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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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 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...
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...
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...
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...