

Leah Carri tells about her visit to Wexford's Great Saltee Island and includes photos from her sister Elva.

We’re heading to the Saltee Islands on the advice of my mother. I’m home from Australia with my Aussie husband, and she deems it a fitting daytrip for us and my two younger sisters. She’s been there before. Although Great Saltee is Ireland’s largest bird sanctuary, she assures us we won’t need binoculars or an extensive knowledge of ornithology to enjoy it’s many charms.

The Saltee Islands lie about 5 km off the southern coast of County Wexford in Ireland’s Southeast. The islands are uninhabited but have been privately owned by since 1943 when they were bought by the late businessman and farmer Michael Neale. Neale was a colourful character who gave himself the tongue-in-cheek title of ‘Michael the First, Prince of the Saltee Islands.’

Great Saltee covers a distance of 89 hectares, and the Neale’s have kindly made it accessible to birdwatchers and day-trippers. Little Saltee, which is about half the size, is not accessible due to hazardous landing conditions.

Across the Water from Kilmore Quay

The boat to Great Saltee leaves from Kilmore Quay. It’s a charming little village in it’s own right, particularly today, brightly lit with blue skies and August sunshine. We admire the fishing boats and quaint seaside cottages, conjuring up romantic images of an alternate life where we owned one or the other.

We also make a mental note of seafood and fish ‘n’ chip outlets with which we may reward ourselves on our return. It is Ireland of course… the sun shines now, but we’re not naïve. We could be pelted by wind and rain rolling in off the Celtic sea for the next few hours. We may return drenched and miserable. Chips are the best cure for that.

We buy a few final bits and pieces to add to our picnic. We each have a bag; extra clothes and rain gear in case the weather turns, sandwiches, flasks of tea with little plastic cups, swimsuits in case we get brave (or crazy). You need to be prepared heading out to Great Saltee. There are no facilities out there. No shop, café, toilets, shelter. That’s the beauty of it.

It’s best to book your boat trip from Kilmore Quay in advance. The trips are made weather permitting and generally you’ll leave around 10am and they’ll return to collect you at around 4pm. Expect to pay approximately €20 per head for a round trip.

It’s a short and enjoyable boat trip. We watch as the already small Kilmore Quay shrinks in the distance. The sea is blue and sparkling. The salty breeze is refreshing. We smile and nod to our fellow passengers and keep our eyes peeled for the dolphins that are sometimes seen in the area.

A Birdwatcher’s Paradise

We pull into the landing point for the island where steps lead up from a rocky cove to a welcome sign from Michael the First which says that, “All people young and old, are welcome to come, see and enjoy the Islands, and leave them as they found them for the unborn generations to come, see and enjoy.”

We decide the first thing we should do is eat our picnic and find a good spot near one of the island’s large gannet colonies. We watch as hundreds of birds wheel and glide and circle and land and squawk and repeat, as we enjoy our sandwiches and tea.

It’s a birdwatchers paradise with over 220 species of bird recorded on the island including Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills and a range of other seabirds that breed here.

Seals and Other Wildlife

Picnic finished we set off to explore, chatting and admiring the beautiful scenery as we go. Our plan is to follow the route along by the cliffs to ‘The Head’, the highest point of the island.

Along the way, we spot a grey seal in one of the island’s little coves. Then we spot another, and another. There are six altogether, their calm doglike faces bobbing gently in the swell. They bob and stare, seeming as interested in us as we are in them.

We continue on to ‘The Head’ at the south end of the island, home to the biggest bird colony. It’s an amazing sight, and we take our time watching hundreds of birds swirl and soar all around us.

As the afternoon presses on, we make our way around the other side of the island. We take our time and watch out for wildlife, spotting wrens, rabbits, black and red cinnabar moths and blackberry bushes whose fruit is unfortunately not yet ripe.

Eventually, we arrive back at the cove where we were dropped off earlier in the day. We still have time to spare. Some of our fellow passengers are already there. Like us they want to make sure they’re there in good time – there’s only one boat back to the mainland this afternoon. We relax on the warm rocks, pleasantly tired from all our walking. We spot another seal a bit away from shore. The sun sparkling on the water, the happy looking seal and the sun warmed rocks prompt us to consider a swim as the perfect end to the day. Dipping our toes in the water changes our mind. It’s freezing! The bikinis stay in the bags, but it’s nice to cool off our feet with a paddle, until the boat arrives, and we head back to Kilmore Quay for a seafood dinner.

Leah Carri is an Irish freelance writer now living in Australia. You can read her blog at www.leahshome.com. Photos by Elva Carri – all rights reserved by the author and photographer.

Every year, the travel blog community unites to support Passports With Purpose (PWP)… a very special fundraiser offering you a chance at a full menu of desirable prizes.

This year, Ireland with Kids sponsors two nights at any Irish bed and breakfast in the B&B Ireland network… that basically means two FREE nights anywhere in Ireland! Score!

Click the “Donate” button at PWP to see the very loooooong list of great prizes.

In the past, the effort has raised money to build a school in rural Cambodia and an entire South Indian Village. This year, Passports With Purpose works to build two libraries in Zambia.

Irish Fireside and our online community have been involved with PWP in some form since the beginning, and we’re happy to support it again. Please give generously… it increases your chances of winning the prize of your choice

Give Some PWP Love >>

Before you begin imagining a dark, dank, cold vault, realize that the Cathedral’s crypt offers a much more elaborate (and warm) environment than one would expect from the city’s oldest building.

The Christmas Market will be held at Christ Church Cathedral every Saturday through the 17th of December from 11am-4pm.

Restoring the Church and Saving the Belfry

2011 is an important and challenging year for the Cathedral. In need of urgent repair and restoration work, a major fundraising campaign to raise the €2 million needed has been launched and all proceeds of the Christmas Market will go towards its upkeep. The high profile campaign has already seen a host of names get behind the donation drive to save Christ Church including model Rosanna Davison, dancer Michael Flatley, singer Roger Whittaker, actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Irish Ambassador for Culture, Gabriel Byrne.

Situated in the heart of medieval Dublin, Christ Chuch Cathedral is one of the best known and loved landmarks in the City. Easily reached by public transport or on foot from the main shopping areas, the Cathedral attracts thousands of visitors every year who come to enjoy the unique and magical experience that Christ Church has to offer.

Read our post about The Secrets from Christ Church Cathedral >>

There’s no shortage of information about County Kerry, Ireland, but I couldn’t help feeling enchanted by the place hearing Jessie Voigts talk about Ireland’s most famous corner on The Amateur Traveler Podcast.

Gotta admit, Jessie’s giggle is contagious, and she was was quite honest about the Kingdom County’s abundance of tourists while still showcasing its appeal. Yes, it’s got a lot of tourists. Yes, it’s got must-see sites. Yes, there are still some lesser-known experiences to be found.

Here’s to Kerry… and all the other wonderful places to visit in Ireland!

Have a listen at The Amateur Traveler Episode 304: Travel to The Ring of Kerry in Ireland

You can also read more about Jessie’s trip at Wandering Educators: Ireland or her posts here on the Irish Fireside.

B&B Ireland Blog – This newcomer to the blog scene has become a consistent source for authentic Irish travel information. Check it out.

Bitesize Irish Gaelic Blog – For those interested in learning the Irish language, these folks keep everything fun and informative. Be sure to sign up for their e-newsletter.

Discover Ireland Blog – Since it’s launch, Irish tourism’s official blog has been providing a steady stream of original articles covering every corner of the Emerald Isle.

Diddlyi Magazine – Centered around the Irish dance community, Diddlyi also gives a generous helping of Irish culture and history.

Engaging Ireland Podcast – Their latest audio episodes visit Northern Ireland, but their archives give great tips for sites all over Ireland.

In Your Pocket Belfast and In Your Pocket Dublin – these sister publications have both capital cities covered.

Ireland Yes – When it comes to travel forums, Michele and her online community have answers for everything you want to know about Ireland. And her book is a hit as well.

Ireland with Kids – This site goes beyond family travel in Ireland and offers suggestions everyone can use.

Irish and Celtic Music Podcast – Irish Music! Celtic Music! Need I say more?

Married an Irish Farmer – We’re still charmed by Imen’s accounts of life on an Irish farm… and her site is loaded with delicious recipes from the countryside.

Irish Culture and Customs – Bridget has compiled a veritable encyclopedia of information on Ireland. Click around and you’ll love what you find.

Looking for a few more sites of interest. Visit our Links Page.

Tourists flock to Kilkenny in their droves all year round, drawn to the compact city’s medieval heritage, its vibrant atmosphere, and its packed calendar of cultural events.

Amongst the best-known attractions are Kilkenny Castle and gardens, the remaining City Walls, Saint Canice’s Cathedral, and Rothe House and Garden – but Kilkenny’s appeal runs much deeper. Spend a few extra days there to enjoy the craic and dig a bit further into the region’s food and heritage, and you’ll have the chance to try traditional dishes in one of the hundreds of Irish pubs dotted about town, and to hunt down dozens of far-fetched, weird and wonderful local stories of medieval madness, witchcraft, and ghostly goings-on.

Whatever time of year you visit Kilkenny, you’ll find traditional regional dishes on the menus in many of the local pubs and restaurants. And while you’ll stumble across a pub every few steps you take, the Kyteler’s Inn on Kieran Street has a particular allure for those with an interest in history – or the paranormal. With Irish Stew and Bacon & Cabbage on the menu, washed down with local beers or Guinness, you can enjoy a bite to eat while learning about the inn’s amazing history from the information board on one of the walls.

The site of the inn was once the home of Dame Alice Kyteler, born in Kilkenny in 1263, who gained increasing notoriety as her succession of four husbands each passed away in turn – while she accumulated a healthy fortune.

Suspicious locals conspired to accuse Alice of witchcraft, and
she became the first person in Ireland to be accused and condemned for witchcraft. As the angry mob approached her home, she is said to have fled the country – but her maid, Petronella de Meath, was captured instead, perhaps mistakenly, then flogged and burned at the stake on 3rd November 1324. And adding to the Inn’s fascination is the fact that local paranormal enthusiasts say the maid still haunts the site to this day.

Amongst other Kilkenny ghostly legends is the female form that is said to occasionally appear on a staircase and in the garden at Kilkenny Castle, a presence which is said to guarantee that no guest enjoys a restful night’s sleep in the castle. And in the vicinity of St John’s Parochial Hall, sightings have been reported of a tall, thin woman using crutches who wears a long coat, no stockings and has flowing white hair.

Foodie appeal

If you’re more into food and fantasy, time your visit to coincide with October’s Savour Kilkenny festival, which takes place over Ireland’s October Bank Holiday weekend. The festival features a free, open-air food market on the Parade Plaza and in the Design Yard where visitors can sample gourmet treats from local and regional producers.

Cooking demonstrations take over the Set Theatre in John Street, featuring celebrity chefs such as Donal Skehan and Catherine Fulvio, and other highlights include the Dame Alice Medieval Banquet on Sunday 31st October in the Kilkenny Castle Kitchens.

This article was written by Rebecca Burns on behalf of InsureandGo Travel Insurance.

Photo of Kilkenny Castle & Garden by seanP on Flickr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWadjU5gF68

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

A chance encounter and shared moment with one of natures greatest and most fleeting phenomena.

In one of nature’s amazing occurances, two British women captured a flock of starlings (known as a murmur) over Lough Derg.

Starlings over Lough Derg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQFyxOLH2Vw

For me, it was a visit to Woodstock Gardens in Inistioge, County Kilkenny. We wandered the gardens, and then when we tried to get a photo of Liam and me next to a California redwood… the camera wouldn’t work. The photo came out with haunting hands and hooves…

Liam and mysterious hands at Woodstock Gardens, County Kilkenny.

Truth is, there was low light and a long exposure on the digital camera… those hands were mine, but boy oh boy, getting back to the B&B and seeing the haunting hands kind of freaked us out.

What’s your favorite spooky destination or experience in Ireland? Share below…

And remember, you can always submit a story or photo.

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.

A traditional Halloween treat is the Barmbrack Cake (or “Bairin Breac”). The dense bread is served year-round, but the Halloween tradition inspires a fruitcake baked with a piece of rag, a gold ring and a silver coin that is shared by the family after dinner.

Great interest is taken in the hidden trinkets and their ability to foretell the future. Beware if you get the slice with the rag, for your financial future is in doubt. However, if you reap the slice with the coin, you can look forward to a most prosperous year. And the slice with the ring is a sure sign of impending romance or continued happiness.

Halloween Barmbrack Cake
3-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp mixed spice (a mixture of spices such as cinnamon, coriander, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, ginger)
1/4 tsp of nutmeg
pinch of salt
3 tbs butter
1 pkg (2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1 cup milk
1 egg beaten
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried currants
1/3 cup candied peel
ring, coin, thin piece of rag all wrapped in parchment paper
1 egg yolk
water
1 tbs sugar

Sift the flour, cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingers (or a pastry blender) work butter into the flour until it forms coarse crumbs

In a small saucepan, warm the milk (do not get it too hot).

In another medium bowl, mix yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Then add one teaspoon of warm milk. Stir and allow to rest for 4 minutes until bubbles form. Then add the remaining warm milk and egg to the yeast mixture.

Add remaining sugar to flour mixture and add yeast mixture. Knead until stiff and elastic. Fold in raisins, currants and candied peel. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and leave in a warm place until dough doubles in size (about 1 hour).

Punch down dough and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Divide dough into two balls and place in two loaf pans. Add ring, coin and rag in the dough. Allow to rise for 30 to 60 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix egg yolk, water and 2 tablespoons of sugar and brush over loaf. Bake for 1 hour or until golden.

Slow But Easy Brambrack Recipe

1 cup currants
1 cup raisins
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup cold tea

Mix the above ingredients together, cover and soak overnight.

The next day, prepare the following:
1-1/2 cup flour
1 level tsp. baking powder
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. mixed spice (i.e. cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.)
warmed honey

Add flour, baking powder and spice to soaked fruit mixture. Mix in beaten egg. Spoon mixture into a well-greased loaf pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. When cool, brush top with warmed honey for a beautiful glaze.

A sea of Celtic crosses in a cemetery at Glendalough Abbey in County. Photo by www.greendragonartist.com - all rights reserved by the artist.

Submitted by Kat Behling
Each November 1st, a decrepit old woman with an iron hammer appears across the Irish countryside, pummeling the ground with such mighty force that her hammer turns the soil to solid rock. She then takes to the sky casting stones every which way from her massive apron creating majestic, snow-capped mountaintops in her path.

Known in Irish folklore as Cailleach, the Goddess of Samhain, she is considered the female version of who we know as Old Man Winter. Often at odds with her nemesis Brigid, the Goddess of spring, Cailleach possesses the magical power of renewing her youth and vitality with the change of the seasons.

Winter is known in ancient Ireland as Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”) and is one of four seasons marking the Celtic calendar. The others are Imbolc (spring), Beltane (summer) and Lughnasadh (autumn). Each season consists of three months, each concluding with a communal celebration.

A Time for Reflection and Renewal

The festival of Samhain is held the eve of October 31st and celebrates both the end of the harvest and the welcoming of the New Year. As the days become shorter, the nights become colder and the lightness fades, the growing cycle has come to a close. The trees, having shed the last of their leaves and nuts, appear stark and lifeless. Not coincidentally, this important festival marks the beginning of the “dark half” of the Celtic calendar.

The ancient Celts believed Samhain opened the “gateway” to the rest cycle, as it is during these long dark days of winter that the cycle of renewal is set into motion – seeds quietly germinate anticipating the first gentle rays of spring’s light. The seasons were believed to possess a spiritual energy connecting its people to the layers in time. As a result, Samhain has long been – and continues to be – a sacred time for introspection, remembrance of loved ones and personal reflection.

Of Spirits and Saints

According to ancient beliefs, the gateways to the physical and spiritual worlds are overthrown on the Eve of Samhain, making it possible for humans, ancestors, gods and faeries to visit each other’s realms. Beloved elders were honored and ancestors remembered. Souls were thought to return in the guise of a faerie or spirit, seeking out their descendants, offering loving guidance and words of wisdom. Over the centuries, the celebration of Samhain eventually became known as “All-Hallow-even”, “All Hallow’s Eve” and finally, “Hallowe’en”.

In fact, what began as a pagan festival evolved over the centuries into a Christian-interpreted holiday when Pope Boniface instituted “All Saints Day” (also known as “All Souls Day”), a Catholic day of observance loosely based on pagan traditions and honoring those saints who did not have a specific day of remembrance. Originally observed May 13th, the date was later changed to its present day of November 1st by Pope Gregory III.

Hallowe’en Traditions Alive Today

With the Christian observance of All Saints Day, Hallowe’en eventually evolved into a celebration for children. Dressed in scary masks and costumes resembling wandering spirits, children roamed door-to-door, begging for sweet treats along the way – or beware the trick played on the owner of the house. The custom was brought to America with the Irish immigrants of the 1840’s. Today, better known as “Beggar’s Night” or “Trick or Treat”, witches, goblins and ghosts remain the most popular choices for Hallowe’en costumes.

Hallowe’en is also known in Ireland as “Pooky Night”, referring to a “púca” or mischievous faerie. Although unseen to the mortal eye, faeries were said to live among humans, so it was considered to be in one’s best interest to stay in good relations with these kindred spirits throughout the year. For instance, it is considered extremely bad manners to remove an ash, hawthorne or oak tree to make way for a new home, as faeries tend to seek out these favorite trees for their own habitats.

Instead, the Irish have a custom of placing a small gift or token under a hawthorne tree on Hallowe’en to attract good-natured faeries. In return for the hospitality, faeries are known to bring good fortune and protection the remainder of the year.

The tradition of the bonfire has its roots in Ireland where the highlight of village festivities was the gathering of neighbors and loved ones and the anticipation of the lighting of the great fire, usually atop a hill. Once the fire reached towering heights, the head of each family then solemnly took from this common flame to light their hearth at home, a powerful symbol of solidarity. Today, it is customary to leave a candle burning in the window on Hallowe’en.

Another custom included leaving the door open and food on the table on Hallowe’en in the event a departed loved one might return that night. The candle in the window also served as a sign of welcome.

Carving faces into turnips and setting them on doorsteps was said to ward off evil spirits. Irish immigrants who migrated to America carried on the tradition by carving pumpkins, which were more plentiful here than turnips. The tradition actually dates to the 18th century when an Irish blacksmith named Jack was said to have colluded with the devil. As a result, not only was he denied entry into Heaven, but was condemned to eternally wander the earth in complete darkness and given a single burning ember as light which he placed inside a hallowed-out turnip. Thus, the tradition of the “Jack O’Lantern” was born.

Placing a perfect ivy leaf into a cup of water before going to bed was believed to tell the fate of family members. If in the morning, the leaf was still perfect and had not turned spotty, then the person who placed it in the cup would have twelve months of good health.

“Bobbing for Apples,” once a popular Hallowe’en game, was known in Ireland as “Snap the Apple.” Instead of placing apples in a tub of water, an apple was suspended from a string and children were blindfolded.

A traditional Irish Hallowe’en dinner might include Colcannon – boiled or mashed potato, curly kale (a type of cabbage) and raw onions. Sometimes clean coins were placed inside the potatoes for children to find.

Dublin experienced some serious flooding yesterday… thought you might want to check out some of the images via Irish Weather Online. Fortunately, the waters have receded since this footage was collected.

A sample of the Irish artwork from Ruby Clover

I know you all love a good Irish-themed giveaway (our autumn giveaway is underway), so I thought I’d alert you to some gorgeous images from Ireland that Ruby Clover has on offer. Right now, if you LIKE and SHARE her work on Facebook, you’ll be entered to win some prints.

Here are the details >>

Dublin-based Paul Gibson takes his favorite Irish phrases and traditional music lyrics and gives them his own visual artistic spin. His striking graphic posters manage to be both modern and nostalgic… not an easy task. Browsing his online gallery reveals the inspiration behind each piece, such as the first Irish phrase he learned, “glens” hidden in the images, and the songs that prompted the artwork.

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It may be unpredictable, but Ireland manages to be beautiful no matter what Mother Nature kicks up. Enjoy this video collection of images from Irish Weather Online.

Photo by Jim Berkeley - http://www.dublinontheliffey.ie/ - All Rights Reserved

It wasn’t long after reader Joe Conway sent me a link to Dublin on the Liffey that I found myself hypnotized by Jim Berkeley’s images of Ireland’s capital as reflected by the River Liffey. It’s a whole new way to see Ireland’s capital. Have a look for yourself.

www.dublinontheliffey.ie

Scone & cream at McCathy's Tea Room www.donegalsquare.com

Liam and I pretty much ate our way through the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA, September 23-25. Our visit began with hearty meal at McCarthy’s Tea Room. Then was time for some pre-festival drinks at the Bethlehem Inn.

Once the festival kicked off, we had to sample a little bit of everything. I have to say, Celtic Classic serves up some of the best festival food we’ve tasted… and we’re at a lot of fests. And our calorie count didn’t include the snacks we picked up at Donegal Square and the tea and scones from McCarthy’s.

The food, combined with great entertainment, Highland games, great vendors, and a warm welcome, made for a memorable weekend.

Saying “Hi!”

While we were there, we met a few folks who wanted to say a heart-felt, “Hello,” from the Celtic Classic.

Links to the folks above:
www.celticfest.org
www.celticsigns.com
www.DonegalSquare.com
www.ecptile.com
www.haymancelticjewelry.com
www.heartsofgalway.com
www.HealyEngraving.com
www.LiamShardJewelry.com
www.pamelasforgetmenots.com
www.theCelticCross.com
www.twitter.com/fatstinkindrunk
www.twitter.com/gingirlee

Just off the coast of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry are the scenic Blasket Islands. They poke out of the ocean like the tops of drowned mountains, so close yet so far away. In 1953 the hardy Irish-speaking  islanders left their insular homes to relocate to a more friendly environment. In their books they recorded a poignant lost way of life that seems romantic and sad at the same time. Today their once snug homes are abandoned ruins left to the elements. Their accomplishments are celebrated at the Blakset Island Center in Dunquin. The next Parrish is America!

© 2011 Michele Erdvig

“Ireland Travel Expert”

Web: IrelandYes.com

Book: Ireland Dream Trip

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Michele’s Irish Shop: www.zazzle.com/irelandyes*

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T With the Maggies CD release concert at City Halls in Glasgow. Photo courtesy Kerry Dexter - All Rights Reserved

A collection featuring the music of Northern Ireland, the debut recording of a New England based Celtic band, and a collaboration of four superstar musicians from Donegal: three more Irish and Celtic recordings to know.

Sound Neighbours

Is the music of Northern Ireland different from the music in the counties to the south which make up the republic? I’ll give a resounding yes and no on that one. As you’ll know if you’ve spent time on the island of Ireland, there are different accents and phrases and rhythms to the way people speak, in Irish and in English, all through the counties, north and south. The same is true of tune and song, which well may vary from one townland to the next, never mind county, in accent and emphasis.

That said, the twenty track collection Sound Neighbours, produced by Smithsonian Folkways and with liner notes by Northern Ireland musician Colum Sands, is good introduction to both music and musicians of the six counties. Sands himself has a song, The Donegall Road, which speaks of history and the promise of a new day.

Colum’s brother Tommy is there too, with There Were Roses, which puts a human and next door neighbor face on the sadness of the Troubles. It’s not all about politics by any means, though. Northern Man, performed by Different Drums, talks of love across borders, while Briege Murphy offers a traditional love song with a different ending in The Verdant Braes of Screen. Brothers Niall and Cillian Vallely join up for the tune The Singing Stream, while Roisin White offers the lively and funny praise of place in Omagh Town, and piper Jarlath Henderson gives a taste of the best of contemporary piping with The Old Bush Set.

Alternate Routes

Sarah Blair, Ariel Friedman, Liz Simmons, and Shannon Heaton each have careers as professional musicians, teaching, touring and performing in a variety of ways. None of them was exactly looking for another band to join. Still, the four friends found that the music they made together and the ways they thought about presenting music kept calling them to do just that — and so they did. The result is the band Long Time Courting. Their first album is called Alternate Routes.

It’s an engaging gathering of songs and tunes, which kicks off with Maggie Dean, which takes a twist on the story of a woman disguising herself as a sailor. Shannon Heaton wrote the words which she set to a traditional melody, and sings the lead. Polska Efter Elias Tallari is a set of tunes which takes things in a bit of a quieter direction for a moment, as does the band’s take on the song Barbara Allen, which they treat almost as a lament. In the Dog House is a set of tunes that kicks things up into high gear, pairing the set’s namesake tune, an original by Shannon Heaton, with two tunes from the tradition. Liz Simmons gives the right touch of storytelling to the lead on the tale My Johnny Was a Shoemaker. The York Street Stepper is another lively set of tunes, started off by the namesake piece, penned by fiddler Ellery Klein, founding member of Long Time Courting. Sarah Blair handles fiddling with the group these days. Friedman plays the cello, Simmons guitar, and Heaton flutes and whistles.

T With the Maggies

Moya Brennan, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill each spent part of their growing up years Donegal, in the far northwest of Ireland. Each of them also went on to make a career in music, gaining acclaim as members of bands including Clannad, Nightnoise, and Altan, and as solo artists as well. As the years drew on, the women would cross paths, and they’d remember how much they ahd enjoyed singing with each other when they were growing up. Several years ago Maighréad’s daughter invited them to perform together at the the Temple Bar Trad Festival in Dublin, and the seed of an album was planted

That seed has come to flowering on the album T With the Maggies, which is also what the four women call the group they’ve formed together. It’s a thoughtful and graceful collection, including songs from the tradition and several that the women wrote themselves. In them you can hear and feel the salt sea of of the Donegal coast as well as its haunting mountains and glens, and the humor and sorrow of the people.

Many of the songs are in Irish, but they start of with the lively and perhaps a bit enigmatic song Wedding Dress, which gives a taste of the fine harmony and stellar playing which carry through the project. Ceol an Phíobaire, A Stór A Stór A Ghrá and Bíod Orm Anocht are among the songs in Irish. Mother Song, which the four wrote together is a spare song inspired by the fact that people are emigrating from Ireland again these days. Domhnach na Fola, the most haunting song of on the album, is a response to the recent release of the findings of the Bloody Sunday enquiry in Derry.

Kerry Dexter writes about music, the arts,Ireland, and Scotland at Music Road. Strings, Perceptive Travel, and other places. More Irish Fireside posts from Kerry.

Cahir Castle - Photo courtesy Peter and Dalene Heck - all rights reserved by the artist.

Among Ireland’s largest and most memorable castles, Cahir Castle in County Tipperary finds its way to the favorites list of many visitors. Dalene and Peter Heck from www.hecktictravels.com would likely agree. The couple shared this image of Cahir Castle… follow the path and it will take you to the enchanted Swiss Cottage.

More photos of Cahir at:

www.hecktictravels.com/photos/cahir-castle-cahir-ireland

www.hecktictravels.com/cashel-cahir-ireland-photos

Dalene & Peter Heck, a Canadian couple, sold everything and have been on the road since 2009. Join their journey at www.hecktictravels.com.

We’re making our way from Milwaukee and will be hanging out in the Donegal Square tent all weekend long. We would LOVE to see you there. If you’re in the area, stop by and say, “hello.”

A Special Giveaway

We’ll be having a special giveaway for everyone who stops by and tells us they follow the Irish Fireside, so be sure to chat with us when you visit.

We’ll also have my shard jewelry on display… with an emphasis on the shards I recover in Ireland. You can save $10 on your favorite piece of shard jewelry at the Celtic Classic or in my online store.

$10 Off a piece of shard jewelry at www.LiamShardJewelry.com or the 2011 Celtic Classic. Use the code CLASSIC when checking out online to redeem your discount. Mention “Irish Fireside Discount” to Corey or Liam to get your discount at the Celtic Classic. Valid for shard jewelry only. Expires September 29, 2011.

The unique environment found in northern County Clare known as The Burren has been awarded the prestigious designation of membership of the UNESCO-supported Global Geopark network.

The Burren now becomes part of a unique group of world locations that form part of the Global Network of National Geoparks. There are currently 78 Geoparks in 26 countries worldwide and only two other sites in Ireland and Northern Ireland — Copper Coast Geopark and  Marble Arch Caves & Cuilcagh Mountain Park.

Vincent Cunnane of Shannon Development said “the Burren is recognised throughout the world as an iconic landscape of outstanding geology and breathtaking coastal scenery.  North Clare is famous for traditional music, dancing, match-making, Gaelic games, food, art, and literature. Integral to all of this is a thriving natural and cultural landscape that is difficult to find anywhere else in the world. This award now gives a platform for the further development of eco tourism businesses and other initiatives in the area.”

The new designation will not change anyone’s visit to The Burren or the nearby Cliffs of Moher, but it will raise International awareness for the this beautiful and unusual gem on Ireland’s West Coast.

Start Planning Your Trip the Burren >>

More about The Burren >>

This sculpture by Betty Newman Maguire offers a nod to Ireland's Viking past. This resemblance to a Viking longboat can be found on Dublin's Essex Quay. Photo by "infomatique William Murphy" - click photo to view original.

“Ann. 793 – In this year dire forewarnings came over the land of the Northumbrians, and miserably terrified the people; these were extraordinary whirlwinds and lightenings, and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air. A great famine soon followed these omens; and soon after that, in the same year, the havoc of heathen men miserably destroyed God’s church on Lindisfarne. . .” (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle)

The “miserable heathen” of whom these dire events forewarned were the Vikings. Popular legend has portrayed them as swift, merciless marauders, pagans who attacked the holy places of Ireland, Scotland and the surrounding islands without regard for anything but accumulating wealth and destroying everything they could. No wonder Celtic monks prayed regularly, “From the fury of the Northmen, O Lord deliver us.”

But God apparently had other ideas. For, despite the Vikings’ plundering of all things holy, the Irish eventually gave them the richest gift of all: Christian faith. In return, the Vikings gave the Irish towns and a place in the international economy.

An Island of Petty Chieftains… and Monasteries

In the late eighth century, Ireland was a land of petty chieftains and kings, all of whom fought vigorously and frequently with each other for the ultimate achievement of becoming High King over all kings. Ireland’s economy had not yet risen above that of a pastoral society, and it possessed no true towns or cities.

It did, however, possess monasteries – lots of them. The monks, according to historian Thomas Cahill, were in the process of saving civilization. After the fall of the Roman Empire, salvaged ancient manuscripts and knowledge found a home in the tiny, beehive-shaped Irish monastic cells called clocháns. The Irish monks extended their hunger for learning and recorded their culture’s own tales and legends. And, of course, these holy men became famous for their meticulous and ornate work in copying the Holy Scriptures. They created wonderfully ornate illustrated manuscripts, like The Book of the Kells and The Linisfarne Gospels.

The Cultural and Financial Wealth of Ireland

But these monasteries were more than just religious havens for monkish scholars. They were themselves miniature towns, attracting craftspeople, artisans and masons as well as monks. These artisans crafted wonderful works of art, such as the magnificent Ardagh Chalice and numerous intricately carved stone crosses.

Because Ireland’s many kings frequently served as priests and sponsored individual monasteries, these holy places also became centers of economic and political power. In fact, the monasteries functioned as the main financial institutions of their time, the repositories of the rich accumulation of their priest-kings. The rivalry between tribes meant that they plundered these repositories repeatedly, long before any Viking raiders appeared on the scene.

These Irish-initiated raids made it clear to the Vikings that the miniature towns contained a good deal of wealth – and that it was pretty much there for the taking. Archaeologist Magnus Magnusson explains, “A short experience of the country would have taught even a freelance Viking band that a raid on an Irish monastery was a sound economic proposition.” (Vikings, Dutton 1980)

The Earliest Viking Raids

Viking raids led the monks of Iona to move with their illuminated manuscripts to Kells.

Pragmatists that they were, the Vikings could not resist the lure of wealth. Initially motivated to explore the Orkney and Shetland Islands and Scotland with a view to settling there, they soon realized that land was not all the area had to offer. Thus in 793, the Vikings performed their first recorded raid on a monastery – the one on Lindisfarne.

Other raids followed with disheartening regularity. At first, the Vikings held a raiding “season” from May to September each year, then returned home to winter in Norway. Over a 25-year period, 26 important attacks were recorded in the Irish Annals alone. But many more remained unrecorded.

The first Irish monastery plundered was Rechru on Rathlin Island off the northeast Irish coast in 795. The monastery on Iona, off Scotland’s west coast, must have been rich pickings. It was raided in 795, 802 and 806. The monks finally gave up in 807 and moved the entire community to Kells in Ireland, where the inland location offered greater safety from Viking raids. The large, wealthy monastery of Armagh, which held a protected place inland in northern Ireland, was plundered three times within one month in 832. The Vikings’ audacity hit these monks particularly hard, since the Abbot of Armagh was also head of the Irish Church.

Drawn in by Ireland’s Riches, Slaves and Hostages

At first, the Vikings interested themselves only in valuables hidden in the monasteries. These included gold and silver (usually decorations wrenched from their ecclesiastical host objects), valuable and useful secular items (such as buckets or chests) and slaves. This last category quickly gained importance to the Northmen. The monasteries may have lost their wealth after a Viking raid, but that did not stop repeated attacks. The Vikings soon learned to hold rich or important Christians for ransom. The Northmen sold those who could not be ransomed into slavery.

But riches did not deter the Viking invaders from their original intent forever. By the 830s, the Northmen targeted larger inland monasteries and set up settlements in Ireland proper. They attacked Armagh and took Forannán, its Abbot, captive along with St. Patrick’s halidoms. Forannán returned, with St. Patrick’s relics, the next year – no doubt having been ransomed at great expense.

The Irish Fight Back

Irish Begin to Fight Back as the Vikings Extend the Raising Season and Establish Permanent Settlements
The marauding season extended itself into the winter, originating now from Viking-established longphorts (fortresses) like Dublin and Limerick. In 841, one Irish annalist recorded laconically, “Pagans still on Lough Neagh.” Despite his curtness, the annalist found the Vikings’ over-wintering surprising and important enough to warrant recording.

But now the major Irish kings began to fight back, and found themselves successful at fending off Viking raiders. The King of Tara, Niall Caille, gained victory over Northmen in Donegal in 841. Cerball, the King of Osraige, killed over 1200 Vikings in 846-7. In 848, Olchobar and Lorccán, kings of Munster and Leinster, together defeated their foes in County Kildare. So successful were the Irish against the Vikings that an emissary to Charles the Bald wrote in 848, “The Irish attacked the Vikings and with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ they were victorious and drove them out of their territory.”

Towns, Trade and Integration

Dubh Linn Garden behind Dublin's Chester Beatty Library stands in the spot where the Vikings once secured their longboats. In Irish “dubh linn” or "Dublin" means “black pool.” Photo by Robert Beaverson.

The Irish kings, although sometimes victorious, made no real effort to drive the Viking foreigners from their land. Instead, they hired seasoned Viking raiders as military “extras.” Longphorts like Dublin and Limerick soon became thriving centers of international trade, nurtured by Viking merchants. These Scandinavian merchants and warriors began a chain of events that created the first true Irish towns, among them Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford. These towns became important economic forces, lifting Ireland out of a pastoral economy.

Economics began the integration of the Northmen into Irish society. Irish and Scandinavian artistic motifs became entwined, creating beautiful and sought-after metal work. It wasn’t long before the Vikings forsook their own pagan religion and followed the Irish into Christianity. They began to endow their children with Irish names. By the end of the ninth century, the Vikings had become permanent inhabitants of Ireland. The raiding continued on into the tenth, ending conclusively in 1014 with Brian Boru’s victory at the Battle of Clontarf.

The End of an Era

Viking expansion signaled the beginning of the end of the monastic era in Ireland. But while the Vikings stole away something with their right hand, they did give the Irish something back with their left. The Vikings gained wealth, a new land in which to settle and the comfort and challenge of the Christian religion. The Irish acquired converts, towns and international trading, bringing them out of a pastoral economy and into the “modern” world.

As Thomas Cahill asserts, the Irish did save civilization through the work that went on in their tiny clocháns. But the marauding Vikings helped bring that civilization back to the world.

Writer G Beaverson has a passion for Ireland, and she blogs about cool shoes worn by children’s book literati at http://gbeaverson.livejournal.com.

Ireland, its quite nice actually! from jonny pardoe on Vimeo.

I fell in love with Ireland again this summer! With all the bad press and recession talk I thought I’d put together something a little more positive. These photographs were all taken in Ireland, the vast majority in the last few months. All photos are copyright Jonny Pardoe Photography but feel free to share the link! Music by The Heathers “Remember When.”

More from Jonny Pardoe >>

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.

John Quinn Ceramic Artist from Mark Long on Vimeo.

One of Ireland’s leading ceramic artists speaks about his work, inspiration and method. www.bizarroceramics.com. For those visiting Cork, John has also been invited to exhibit at the forthcoming Glucksman Gallery Craft Fair in the city on November 4-6th – www.glucksman.org.

Irish Coin Cufflinks has been busy turning these beauties into, well, cufflinks. And they are giving one lucky Irish Firesider a set of 1968 3d Cufflinks (those are the ones with the Irish hare on them). To enter the drawing, you’ll need to answer bit of Irish coin trivia.

While nosing around the TripBase website, I spotted a few widgets they created that help answer those questions.

Travel Cost Calculator

Their “Travel Cost Calculator” estimates how much you will likely spend in a specific place. All the major Irish towns and cities are covered, and it’s fun to compare one place to another… especially pitting a small town against a city and getting a feel for how much each would cost.

As you review the results, you should imagine my voice in the back of your head saying, “now, these rates really depend on your travel style and what kinds of things you buy and what types of sites you visit and…” Yes, the how much will it cost question can be the hardest one to answer.

Oh, and at the moment, the “Budget” rates are coming in higher than the “Mid-Range,” so I’m thinking the numbers are “swapped.”

Travel Weather and Season Predictor

The second widget uses weather data to give you an idea of what the weather will be like when you travel Ireland…

Well, it does the best it can for a place like the Emerald Isle. It’s important to remember the widget is showing you averages, so don’t get discouraged… or overconfident. Irish weather is going to do what it wants

Annual Weather Conditions At-a-Glance

The third widget gives you a snapshot of annual weather conditions for a specific town or city.

I’ve put in a few for you already…

Megaliths: Stone Circle from Mark Long on Vimeo.

Drombeg Stone Circle, also known as the Druids Altar is one of Ireland’s most famous Bronze Age monuments. Also present at the site is a Fulacht Fiadh or ancient communal cooking pit.

Megaliths: Standing Stone & Burial Ground from Mark Long on Vimeo.

Derrara Standing Stone is located in the grounds of the Sacred Heart Church. Standing Stones are sites of ancient religious ceremonies, sometimes containing burial chambers.

Megaliths: Wedge Tomb from Mark Long on Vimeo.

The wedge tomb at Island Bridge, Burnfort, Cork, Ireland, was constructed in the early Bonze Age. Evidence of cremated burial was found in several areas of the main chamber, as well as worked flint and scrapers.

You can see more videos by Mark Long at www.vimeo.com/user2586152 (including some gorgeous views of Kinsale Harbor) or visit his website at www.marklong.ie.

Painting during the Festival. Photo courtesy of Paul Freeney Photography - all rights reserved by the artist

You could say my Irish experience began way back when I was just a teenager. I read stories about Ireland, looked at photography books about Ireland, and was routinely given books about Ireland for my birthday.

Move ahead, many years, to 2011. I decided the way to get to Ireland was to find some painting pals there.  I did the only logical thing to do in 2011 — I Googled it and found the website, Plein Eire.  The site had just begun, and I helped me start talking to the other, mostly Irish, artists on the site. I soon heard about their relatively new plein air festival, Art In The Open, which had started in 2007 (more about the artform of “en plein air“).  Held each summer, in 2011 it would run July 29 to August 1, and I started hatching a plan to attend!

The Largest Plein Air Painting Festival in Europe

This year’s event was going to be the largest to date, with 122 artists from around the world, and billed as the “largest plein air painting festival in Europe.” It was to be packed with extras, such as three paint-outs (on-location painting sessions) before and after the festival, BBQs, figure drawing, workshops, and always lots of good craic! The paint-outs would meet at a different location each day, ranging from lighthouses, local fishing villages, beaches, and local towns.  The festival itself was held in Wexford in the southeast of Ireland, along the coast.

I arrived in Wexford, via bus from Dublin, on my own, dragging my bag with painting things in it behind me and a pack on my back. I had a room in a local B & B, which had several rooms partially sponsored by local businesses, a real bonus.

Time with the Locals

On the first full day in Wexford, I walked to Spectrum Art Supplies, owned by Tony Robertson, who had come up with the idea of a festival four years before.  I thought I’d have a leisurely walk around the town to see what was where.  Once in the store though, I found I had a lift in 5 minutes to Kilmore Quay for a paint out!  With help, I retrieved my painting things and headed, with Neil the driver, a local painter, as well as Antti, an artist from Finland, to Kilmore Quay.  It turned into a chilly, blustery, typically Irish day — wet, but wonderful.

So began a week’s worth of wonderful painting, wonderful new friendships, and experiences.  The festival itself had everyone painting in Enniscorthy and Wexford.  On Monday, August 1, a bank holiday, there were workshops given by three wonderful international artists, with the day culminating in an art opening and exhibition of 250 paintings.

Our first main evening was taken up with a fantastic BBQ at Wexford’s T. Morris pub with burgers, Guinness, and lots of great craic!  There was a group playing instruments that surprisingly for me were performing Bob Dylan tunes!  I walked over to tell them that I played the same ones on guitar at home, and I was handed an instrument!  Despite having broken my left hand before leaving the states, I was determined to make the most of this experience.  What fun!  To get to play everything from Dylan, to trad Irish music with a great group of people!  What a night!

There is no way to include all the experiences I had in Ireland and at Art In The Open, but I will say that I feel as if I have a whole new family of friends, who will stay in my heart forever.  Here’s a 10 minute video, that will give you a glimpse into Art In The Open:

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

For more information on the event, to see more photos, or to receive information on next year’s festival:

• www.artintheopen.org
• www.pleineire.ning.com
• www.facebook.com/artintheopen

Photo courtesy of Paul Freeney Photography - all rights reserved by the artist

This article was submitted by painter Elaine Hurst. You can visit her website to learn more about artwork at www.elainehurst.com. You may recognize her as one of the first artists featured in our Artist’s Eye series.

Mobile Booking

After testing the booking features of the iPhone app for a few dates and routes, I can say it works pretty well. If there are no dates for your query, the app deadends with a “no match found” message, but the back button lets you try again. I also had to be careful when I changed airports because the app seemed to switch to a default airport (I really didn’t plan on a trip to Aberdeen-ABZ or Amsterdam-AMS).

The biggest turnoff in booking via the app is that when it came time for the final booking, the app sent me over to the Aer Lingus website. Sadly the site is absolutely not mobile friendly. In order to complete the booking, I’d need to do a lot of zooming and scrolling. Therefore, it was doable, but quite annoying. The verdict… I’ll still be booking my tickets online.

Information

The information tab is basic and helpful with only six options, so it won’t answer all questions. Hats off to Aer Lingus for making the baggage info clearer and easier to find than on their main website – it’s amazing how simplifying the text and adding “Shorthaul – within Europe” and “Longhaul – from USA” to the baggage info can eliminate a lot of confusion.

The contact information is listed, but it is NOT set up for one-click calling, texting, or emailing — that’s a pretty shameful omission for a mobile app, but at least I can write it down… if I have a pen handy.

My Booking

Since I don’t have any pending bookings with Aer Lingus, I wasn’t able to test the most notable features of the app under the “My Bookings” tab. These include information on specific bookings, mobile check-in, seat selection, and flight status (many of these features are only available on a limited number of routes between Dublin and the UK).

Mobile Website

The headline in the Aer Lingus press release claimed they have a new mobile site. Sorry, but www.AerLingus.com is NOT mobile friendly… at least not yet. When I visited the site via my mobile browser today, it had no mobile-friendly features. It even included that annoying popup window that appears on their desktop page. Grrrrrr.

Conclusion

The app is free and works smoothly. Without testing the My Bookings features, I can’t really give it a full review. That said, the Flight Status feature (under “Flights”) will come in handy for those of us collecting friends and family at the airport as it quickly tells when a flight will arrive.

Aer Lingus says “This is phase one of a number of phases to be introduced as mobile technology advances,” so we’ll see what features they add (but that description sounds pretty vague to me).

Download the Aer Lingus iPhone App >>

Download the Android Phone App >>

Read the Press Release “Aer Lingus Announces New App and Mobile Website”>>

Here are some screenshots from the app:

I would have loved to have been in Ireland last weekend, but I was perfectly content with the hundred thousand welcomes I received at Milwaukee Irish Fest. There’s something about an Irish festival that gives us an interim taste of the Emerald Isle between trips (even if it includes a few things that don’t resemble anything I’ve seen in Ireland – Can anyone say shamrock sequined feather boas and leather kilts?).

Some Folks Wanted to say, “Hello!” to You

I met loads of people from Ireland and the US promoting Ireland who want to say, “Hello,” to YOU! Just for fun, I snapped their pics (links to their web addresses can be found at the bottom)…

My Favorite Moments

The very best memories from the festival came when some of YOU stopped by to say hello. I’m glad I had a chance to chat with so many of you… and my apologies to those whose visits were cut short because our booth was so busy (a popular booth is both a blessing and a curse).

A special shout out to Andy, Anne, Annie, Barb, Bill, Bit, Breda, Brendan, Bridget, Cari, Carol, Chris, Christian, Christine, Doug, Eileen, Flano, Fran, George, Gillian, Gwen, Heidi, Jayne, Jeanette, Jessie, Jill, John, Joyce, Judy, Karen, Katie, Katy, Kelly, Kieran, Laura, Liz, Maureen, Michele, Mike, Nancy, Pat, Patty, Peggy, Pete, Ronan, Rory, Ryan, Sarah, Sean, Shawn, Sheila, Siobhan, Susan, Tim, Tom, Tristan, and anyone I might have missed. All these Irish Firesiders took time out of their day to visit us, and we really appreciate it!

Our next stop, the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA, on September 23-25. If you’ll be in the area, definitely stop by and visit us in the Donegal Square tent.

If you’d like us to visit your local Irish festival, be sure to recommend us to festival organizers. We’d be happy to join the craic, talk about Irish travel, and/or show off our shard jewelry from Ireland.

7NewWonders – www.new7wonders.com
Ballynahinch Castle – www.ballynahinch-castle.com
Causeway Coast and Glens – www.causewaycoastandglens.com
Clanree Hotel – www.clanreehotel.com
Cliffs of Moher – www.cliffsofmoher.ie
County Clare - www.clare.ie
Derry Visitor – www.derryvisitor.com
Discover Ireland – www.discoverireland.com
Earthen Craft Pottery – www.ecptile.com
Edel MacBride – www.facebook.com/pages/fashionknitwear#!/fashionknitwear
Galway – www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-places-to-go/counties/galway/
Harvey’s Point – www.harveyspoint.com
Ireland of the Welcomes – www.irelandofthewelcomes.com
Kilrush – www.kilrush.ie
Liam the Extra Large Leprechaun – www.facebook.com/pages/Liam-the-extra-large-Leprechaun/59093542158
Loughs Agency – www.loughs-agency.org
Manor House Hotels – www.manorhousehotels.com
North West Ireland -  www.irelandnorthwest.ie
Support Irish Theatre – www.supportirishtheatre.com

I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything described as Hindu-Gothic before finding Dromana Gate. The arched opening covers a little road between Cappoquin and Villerstown in County Waterford. It was built as a temporary wedding present for a popular landlord around 1830, and he and his bride liked it so much, they had a permanent version constructed.

Abandoned Ireland has a nice write-up about the site. The gate is near Lismore and I often stop there on my way from the Waterford Coast to The Vee which is an enchanted lookout on the Waterford-Tipperary border… especially in rhododendron season (yes, I know the rhododendrons are an invasive species, but they’re so darned pretty).

Irish Sky – Can you spot the Troll? from CPPHOTO on Vimeo.

I couldn’t pass up sharing this great time-lapsed imagery from County Kerry. This scene is on the famous Ring of Kerry and shows some of the varied skies you might find on your travels. Click the link for more info.

But not everyone knows about the university’s Science Gallery which currently presents “Elements: The Beauty of Chemistry” through September 23, 2011. Whether you’re heading to Ireland or not, this certainly offers a new way of looking at the periodic table… definitely watch the videos below.

Visit the Trinity College Dublin Science Gallery >>

Read the Guardian article “Beautiful Elements” >>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4XIOpKWc1Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbZEJ7fTH7s

For some reason I’ve got Valentia Island on my mind. It’s located on the tip of the Ring of Kerry and is reachable on one side by ferry and the other by bridge.

This cottage shows the wear and tear of life on the edge of the sea, but on the day I was there it was warm and sunny… a wonderful day indeed.

Magnificent Sky from McKay Glasgow on Vimeo.

This video brings me back to my first experience driving on an Irish beach. For me, it was at Dungannon on the Hook Head Peninsula in County Wexford. This one was filmed on Inch Strand on the Dingle Peninsula (Corca Dhuibhne in Irish… even if the film-makers say it’s Ventry Bay).

Skibbereen 1847 by Cork artist James Mahony (1810–1879), commissioned by Illustrated London News - via Wikipedia

Do you have any recommendations for a good book on the potato famine?

– Dana S via Twitter

Ireland suffered more than one famine in its history, but the years between 1845 and 1852 mark the era many call the Irish Potato Famine. A million died and another million emigrated… quite a grim time in Irish history. Yet, it is also the period in which many of the Irish diaspora recognize as their family’s direct ties to Ireland… making the period an important part of their personal history.

For book suggestions, I asked our readers to peek into their personal libraries and give a shout out to the books they’d recommend in both fiction and non-fiction…

• The Great Hunger: Ireland: 1845-1849 by Cecil Woodham Smith — recommended by Kerry Dexter/Felicity Hayes-McCoy/R L Larking via Twitter and Nancy Curtis Caramanico via Facebook
• Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti – recommended by Georgia Beaverson via Google+
• Life on a Famine Ship: A Journal of the Irish Famine 1845-1850 by Duncan Crosbie — recommended by Guinness Tart via Facebook
• Irish Famine (Abrams Discoveries) by Peter Gray — recommended by Claudine X. Ypsilon via Facebook
• The Hungry Land by Michael Mullen — recommended by Mindie Burgoyne via Facebook
• Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly – for those looking for fiction — recommended by Kerry Dexter via Twitter
• Whitest Flower by Brendan Graham — recommended by Catherine Clarke via Twitter
• The Great Shame: And the Triumph of the Irish in the English-Speaking World by Thomas Keneally — recommended by Ruth Speir Kuehn via Facebook
• Great Famine: Ireland’s Agony 1845-1852 by Ciaran O Murchadha — recommended by KeelaCom via Twitter

And if you need a break from the page, Cindy Thomson reminds us that the Rosie O’Donnell episode of “Who Do You Think You Are?” had a very moving segment on the Famine.

Feel free to add your recommendations in the comments section below.

Visit Amazon.com’s Section on Books About the Potato Famine >>

Tilt Shift – Limerick Toytown from Conor Bryce on Vimeo.

When I spotted this video of Limerick streets, I just had to share. Firstly, the tilt-shift filming technique facinates me… it makes places look like toy towns. Secondly, it gives a little peek at the Limerick I know… a bustling city with shops and restaurants and pubs and people.

Limerick often gets a bum rap from guidebooks. It’s a Viking city that had a notable building boom during the Georgian era… that means some wider streets and big, gray stone buildings that are usually much more interesting on the inside. So, comparing it to places like Galway or Cork with their their quaint, narrow streets with clusters of small buildings is a bit like comparing a six-pack of one beer to a keg of another… it really depends on what you’re looking for.

Limerick also gets labeled as a dangerous city… gotta say, in all my years, I haven’t seen anything that made Limerick appear more dangerous for tourists than any other Irish city… standard travel safety tips apply in Ireland, and Limerick is no different.

While in Limerick, I’d recommend the Hunt Museum, the Milk Market, the pedestrian shopping streets in city centre… and I’m keen to inspect the new Frank McCourt Museum when I get over there… and since Limerick is the European City of Sport in 2011, I might suggest a visit to Thomond Park Rugby Stadium.

Galway Arts Festival Parade 2011 from Christopher Tierney on Vimeo.

Held every July, the Galway Arts Festival delivers one of Ireland’s premier arts festivals that includes theater, dance, comedy, music, visual arts, and glorious street performance like the scenes from the parade featured in the video above.

It’s a lovely time to be in Galway. Accommodations can be limited at peek times, so it’s a good idea to book in advance (although I managed get a room at a B&B within walking distance of city centre by just walking up).

And as an added bonus, here’s another segment on street performers.

Galway.com – Arts Festival 2011 Street Performers from Galway.com on Vimeo.

Submitted by James Burke from www.biggerpictureweb.com

Download the Croke Park Game Guide to learn more about Gaelic Games

Although I’ve been watching the Irish sports of Hurling and Gaelic Football for years, I still rely on my Irish neighbors to explain the rules during every match. Like any sport, there’s more to it than scoring a goal… and each game seems to bring in to focus a different rule.

My visit to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Museum at Dublin’s Croke Park filled in many of the gaps of what I know about the games, but more importantly, it displayed the cultural identity these sports offer the Irish.

Croke Park offers a Downloadable Game Guide  that gives info about the stadium and a quick overview of the games.

You can learn more about Croke Park and the GAA in our interview with Julie Manahan – The Thrill of the Gaelic Games at Croke Park.

And here’s a video clip to help you Feel the Buzz of Croke Park:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCYSflQwc7o

This article features some beautiful photos and a video from a motorcycling adventure.

Eager Riders – Motorcycling in Ireland >>

And if you enjoy that, you will also want to read one from the Montreal Gazette that tells the story of an Alberta motorcycling quartet who take a circle tour around Ireland they dubbed ’50 Pints in 50 Pubs’.

An Easy Ride Around 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.

We’ve touched on the topic of money several time, but today I wanted to point you to Michele Erdvig’s Ireland Top 10 Money Tips. As usual, she does a great job of outlining the topic and gives us some excellent advice.

Read Michele’s Tips >>

Episode Guide – Podcast

It’s the season of Sundays in Irish sport, and there’s no better place than Dublin’s Croke Park, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), to take in a match.

CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes – here’s our link for Techies

"U2 at Croke Park, Dublin on 27 July 2009. Photo by Boldorak.

Show Notes:

• www.crokepark.ie
• www.crokeparktickets.ie
• www.gaa.ie
• www.glasnevintrust.ie

00:00

• Intro: The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin & Noel McQuaid

00:23

• GAA, Croke Park, and Julie Manahan.

00:52

• E-news

01:00

• Liam in Ireland

01:25

• Great deals on Waterford, Belleek, Woolens, accommodations, and restaurants.

02:50

• Sales online and in newspapers. Shelbourne Hotel was having a €99 sale.
• Inch House in Tipperary. Earlybird special €55 meal dropped to €35.

04:00

• Croke Park for the Wexford vs. Dublin Gaelic Football match.
• Croke Park Experience Tour available year-round.

05:20

• Premier Level (VIP) would be Liam’s choice for a match with food and drink.

06:00

• On non-match days, Liam recommends to combine Croke Park with Glasnevin Cemetery.

08:38

• Croke Park is easy to get to… walk or cab. Cab from Croke Park to Bus Station was €10.

Munster v Leinster Football at Croke Park. Photo M+MD.

10:00

• Julie Manahan – what makes Croke Park such a special place to the Irish.
• Gaelic Athletic Association

11:50

• Games nearly every Sunday between May – September. With finals in September. It can be difficult to get tickets to a final.

13:08

• What would a typical game day itinerary include? Packages can include Game Guide, GAA Museum, Tour, Meal, Minor Match, Senior Match. www.crokeparktickets.ie

17:00

• Seated stands – Dineen-Hill 16 Terrace – built out of the rubble from O’Connell Street during the 1916 Rising.

19:00

• Croke Park Tours and GAA Museum offered all year long. Croke Park rooftop tours are “coming soon.”

20:00

• What are the prices?

22:30

• How much time for the tour and the museum?

23:00

• Julie also recommends a stop by Glasnevin Cemetery. It’s next door to the Botanical Gardens.

24:12

• How should you travel between Croke Park to Glasnevin Cemetery?

24:30

• What else goes on at Croke Park.

26:00

• Where would one find out about what is going on at Croke Park? www.crokepark.ie

26:45

• How can some see a match if they will not be Dublin? Visit the tourist office because there matches all over the country… they can sell the tickets there.

27:40

• What is your favorite spot in Croke Park?

Photo by LWY

Hidden in plain sight, Cork’s indoor English Market offers a secret city within the center of town. After Ireland With Kids reminded us Don’t Miss the English Market in Cork and RTÉ Radio 1′s Documentary called Cork’s Hidden Village, I’m keen to return.

My favorite line from the documentary came from a merchant who followed in her mother’s footsteps in the market, “My mother fed Cork.” That comment summed it up… people in the market really do see themselves as a vital part of the community. I must say, the documentary also shows us there are some wonderful characters selling in the market as well.

• Listen to the RTÉ Radio 1′s: Cork’s Hidden Village >>
• Read Ireland with Kids: Don’t Miss the English Market in Cork >>

Warning: there’s a swear word used in this video.

Belleek Mark - Photo By Le Petit Poulailler

The notable pottery produced in Belleek has been produced for 150 years. Tours of the factory get you up close to the craftspeople as they work.

The clip above offers a great introduction, and this episode of Ireland’s Countrywise takes an even closer look. If you’ve got a piece of Belleek in your home, you might enjoy visiting Belleek’s website where you can date the mark on the bottom.

Pauline Frommer talked about her recent trip to Northern Ireland.

I was happy to see travel expert Pauline Frommer took a moment to offer some insight from her recent trip to Northern Ireland. She was there during the riots and took the opportunity to talk to people about it. Anyone with an interest in travel to Northern Ireland should give this article a read.

Pauline Frommer: Northern Ireland wins you over >>

Read My Review of Pauline Frommer’s Ireland Spend Less See More >>

Carved arch at Dysert O'Dea by Karen J. Newhouse of CapallGlas Studio

I have been to the Burren area in Co. Clare and Co. Galway a number of times. Initially I was addicted to the prehistoric tombs most popularly recognized by the example of Poulnabrone, one of Ireland’s most photographed dolmens.

Then I found a book at a used book store.

“Forgotten Stones: Ancient Church Sites of the Burren and Environs” by Averil Swinfen was published in 1992. It is a collection of photographs and sketches of the tiny and not-so-tiny churches of the Burren region. Each entry includes a short story of the site, with as much information as the author could find in old manuscripts, church records, and local stories.

I have been slowly collecting a series of photographs and sketches from this list for a comparison, with a casual eye to someday working up a follow-up study of the same subject, so we can see how the sites are faring twenty years later.

Visiting the Sites… Large and Small

The larger sites are easily visited, well-signed, and free to enter. This list includes Corcomroe also known as St. Mary’s of the Fertile Rock; Dysert O’Dea, with a serene arch of carved faces, round tower, and high cross; Kilfenora with a large collection of high crosses; and Kilmacduagh, a large monastic complex of buildings just over the border in Galway.

Many sites are quite lovely, though less well-known, and easily accessed from main roads around the Burren. Most have a small pull-aside for a few cars. This list includes sites such as Kilnaboy with its Sheela-na-Gig; Romanesque Rath with its stone carvings, and view of the surrounding countryside; Carron with a nearby bronze age cairn; picturesque Noughaval with an ancient cross and friendly cat; Drumacreehy near Ballyvaughan; and the easily accessed Kilonaghan on the main coast road not far from Fanore Beach.

There are also some gems, further off the beaten track, but well worth hunting down. Kilcorney is a beautiful site, deep in the heart of the Burren, off a side road north of Kilfenora. The stunning Oughtmama churches are on private property but can be accessed if you take a walking tour offered by local “Burren Wild” tours.

The Hunt Continues

I still have some to find. I have not yet tracked down Sladoo or Killina, and I have not yet heard the bells of the sunken church of Kilstapheen, lost in Liscannor Bay during an earthquake on the day before the Feast of St. Patrick around 800AD.

I have documented about half of the small churches in the “Forgotten Stones” book, plus others nearby such as Kilmurray-Ibrickane. Many times I have found out how to access sites by asking my B&B hosts or showing my well-worn book and my sketches at a pub or teashop.

Often, as you plan a trip to Ireland, you aim to get to as many places as possible in the time allotted. You can barely take a breath as you pass by the most beautiful landscape in the world while sitting in your tour bus. The Burren drags me in as often as it can, and like many places in Ireland, there is so much more to see when you stop to look around.

Submitted by Karen J. Newhouse. Her Ireland-inspired artwork can be found at CapallGlas Studio.

This is a scene off the Coast Road in County Clare between Fanore and Doolin includes a view of Galway in the far distance. Jacqueline painted, ‘Coast of Clare’ on location on a warm July day during a 2-week stay in the Burren.

Her ancestors hail from Headford and Kilgarven, in County Kerry, and she has visited twice from her home state of Connecticut. Jacqueline says, “Ireland’s beautiful and wild landscape fueled me with endless
inspiration.”

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Jody and her family at Bunratty castle

Jody Halsted from www.irelandwithkids.com gives her tips for traveling with the kids as well as shares her secrets to finding fairies on the Emerald Isle.

Show Notes:

01:00
What makes Ireland perfect for traveling with family?

01:40
How is traveling Ireland different from elsewhere?

02:40
How do you prepare your kids for travel?

03:00
Any special paperwork or duties required for traveling with kids?

03:50
What ages should kids be to explore Ireland/Dublin?

05:15
Hunting for fairies in Ireland – watch Jody’s fairy hunting video.

06:50
Memories from Ireland… pubs, fish and chips, live sessions.

08:20
Castles with the kids… and getting “over-castlated.”

Kilkenny, Muckross House (Killarney), Bunratty.

10:40
Slow down and taking the time to do other things.

10:55
Jen Leo and Cora visit Ireland.

12:12
Where do you stay? B&Bs? Castles? Family rooms?

13:05
Is it too expensive to take the kids to Ireland?

14:00
What mode of traffic do you travel in Ireland?

15:00
What are the biggest mistakes parents make when visiting Ireland?

15:45
Shipping supplies to Ireland.

16:40
Having your laundry done in Ireland.

17:00
Pull-it-yourself luggage for the kids. The Trunki – read Jody’s review.

Flights, car seats, and booster seats. Cares Harness. Boost-a-Pack – read Jody’s review.

19:40
Must-see destinations for families.
• Killarney/Ring of Kerry/Dingle
• Clare/Cliffs of Moher/Doolin/Ennis/Aran Islands
• Wexford/Wicklow Mountains/coasts/lighthouses
• Cashel/Cahir

22:00
B&B owners are great resources.

Stay more than one night in one place.

24:00
www.irelandwithkids.com
www.familyrambling.com

25:30
What on you’re next agenda?
Northern Ireland, Derry (Londonderry), Wexford
Causeway Coast and Glens
Inishowen Peninsula

27:30
Resources:
Regional tourist websites
www.irelandyes.com
Facebook tourism pages
B&B websites (do they list things to do in the area)

28:40
Tips for preserving your trip to Ireland?
• Scrapbooking
• Digital copy of photos
• Ferry coins
• Photos of entrances, unique occurances, signs (English Market in Cork, Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Piggery)

31:50
Share your stories of traveling Ireland with kids at www.irelandwithkids.com.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes – here’s our link for Techies

An Irish cottage in New York City?!? Would you believe this photo was taken in Manhattan? The picturesque scene was transported from Ireland to create the Irish Hunger Memorial.

Today’s FriFotos theme on Twitter is HISTORY, and that got me thinking of the Irish diaspora and their impact on culture around the world. The Irish truly have changed the course of history in many lands… hopefully for the better !

It might surprise you to find out the photo above was not taken in Ireland… instead, Corey snapped it last year while in New York City! The Irish Hunger Memorial is located in Battery Park City at the west end of Vesey Street.

The site looks as though a plot of land was plucked from the Irish countryside and transported to the Big Apple. There is a ruined cottage and stones collected from each county in Ireland.

(Our apologies to Armagh, Corey missed photographing your stone – if anyone visits there, send us a pic… it’s at the top of the hill):

– Tanya Wren via Twitter

I should start by confessing my bias. I love Northern Ireland, so it pains me every time the country gets bad press.

Last week at the same time one of her own was celebrating victory at the US Open, Northern Ireland made headlines as two nights of riots on Belfast’s east side were stealing the spotlight.

Rather than drill down a list of stats illustrating facts like you are more likely to get hit by a bus than get caught up in violence in Northern Ireland or outline how recent events differ from those of the 70s and 80s, I chose to ask people who live in Northern Ireland, people who just visited, and people who will be visiting soon to share their thoughts on the topic.

Hopefully by reading what they have to say, you will either feel confident in your decision to steer clear or find your enthusiasm roused for your trip to a wonderful corner of Ireland.

A special thanks to everyone who volunteered to be included in this post both in words and photos. Feel free to leave your comments at the end.

Life Must Go On

The Tall Ships Festival in Belfast. Photo by OlivIreland.

Cindi Callaway is putting the finishing touches on her first Irish itinerary.

I’ve not been to Belfast or any part of Ireland before. The area is so historic, how could I not visit when in Ireland? I have to admit, I’ll be traveling with my sister-in-law who was born in Belfast and she goes back every three years.

I’ve been reading about the riots and violence, and I’m not phased about it. My brother took his honeymoon there during the troubles and continued to go back. I’m not going to let some riots affect my enjoyment of a holiday. I’m from Washington, DC, so I’ve lived with the threat of terrorism my whole life, and life must go on.

I’m excited about the trip. Especially looking forward to seeing the Giants Causeway.

Putting This Part of Ireland on the Map

Students from Bushmills and Portstewart come together in a cross-community project that promotes peace by teaching them how to use a Stand Up Paddleboard.

John Bustard, a SUP’rstar from www.SurfSUPNI.com and fixture in promoting his region of Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast and Glens.

It’s been pretty disappointing for the 99% of the population who are getting on with all this and running great experiences and events and putting this part of Ireland on the map in a positive way!

I think it’s important to put things in perspective. There are always going to be areas (which in context are not exactly centres of tourism) in the US and in Ireland that may not be appropriate for visitors seeking a fun and safe experience.

That said, many folks want to visit somewhere with a little ‘edginess’ in order to make it interesting. I think our social history is appealing, and I think Northern Ireland has come along way in articulating its story in a more positive way. It’s easy to avoid trouble here. Just take the main tours and enjoy the many signature trails available.

Coastal walk at Cushendall. Photo by Christy Jackson Nicholas.

Just be open about your concerns when visiting here – say something like “I’d like to have a fun and safe trip in Northern Ireland – anything going on I should know about?” People are SO honest and friendly (even those with quite polar political opinions!). WE NEED YOU GUYS to continue to believe in us so please keep enjoying the best golf, most amazing scenery, and best experiences in Northern Ireland.

I’ve attached an image from one of our cross community projects – kids from Bushmills and Portstewart hanging out together and learning Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP). I’ve been involved in this sort of cross-community stuff for 10 years, and it’s so normal nowadays to see groups coming together that the issues have dissipated on most levels.

So – if your folks are nervous, tell them not to be and just ask good questions on arrival (like I would if I arrived at New York’s Grand Central info point as a greenhorn visitor). Hey, if you’re still nervous – book a paddleboard lesson with me at www.surfsupni.com, and I’ll evacuate you from the beaches if your still a little shook – Is it a deal?!

Not Willing to Risk Becoming an Innocent Bystander

The murals of Belfast. Photo by Tony Smith.

Judy Arnold returned from her visit to Ireland last week and she intentionally avoided Northern Ireland on this trip.

As an adult I have no problem visiting Northern Ireland and have done so with my sisters.

However, I did not and will not take my grandchildren into possible harm’s way. Even if tourists are not being targeted, innocent bystanders can be just as harmed or dead.

Second Safest City in the World

The Crown Saloon, one of Belfast's iconic pubs. Photo by Go to Belfast.

Dr. Tim Campbell of the St. Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, shared his thoughts.

Belfast was recently voted the second safest city in the World after Tokyo. No matter where your visitors are coming from it will be more dangerous to stay at home than come here.

News reports about Belfast always get worldwide attention, but a little disturbance in one street far from the city centre for two nights is hardly worth reporting and has already been forgotten about here. Most cities have areas you’d rather not go to, but Belfast is actually safe in all parts, bar some very rare and isolated incidents like this one.

NO Issues of Feeling Unsafe

Dunluce Castle along the Causeway Coast. Photo by Christy Jackson Nicholas.

Christy Jackson Nicholas just returned home to the US from Northern Ireland with more cherished memories and artwork.

We didn’t stay in Belfast, but we did land at Belfast Airport. There was no indication anything was more militant than anywhere in the US — in fact, it was a lot friendlier than the TSA (Transporation Security Administration) in the US usually is !

We had NO issues of feeling unsafe as we stopped in a town near Belfast on our way to points north. We stopped in a mall for some supplies, and I honestly didn’t even stop to think about the fact that we were near Belfast.

The people are friendly and treasure the Irish tradition of hospitality. We had no worries in the small towns at ALL. Even in Derry, a larger town, there were no issues – and this was just a few weeks ago.”

Respect Through Music and Action

Music session during the Fiddler's Green Festival in Rostrevor Co. Down, Northern Ireland. Photo by arndt_hoppe.

Kerry Dexter, a frequent visitor to Northern Ireland and a writer at www.musicroad.blogspot.com, appropriately chose music in her reply.

The people of Northern Ireland are warm and welcoming, and as with the rest of the island, history is a living thing. The best piece of advice I can offer is respect. Before you go, listen to the song “There Were Roses” written by Tommy Sands from County Down and sung by Cara Dillon from County Derry… then go, have a great time, and be respectful.

In terms of respect, taking photographs of murals is fine, whatever neighborhood you are in. Taking pictures of people in these areas is often seen as intrusive. Laughing or joking about murals may also be seen as offensive. Taking photos of police stations and PSNI members (police officers) is also not wise as it may put them on edge.

Mountains of Mourne, County Down. Photo by Kerry Dexter © all rights reserved - used with permission.

It’s not necessary, or advisable, to share your opinions about “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland no matter how friendly your companions may be or how many pints you’ve drunk. Most people in Northern Ireland want to get on with their lives.

Yes, tensions may run higher during what’s known as Marching Season in July when the Orange Order host parades, but as mentioned before, most people in Northern Ireland just want to get beyond this.

Republican colors are green, white, and gold; Unionist are red, white, and blue. It can be seen as disrespectful to sport one side’s colors when you are in an area or a pub clearly marked with the colors of one side.

It’s important to remember there is a lot to explore in Northern Ireland, so be sure to take in these songs that celebrate its beauty: Hills of South Armagh sung by Briege Murphy and County Down sung by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh with Dan.

It Would Be a Shame

Belfast City Hall. Photo by Iker Merodio.

Moya McAllister, a native New Yorker just returned from Northern Ireland.

I was there in May and had a lovely time both in Belfast & with family in County Down.

There are so many beautiful places to see in Northern Ireland, like the Giant’s Causeway, the rope bridge at Carrick-a-rede, music and dancing in Cushendall (where my parents met), and the Glens of Antrim — especially Glenariff, Queen of the Glens. It would be a shame to let the actions of a small few who won’t let go of the hate, or worse, who use the hate for their own financial ends, drive away much needed tourism. Their bad behavior reflects poorly on the very real, wonderful, warm, lovely people who live in Northern Ireland.

I’d Travel to Northern Ireland Any Day

The 12th of July Parade in Belfast. Photo by Corey Taratuta

Bernd Biege live in the Republic of Ireland and writes About.com‘s Ireland Travel section.

To be honest – I’d travel to Northern Ireland any day. Even watching the parades on July 12th is now big deal these days for visitors.

Northern Ireland’s security situation is complicated – so much so that visitors might be scared away despite only a minimal risk. A risk much lower than the risk of being a traffic victim.

Read more from Bernd in this post >>

Trouble-Free for Nearly 20 Years

Belfast Zoo by Go to Belfast

Joy Harron works with B&B owners in both the Republic and Northern Ireland through B&B Ireland.

Northern Ireland is a very safe destination, it is mainly rural and has been trouble-free for nearly 20 years. Belfast is very safe as well, it has seen a little disturbance in recent weeks but overall is a beautiful Victorian city and well worth a visit.

In Belfast tourists can take scheduled tours of the troubled spots of the past, they are very interesting for people who have an interest in Northern Ireland’s history. This site has further details – www.belfastcitytours.com.

As for safety, the same rules apply for Northern Ireland as do any other destination.

Marches are common around this time of year, but are well-policed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The Marches can be very interesting for tourists to see, they are part of Northern Ireland’s heritage.

It is All a Matter of Perception

Paella is one of the wonderful foods served at the Christmas Continental Market in Belfast. Photo by Patrick Conlin 822

Michele Erdvig is the author of Ireland Dream Trip and hosts an Ireland travel forum at www.IrelandYes.com from her home in the US.

Traveling in Northern Ireland or anywhere else is all about “perceived threats”. How do we look at the world around us and what threatens to kill us every day?

Should you avoid a trip to Northern Ireland because you might be blown up? Should you skip that tropical vacation because a tsunami might wash you away? Should you forget about a cruise because the ship might sink? It all depends on your comfort level with those scenarios.

Terrorists use the press to spread their terror. In turn the press inadvertently becomes their tool by concentrating on “newsworthy” events – most of which are negative. Good news is always eclipsed by bad news. The Belfast riots get the headlines on page one; US Open Champion Rory McIlroy’s homecoming to Northern Ireland is buried in the sports section. It is all a matter of perception.

Northern Ireland is a beautiful little corner of the world where I have never once felt threatened. I have just safely returned from a visit. I drove Newtownards Road (where the recent riots occurred). I drove through Belfast. I drove through Derry. I saw no problems, no riots and no terrorists. I wasn’t even accosted by a pickpocket.

The worst thing that happened was that a bird bombed my husband, and I had to clean up the mess! As a tourist I was warmly welcomed by the friendly people of Northern Ireland. I enjoyed the beautiful countryside, the Antrim coast, and a festival at Mount Stewart.

Will I continue to visit Northern Ireland as I have for the past 38 years? My perception is that it is worth the risk. But it is your perception that counts for your trip. Only you can make that decision.

Much Safer Than Any of the Big Cities

Belfast. Photo by Bit Devine

Bit Devine was touring Belfast and Northern Ireland the week of the riots and many of her Ireland photos can be viewed at www.rinconcreekstudios. zenfolio.com.

Our friend who gave us our one-hour whirlwind tour of Belfast, covering all the main points, kept talking about the ongoing riots. He even drove us through where the riots were happening. Much to his dismay, it would seem, there was no action taking place and the area was calm. We were on Falls and Shankill roads taking photos of the murals. We were downtown taking architectural and street scene photos. It was just another day in any large city.

I wish people would understand that anywhere in Northern Ireland is much safer than any of the big cities in the US. I have never felt unsafe anywhere in Northern Ireland whether traveling by myself or with others.

We Fell in Love With the North!

Fireworks in Belfast. Photo by gotobelfast.

Maura McDonough Shay was in Northern Ireland doing a bit of “research” with her husband who happens to be the chef at McCarthy’s Tea Room in Bethlehem, PA.

We were in Belfast last month for three different days, and I never felt scared. The only time I felt a little uneasy was in Armagh because one of the streets we were walking was so quiet and empty – I was worried maybe we were in the ‘wrong’ part of town. But I was never fearful.

We stayed in Annalong but traveled all over. We loved Downpatrick, Newcastle, Bushmills, and Glenarm. St. George’s Market in Belfast is fabulous! Loved the St. Patrick Centre in Downpatrick and also the Down Museum — so much history!

We fell in love with the North! We want to move there. The people were very friendly and always helpful. We actually liked that it wasn’t as touristy as the Republic.

One of the main reasons we went to Belfast was to meet up with the author Tony Macauley. He wrote a book called Paperboy, about his time as a 12-year-old paperboy in 1975 Belfast. He gave us a tour of the city using the book as a reference. His goal in life is to bring the two sides together. It was a very powerful experience!

I Pictured Things Would Be Different

An example of an unmarked border between rural Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Photo by dr_urbanus

Pat Hayes’ accidental trip to Northern Ireland conjured an unexpected reaction among his family from the US.

We chose to play it safe and skip Northern Ireland this trip. We thought we were on a secondary road in County Monaghan when we stopped for gas and found out we crossed the border and didn’t even know it. There were no checkpoints, not even a sign on that road.

I guess we pictured things would be different. Once we were there, my mother, who was the most worried about going to the North, asked, “How far are we from the Giants Causeway?” Unfortunately, we were too far away for a day trip.

A Peaceful City, Proud of Its Heritage

Rolling hills of Northern Ireland. Photo by Sandra Gray.

Sandra Gray from Canada visited the area her father was born and shares photos from the trip at www.aquinnahimages.com.

I was incredibly blessed to travel to Ireland with my dear 80-something dad this time last year. He took me to the ancestral farm where he grew up in Dundonald, Belfast. I had the most incredible trip meeting aunts, uncles, and cousins!

There were many times that I was prompted to consider the “troubles” that had occurred in this region over the years, however, not once did I feel even remotely threatened or unsafe. We even toured the city of Belfast aboard an open-topped double-decker bus, travelling through neighborhoods where extreme violence was rife for many years.

I was thrilled to see Belfast promoting itself as a peaceful city, proud of its heritage, and what it has to offer to tourists the world over. I found the people of Belfast to be kind, warm, friendly, and helpful to say the least. I plan to return many more times to pursue my love of photographing this incredibly beautiful, inspirational country!

Leave Your Comments Below

Your comments are welcome. If you reference a particular statement from above, be sure to note it. And above all, BE NICE !

PS – I should note that many of these entries resulted from a call I put out to our Twitter and Facebook followers.

Kerry Craft Trails with Micheál O’Muircheartaigh from Tadhg Hayes on Vimeo.

Anyone interested in handcrafted items in Ireland will fall in love with the artisans featured by the Crafts Council of Ireland. This video from features several fine artists from the Kerry Craft Trail.

This scene from the wild coast of western Ireland in the county of Galway reveals a place where the weather can change rapidly, transforming the scenery from bright and calm to wild and moody and back again in a short span of time. Diana has practiced her art throughout Europe, but she calls Dublin home.

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Shot at Downpatrick Head, County Mayo, Ireland.

We’ll probably be seeing more of these types of videos as the mini, hyper-sturdy camera they used, the GoPro, is becoming more an more popular.

You have no idea just how bright that color was. Even now a fleck of paint will chip off a door frame and the blue will show through, and it’s as bright as ever.

This photo comes from waaaaaay back in the family photo album when my sister, niece, and Corey all came over for their first trips… little did they know, I’d be putting them to work. My mom also came along… that’s her “assisting” me in the photo.

It’s hard to believe “little Jessie” is now all grown up and painting the walls of her own house now… she says I still owe her for the hours she put in when she was twelve.

My niece Jessie helping paint in the cottage... back in the 1990s.

The sitting room has come a long way over the years.

Bray Head, County Wicklow by Karen J. Newhouse of CapallGlas Studio

The headland near Bray, in County Wicklow, had appeared in many of my photographs of the coastline, but always from a distance. I wanted to see it for myself. So on a day I did not have classes, I took a DART ride down from Dublin to walk around.

Bray is a seaside resort town, a nice place to visit. There is a beautiful promenade along the water, and as I walked alone on a quiet morning, I was carefully observed by the rooks lining the railing. Rooks are very large cousins to crows, rusty black with heavy beaks. They can be intimidating as they watch you pass by, discussing you amongst themselves with mumbling coughs.

I had noticed a slight blur at the top of Bray Head when I took some photographs from Killiney Hill, further north. That blur resolved into a large cross, which I saw as soon as I got off the DART at the Bray station. I was hoping to find if there was a way up to it.

Trekking to the Top

Later, I found sources describing a ‘well-worn path’ that led to the cross. I must have missed that route, or my definition of ‘well-worn’ is different than most. At one point I found myself working my way sharply upward through a stand of pine trees, using the trunks to pull myself up, knowing I would need to find another pathway down because it was too steep.

Friends of mine, heading to Ireland for a hiking tour, asked what I wear to walk about in Ireland. I showed them my hiking boots and heavy, oilskin coat. They did not heed my advice and returned from their trip with their lightweight, nylon hiking clothes in tatters. My coat can get even heavier with pockets containing sketchpad, pencils, water, and chocolate. But shrugging my way, unscathed, through the six foot, spiny gorse bushes on the hike up Bray Head made it all worth while.

Sitting on the base of the cross on Bray Head, I had a celebratory rest with a bottle of water and a bit of chocolate. The view of misty morning hills was spectacular. Unbelievable layers of receding hills and rolling mists on a damp January day with silvery, ethereal sunlight.

My photographs of the day are on black and white film, and I am pleased they are. Colors were not as compelling as the rich, monochrome depth of sepia-toned January hills with dark, wet stones and ragged winter gorse all softened with silvered fog.

Leaving the Hill Behind and Entering the Silence

I left the hill reluctantly, hunting for another way down the steep and rocky slope. I found a pathway that circled around to a gentler incline and ambled slowly, taking in the scenery.

There was a scar in the gorse, and I went to see if it was a fire, as gorse can smolder unseen for some time before catching a breeze to flare on a dry day. It was an old mark, cold and wet. After bending to look at the black ashes, I straightened up and noticed….silence.

I had walked into a bowl-shaped depression, and all sound had ceased. No sounds from the city below me, no wind, no sounds of the sea. Nothing but the pulse of my own heart and the suddenly loud rasp of fabric as I turned to look around and my camera case moved across my shoulder.

Unmoving and silent, I watched as a hooded crow flew out of the mists. His wings loudly whispered with every wing-beat as he flew past me, close enough to touch. Pale sunlight flickered silver across his glossy, black feathers. He flew over the edge of the rocks, dipped down to the sea, and out of sight.

Inhaling a deep lungful of damp air, I realized I had been holding my breath.

The sun came out and warmed the hills as I walked out of the silence and into the noise; the mists chose that moment to recede. Oddly irritated by the noises of the train and the loud conversations of the other passengers, I rode the DART back to Dublin.

Submitted by Karen J. Newhouse. Her Ireland-inspired artwork can be found at CapallGlas Studio.

There was fine coffee at the end of this rainbow in Ireland's Connemara Region. Photo by Michael Brown.

When Michael Brown and his wife spent their honeymoon in Ireland last month, they weren’t expecting sunshine, warm weather, and great coffee. Past travelers had warned them that all three were a rare find on the Emerald Isle.

Fortunately, the predictions were wrong, and the couple got more out of their trip than they ever expected.

Michael documented his quest for good coffee in Ireland at the Daily Shot of Coffee blog. Every coffee lover should read both Part 1 and Part 2 of his report. In the end, he reveals a secret, B&Bs and tiny boutique hotels serve up the best cup of java.

You’ll be relieved to hear, the Brown’s didn’t limit their search to just one type of black beverage. Here’s a photo of the two of them enjoying a pint of Guinness in Kilkenny… it was his wife’s first!

Tink sent along this photo to illustrate one of the unique entrances she noticed when visiting ancient sites in Ireland, but it's unique shape left her asking, "Why?" Photo of Dun Chaoin Burial Grounds in Dingle, County Kerry, by Tink Vasickanin.

My husband and I recently came back from our first trip to Ireland, and we’re wondering… Why do Irish Burial Grounds have a ‘V’ slot near the entrance way?  It was at practically every one that we went into.

– Tink Vasickanin via email

Those mysterious entrances have captured the curiosity of many visitors to Ireland. Tink admits to letting her imagination run a bit wild with thoughts of the shape preventing evil spirits from entering.

Truth is, the devil wasn’t the cloven hoofed creature the builders were trying to keep out. The slotted shape makes it easy for people to pass through or over but not livestock such as cows and sheep.

Stile Styles

These entrances, called stiles (think turnstile), are generally recent additions and appear in several forms throughout Ireland.

We’ve collected several examples of stiles… there are a lot more varieties than shown here.

Stone Step Stile - Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary, by Bernard Goldbach

Wood Step Stile - Athassel Priory, County Tipperary, Ireland by Corey Taratuta

Swinging Gate Stile - Hill of Tara, County Meath, by Machss11

Ladder Stile - Glenmalore, County Wichlow by Kevin McLaughlin

Cantilevered Stile - Castlebar, County Mayo by Donna Burgess

Modern Stile - Ring of Beara, County Kerry, by Corey Taratuta

Slot Stile - Ventry, County Kerry, by Tink Vasickanin

Concrete Stile - Valencia Island, County Kerry (unconfirmed) by Kartherine Fissette

Fence Stile - Kerry Way, County Kerry by zahaadoom

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Here are 10 reasons you should visit Ireland in 2011. I could give you 100 more, but I think these are enough to get you started. Enjoy… and start planning!

The signs at the intersection in Ballyvaughan were a common site in guidebooks and calendars. Alas, they have been recently removed. Photo by yakshini.

There’s controversy brewing in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, when one of Ireland’s most-photographed roadsigns was removed by the Irish roads authority.

While the cluster of signs wasn’t vital for tourists to find their way around the small village, it did attract their attention and their camera lenses. The sign has been a mainstay in calendars, guidebooks, and personal photo albums for decades.

Standing next to the notable intersection in The Burren, I remember hearing two separate visitors comment, “only in Ireland,” with giant smiles on their faces.

No comment has been issued about what has happened to the signs on the minor landmark… I’m wondering if we should be scouring E-Bay to see if they make it to the auction block or if public outcry will bring them back to their original location.

Full story from the Irish Times >>

An Update from the Irish Times>> (June 26, 2011)

Martin Driscoll splits his time between Texas in the U.S. and County Kerry in Ireland. Inspiration for his paintings often begins with an emotional tug towards a subject matter…  a gesture in an old photo or observing someone in a restaurant, a museum, a bookstore or where ever.

From that gesture, he says he is immediately transported back in time to remembering an aunt, uncle, grandparent, parent, or some relative who had that same way of standing or tilting their head. Suddenly, the image leads into a daydream that make him to wonder what they may be talking about or, what their lives are like. He describes his paintings this way, “ All my paintings are a prayer, a song, a laugh, and tell old tales.“

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–Sylvia via Facebook

Photo by David Kinney

There are no specific travel warnings for women traveling alone in Ireland, and I’d say the women I know who have done it tell some of the most amazing stories from their travels.

Also, there are no social downfalls to being an unaccompanied female traveler in Ireland. You might surprise a few people, but you won’t be treated poorly. In fact, you’ll probably get some special attention.

In other good news, Irish mammies have taught their sons it’s better to use charm over aggression with the ladies. Even if you consider both attitudes sexist, it’s usually easier to deal with a guy who wants to be nice than a mean jerk.

The usual solo travel tips apply… stick to public places, let someone know where you are going, keep your alcohol intake in check, pack light, and if you’re in an uncomfortable situation don’t worry about being rude, just get out.

Our readers were generous with their suggestions as well (add your tips in the comments section):

• Get a traveling purse that has the uncuttable strap if you want to carry it on your shoulder. — Bette via Facebook
• Ladies DO IT!!! I am heading out on my second solo trip rambling around Ireland next week!!! Tips: international phone for security and journal the whole trip. — Lora Lee via Facebook
• Wear sensible shoes and walk A LOT!!! I came home 10 pounds lighter. B&Bs are great..you meet people and get lots of information.  — Lora Lee via Facebook
• Use a bra pouch (small zippered pouch that attaches to your bra strap, and is worn inside your bra), makes you pickpocket proof. Walk strong with a purpose if you feel iffy. Wear your purse across your chest, not just on your shoulder, and get a cable strap or chain strap. Don’t tell strangers where you are staying. Actually, for a good idea of what NOT to do, watch the first half hour of Liam Neeson’s film Taken. — Christy via Facebook
• As for having fun part – drink at the bar, not at a table. Get included in conversations, enjoy yourself! If you don’t like sitting alone, bring a notepad — a book will keep people from talking to you, but writing notes in a pad is less intimidating, and doesn’t make you look so alone — Christy via Facebook
• If you are going someplace remote (exploring beach caves, climbing a mountain) and you are alone, let your B&B host/hostess know, or someone else, in case you get injured or lost, they know you haven’t come back, and where to look for you. — Christy via Facebook
• I stayed in hostels and met a lot of people to hang out with. My only regret is that I didn’t see the giant causeway. — Antonette via Facebook
• I have been solo to Ireland 2 times now — Dublin, Belfast & Derry. I stayed in B/B’s and used public transportation (buses, taxi’s etc..). I NEVER had a bit of trouble. Ireland is the friendliest place I know. Everyone I asked a question of or had the pleasure to talk to was absolutely wonderful. — Laury via Facebook
• Bring an umbrella-ella-ella! — @SlainteMoChara via Twitter (actually, I recommend a waterproof jacket… it’s better in the wind)
• Sheila Lamb wrote this bit over at BootsnAll – Girl Travel – Ireland

Read the original Facebook Suggestions (quotes have been abridged) >>

More Q & A >>>

Michele Erdvig of www.irelandyes.com pointed me to this “archival” footage from an old Eurovision segment from 1971! It features the Bunratty Castle Singers and many “classic” (or is that stereotypical) scenes in Ireland. The music is great craic and the scenes offer a perfect blend of cheesy and nostalgic. Gotta love the 70s.

You can still attend a medieval banquet at Bunratty… I kind of wish they brought back the costumes from the video though. They offer a traditional music night in the Corn Barn at Bunratty as well (in fact, Michele tells me that the fiddler from the video still performs at the Corn Barn).

The card is easy to use, just print it, present it upon arrival, and get 25% off standard admission through 2011… with no blackout dates.

More Info:

• Shannon Region Discount Card
• Participating Attractions (PDF)
• Shannon Region Map  & Guide (PDF)
• Shannon Region Website
• Shannon Region on Facebook
  

Stained glass window in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh by Lawrence OP. Columba is apparently holding his treasured book. Columba means Dove of the Church.

You probably like reading. You’re reading this blog, after all. Many of you are book lovers, like me. Can you imagine a war being fought over a book? This was not a religious war, even though the book was a book of scripture.

A Man Who Loved Books

It happened in Ireland in the 6th century. Columba, who would later found Iona along with many monasteries in Ireland, loved books. He supposedly said, “That I might search the books all, that would be good for my soul.” He apparently wished to not only search the books, but to own them. At that time books were rare and valuable. Monks in monasteries copied books when they could get them, but someone had to agree to loan them their book, and once a copy was made, the book was less valuable. Columba (or Columcille in Irish) borrowed a book from Finian of Moville without approval. He copied it at night, as the legend goes, with the help of  luminous fingers that glowed like candles.

A Sin Uncovered and a Battle Waged

The deed was uncovered, however, and this major offense was brought before King Diarmait, a rival of Columba’s powerful clan. The king rendered the judgment that has been described as the world’s first copyright case. He said, “To every cow her calf; to every book its copy.” Columba was ordered to deliver his copy to Finian.

Columba’s clan was the most powerful in the Ireland at that time. They had no trouble defending him over some other offense, which could have been bogus. In any case, they went to war and Diarmait’s army was no match for them. In 561 at the Battle of Cooldrevny (in Sligo) 3,000 members of Diarmait’s clan were killed while Columba’s lost only one. Columba got to keep his book, but at a great price. As a result, he paid penance by either being banished or banishing himself to the island of Iona, off the coast of Scotland, where he could not see his beloved Ireland. His mission was to save 3,000 souls for the ones that were lost.

The Book Today

The book might still exist, although this cannot be proven. The Royal Irish Academy holds a manuscript that was found in the 17th century and is believed to be the book that was carried into battle for centuries for protection. That book is called Cathach or Battler. It is an incomplete Psalter in the Latin Vulgate and some say it appears to have been written quickly. Who knows? Maybe it’s scribbled because the scribe’s fingers were glowing like candles!

A page from the Cathach. (Image from Wikipedia)

Cindy Thomson is the author of Celtic Wisdom and Brigid of Ireland. She enjoys exploring Irish history, especially the Early Christian period. She has written numerous articles on Irish genealogy. Visit her blog Celtic Voices and her web site where you can sign up for her monthly newsletter.

Today’s theme for FriFotos on Twitter is “Red,” and the first thing that came to my mind was the red half-door that greets guests at Liam’s cottage in Ireland. When he told his Irish cousins he wanted a half-door, they thought he was a bit odd, “Why would you want that?” They saw no need for something so old fashioned.

Finding a half-door at that time was even more challenging. He went from place to place describing the kind of door he was dreaming about. One person after another gave him puzzled looks. In the end, he had one custom made (today they are more available you can even order them in PVC).

Today, it’s a tradition for guests to get their photo taken at the half-door. Even his cousins who thought he fell off his rocker when he first asked about the door requested to have their photo taken with it.

In the photo above you’ll see the Bett’s, Beth & Judy Burrows, me, Liza Brennan & John McGivern, Ganey Ran, the Sanford’s and Liam. My apologies to everyone else in the guestbook… these are the only pics I have digitally.

Come to think of it, the kind of matches the old beast of a car he used to drive over there. The car is gone now, but my memories of it are not. On my first visit, I remember  pulling the door closed and a shower of rust flakes poured onto my head… I think I’m still picking out red flakes from my scalp

Liam's first and only car in Ireland... it was a beast.

Okay, garden lovers, you may have missed Ireland’s biggest garden show, but RTÉ is broadcasting their coverage of this year’s festival on the internet through June 24th. Have a look, and take in all the gorgeous flowers and food that grow in Ireland.

Watch Bloom Now >>

More videos at www.bloominthepark.com.

Here’s a quick list of what you need to know about the language!

1. The term “Gaelic” can refer to both Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic.
2. Those Scots and Irish Gaelic are very similar.
3. People in Ireland simply refer to the Irish language as “Irish”.
4. Many people outside of Ireland are learning to speak Irish. With lots of online resources, including TG4, Ireland’s Irish-language TV station, it’s never been easier.
5. Obama used Irish Gaelic in his speech during his 2011 visit to Ireland. He said “Is féidir linn” meaning “Yes we can”.
6. As a language, Irish is older than English. It was first written 2,000 years ago.
7. Irish Gaelic is a Celtic language, having come from somewhere in central Europe.
8. The parts of Ireland where Irish is still spoken are called the Gaeltacht regions.
9. You don’t need to speak a word of Irish to get around in Ireland.
10. Just about every person raised in Ireland has a basic understanding of Irish because of the school system. Many Irish people have found renewed interest in learning the language in their adulthood.
11. Ireland’s constitution names Irish as the first official language, with English recognized as the second official language.
12. You’ll see Irish written on most roadsigns in Ireland, along with English place names.
13. You’ll surprise the locals if you use some Irish with them!

Related Articles:

• Irish Words You Can Learn Before You Go-Audio Edition!
• Where Can I Go to Hear Irish Spoken?
• 10 Irish Words You Should Know When Traveling Around Ireland

Eoin — a native Irish Gaelic speaker who founded Bitesize Irish Gaelic with his wife Saša. If you want to impress the locals, you can learn Irish Gaelic with their online Irish course.

The writer and comedian is taking buses to events big and small all over Ireland and sharing the experiences via blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

Bits of Travel Advice

His posts to date have been a combination of trip reports, restaurant reviews, and experience overviews. And in each case delivered with keen — often comical– observations.

Thanks to his advice, you’ll learn why you should NOT do your hair in Galway, where you can sip from a giant’s teacup, and which town cancels its bus tour due to inclement weather — but NOT its walking tour (a place where pedestrians must be heartier than ships on wheels).

Each post also features some highlights from Ireland’s long list of activities, as well as places to grab a bite.

What It’s Really Like to Tour Ireland

I will say, his accounts offer a nice peek at what it’s like to tour around Ireland. He handles the unpredictable weather like a trooper… always managing to find a suitable alternative that keeps him dry. To his credit he’s also mixing it up when it comes to the types of places he visits… museums, family activities, concerts, tours, sport.

For example, he even tried a concert in Galway where he was the youngest in the room… by a few decades:

“…they were a band of two women and three men. Immediately I knew it was going to be hymns and I wouldn’t be into it at all. Suddenly one of the singers opened her gob and out poured this elegant stream of magnificent reverberation. I couldn’t believe it was coming out of her face, it sounded like it was the most talented whale with the biggest lungs heavily produced by Kanye West and Timbaland.”

Photos from the sandcastle challenge at Salthill.

Social Travel

While his blog posts recount his travels, his Twitter and Facebook streams offer frequent updates — today he’s convinced visitors at the beach in Salthill Promenade to compete in making sand castles — and he often relies on his “friends” to choose his next activity.

Visit www.wherethemoodtakesme.ie to find links to his posts and links to Twitter and Facebook.

Jill does an excellent job of recounting the highlights of her trip to Ireland with her Dublin > Clare > Galway itinerary. Sounds like a fantastic trip!

This is one of my favorite spots in all of Ireland. There is no path to get there, and the nearest road is nothing more than a track with grass growing up the middle.

There are about seven waterfalls on in about a half mile of river, and each has its own little characteristics that make it memorable… one is quiet and serene, another is aggressive with rushing water, yet another feels enchanted as it is surrounded by a glen of ferns clinging to rocks.

It’s located in County Tipperary, near the town of Nenagh, but I won’t tell you any more than it’s close to my cottage… I want to keep it a little secret.

Noel Hill

Every year, TG4, Ireland’s Irish language network, gives out awards honoring traditional musicians. These prestigious awards, known collectively as Gradam Ceoil, are a very big deal in Ireland and in the musical community world wide as well. This year, they were presented at a concert in the Wexford Opera House, and later broadcast nationwide in Ireland. Several of the musicians are well known outside the island of Ireland, other perhaps less so — and two of them are artists I’ve introduced to you in past articles here at Irish Fireside.

The top award, the Gradam Ceoil itself, this year went to Noel Hill. Hill was born in Clare and has lived for some time in Connemara, where he is a respected teacher as well as player of the concertina. What is the concertina? you could be thinking. You might think of it, for quick and rough description, as a mini sort of accordion, not the kind with keys but the button kind. Download Noel’s music on iTunes >>

Pádraic Keane from Galway won Ceoltóir Óg, the young musician award. Pádraic is from a family of pipers and other musically inclined folk — though in his acceptance speech he apologized to his sisters for making a racket practicing his pipes, they both played the fiddle for his set at the concert.

The Hall of Fame nod, Gradam Saoil, was given to Ben Lennon. He is the head of a respected family of musicians, and his wider influence has been felt as a player and a teacher. He lives in Leitrim.

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin received the musicians award, the Gradam na gCeoltóirí. He is a top class educator at the University of Limerick, a writer, composer, and player. His instrument is the piano.

The award for composer, Cumadóir, went to Liz Carroll. You’ve met the Chicago native Carroll here at the Fireside in her collaboration with guitarist John Doyle and with the String Sisters (Three Irish and Celtic CDs You Should Experience and Three More Irish Celtic & Celtic CDs You Should Experience and Best Celtic Music). She has also worked with Cherish the Ladies, Trian, and Greenfields of America, but it is as a composer that she’s perhaps made her greatest contribution to date: musicians Irish and otherwise have recorded her tunes, and many of her tunes have become session standards wherever Irish music is played. Her instrument is the fiddle. Download Liz’s music on iTunes >>

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

You’ve met Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh from West Kerry here at the Fireside too, in her collaboration with Scotswoman Julie Fowlis, a recroding called Dual (Three More Irish Celtic & Celtic CDs You Should Experience). On it, they explored the connections between Irish and Scottish Gaelic song. Nic Amhlaoibh has a very fine solo album of her own out, and she’s perhaps best known as the flutist and lead singer with the top Irish traditional band Danu. Muireann won the award for singer, Amhránaí. Download Muireann’s Nic Amhlaoibh music on iTunes >>

Kerry Dexter writes about music and Ireland at Music Road, Wandering Educators, and other places.

Eoin from Bitesize Irish Gaelic (shown her with his wife Saša) teaches us some basics of Irish Gaelic.

The Irish language can be elusive.

When you visit Ireland, it’ll be there. You’ll see bits of it written down. You probably won’t hear it spoken. However, if you say a few phrases while in Ireland, it’ll put a smile of amazement or wonder on a local’s face when the words come from your lips.

Eoin from Bitesize Irish Gaelic has stepped in to help you learn some useful Irish Gaelic phrases that you can spring on the locals… and you don’t need to limit yourself just to the Gaeltacht regions, either. Irish people in every part of Ireland will generally understand these basic phrases.

Irish people love talking about the weather, perhaps because there’s no shortage of it! So the phrases below will arm you with the ability to introduce yourself, and say something about that day’s weather.

The Irish Gaelic Phrases

The text /between slashes/ is an approximate pronunciation.

Dia dhuit. /Jee-ah gwitch./Hello.

Dia is Muire dhuit. /Jee-ah iss Mwir-ah gwitch./ Hello. (as a reply)

Conas tá tú? /Cun-oss taw too?/ How are you?

Tá mé go maith. /Taw may guh mah./ I’m fine.

Tá sé go hálainn ar maidin. /Taw shay guh haw-lin air modgin/ It’s beautiful this morning.

báisteach /bawsh-chok/ rain

gaofar /gway-fer/ windy

Tá sé fuar. /Taw shay foo-er./ It’s cold.

Tá sé fuar inniu. /Taw shay foor in-new./ It’s cold today.

Tá sé te. It’s hot.

Feicfidh mé amárach thú. /Fec-hig may a-mawr-okh hoo./ See you tomorrow.

Slán. /Slawn./ Good-bye.

Eoin — a native Irish Gaelic speaker — founded Bitesize Irish Gaelic with his wife Saša… that’s where you can learn Irish Gaelic online. All the recordings in this article come from that online course.