Recent Posts
Glendalough Round Tower and the Wicklow Mountains National Park
As you may have seen in the news this week, President Obama has been in Northern Ireland at the G8 summit. While he has been distracted with matters of the world, his lovely wife and daughters got to do a little bit of sight-seeing. Whoever created their itinerary made a great choice when deciding on a trip to Glendalough. I’m sure Ms. Obama and her daughters must’ve been impressed at what they saw here in the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Glendalough, and the National Park, offer up an amazing treat of Irish history, folklore...
read moreThe Cork City Gaol – photos and insight into one of Cork’s best visitor attractions
I spent some time in jail recently. That’s right. It was damp and dark, dreary and dull. And, I loved every minute of it! That’s because the time I spent was in the Cork City Gaol, a well preserved old Irish prison.
read moreSifting through my memories I found…the Craggaunowen Crannóg, Co. Clare
Take me back to Ireland right now! Over the weekend I had been digging deep in to my childhood memories to remember as much about a school tour to the Craggaunowen Crannóg as I could. I must’ve been no more than 10 or 11 when I visited the Shannon area Heritage site with my classmates. I can distintively remember bits and pieces of the tour – the pieces any kid would I suppose. The thrill of seeing the huts on the little island for example, the quick dash through the underground tunnel (supposedly used for food storage) and I can...
read moreCertificate of Irish Heritage – show your pride in your Irish ancestry
**Giveaway details at the end of this article** What measures 11 inches wide by 14 inches high, is issued by the Government of Ireland and provides recognition to you of your direct ancestral connection to Ireland? Answer: The Certificate of Irish Heritage That’s right folks! For those of you with an Irish ancestor (and I know there are tens of millions of you!) you can now honor them, and show your pride in your Irish ancestry, with one of the beautifully designed Certificates of Irish Heritage. The certificates are available in...
read moreWin a Certificate of Irish Heritage by telling us about your Irish ancestors
I’m delighted to be partnering with the Certificate of Irish Heritage to bring you this wonderful giveaway. One lucky reader will win a gift card entitling them to one Certificate of Irish Heritage (certificate only, no frame). The certificate acts as a unique memento which honors the recipient’s ancestor(s) and symbolizes their connection to Ireland. The certificate would make a beautiful addition to your home and will be a great way to proudly show off your direct links to Ireland. You can read more information about the Certificate, and...
read moreGalway Sea Festival June Bank Holiday Weekend
If you find yourself in Ireland on the June Bank Holiday weekend (May 31st- June 3rd) why not head to Galway, on the west coast where all things maritime will be celebrated in a new festival? The new four day festival is family friendly and all events are either affordable for families to attend or free. From beach safaris to seafood trails, sandcastle competitions & sand sculpting workshops to windsurfing, day cruises and tours of the Irish Naval vessel LE Aoife, there is something for everybody. Don’t miss the spectacular Parade of...
read moreAlong the beautiful Barrow towpath
Do you have a grá (Irish for love!) for the hidden gems of Ireland? Would you like to enjoy nature, scenic beauty, mystery & history, romantic ruins, cozy stone-built buildings, plus a nice cup of coffee & a bite to eat after a gentle bit of exploring? Then Graiguenamanagh & St. Mullins are for you!
read moreReading Rick Steves’ Ireland on the Kindle Fire – what I found
I bought my wife a Kindle Fire HD for Christmas, and until now I haven’t had much opportunity to use it. I used it to browse a couple of websites, checked Facebook on it, and watched a couple of Netflix shows on there, but until tonight I’ve never used it for reading books or magazines, which is probably one of it’s primary functions. I have to say, now that I have used it to read/browse a book, I am impressed by what I found. I downloaded the trial version of Rick Steves’ Ireland, and took it for a good test-drive....
read moreA unique view of the beautiful Aran Islands in video – you’ll fall in love
Ever since Sophie Moss sent me the first draft of her article for how the Aran Islands inspired her to write her 3 part series, I have grown a little fixated with the islands. YouTube video after YouTube video has been watched and rewatched. I’ve read personal accounts from recent visitors and long time residents of the islands. It’s amazing how whether it’s a first time visitor to the islands or someone who has lived there all their life, the Aran Islands truly do draw people in. If you’ve never been to the Aran...
read moreI have 5 free copies of Larry Kirwan’s Celtic Invasion CD to give away
Yet another giveaway! Compliments of Valley Entertainment, and in partnership with The Wild Geese, I have 5 CD copies of Larry Kirwan’s brand new album, Celtic Invasion, to give away. From the album’s liner notes: “Larry Kirwan has been carrying the flag for Celtic rock music since the founding of Black 47 in 1989. The expatriate Irishman lives in New York City where he has been hosting ‘Celtic Crush’ on SiriusXM’s The Spectrum since 2005. Kirwan, also a respected writer, has published three books and writes...
read moreViking and Medieval Dublin – a great starting point to learn more
Viking and Medieval Dublin When I was in Dublin last year, I took what you could almost call a “Viking tour of Dublin” without ever really knowing I was doing it. You see, I was staying straight across from Christ Church Cathedral, in Jury’s Inn, right in the heart of Viking Dublin, so as I took a daily un-mapped stroll around the area, I was catching all the medieval locations and monuments in this history-rich area of the city. I of course spent some time in the Cathedral, a truly magnificent 1000 year old building. I took...
read moreJen and Erin’s Chicken and Cabbage Recipe
Irish recipe competition winner! I was so happy when I received this Chicken and Cabbage recipe from Jennifer Daly last week. It looks like Jennifer and Erin had so much fun making the dish, and it’s opened up a whole new perspective for me, on how creative you can get when cooking. I must admit, as a novice cook myself, having the convenience of a stove-top takes a little bit of the challenge out of cooking. But seeing how they managed their open fire has given me something new to look forward to trying. Jen and Erin recommend the dish...
read moreHomemade Butternut Squash Soup & Brown Irish Soda Bread
This delicious 2 part recipe was sent in by Elizabeth Dunne, of Co. Kilkenny, as part of the recent Irish recipe competition, and received the runner-up prize. Everything about this recipe just screams “delicious home-made Irish cooking” at me! I just love Elizabeth’s version of Irish Soda Bread, and I can’t wait to try the butternut squash soup. Thank you for sharing your recipe with us, Elizabeth. Butternut Squash Soup (Serves 4) Ingredients 1 x Butternet squash 1 x Onion 1 x Stick of Celery 1 x Red...
read moreBacon-Wrapped, Stuffed Pork Sausages
Elizabeth McNally of WeeKitchen.com submitted this recipe as part of the recent Irish recipe competition I ran on the blog. These types of sausages are something I have had on plenty of occasion back home, and I can’t wait to give Elizabeth’s version of the dish a try. I really hope you give them a try too. I’d love to hear what you think. Thank you, Elizabeth, for part-taking in the competition. Yield: 6-8 medium sized stuffed sausages It’s been ten years or more since I was first introduced to “stuffed sausages”...
read moreIrish festivals in May 2013
Back with another choice lineup of Irish festivals for the month of May. Keep in mind these are just a few of the festivals that you’ll find around the country this coming month. There’s many more out there to suit all tastes. You’ll find a few links to other festival resources below. Here we go… Irish festivals in May 2013 Ballymaloe Festival of Food and Wine, Cork May 3rd to the 6th http://www.litfest.ie/ Tullamore Arts Festival, Offaly May 3rd to the 6th http://www.tullamoreartsfestival.com/ Burren In Bloom Festival,...
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