The Engaging Ireland Podcast

The Gobbins is a cliff-face path on IslandMagee, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, northeast of Belfast. Unlike many other costal paths that just follow close along the top of an ocean-side cliff, the Gobbins first descends down to sea level, then winds along he base of the cliff, up and down steep cut stone stairs, across bridges from sea-stack to cliff face and island to island, past caves and through a narrow tunnel. Though it was long inaccessible to the public because it fell into disrepair after World War II, it has been rebuilt within the last several years and re-opened to the public as of Summer 2015.     Start out at the beautiful visitor's center for a walk through the interpretive display to learn about the history of the path, the wildlife that abounds in the surrounding area, and the astounding effort that it took to reconstruct the path in its current incarnation.     If you'd like to check out some parts of the Gobbins path from the comfort of your own home, take a look at the 360 degree pictures of the Gobbins on VirtualVisitTours.com:   http://www.virtualvisittours.com/gobbins-cliff-path/   Walking the Gobbins path is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience…though we're already looking forward to the next time we get to walk the Gobbins! We highly recommend a visit!   Check out the official Gobbins Path website at:   http://www.thegobbinscliffpath.com/

In this episode, we bring you more sites associated with the Patron Saint of Ireland. Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Balintubber Abbey Website: www.ballintubberabbey.ie/ Tochar Phadraig Website: www.heritagecouncil.ie/landscape/initiatives/the-pilgrim-paths/tochar-phadraig/ The Western Way: www.irishtrails.ie/trail/western-way--gal-/37/ Christopher Sommervile Walk of the Week: www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/walk-of-the-week-mamean-connemara-co-galway-26574913.html Altadaven Wood: www.voicesfromthedawn.com/st-patricks-chair-and-well/   The Rock of Cashel: www.cashel.ie Saint Patrick's Well: pilgrimagemedievalireland.com/2014/04/12/st-patricks-holy-well-at-marlfield-clonmel         The closing song, sung by Kathy, is "May the Road Rise to Meet You" by Denes Agay.

During this, the last of our special Halloween-week episodes, we are taking a look at some contemporary ways to observe Samhain/Halloween.

Our Halloween-week episodes are nearly done. In this episode, we talk about two supernatural creatures of Ireland: the Pooka and the Banshee.

We've talked in a previous episode about the tradition of carving turnips to carry home an ember from the communal Samhain bonfire.  But where does the term Jack o' Lantern come from? In this episode, we tell the tale of Stingy Jack.

It is said that Finn Mac Cumhal fought a goblin of the fairy folk on Samhain-eve on the hill of Tara. In this special Halloween-week episode, we tell the story of Finn and how he became the captain of the Fianna of Erinn. This story is from "The High Deeds of Finn and Other Bardic Romances of Ancient Ireland", By T.W. Rolleston, Illustrated by Stephen Reid, which can be found on Project Gutenberg at www.gutenberg.org

This is the first of a special Halloween series, where we explore the history of contemporary Halloween traditions and observances, such as bonfires, jack o'lanterns, costumes and trick or treating.

We're back! Sorry to have been gone for so long! In this small episode, we talk about what we've been up to and what our plans for new episodes. We also mention the Thin Places tours led by our friend Mindie Burgoyne. You can check out her website at http://www.thinplacestour.com/ Please follow us on FaceBook!

In this episode, we talk about a request we got from the folks over at Infinite Ireland (http://www.infiniteireland.com/), which prompted us to reminisce about all of the Irish “firsts” we experienced during our first trip to Ireland. We hope that you enjoy reliving the joys of our first days in Ireland with us! Here are some of the places we remembered from that first trip: Fairymount Farm - http://www.fairymountfarm.com/ The Rock of Cashel - http://www.cashel.ie/ Clonmacnoise - http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/clonmacnoise/ The Clonfinlough Stone - http://www.megalithicireland.com/Clonfinlough%20Stone.html Bunratty Folk Park - http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/BunrattyCastleandFolkPark/ Ailwee Cave - http://www.aillweecave.ie/aillweecave.html Birr Castle - http://www.birrcastle.com/ Poulnabrone - http://www.megalithicireland.com/Poulnabrone.htm Craggaunowen - http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/CraggaunowenTheLivingPastExperience/ The Cliffs of Moher - http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/

In this episode, we follow in the footsteps of Saint Patrick, paying a visit to a few of the key sights connected with Ireland's patron saint.

In the second part of a two part episode, we tell you about the rest of our 10 favorite places to see in Northern Ireland and Donegal.

In this episode, we review our top 10 list of places to see in the counties of Northern Ireland and in county Donegal.

You can't read a history of traditional music of Northern Ireland without coming across the McPeake name sooner or later. The McPeake family has been influencing traditional music in Ireland and around the world since the mid-1900s and continues its tradition of education and entertainment today. We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Frances McPeake III and Frances McPeake IV at Milwaukee Irish Fest, and they gave some insight as to what has gone into the making of this family legacy. You'll also hear how the family's path crossed with those of royalty and a member of a famous quartet from Liverpool and why, despite numerous difficulties and setbacks, they feel that it's of utmost importance to continue to provide traditional music education to children in Ireland today.

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px} span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px} In this special holiday edition of the Engaging Ireland Podcast, Travis and Kathy take a look at some of the holiday traditions that have been practiced in Ireland over the years, and Travis presents a recital of the Kerry Christmas Carol, written by Sigerson Clifford.   Anne Roos was kind enough to allow use of her beautiful harp music for this episode. For further information on Anne and her music, visit her website at www.celticharpmusic.com or in iTunes.   The Engaging Ireland Podcast (www.engagingireland.com) presents information, interviews, and travel tips related to Ireland and Irish Culture. The podcast can also be found on iTunes and other media podcast outlets. 

In this brief MiniCast, we talk about the year long promotion being spearheaded by Fáilte Ireland in 2012.  This promotion, being called The Gathering, is really a series of cultural and sporting events that will take place throughout the year and is an effort by Fáilte Ireland to entice Irish people who have moved abroad and those of Irish ancestry to return to Ireland for a visit.  You can read more about The Gathering on our daily blog: http://dailyblog.engagingireland.com/?p=224 Also, more information about one of the sporting events taking place in 2012, the Notre Dame and Navy football game in Dublin, can be found here: http://dailyblog.engagingireland.com/?p=211    

  Ireland boasts many beautiful and interesting gardens. In this episode, we highlight a few of our favorites. It's difficult to narrow down our list to just ten, but we have made our choices. If you have a favorite garden, please feel free to send a comment telling us about your favorite garden and why it is special to you.   

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Joe O'Flynn, owner of Rathsallagh Country House Hotel, and Brian Bourke, owner of Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Both establishments are family-owned and operated, and Joe and Brian shared with us a bit of what it has been like to operate in these difficult economic times. Not only has there been a drop in the number of visitors to Ireland, but there has also been the issue of the “zombie hotels” to contend with.  Even in these trying times, however, Joe and Brian remain optimistic about the future for their own establishments, as well as for other well-run accommodations that provide good service and a personal touch for their guests. We also talk a bit about what separates a superior accommodation from a lackluster one and why travelers should look at more than just the cost of their board when considering where they will stay. A hint: When someone tells you that you get what you pay for, they are generally telling you the truth! The price of your accommodation should not be your only consideration or motivation when making your travel plans. A few links of use from this episode: Rathsallagh Country House Hotel, Dunlavin, County Wicklow - http://www.rathsallagh.com/ Their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RathsallaghHouse  And Twitter Account: @RathsallaghHous  Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Bushypark, County Galway - http://www.glenlo.com/ Their Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Galway/Glenlo-Abbey-Hotel/282220584728?ref=search&v=wall There is much more to experience at these properties than just the hotels. Check out their websites to see all of the amenities and special activities that are on offer. We also ran across this clever cooperative marketing scheme on the part of three family-owned Irish hotels: Glenlo Abbey, Rathsallagh House, and Sandhouse Hotel (Rossnowlagh, County Donegal). The three hotels are currently operating a partnership they call The Emerald Triangle (http://www.emerald3.com/), where you purchase one package and receive six nights' B&B accommodation (split among the three hotels). By booking this way, you can be assured of quality lodging as you travel across the country, and you get the great level of service that comes from a combined 100 years of experience assisting travelers in Ireland. We think this is a brilliant idea and a way to ‘think out of the box,' as it were, in trying to find new and innovative means to attract clients! Celebrated Experiences, Jonathan Epstein, President http://www.celebratedexperiences.com/ “Our clients are the most elite travel agents in the world, seeking the very best for their demanding clientele. “ (A little bit of information about the company from their website.) You can also find Celebrated Experiences on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/CelebratedExperiences where you can follow Jonathan's worldwide travel adventures. As mentioned during the interview, you should research any of the accommodations you are thinking about booking. One place where you can find information about quality Irish accommodations is at Ireland's Blue Book (http://www.irelands-blue-book.ie/). Of course, there are other places you go to perform your research. Another good place to start your research is to simply look at the establishment's website and review its history and amenities. This should tell you a lot about the quality of the accommodation. 

  At the 2010 Milwaukee Irish Fest, Megs Downey Martin, from the Irish Hotels Federation, and the DownHill House Hotel in Ballina, County Mayo, took some time to speak with us regarding the current state of the Hotel Industry in Ireland, and what you should think about when booking a hotel or guest house for your next Irish stay.   The term zombie hotel comes up briefly in the interview.  Because of the increasing impact of zombie hotels in Ireland, we thought it would be a good idea to provide a bit more information about the zombie hotel issue, prior to the start of the interview.   Some links mentioned in the interview:   The Irish Hotels Federation http://www.irelandhotels.com/   The DownHill House Hotel http://www.downhillhotel.ie/  

  In this episode, we sit down to talk with Marie McKown of Tourism Ireland to discuss current issues affecting Ireland tourism, such as how the recession has affected travel to and within Ireland and how the tourism industry in the country has reacted.   Links to some of the sites mentioned in the podcast:   Tourism Ireland http://www.discoverireland.com/    The Characters of Ireland videos page on Discover Ireland  (page was down when we posted the podcast)   Blog for Discover Ireland http://blog.discoverireland.com/    About Walking in Ireland http://www.discoverireland.ie/Walking.aspx    Tourism site for Northern Ireland http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/    Irish Hotel Federation http://www.irelandhotels.com/    Irish Rail (the Republic) http://www.irishrail.ie/home/  Translink (Northern Ireland rail service)  http://www.translink.co.uk/    Bus Eireann (the Republic)  http://www.buseireann.ie/    Londonderry (a.k.a. Derry)  http://www.derryvisitor.com/    The following links are not necessarily endorsements for use of the product or service. They are merely mentioned in the podcast.   Dan Dooley car rental  http://www.dandooley.com/    Aer Lingus http://www.aerlingus.com/      

  On this short episode we discuss changes to our recording capabilities and our website. And we briefly review our plans to attend the 30th anniversary of Milwaukee Irish Fest.   As promised in the podcast, below is a list of a few Ireland Discussion Forums (in no particular order):   Ireland Yes – Michelle Erdvig http://ireland.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=65127   Ireland Expert - Pat Preston http://www.irelandexpertpatpreston.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=104667   Trip Advisor Ireland Forum http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g186591-i88-Ireland.html   Irish Abroad Discussion Forum - Travel http://www.irelandabroad.com/Discussions/Topics.aspx?CategoryID=3  

Our Choices for Top 10 Monastic Sites in Ireland   In the next few episodes, we will be taking a look at our Top 10 lists for Ireland. Seems like everyone is putting together a “Top 10” list these days, so we thought we would share some of our top choices for Ireland. We have chosen our favorites from several categories; for example, we'll list our top ten favorite towns/cities, our top ten. Why didn't we limit ourselves to just one list of Top 10 Favorites? It's too hard! And, while we admit we haven't seen everything there is to see yet, these are our favorites thus far. We begin the podcast series with our Top 10 Monastic/Spiritual Sites. Ireland is virtually littered with sites dating back thousands of years. These are the sites we are most drawn to again and again. For more information on any of the sites we mention, please click on the links below. NOTE: Many of the sites are part of Heritage Ireland (www.heritageireland.ie). If you purchase an OPW Heritage Card, you can enter these sites for no cost or reduced cost.   Skellig Michael   http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=757 http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-West/SkelligMichael/  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skellig_Michael   Interesting web book entitled “The Forgotten Hermitage of Skellig Michael” by      Walter Horn, Jenny White Marshall, and Grellan D. Rourke:   http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft1d5nb0gb;brand=ucpress   Boat operators to Skellig Michael:   http://iguide.travel/Skellig_Michael/Overview/Boat_Operators   Loughcrew   http://www.knowth.com/loughcrew.htm http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/Loughcrew/ http://www.sacredsites.com/europe/ireland/loughcrew.html (Great Photos)   Loughcrew House, Gardens, and Adventure Course http://www.loughcrew.com/   Rock of Cashel/Hore Abbey   http://www.cashel.ie/ http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-East/RockofCashel/   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hore_Abbey Clonmacnoise   http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/Clonmacnoise/ http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/clonmacnoise   Kells (Co. Kilkenny)   Site with comprehensive information about Kells Priory http://kells.frantzen.de/index.htm   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kells_Priory   Kilree Round Tower and High Cross (just up the road from Kells) http://www.roundtowers.org/kilree/index.htm   Glendalough   http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/GlendaloughVisitorCentre/ http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/glendalough   Dublin St. Patrick's Cathedral http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/index.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Patrick%27s_Cathedral,_Dublin   Christ Church Cathedral http://cccdub.ie/ http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/dublin-christ-church-cathedral.htm   Hill of Tara/Hill of Slane   http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/HillofTara/ http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/tara/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tara   http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/slane/index.html http://www.slane.com/hillofslane.htm   Quin Abbey   http://www.nd.edu/~ikuijt/Ireland/Sites/mdonnel2/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quin_Abbey   Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange, Knowth, Howth)   http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/BrunaBoinneVisitorCentreNewgrangeandKnowth/   http://www.knowth.com/bru-na-boinne.htm

In this episode we talk about our hands-down, bar none, favorite day out of all the things we've done and seen in Ireland: our visit to Skellig Michael. The following links are mentioned in this episode of the podcast: The B&B Network Ireland site: http://www.ireland-bnb.net/ Skellig Experience website: http://www.skelligexperience.com Skellig Experience boat operators list: http://www.skelligexperience.com/boat.htm BirdWatch Ireland: http://www.birdwatchireland.ie Skelligs Rock Bird Information: http://www.skelligsrock.com/wildlife.htm Skellig Info from the Dioces of Kerry: http://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/page/heritage/holy-places/skellig/

In anticipation of Saint Patrick's Day, we briefly explore the life and legend of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland.

At the 2009 Milwaukee Irish Fest, we sat down for an interview with Liam Hughes and Corey Taratuta, the hosts of the popular Irish Fireside travel podcast. They told us a bit about their podcast, Liam's cottage in Ireland, their favorite places to see in Ireland, and gave us some tips for first time Irish travelers. You can find their amazing podcast at http://irishfireside.com

Kathy brings you an update about the Holiday exhibition schedule at the Saint Patrick Centre. You can find more information about their holiday exhibit, the "Christmas Narnia Experience" on their website: http://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/

Dr. Campbell is the Director of the Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, County Down. He was kind enough to sit down with us for a few moments during Milwaukee Irish Fest 2009, and he told us about the Centre and several of its programs, which include local outreach events and an international ambassador program. The following information appears on the centreís website (http://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/): The Centre is an exciting interpretative exhibition which tells the fascinating story of Ireland's Patron Saint. Through Patrick's own words a light is shone on the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and its development through his mission. A series of interactive displays allow visitors to explore how Patrick's legacy developed in early Christian times and reveal the fabulous artwork and metalwork which was produced during this Golden Age. The exhibition also examines the major impact of Irish missionaries in Dark Age Europe - a legacy which remains to this day. The Saint Patrick Centre is the only permanent exhibition in the World†dedicated to†Ireland's Patron Saint and one of the top tourist destinations in Ireland. Situated in the heart of Saint Patrick's Country, beside Down Cathedral and Patrick's Grave,†we are just 2 hours north of Dublin and 40 mins south of Belfast. The Centre provides a cutting edge interactive exhibition about the life and legacy of Patrick and is a central hub on the new Saint Patrick's Trail through Counties Armagh and Down. As a non-profit organisation we provide reconciliation†education programs to thousands of children in Northern Ireland every year as well as†running cross border and international youth programs. The Friends of Saint Patrick is a support†organisation which is growing around the World to make people aware of our work and the new Northern Ireland. Bernd Biegeís article (and many others about travel to Ireland) on About.com can be found at http://goireland.about.com/od/countydown/gr/patrick_centre.htm.

In our first mini-cast, we talk briefly about our plans for our mini-casts, talk about the new website, then give a bit of detail about the 2009 Podcast Awards. Nominations for the Podcast Awards open on October 4th and close on October 18th. Links to the nomination categories can be found here: http://www.podcastawards.com The nomination rules can be found at: http://www.podcastawards.com/index.php?option=rules

We caught up with Tommy Sands, world-renowned singer/songwriter and social activist from County Down, at the 2009 Milwaukee Irish Fest and asked him about his musical influences, his new book The Songman: A Journey in Irish Music, and how he views the changes that have taken place in the last few decades in Northern Ireland. If Tommy Sands' name does not, at first, seem familiar to you, you may well be familiar with some of the songs he has written. Many of you will have heard "Sons and Daughters" or "There Were Roses," arguably his most widely-circulated songs. But the collection of songs in his discography is much broader than just songs about the Troubles. Tommy is currently touring with his daughter, Moya, and his son, Fionán, and they recently released a CD titled "Let the Circle Be Wide." We encourage you to visit their website at www.tommysands.com and learn more about Tommy and some of his current projects, both here in the United States and in Northern Ireland.  More information about Tommy, Moya and Fionán may also be found at the Ixtlan Artist's Group website, www.ixtlanartists.com

When we were planning our first trip to Ireland, we had no idea what we were doing. We were traveling with another couple and none of us had been outside of the borders of North America before. We had a lot of decisions to make. How would we decide what to see and do? Should we stay in hotels? Or B&Bs? Or should we rent a self-catering accommodation for the week? If we were to stay in a self-catering accommodation, where would we want it to be located? After much discussion and deliberation, we finally agreed that self-catering would be the best for us. Even though we would have to go out, see the sites and then make our way back to the same place each day (therefore lengthening our travel time) we were very attracted to the lower cost. The ability to make our own meals and the fact that we would not have to pack each morning and carry our things with us each day (as we would if we stayed in separate B&B locations near the attractions we were going to see) were also deciding factors in our choice to stay in a centralized self-catered accommodation. It was our very good fortune that, while researching places to stay, we found the website for Fairymount Farm. An excellent, centralized place to stay, with all of the comforts of home, set in the beautiful Tipperary countryside, it was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Fairymount and have continued to return there for at least a week on each of our trips back to Ireland. John and Linda Kenny have been the perfect hosts. They have always done everything possible to make our stay memorable and enjoyable and have always given their advice on what sites to see next. On our most recent trip to Ireland, John and Linda were kind enough to sit down with us for an interview. During the interview, we discussed the farm, their self-catering accommodations, and their suggestions for the best things to see in Ireland. We hope that you enjoy the conversation as much as we did! Want more information about Fairymount Farm? See their site at: http://www.fairymountfarm.com

We present the second half of our conversation with Peter and Kemberlee from All Ireland Travel (see show notes from Episode 12). B&B Vouchers Vouchers for accommodation at B&Bs (and sometimes hotels) are often part of vacation packages for travel in Ireland, or they may be sometimes be purchased separately. We have never used vouchers on any of our trips to Ireland. We neither condone nor condemn their use. You really have to decide for yourself if you think they would work well for your travel plans. How do you make that decision? Take a look at some of the following sites for more information. On this site, Michele Erdvig (an Ireland Expert from IrelandYes.com) gives readers an interesting take on when she thinks B&B vouchers may or may not be a good value for travel in Ireland. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ireland-144/2009/2/B-B-Vouchers-Ireland.htm Read this article for a good look at the pros and cons of the vouchers. http://www.dochara.com/save/save-on-accommodation/bed-breakfast-vouchers/ Peter and Kemberlee's favorite places to visit in Ireland: Killarney Countryside Killarney National Park http://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/ The Gap of Dunloe Here, we will make appropriate use of the wonderful descriptions Kemberlee and Peter have placed on their website of places of interest in Ireland. http://www.all-ireland.com/attractions/munster/kerry/gapofdunloe.htm#brandon Here is a general description of the Gap of Dunloe. http://www.irishtourism.com/attractions-ireland/gap-of-dunloe_155224-attraction.htm And the following description of the Gap comes from the Planet Ware website (www.planetware.com). “The western part of the Killarney National Park extends from the Upper Lake to the southwest shore of the Lower Lake by way of Purple Mount (2,698ft/822m) and its northern foothills. This range of hills is separated from Macgillicuddy's Reeks to the west by the rocky defile known as the Gap of Dunloe, best reached from the R562, which follows the north side of the Lower Lake. From the road to the Gap, which goes off on the left just after the golf courses, can be seen Dunloe Castle, set amid trees, and a group of ogham stones (National Monument). It is customary to drive as far as Kate Kearney's Cottage, but from there the climb to the pass (some 2.5mi/4km) is usually continued in a jaunting car, on a pony or on foot. There are five little lakes, fed by a rapid mountain stream. The highest of these is Serpent Lake, into which St Patrick is said to have consigned all the snakes he expelled form Ireland. The mighty rocks bearing the marks of glacial action which flank the gorge give an excellent echo. From the top of the pass (784ft/239m) there are superb views of hills, valleys and lakes in the varied shades of green, yellow and brown presented by the vegetation and the red sandstone rocks.” This little gem is one visitor's description of the walk through the Gap. It's a very wonderful description of most of the walk. We say “most of the walk” because the family in the story didn't walk all the way through the Gap to the Black Valley side. It's a shame that many people don't get all the way through, too, because we really thought that last mile and a half were probably the most beautiful and serene of the whole walk. (Unless you pay them extra, the jaunting cars don't go further than the third lake in the gap, and there's still a couple of miles of gorgeous valley to be experienced from there!) http://www.irelandforvisitors.com/articles/the_gap.htm A thorough description (with photos) of how many tourists make the trek through the Gap of Dunloe and back to Killarney Town each day: http://www.lakehotel.com/Gap_of_dunloe.htm The Black Valley On our visit to Killarney National Park this year, we were determined to walk the Gap of Dunloe, and (thanks to confirmation from Peter and Kemberlee) we decided to start our walk at the Gap Head on the Black Valley end of the Gap. We did this because we had heard stories about how crowded it can get at the other end of the gap where most people begin their journey. We parked next to a little church in the Black Valley and made our way up the switchbacks in the road leading up into the gap. When we arrived at the other end of the gap, we had a lovely lunch at Kate Kearney's Cottage and, as it had begun to rain in earnest, we decided to hire a jaunting car to take us up to the third lake (which is generally as far as they go before they turn around and head back). From there, we continued walking through the rest of the gap and back to our car in the Black Valley. The road down into the Black Valley is not a drive for the faint of heart or the inexperienced driver, but the rewards are well worth it, if you can stomach the narrow, bumpy roads. At the bottom of the drive, you can either turn right toward Lord Brandon's Cottage or left toward the Gap of Dunloe. The drive to Lord Brandon's Cottage is really beautiful (and the road has been repaved beginning at the point where it enters Killarney National Park property) and worth a look! You could park your car at the small lot near the gates at Six Arch Bridge and walk the extra 2 or 3 km to the Gap of Dunloe, and we considered doing that, but decided against it. We were very glad that we didn't have to walk the extra distance at the end of our day, as we were water-logged (despite the proper gear and apparel) and VERY tired from fighting against the wind the last couple of miles! On a fairly nice day, though, it might not have been too bad. We'll never know… Muckross House and Gardens http://www.muckross-house.ie/ We have, admittedly, never visited Muckross House, but it looks to be a lovely period house that has been very well maintained and furnished. We would like to stop in during one of our future trips. Gougane Barra You might not recognize this name at first, but many of you may have seen photos of the fairly well-known oratory of St. Finbarr, which is located on an island in Gougane Barra Forest Park. http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/?id=53&rec_site=88 http://www.gougane.cork2020.com/ We were quite heartbroken that, due to the late hour of the day when we passed by, we were unable to make the detour to visit. The park also contains the source of the mighty River Lee (which eventually travels downhill to Cork City and out into Cork Harbour). We will be back to visit Gougane Barra! Dublin City Just about everyone who visits Ireland will spend some amount of time in Dublin City. There are many, many worthwhile things to see and do in the city, but you won't need a car. For this reason, we generally suggest to our listeners that they visit Dublin either at the beginning of their stay or at the end of their stay (before they pick up a rental car or after they've dropped it off). It's very easy to get to and from Dublin Airport to the city center, and driving in Dublin is, in some ways, more painful than driving in New York City! An informative website to visit, as one might guess, is http://www.dublin.ie/, where you can plan out your itinerary. Be sure to make note of any festivals or special events that might affect where you can and cannot go. Below are a couple of the bus companies that provide the hop-on/hop-off tours of the city, as was mentioned in the podcast. http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/  (Dublin Bus Tour) http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/pdf/tours_08.pdf (Here's where you can download the PDF flyer for the Dublin Bus Tours) http://www.irishcitytours.com/hop_citydublin.htm (Irish Sightseeing Tours - the red and yellow buses) You can also book day tours by bus from Dublin City out to places like the Wicklow Mountains and Malahide and Brú na Bóinne. The Antrim Coast As we have mentioned in previous podcasts, we have not made it into Northern Ireland yet. We would like to make a special trip of 2-3 weeks, in order to give the region the attention it deserves. http://www.northantrim.com/ The following site includes information about Glenarriff, a favorite area that Kemberlee mentions in the interview. http://www.causewaycoastandglens.com/ (Causeway Coast and Glens) The Beara Peninsula (and West County Cork) If you would like general information about the peninsula, consult the following website: http://www.bearatourism.com/ The Beara Way is popular walking route located on the Beara Peninsula. The length of the complete walk is apparently difficult to estimate. Some information indicates the walk is 115 miles, while others maintain that is over 130 miles. In all fairness, there are several splinter routes that go off the main route, so the distance you would go would probably be determined by the number of those splinter routes you explore. Even if you don't get out of your car and walk at all (which would be a real shame, because you'll miss a lot of really interesting sites), the Beara Peninsula offers beautiful landscapes and vistas along the main ring road, and you'll not generally find the number of people and vehicles that you would find on, say, the Ring of Kerry right next door! Dingle Peninsula A good site for information about your trip to the Dingle Peninsula. http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/ Dingle is also less crowded than the Ring of Kerry, generally, but there are many historical/archaeological sites of interest. As the Wikitravel website describes the area: “The landscape is wild and beautiful from the eastern spine of the peninsula in the steep Slieve Mish (mountain of phantoms) to the western end where the land breaks into a scattering of uninhabited and dramatic islands and cliffs and beaches alternate around the coast. Dingle town (An Daingean) is small enough to walk and big enough to be lively.” http://wikitravel.org/en/Dingle_Peninsula North Clare Doolin “Doolin is a small fishing village on the west coast of Ireland, often referred to as the capital of Irish traditional music.” – this is the description on the Doolin website: http://www.doolinireland.net/. For further information on Doolin and its environs, refer to: http://www.doolin-tourism.com/ The Burren The Burren is basically a geological region of County Clare. http://www.burrenpage.com/ Wikipedia describes it this way:  Its “rolling hills are composed of limestone pavements with crisscrossing cracks known as "grikes", leaving isolated rocks called "clints". The region supports arctic, Mediterranean and alpine plants side by side, due to the unusual environment. The blue flower of the Spring Gentian, an alpine plant, is used as a symbol for the area by the tourist board. Burren's many limestone cliffs, particularly the sea-cliffs at Ailladie, are popular with rock-climbers. For potholers (spelunkers), there are a number of charted caves in the area.” The Burren Centre in Kilfenora is a great place to start your visit to the Burren region. You can view an informative video about the Burren and walk through the exhibition area where you'll get an understanding of how the Burren came to be and what life on the Burren has been like for animals, plants, and man. http://www.theburrencentre.ie/ This is one of our favorite pages about the Burren: http://www.burrenbeo.com/ Derry City, Northern Ireland You may still hear Derry referred to as Londonderry, but most locals simply refer to the city as Derry. Derry has a long and, sometimes, unsettled history. But its turbulent history is always interesting. http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/http://www.derryvisitor.com/ Here is a brief history of Derry (up to the 1920s). http://www.geographia.com/northern-ireland/ukider01.htm A Wikipedia article examines more of Derry's history and geography. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derry Carrickfergus, County Antrim Dobbins Castle (a.k.a. D'Aubins Castle or Dobbins Inn Hotel) A little of the history of the hotel and its ghost(s) can be found at the All Ireland Travel website: http://www.all-ireland.com/accommodations/ulster/antrim/dobbinsinnhotel.htm Glenariff, County Antrim Glenariff, sometimes called the “Queen of the Glens,” is one the famous Glens of Antrim. It is the largest of the glens and was shaped, as were the others, by glaciers during the Ice Age. One of the most popular places to visit in this beautiful glen is the forest park: http://www.irelandholidays.net/English/Activities/Glenariff/Forestpark.htm We hope you enjoyed listening in on our afternoon conversation in Inchigeela. We'll meet you again down the road!

All Ireland Travel website (Kemberlee and Peter's website) http://www.allirelandtravel.com/ Peruse the site and check out the information related to travel to and within Ireland, as well as information about car rental and accommodation. As Kemberlee notes in our interview, the information/descriptions for many of the attractions and accommodations listed on the website were recently updated and expanded.    While you're there, be sure to check out their blog. The link to it is found under “More Information” (select “blogspot”). You can also link to the Ireland Yahoo group from the website and sign up to join the discussions!    Dublin Pass and Ireland-at-a-Glimpse guides    Please visit the All Ireland Travel website for links to purchase these. They are also a great deal, if you are going to visit several of the places covered under each pass. Check the website to see if the places you are planning to visit are covered!    Lee Valley Clothing: http://www.leevalley.ie/ We had lunch and conducted our interview with Peter and Kemberlee at the Lee Valley Retail Outlet in Inchigeela (west of Cork City just off the N22 on the R584), which just happens to have a lovely cafeteria upstairs.   Other things to do in the Inchigeela (or Inchigeelagh)/Lee Valley area  http://www.inchigeelagh.com/Activities.htm This is (yet another) lovely part of Ireland with a lot to offer the outdoors enthusiast.   OPW Heritage Card  http://www.heritageireland.ie/ The Heritage Card is a pass for entry to sites maintained and operated by the Office of Public Works in Ireland. You can purchase passes before you go to Ireland by downloading and completing the form (available at the website) and mailing it in with payment. Or you can just purchase the pass at the first OPW site you visit while in Ireland. (You may also pay per site if you don't care to purchase the Heritage Card. You don't have to have a card to get into the sites.) Check the online site while you're planning your vacation to see how many of the Heritage Sites you might visit and the cost per each entry. Some sites cost as little as €2, while other sites cost as much as €11 (for Newgrange/Knowth/Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre).     

In response to a listener's questions and comments, we produced this show in order to illustrate what a two-week vacation in Ireland could look like. This is only one of an infinite number of options available to travellers, but it will give you an idea of what you *can* do. Fasten your seatbelts for a whirlwind tour of the Republic and Northern Ireland! Ferries from Rossaveel (Bus available from Galway City)   Aran Island Ferries www.aranislandferries.com  Aran Direct www.arandirect.com  Ferries from Doolin  Doolin 2 Aran Ferries http://www.aran-island-ferry.com/  Aran Doolin Ferries http://www.doolinferries.com/  Doolin Ferry http://www.doolinferry.com/  Moher Cruises http://www.cliffs-of-moher-cruises.com/ (This carrier provides service to Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher cruises, as do some of the other Doolin operators.)  Flights to the Aran Islands  Aer Arann http://www.aerarannislands.ie/  Shuttle buses for ferries and flights leave from Galway (and Kilronan) daily, but you can drive yourself out to the airport or ferry docks if you prefer.  Other Links  Kylemore Abbey http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/  Connemara Region http://www.connemaraireland.com/  County Mayo Home Page http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/ (with links to towns and attractions in County Mayo, including the village of Murrisk and the town of Westport)  County Sligo Home Page http://www.countysligo.com/  Sligo Heritage Page http://www.sligoheritage.com/  Enniskillen Home Page http://www.enniskillen.com/  Ulster American Folk Park http://www.folkpark.com/  Dungiven Castle http://www.dungivencastle.com/welcome.html  North Antrim Information http://www.northantrim.com/  Giant's Causeway http://www.northantrim.com/giantscauseway.htm  Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge http://www.northantrim.com/carrick_a_rede.htm  Dunluce Castle/Carrickfergus Castle http://www.geographia.com/northern-ireland/ukiant03.htm  Monasterboice http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/monasterboice.htm  Mellifont Abbey http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/mellifont-abbey.htm  Bru na Boinne http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/BrunaBoinneVisitorCentreNewgrangeandKnowth/  Loughcrew http://www.loughcrew.com/cairns.htm (When you return the key to the cairn, be sure to take a trip through the Loughcrew Gardens or buy a cup of tea or coffee and a snack at the Coffee Shop.)  National Museum of Ireland http://www.museum.ie/en/homepage.aspx  Dublin Bus Tours (we're not making a recommendation of one over another…) http://www.dublintours.net/tours/tourDetail.cfm?tour_id=7192  http://194.106.151.179/sightseeing/index.aspx  Kilkenny Self-Guided Walking Tour http://www.knockahopple.com/Kilkenny.pdf  Kells Augustinian Priory http://www.kellsvillage.bravepages.com/priory.htm  Cashel town and the Rock of Cashel http://www.cashel.ie/  Mallow Information http://www.mallow.ie/co/web/Cork%20County%20Council/Mallow/Visit%20Mallow Killarney http://www.killarney.ie/ Ring of Kerry http://www.ringofkerrytourism.com/ Skellig Michael http://www.sacredsites.com/europe/ireland/skellig_michael.html http://www.kerrypoet.utvinternet.com/monastic/kerry/skellig.html Skellig Experience Centre http://www.skelligexperience.com/skellig_experience.html  Dingle Peninsula http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/  The Famine Cottage http://www.famine-cottage.com/  Blasket Islands http://www.greatblasketisland.com/  Blennerville Windmill http://www.blennervilleattractions.ie/  King John's Castle & Bunratty Castle and Folk Park http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/   Join us again next time for more adventures in Ireland. Slan!

Ardmore http://www.travelireland.org/waterford/ardmore/index.html Scenic Walks around Ardmore http://www.newtownfarm.com/walksinardmore.pdf Kathy likes this travel blog about Ardmore http://travelblog.viator.com/ardmore-yes-ardmore/ Waterford Scenic Drives http://www.waterfordtourism.org/drives.htm Lismore Castle http://www.lismorecastle.com/ The art gallery in the West Wing of the castle http://www.lismorecastlearts.ie/ Lismore Heritage Center http://www.discoverlismore.com/ Comeragh Mountains and Nire Valley Information http://homepage.eircom.net/~gracedieu/Walking.htm http://www.waterfordcoco.ie/en/tourism/activitiesandattractions/walkingroutes/nirevalley/ http://www.traildatabase.org/countries/ireland.html General Information about things to do in County Waterford http://www.countywaterford.com/waterford_environment_lismore.htm Follow us on Twitter: Podcast Updates - http://www.twitter.com/EngagingIreland Travis - http://www.twitter.com/TD_Nelson Kathy - http://www.twitter.com/Kathy_SixEight

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Engaging Ireland!

In this episode, we talk about Glendalough and our day in the Wicklow mountains Glendaloughhttp://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/GlendaloughVisitorCentre/Wicklow Mountains National Parkhttp://www.wicklownationalpark.ie/ Avoca Handweavers http://www.avoca.ie/index`.php Wicklow Walking Trailshttp://www.wicklownationalpark.ie/pages/walkingtrails.phpWicklow Way Walking Trailhttp://www.wicklowway.com/Gardens and Houses:Powerscourt House & Gardenshttp://www.powerscourt.ie/gardens/Avondale House & Gardens (Rathdrum)http://www.gardensireland.com/avondale.htmlKilruddery House & Gardens (Bray)http://www.killruddery.com/Russborough House (Blessington)http://www.russborough.ie/Mount Usher Gardenshttp://www.mountushergardens.ie/Monastic Ireland Websitehttp://www.monasticireland.com/historicsites/glendalough.htm#1The Irish Fireside Podcasthttp://www.irishfireside.comFollow us on Twitter!http://twitter.com/EngagingIreland

We talk briefly about Belvelly Castle, mentioned in an earlier episode about Cobh. Then we talk about our trip to Powerscourt. *Please note: We are not specifically endorsing any of the websites, companies, tourist sites or products that we list in our show notes. We are simply providing links to things we have mentioned in our podcast. You need to do your own research when deciding upon a product or service provider to find out which one best suits your individual needs and desires. Belvelly Castle Link Real Estate Listing for Belvelly Castle: http://www.myhome.ie/residential/search/brochure/belvelly-castle-fota-cork-city-outer/YAYJY363002 Powerscourt Main Website http://www.powerscourt.ie/ County Wicklow General Information http://www.visitwicklow.ie/ Town of Enniskerry Website http://www.enniskerry.ie/ Bus Eireann Day Tours Information http://www.buseireann.ie/bubble.php?id=174 Dublin Bus Tour (that includes Powerscourt) http://www.dublinbus.ie/sightseeing/southCoast.aspx Grayline Bus Company (with trips to the Wicklow Mountains and Powerscourt available from Dublin) http://www.grayline.com/Grayline/destinations/europe/ireland.go?mode=activities&cd=&cat=Show%20All%20Tours&index=1&itemcount=6 Travel Toe Tour Company http://www.traveltoe.com/product_info.php/products_id/2641

In this episode, we interview our friend and travelling companion, Lisa, about her experiences regarding researching her Irish family roots. One caveat: When doing research and finding information from any source, don't believe that the information you find is accurate until you can verify it by finding a second source that backs up that information. The government records aren't always accurate and neither are family records or the records of churches for that matter. ALWAYS CROSS-VERIFY YOUR INFORMATION!   The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy/centres.html Irish Family History Foundation website http://www.irish-roots.ie/ The Irish Family History Foundation is the coordinating body for a network of county based genealogical research centers on the island of Ireland. Centres specifically mentioned in podcast Episode 7: Meath Heritage CentreCastle Street (next to Trim Castle)Trim, Co. Meath www.meathroots.com  County Cavan Genealogy Centre1st Floor, Johnston Central LibraryFarnham StreetCavan Town, Co. Cavan www.irish-roots.ie/cavan.asp   Irish Genealogy Limited website http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/ This is the official web site of Irish Genealogy Limited (IGL). Irish Genealogy Limited was set up in 1993 to manage and market the Irish Genealogical Project. Ireland Gen Web Project website http://www.irelandgenweb.com/ This site is part of the WorldGenWeb Project and is the local resource index page for Ireland research. It has a clickable map of all the Irish counties. Irish Family Research (Based in the U.K.) http://www.irishfamilyresearch.co.uk Founded by Mary Quinn, a lawyer from the U.K. Links and information and a message board where you can try to find information that others may already have located. (Many genealogical research sites have these message boards, and they can prove helpful in your search.) Ireland Roots website http://www.irelandroots.com/ There is no information on this website (that we have been able to ascertain at any rate – doesn't mean it isn't there; we just haven't seen it) about who is sponsoring this website. But there is a very active message board associated with the site and some interesting information about starting your search for your roots (not specifically Irish roots, just genealogical research in general). Irish Ancestors research page from RootsWeb and Ancestry.com http://www.irishancestors.net/ Not all resources from Ancestry.com are free, but this page contains the links to a bunch of resources specifically related to Irish genealogical research that are free.   Footnote.com http://www.footnote.com/ On-line document look-ups. Many services are free, but if you want to print, save, or annotate all of their documents, you will need a membership. There are millions and millions of document images from all over the world on this site. I found that many of the ones I wanted to look at require a membership to access, but there are tons of documents you can access for free. This might be a great place to go when you're just starting your research. You could probably obtain a lot of good free information to get you started. Then you could get a membership later when you're further along in your research…   U.K. Genealogy website http://www.ukgenealogy.co.uk/ireland.htm This portion of the website is specifically related to Irish root research. You can search for information on your U.K. roots as well, which is rather nice. Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/ Even the Irish Times newspaper sponsors a website related to finding your roots! About.com website http://genealogy.about.com/od/ireland/tp/irish_databases.htm This page is a list of what About.com considers the top 12 online resources for researching your Irish ancestors. Interesting stuff – not all of the areas of all of the sites are free though. (Side note: About.com has a pretty large genealogy section, and they have some good articles about getting started with research, top mistakes to avoid, organizing your research, finding software that's right for you, and lots of other things. Go to http://genealogy.about.com/od/make_family_tree/u/learn.htm to find out more.) Ancestry Ireland http://www.ancestryireland.com Sponsored by the Ulster Historical Foundation. You can do just about anything on this site. You can enter an ancestor's name to find records, you can hire a researcher to help you do your research, you can find books to help you with your research, and more. Parts of this site are free, but some areas require a fee payment. Cyndi's List http://www.cyndislist.com/ireland.htm This website has a ton of links to sites that might be able to help you with your research! Of course, we didn't have time to check them all out and make sure that all of the links were working or that the sites were useful, but we recognized many of the sites as places we had already been. Family Search http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp This site is sponsored by the Church of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. Mormon church). Irish Genealogy Centre (Professional Ancestral Research) Website http://www.irishgenealogycentre.com There is some good general information about how to go about doing family research, but a lot of the other pages don't have any information on them. NOT FREE RESOURCES   Ancestry.com/RootsWeb.com   OneGreatFamily.com

The Queenstown Storyhttp://www.cobhheritage.com/index2.html Cobh Chamber of commercehttp://www.cobhharbourchamber.ie/index.html Cobh Museumhtt://www.cobhmuseum.com Sirius Art Centrehttp://www.iol.ie/~cobharts/ St Colman's Cathedralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cobh-cathedral Titanic trail tourhttp://www.titanic-trail.com/trail.htm Fota Islandhttp://www.fotawildlife.ie Fota House and Gardenshttp://www.fotahouse.com Heritage Island Guide Bookshttp://www.heritageisland.com/Touring%20Guide.asp Marine Transport Services (provides harbour cruises)http://www.scottcobh.ie/pages/tours.html Foodhttp://www.goireland.com/ireland/restaurants-in-ireland-page1.htm

We give a brief update about the job hunt in Ireland and about our trip to Kinsale and Charles Fort.Heritage Ireland/OPW - Info about heritage passes and all OPW sites. Also updates on clusures and schedule modifications.http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/ Desmond Castlehttp://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-west/DesmondCastle/ Charles Forthttp://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-west/CharlesFort/ Kinsale Town Infohttp://www.kinsale.iehttp://www.cork-guide.ie/kinsale.htmOne-Minute Irishhttp://omIrish.libsyn.com/ Mike Hanrahanhttp://www.mikehanrahannl.com/

The Ring of Hook, Hook Head lighthouse, Duncannon and Dunbrody AbbeyOn our first day back in Ireland, we drove the ring of hook and went to Hook Head Lighthouse, Duncannon fort and Dunbrody abbey.Ring of Hook/Duncannon Fort/Dunbrody Abbey http://www.thehook-wexford.com/ The Cockleshell Gallery http://www.cockleshellgallery.com

Hello again! Just a quick update to let you know what we've been doing. Day 5 (Killarney) Thursday morning we checked out of our accommodation near Dungarvan/Helvick Head and travelled west to Killarney. There's a national park near the town of Killarney, and the highest mountain peaks in Ireland are located near the park (MacGillycuddy's Reeks). We arrived in Killarney around mid-day, and, even though it was a little early, we decided to check and see if we could get into our B&B, so we'd have less in the car. They were very kind and did let us check in before 2 p.m., as our rooms were already cleaned from the previous night's guests. We got back in the car and decided to drive out to Killarney National Park, mainly to see Torc Waterfall. It was very beautiful (see the photo). We then headed further up the road to Ladies' View, said to be named by the ladies-in-waiting of Queen Victoria as the most beautiful view they experienced on their visit to Ireland in 1861. It is a very spectacular view, and a very scenic drive to get to. (I almost said it was a "lovely" drive; however, because the road is quite narrow and busy with bus traffic, I can't really claim that it was a lovely drive. The drive was quite frightening, actually, but we made it without actually scraping off either of the side-view mirrors!) On our way back to the town of Killarney, we stopped at a couple of spots to take photos of the lakes. At one stop, there was a gentleman named Michael who asked us if we wanted to take a boat ride for 15 Euro each. We respectfully declined his offer as it was getting late, we were hungry, and 15 Eur. seemed a lot for a boat ride.Upon returning to town, we parked back at the B&B and walked to the town center to find something for dinner. We passed a lot of restaurants on High Street, but most of the prices were well out of our range (in the $30-50 equivalent range). We settled on the bar service at a place called O'Meara's. Travis and Lisa had a lovely chicken curry with rice for 10.75 Eur, and Mom and I had the salmon salad for 11 Eur. I got to have my first Guinness of the trip, Lisa got her Smithwick's, and Mom finally got to taste her Irish coffee (she wasn't all that impressed, but now she can say she did it). The food was actually very good, and we were all quite hungry from all the walking we did at the park. Day 6 (Dingle) After a tasty breakfast at the B&B, we headed out to take the tour of Ross Castle on Lough Leane. Ross Castle has been very well restored, and the tour is very informative. We enjoyed the 1/2 hour tour of the tower portion of the castle (you can't go into the rest of it). We were a little sad that we were not allowed to take any photographs inside the castle, but we liked the tour and our guide, Maureen, anyway! At the conclusion of the castle tour, we made our way to the Dingle Peninsula. We stopped at Inch Strand (beach) to have our picnic lunch - we have a picnic lunch every day to save money. Inch is a very long, beautiful stretch of beach. If you've ever seen the film "Ryan's Daughter," part of that movie was filmed on the beach there. It's a beach where many people ride horses (I've heard there are actually races there...), and there were a few there when we first arrived, but they left shortly after our arrival. We walked up to the sea edge for a bit and then headed on to Dingle Town and our B&B for the evening. After a brief chat with our hostess, Angela, and checking in to our comfy rooms, we went back into town (the B&B is about 1 km past the town center) to check out the shops. Lisa was able to cross several hard-to-find items off her shopping list and was a very happy girl!We were going to drive up Connor Pass - since the last time Travis and I visited Dingle Peninsula, it was totally foggy and rainy and we couldn't see a thing - but we decided we would take a chance that the weather would hold, and we'll go over it tomorrow on our way to Tipperary. Today, we went to visit Gallarus Oratory - a very small stone church that was built in the 7th or 8th century (they're not exactly sure). The church was built using a corbelling technique that still keeps the church bone dry on the inside, even in the heaviest of rainstorms! Upon leaving that site, we went to Kilmalkedar, where there's an old church, an ogham stone, an ancient sun dial, and a cemetery. The weather was very cloudy for a good part of the day, but the clouds broke and the sun came out and the day was another beautiful, sunny day! What a blessing! We're ready for some rain about now, though, oddly enough... Again, the restaurants were really quite expensive, so we decided to have a picnic supper as well. We bought a few items at the local grocery store and returned to our B&B to sit on the balcony that overlooks Dingle Harbor. After we finished our cheese and brown bread and an interesting little dessert we found that was supposed to be cheesecake (but had more of a consistency of a thick pudding), we retired to our rooms for the evening.Tomorrow, we finish our tour of the Dingle Peninsula and head for our self-catering accommodation in Tipperary. Until then...Slan!

Fewer than 5 days left 'til we leave for Ireland!!!!!A brief update on the Irish job hunt. Work Permits vs Green Cards when looking for a job in Ireland A brief interview with our friend and traveling companion, Lisa.Work Permits Guide (http://www.entemp.ie/publications/labour/2007/guideworkpermits.pdf)Green Card Guide (http://www.entemp.ie/publications/labour/2007/guidegreencards.pdf)Generic Work Permit/Green Card Info (http://workpermit.com)Business Permission/Self Employment Info (http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/BUSINESS.PDF/Files/BUSINESS.PDF)Tax - Artists' Exemption (http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/revguide/artistexemption.htm)

We have about 30 days until our trip to Ireland! We discuss the itinerary for our May 2008 trip.Dungarvan Areahttp://www.dungarvantourism.com/Ring of Hook/Duncannon Fort/Dunbrody Abbeyhttp://www.thehook-wexford.com/Southeast Ireland Info Sitehttp://www.discoverireland.ie/southeast.aspxMountain Drives:Comeragh Mountainshttp://www.discoverireland.ie/DI/resultsengine/IndividualResultTCS.aspx?touristItemID=8575Knockmealdown Mountains/Glen of Aherlowhttp://www.visitclonmel.com/WalkingInfo.aspPowerscourt Gardens and Waterfallhttp://www.powerscourt.ie/gardens/Monastic Irelandhttp://www.monasticireland.com/index2.htmGlendaloughhttp://www.glendalough.connect.ie/Killarney Areahttp://www.killarney.ie/Killarney National Parkhttp://homepage.eircom.net/~knp/duchas/index.htmDingle Peninsulahttp://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/The Burren:Burren Center at Kilfenorahttp://www.theburrencentre.ie/Burren Beohttp://www.burrenbeo.com/County Clare Sites:East County Clare Info (Including Holy Island, Lough Derg)http://www.eastclareheritage.com/Moone High Crosshttp://kildare.ie/Heritage/History/religious/crosses/moone-high-cross.htmKilkenny Town Informationhttp://www.kilkennycityonline.com/info.aspBru na Boinne (Newgrange/Knowth/Howth) and other heritage sites in Meathhttp://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/Clonmacnoisehttp://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/clonmacnoise.htm