Ireland

Inis Oírr – The Little Sister of the Aran Islands

Inis Oírr – The Little Sister of the Aran Islands

There are three Aran Islands and the smallest – the little sister of Aran – is Inis Oírr (pronounced Inish Sheer).  The name means “island of the east”  and it is the most easterly of the three. It is not as popular as the largest island, Inis Mor – but...

 
 

5 Tips for Planning Your First Trip to Ireland

Matt Molloy's Pub - Westport, Co. Mayo

Once a month I get an email or blog comment  requesting tips for planning a first visit to Ireland.  The most common question I get is “I’m going to Ireland. What should I see?” There are few travel destinations that I like to talk about more than Ireland, so I...

 
 

Drawn to the Mystery of Ireland’s Stone Circles

Cashelkeelty Stone Circle - Beara Peninsula

  Ireland has hundreds of stone circles scattered across its landscape. Some are nearly in tact, some have been carefully rebuilt, while most have just a few stones left – making them fragments of their former glorious selves. Most of these circles have been standing in place for 3000 to...

 
 

Andrew McCarthy’s LA Times Article Sells Ireland Short

Beaghmore Stone Circles - CountyTyrone

  The LA Times article, In Ireland, Optimism is in the Air, written by Andrew McCarthy suggests that the economic crash has brought the Irish to their knees, and in their humiliation they’ve cast off their arrogant, materialistic attitudes and are returning to the days when they were hospitable and...

 
 

Travel Hag’s Top 10 Things to Do in Dublin

Bewleys Cafe Dublin

The Irish Say – “Visit Dublin!” I asked ten Irish natives (who live in Ireland) to name the top three “must see” sites in Ireland. All ten mentioned Dublin.  Seven of the ten said Dublin first.  Then I asked twenty-two non-Irish (Americans and Canadians) who had visited Ireland to name...

 
 

Newgrange Passage Tomb – Spirals, Light and Stone

Curbstone at Newgrange

    Newgrange passage tomb in the Boyne Valley – County Meath, Ireland is the oldest, fully in-tact building in Ireland, and probably in western Europe. According to Mary Gibbons who offers excellent tours of Newgrange, the tomb dates back 5000 years, predating the pyramids of Egypt, Stonehenge and all...

 
 

Croagh Patrick – the Holy Mountain

Murrisk Abbey with Croagh Patrick - the holy mountain - in the background

  Croagh Patrick is one of the “must see” destinations in Ireland and has been known as a “thin place” or site of sacred power for thousands of years. Plan to spend at least half a day. The mountain that dominates the landscape in Westport, Achill, and Murrisk, is also...

 
 

Mapping out Day 1 – Connamara, Kylemore, Lough Corrib

Mapping out Day 1 – Connamara, Kylemore, Lough Corrib

During the various layovers at airports today, Dan Burgoyne and I planned out our first day in Ireland. We plan to take a drive around Lough Corrib then past the Maamturk Mountains and take in the unique light of Connamara. Like Paris, the light in this region has inspired artists...

 
 

We’re Off to Ireland for the Thin Places Mystical Tour

We’re Off to Ireland for the Thin Places Mystical Tour

Dan and I will be traveling to Ireland on Tuesday.  We’ll spend a few days on our own before meeting the tour group in Dublin on May 15th.  In those few extra days we plan to visit Mayo and Sligo – particularly Down Patrick Head and some megalithic sites around...

 
 

Top 10 Irish Experiences -Where’s the DISLIKE button?

Top 10 Irish Experiences -Where’s the DISLIKE button?

Tourism Ireland’s Facebook Fan Page recently posted The Top 10 Irish Experiences (as voted by you). I’m thinking “you” means their facebook fans. I’m a fan and regret that I didn’t vote. I’m glad Tourism Ireland’s took inventory of fan experiences, but alas, the chosen sites show little of the...

 
 
 
 
 

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