Podcasts about causeway coast

Hailing from the Causeway Coast, Good Friend is Adam Carroll (lead vocals and bass), Izzy Curran (drums), and Andy Reid (lead guitar). These three Irish lads originally come from around Belfast/Northern Ireland but they moved to Newcastle, England to get shitty jobs and form a band. The jobs did indeed turn out to be shitty, but the band turned out great! 'We've always described our sound as Punk Rock salted by The Irish Sea. Melodic and ferocious.' The band are signed to Red Scare Industries (US) and Gunner Records (EU) and have toured the world and played with bands like MakeWar, Guerilla Poubelle & Red City Radio. Good Friend played support to The Menzingers on the 16th of April at Button Factory Dublin, where Letty interviewed Adam and Izzy of the band. Band link: https://gunnerrecords.com/product-category/bands/good-friend https://goodfriend.bandcamp.com/album/tell-me-ma-single https://www.instagram.com/goodfriendband

'Out thousands of dog breeders in NI, only 48 are licensed' - Tara Cunningham from Causeway Coast Dog Rescue spoke to John about the need for much greater regulation of the dog breeding industry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trees known as the Dark Hedges, which were made world famous by the TV show The Game Of Thrones, are nearing the end of their natural life. According to the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, the tunnel of beech trees in County Antrim is almost 250 years old, as their Chief Executive, Graham Thompson, explains...

Pól Ó Conghaile joins us to discuss the many marvelous travel destinations that Northern Ireland has to offer. From a road trip along the Causeway Coast to sleeping in Bubble Domes in Fermanagh, Pól gives us his top travel recommendations. All with thanks to Ryanair.

Robin Ruddock is a respected advocate for sea kayaking and environmental conservation on Ireland's picturesque Causeway Coast. In this episode, we delve into Robin's extensive career, during which he has introduced over 20,000 young people to the joys of paddling and the unique natural history of Ireland's North Coast. Robin shares his personal paddling story, the rich folklore, and the breathtaking beauty of the Causeway Coastline, including insights on the area's geology, wildlife, and historical significance.  We'll also explore the amazing opportunities for visitors to experience the kayaking wonders of this vibrant region, complete with local resources and guides to help you navigate the scenic coast.  North Coast Sea Kayak Trail What's a Currach? Causeway Coast Kayak Club Giant's Causeway Legend of Finn McCool

Having founded her business in 2017 after turning to photography as a way to help recover from postnatal depression; Lauren Chambers quickly specialised in wedding photography. Growing up and living on the iconic Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland, it's no surprise that Lauren quickly started shooting elopements. Combining her love for capturing moments and landscapes Lauren's style has earned her recognition with awards, but it's the feedback and connection she gets from her couples that brings her the most joy. She has built a business that is rooted in her core values and allows her to be a mum to her two children. Lauren also hosts and runs Capture Love; a retreat and workshop for women in the wedding photography industry. She is extremely passionate about supporting other women in the industry and building community. Lauren loves the business side and believes that you can have a values based business that is profitable. In a time of uncertainty she has diversified her business and strengthened it. She shares how she has done that whilst staying true to her core values and ensuring her businesses work for her. https://litphotographyni.com/capture-love-northern-ireland-elopement-workshop/

This interview with Claire O'Kane is an extract from a Best Possible Taste programme that is a celebration of Taste Causeway, an All-Ireland Foodie Destination Award Winner and an accredited Slow Food Destination in Northern Ireland. Mussenden Sea Salt is hand-crafted on the rugged Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland. As Northern Ireland's only sea salt producer, they pride themselves on producing sea salt with Zero Impact on the sea. The focus is on not overly producing sea salt, meaning that they believe that sea salt should be as nature intended, naturally moist. Not only are they Northern Ireland's only sea salt producer, they also host exclusive dining and wellness experiences in iconic landmarks such as Mussenden Temple in Northern Ireland, and locations throughout Ireland. THE BEST POSSIBLE TASTE CELEBRATED 10 YEARS ON AIR IN 2023 MAKING IT IRELAND'S LONGEST-RUNNING FOOD & DRINK RADIO SHOW & PODCAST.

Castlerock might be considered a “throw-in” to a trip up to the Causeway Coast — a way to spend a day that's not at Royal Portrush or Portstewart. As Andy articulates at the top of this episode, it was a course and experience that pleasantly captured him and the kind of unexpected day that really helps redeem these treks to golf-rich areas. Cameron and Brendan also join to discuss some of their favorite features and holes from a true links setting and fabulous day in the sun. There are a few points about where they think it could improve or may have gone too far, but it's a course where their experience had them concluding it is one that should visited on any trip to this part of the world. 

In this episode of Eggsplorations, Fried Egg Golf brings in two guests they met out and about in Portstewart and Portrush. The first is Dr. Joe McGoldrick, who they met in the Harbor Bar on their first night in town and would run into again at the very same spot late the next night. Dr. Joe is a bit of a legend who has been all around the world golfing and surfing, but always comes back to Portrush to get right. He's also an incredible storyteller and one-liner wordsmith who charmed us over multiple days in Portrush. The second guest is Dave Lynas, who we ran into our first morning in Portstewart at one of the best coffee shops you'll encounter anywhere in the world, Lost & Found. Dave just so happens to be the owner and operator of said coffee shop, which was impeccably designed and looks out over the sea right on the cliffs. Dave grew up in Portstewart and could be a so-called “pioneer” in the surfing culture before it got big in the last 15 years or so. His discusses his roots in the Causeway Coast area and what drew him back with his family after a lengthy stint in Dublin. Both guests bring a local flavor from each town, sometimes framed as “rivals” but two gems where you could spend several weeks. They should give you a sense of the people, hospitality, and culture we've encountered.

Passing through Ballycastle, a charming seaside town on the Causeway Coast in Ireland's northeast corner, one wouldn't necessarily expect to find a world-class bakery serving sourdough breads and creative, beautiful pastries. But after spending time learning and traveling abroad, this is exactly what Ciara O'hArtlaighle and her husband, Dara, created when they opened Ursa Minor. Not only does Ursa Minor have fantastic breads and pastries, but it's also a cafe, serving a really important role as a gathering space around food in a small town without many options. Inspired by sourdough and their travels around the world—New Zealand in particular—they returned home, started baking, and haven't stopped since. We spoke to Ciara about bringing sourdough to Ballycastle; the importance of community cafés; the difference between the food culture in the north versus the south; sourcing Irish flour and grains; and what it's like to be a mother and small business owner.Dyed Green is a project of Bog & Thunder, whose mission is to highlight the best of Irish food and culture, through food tours, events, and media. Find out more at www.bogandthunder.com.Dyed Green is Powered by Simplecast.

[Rebroadcast: this episode first aired on 17th May 2021]   Anna and Carl Isaksson are the founders of Hotbox: Northern Ireland's first ever beach sauna experience.   The idea is simple yet utterly genius: what if after a cold plunge in the sea you could cosy into a sauna to sweat it out with your nearest and dearest?   In today's episode we talk about: Working for and kissing kings How a gal from NI ended up marrying a Swedish guy Why they set-up a mobile sauna business And the biggest successes/challenges they've faced along the way.   Check it out!   //   HotBox is an authentic Finnish wood-burning sauna located primarily at Benone Beach on the Causeway Coast and you can book your own hot slot over at their website hotboxseasauna.com   //   Webpage for this episode: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/hotbox-sea-sauna-northern-ireland

Which unusual rhubarb varieties can I grow in Northern Ireland? Could the panel recommend a small tree for a seaside garden?- How can I encourage an apricot tree to produce more fruit? Kathy and her crew of gardening geniuses are back to answer all these plant predicaments and more from the blustery Causeway Coast. Ready to offer their horticultural know-how from Northern Ireland are self-proclaimed botanical geek James Wong, passionate plantsman Neil Porteous, and experienced garden designer, Kirsty Wilson. Later on, Neil Porteus gives us all his tips and tricks on how to coast through gardening with seaside conditions, strong sea breezes and unsheltered spots. A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Why Coleraine is an ideal place to store your data, insights with Chris Boorman, Prescient Data Centres About Chris Boorman, Business Development Manager, Prescient Data Centres Hailing from Coleraine on the Causeway Coast, Chris Boorman, started his career designing leading edge Computer Systems for the Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet Aircraft program with GEC Marconi Avionics in Kent. His England-based career took him to the likes of the City of London where he installed digital communication hardware systems, Netscape Internet Communications in a Sales and Marketing role, and Dublin's Trinity Technology Group where he built Europe's first fully online Bank (Enba / First-e), with Sun Microsystems UNIX technology, from IBM's Data Centre in Dublin. On returning to Northern Ireland he took on a role at BT Northern Ireland where he interfaced with all leading IT companies for BT amongst other functions before starting a business consultancy, working on a range of environmental technology projects. His return to ICT has included working with a number of local technology companies including Atlas Communications, bringing back his great breadth of technical experience in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Communications and Sustainable Technologies, and is now the Business Development Manager for Prescient Data Centres. About Prescient Data Centres Prescient Data Centres, Northern Ireland's largest purpose-built, sustainably-powered, commercial data centre, is carrier neutral and designed to provide national and international businesses of all sizes with efficient and secure data centre capacity. With ultra-low latency networks to North America and mainland Europe, the £20m, 45,000 square foot Centre provides the ideal platform for organisations that need the ultimate global connectivity solution paired with reliability, security and energy efficiency. Built next to the landing point for the Project Kelvin transatlantic fibre cable that connects Coleraine with Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Centre has capability for expanding customer equipment into six planned data halls, offering significant space for growing companies as well as tailored options for organisations with smaller space requirements. Visit www.prescientdc.com or follow Prescient Data Centres on Twitter or LinkedIn or contact chris.boorman@prescientdc.com to discuss options for your company or to arrange a tour of the Centre.

  Kim took a last minute spring break trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland with her younger daughter and this week on the podcast, she tells us all about it! She flew into Dublin and then stay at a country estate hotel in Northern Ireland before visiting Belfast, the Causeway Coast, Derry/Londonderry, and Galway before looping back to Dublin. See Kim's articles on: Ireland travel tips Ireland packing list 2 Days in Dublin Ireland Trip Highlights: Killeavy Estate in Northern Ireland Belfast - Titanic Belfast and city architecture Causeway Coast - Carrick-a-Rede bridge, Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle Bishop's Gate Hotel in Derry - walk the walls around the city Galway - Kim didn't love Galway and her stay at the G Hotel because it felt more like a conference center hotel then something great for families. It was also a long walk into the center city. (see where Tamara stayed at a bed and breakfast near Galway) Kylemore Abbey in Connemara & Cliffs of Moher Clontarf Castle Hotel in Dublin suburbs Malahide Dublin - Trinity City Hotel and Trinity College / Book of Kells, shopping for Aran Sweaters

The Best Possible Taste is celebrating 10 years on the airwaves in 2023! In this extract from the Best Possible Taste, Sharon Noonan talks to Charlotte Pike a food and drink expert whose portfolio includes writing, teaching, broadcasting and consulting. Charlotte shares details of her food journey and what she thinks about the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland.

Joanne Ní Chróinín is a food/drink blogger who enjoyed a press trip to the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland in March 2023. In this interview, Joanne shares details of the places she visited on the trip and the culinary delights enjoyed. THE BEST POSSIBLE TASTE IS CELEBRATING 10 YEARS ON AIR IN 2023.

In this BPT interview, chef and food writer, Paula McIntyre, inspires us all to take a trip to the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland to experience the wonderful food and drink experiences on offer. THE BEST POSSIBLE TASTE IS CELEBRATING 10 YEARS ON AIR IN 2023

Graeme Beatt joins us today from Royal Portrush to chat about his career journey so far throughout Scotland, Australia and Ireland. We also take a sneak peak behind the job of works that went into preparing Royal Portrush to host the 148th Open Championshps, we also look forward to the scheduled 2025 return to the Causeway Coast. Many thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy our chat! MacKenzie & Ebert resources mentioned during the episode: Major redevelopment (2014 onwards) (https://www.mackenzieandebert.com/RoyalPortrushBrochure.php) M&E 2022 annual report (https://www.mackenzieandebert.com/AnnualReview2022.php) Special Guest: Graeme Beatt.

Pol Ó Conghaile Travel Editor, Irish Independent brings us all the travel news and also recommends the causeway coast from Belfast to Derry.

Sinn Fein and DUP councillors debate the change along with Professor Dominic Bryan.

Also, unions announce a strike in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council.

Helen Mark is in Northern Ireland to hear little known histories about the Causeway Coast. A new project is gathering stories from the local community to add to a digital map, before they are forgotten forever. Produced by Beatrice Fenton.

In 1988, a Ballycastle farmer was tending his flock of sheep in Ballypatrick Forest. The popular picnic spot, full of wildlife and scenic views toward the Causeway Coast, is the perfect place for families to discover nature. But on this day, April 20, as the farmer strolled to a remote clearing in the western corner of the forest, he unwittingly made an alarming discovery — the lifeless body of a partially naked young woman lying face down…*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED *** This episode was researched and written by Emily G. Thompson.Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna FittonNarration, editing, and production direction by Benjamin FittonListen to our companion podcast ‘They Walk Among America' here: https://play.acast.com/s/they-walk-among-americaBecome a ‘Patreon Producer' and get exclusive access to Season 1, early ad-free access to episodes, and your name in the podcast credits. Find out more here: https://www.patreon.com/TheyWalkAmongUsMore information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.comMUSIC: Hidden Beneath by Michael Briguglio Crooked Man by Wicked Cinema Stopped Time by Moments Wilderness by Wild Wonder Sleep by Stephen Keech Things Gone Wrong by Moments Vanished by Wicked Cinema Illuminate by Moments They Walk Among Us is part of the Acast Creator Network - https://www.acast.com/theywalkamongusSOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://twitter.com/TWAU_PodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/theywalkamonguspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/theywalkamonguspodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We can finally get out and about! But if you don't quite feel up to it yet, Ellie's been catching up with Nikki from the Causeway, Coast and Glenns' Heritage Trust to find out about their new Audio Described flyers information packs that you can access from the comfort of your sofa… Image: shows the opening of the Giants Causeway

Anna and Carl Isaksson are the founders of Hotbox: Northern Ireland’s first ever beach sauna experience.   The idea is simple yet utterly genius: what if after a cold plunge in the sea you could cosy into a sauna to sweat it out with your nearest and dearest?   In today's episode we talk about: Working for and kissing kings How a gal from NI ended up marrying a Swedish guy Why they set-up a mobile sauna business And the biggest successes/challenges they've faced along the way.   Check it out!   //   HotBox is an authentic Finnish wood-burning sauna located primarily at Benone Beach on the Causeway Coast and you can book your own hot slot over at their website hotboxseasauna.com   //   Webpage for this episode: https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/hotbox-sea-sauna-northern-ireland

Lauren is a wedding and elopement photographer based on the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland. Inspired by her children, and their unique view of the world, Lauren has developed a photography business and style that is about capturing love in an honest way that aligns with her own personal values. She is passionate about self growth, mental health and redefining the meaning of success; and uses her teaching to help inspire others in the industry.

Helen Mark is used to travelling all over the UK recording for Open Country, however this year she's mostly stayed at home in the north-west corner of Northern Ireland. In April she introduced us to her family farm in Limavady as winter gave way to spring. Now as 2020 draws to an end, we join Helen as she rediscovers the coastal lowland landscape which surrounds her home, overlooked by the dramatic peak of Binevenagh. The area between Derry Londonderry and Castlerock has been an overlooked landscape, but is full of historical intrigue and is one of the best places in the UK to experience the wildlife spectacle of overwintering Whooper Swans on Lough Foyle. The Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust has just been awarded lottery funding to restore and reconnect people to aspects of this landscape. We go to find the pillboxes and other relics from the Second World War to hear about when Lough Foyle was one of the main bases for the Allied Forces in Europe. The mountain of Binevenagh towers above these lowlands and Helen’s farm. She climbs the peak to hear more about its history, wildlife Through the programme Helen and her guests reflect on how this extraordinary year has changed our sense of place and how we experience our local landscapes. Presented by Helen Mark and produced by Sophie Anton.

Originally an archaeologist, Emma Thorpe, now makes stunning silver jewellery that is very much inspired by her surroundings of Portstewart and the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland.Emma's environment has a real sort of sense of wildness about it, but not a terrifying wildness. It’s a wildness that when you come, you just feel free. Emma’s bonds with the land that embraces her link to childhood and her career in archaeology. Her silver jewellery collections are inspired by The Causeway Coast.Podcast website:https://creativeplacesandfaces.com/Credits:Host: Jackie De BurcaSound engineer: Newton SamadderMusic: No.4 Piano Journey by Esther AbramiVoice over: Mike PayneSponsor Series 1:Property Insurance Centre

Andrea Spencer is a Glass Artist who makes beautiful works of art from glass. Originally from England, Andrea has been based in a Games of Thrones location in Northern Ireland, Ballintoy, where she both lives and works.She finds much of her inspiration from nature and delights in investigating natural forms that are then transformed into symbolic objects or abstracted to create images.As Andrea considers her environment in Northern Ireland, she says, "It is very inspiring and I've always been very drawn to spending time in the natural world, especially as an immersive experience, being completely surrounded by nature or being in the water or standing on a precipice or steeped in the changing light, we get an incredible quality of light here that I think is due to the nature of being so close to the coast."Andrea also answers questions about the therapeutic value of spending time with horses, what may have triggered her fascination with the natural world, her love of birds both dead and alive.. and much more.The transcript along with images of the area, Andrea and her work can be found over at Ballintoy and The Causeway Coast with Andrea Spencer.This episode is sponsored by Property Insurance Centre.Podcast website:https://creativeplacesandfaces.com/Credits:Host: Jackie De BurcaSound engineer: Newton SamadderMusic: No.4 Piano Journey by Esther AbramiVoice over: Mike PayneSponsor Series 1:Property Insurance Centre

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has announced that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is using its digital mapping platform to develop a number of interactive resources to keep the public informed and support local business throughout COVID-19. Built using Esri’s mapping software ArcGIS, the council created an interactive Open for Business map, which shows what shops and services are available to the public throughout the borough. The map also shows business opening hours, delivery and collection information and what safety measures the business has in place, all helping to support local enterprises as they reopen. A dedicated COVID-19 information and advice hub also built using ArcGIS is available on the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council website and homes a wide collection of resources with further information and advice for local businesses, vulnerable members of society and the wider community in the area. The council’s COVID-19 Coordination Hub connects people to vital community support services and has had more than 1,200 referrals to date from Advice NI and the Northern and Western Health and Social Care Trusts. It helps provide an important continuation of services and access to supports for the most vulnerable people during the pandemic. Formed in 2015 following the merger of four different councils, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council provides public services to more 144,000 citizens throughout the region. Since its formation, the council has worked closely with Esri Ireland to implement GIS across the entire organisation, digitally transforming its services to enhance engagement with the public and enable better, more informed decision making. Esri’s software enables legal and finance teams to view all of the council’s agreements, leases and licences on one secure platform, eliminating the need to review unwieldy paper-based records and saving both time and money for the council. Esri’s survey app, Survey123, enables field-workers to gather data on mobiles, tablets and laptops from anywhere in the borough. This information, for example on the condition of local facilities and amenities, can be made available to view across the entire council for analysis in real-time. Philip McLaughlin, Client Manager, Esri Ireland, said: “COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of clear communication between local government and the public. Having already rolled out GIS across many functions, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was well-placed to leverage the power of digital mapping to create numerous rich information resources that are proving incredibly helpful to local businesses and residents. “In both supporting people and businesses during COVID-19, as well as using GIS to transform its processes and services, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has shown what is possible for a local authority willing to transform how they engage and collaborate with their community.” Nial McSorley, Digital Services Manager, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, said: “The biggest challenge for us as a council is in how to interpret the sheer volume of information that is available today. With Esri’s digital platform, we can compress all the different information channels into a single source, enabling us to meaningfully analyse and use data to make intelligent decisions. “As we look to move on responsibly from COVID-19 restrictions, we will again leverage digital mapping to stimulate local tourism and support the reopening of businesses. Beyond that, we will continue to roll out GIS to further areas in the council and ensure all members of our staff can access and use the platform to enhance every aspect of the public services we deliver.” More about Irish Tech News and Business Showcase here. FYI the ROI for you is => Irish Tech News now gets over 1.5 million monthly views, and up to 900k monthly unique visitors, from over 160 countries. We h...

The Causeway Coastal’s route is 120 miles spanning from Belfast to Londonderry. It is said to be the most beautiful drive in Ireland filled with folklore, legend and history. Map of the Causeway Coastal route The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in the 70’s   Caitlin Egg Conch Phrase: Go mall Phonetic: Guh mahl Translation: Go slow   Potts &Plans Causeway Coast (self-drive) Experience the Causeway Coastal route by taking in a rich tapestry of rolling hills, crumbling castles and epic coastal stretches. 7 night self-drive tour with freedom to incorporate any other destinations you wish. Mention the podcast for a little surprise on your vacation. Find more Tours for the Reasons at crystal-travel.com/reasons

Kim and Tamara are back from 10 days in Ireland and giving listeners the 411 on their trip. Tune in to hear about their adventures in Dublin, County Wicklow, Waterford, Kilkenny, Belfast, Derry, and the Coastal Causeway. Plus, Game of Thrones fans will love to hear about some of the filming destinations and experiences in Northern Ireland. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about adjusting from jet lag 03:07 - Driving in Ireland 07:10 - Guinness Storehouse tour in Dublin 11:36 - Dublin attractions 19:38 - County Wicklown in Ireland's Ancient East 25:50 - Wexford 28:04 - Waterford 34:50 - Kilkenny 40:40 - Waterford Greenway 47:00 - Game Of Thrones boat trip 58:20 - Belfast 1:10:10 - Causeway Coast 1:16:28 - Giants Causeway 1:19:50 - Derry 1:27:30 - Final Tips TIPS FOR VISITING IRELAND Ideally when visiting Ireland you would self-drive or hire a driver so that you can stop where you want and take your time exploring areas. The roads can be a little challenging and narrow, especially if you aren't used to driving on the left. You could definitely rent a car and drive around to explore more than the area you fly into. But when renting a car for your family you must keep in mind that the bigger the car the harder it will be in some areas to get around. Touring the Guinness Storehouse is a lot more than just seeing the beer being made. There are four restaurants and two bars. They will teach you the correct way to pour a Guinness and there is also a spot where you can get a picture of you on the head of your beer. Dublin is a young city in terms of population and a very walkable city to explore. The Ancient East area of Ireland is not far from Dublin and there is a lot of history in the area. Glendalough is an area with monastic ruins and two lakes that is very popular with visitors. There is a famine ship in Wexford and in Dublin. You really learn a lot by visiting just one of these ships but if you have a chance to tour both, you can see the differences and compare the stories and conditions. Waterford is Ireland's oldest city dating back to the vikings. There is much more to Waterford than the crystal. Though if you visit the Waterford Crystal there is a style that is only made for Ireland, so if you are going to buy a piece of crystal you should get that as it will be unique. Jerpoint park in Kilkenny has some great places to explore. There is an apple orchard that makes different products out of their apples. There is also a glass blowing studio that you can visit. Waterford Greenway is a really pretty biking trail, and if you continue you can explore Mount Congreve Gardens which is a very beautiful garden that has a lot of different walking paths. North of Dublin in the Boyne Valley, you can take a Game of Thrones boat tour with Boyne Boats. Game of Thrones fans should also visit Castle Ward for the Winterfell Experiences. You get to visit the area that is the backdrop for Winterfell in the beginning seasons of the show. You can dress up in the costumes and try out archery and axe throwing and maybe even meet a dire wolf. Downtown Belfast is very safe and walkable, with restaurants and bars. You wouldn't know about the Troubles that tore the city apart unless you visit the Peace Wall or the Catholic or Protestant neighborhoods. In the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, you can visit the Titanic Museum and the Titanic Hotel. Until September 2019, there is also a Game of Thrones touring exhibition in Belfast where you can see costumes and props used in the show. The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is in a gorgeous area. Keep in mind that they will close the bridge depending on the weather. You also need to stop at the first little booth to get you ticket for the bridge. They will not sell them at the entrance to the bridge. Giant’s Causeway is another beautiful site. Give yourself plenty of time to walk along the coast and there is even a path to walk up towards the cliffs and see another view of the coast. Derry is a walled city that has two sides that has a bridge that crosses to both sides called the Peace Bridge. There is some really great food all throughout the city. Make sure you leave extra time for the security in the airport when traveling through Dublin. There will be two seperate security areas that you will have to go through to get back to the US. Make sure to pack and wear layers throughout your trip. With the temperatures changing through the day you will want to shed or put layers back on. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Episode 19 - Ireland Family Travel Tips Guinness Tour in Dublin The Davenport Hotel The Morgan Hotel EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum Killruddery House Glendalough Brooklodge Dunbrody Famine Ship Granville Hotel Jerpoint Glass Pembroke Hotel Mount Congreve Gardens Mount Juliet Estate Grand Central Hotel - Belfast Titanic Museum Belfast Ulster Museum Belfast Titanic Hotel Bushmills Inn Trim Castle FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!

We're nearly there - April 14th is around the corner - join us on Ep. 3 of Off The Wall as we bring you behind the scenes of Game of Thrones in Belfast, including interviews with Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham), Brandon Stark (Isaac Wright), Flip Robinson (Giant Tours and Hodor in season 6), Meryn Trant (Ian Beattie) and much more as we spent two days travelling through Westeros (the Causeway Coast and Co. Down) and got to visit the new #GOT museum in the Titanic Quarter, Belfast. Andy Lee chats to some of the stars of Game of Thrones, Liam Cunningham, Isaac Wright and Ian Beattie at the opening of the new GOT tour in Belfast. Flip Robinson of Giant Tours (who was a body double for The Mountain and Hodor) shows us around the beautiful Causeway Coast, and brings us inside some of the most iconic scenes in the award-winning HBO series. There's our Archery competition in Winterfell, as Jamie Mackrell (who fought in the Battle of the Bastards) showed us around and much more too! Go and follow @OffTheWall_GOT on Twitter and Instagram to stay with us throughout season 8 - get in touch with us and let us know what you want to hear.

We're nearly there - April 14th is around the corner - join us on Ep. 3 of Off The Wall as we bring you behind the scenes of Game of Thrones in Belfast, including interviews with Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham), Brandon Stark (Isaac Wright), Flip Robinson (Giant Tours and Hodor in season 6), Meryn Trant (Ian Beattie) and much more as we spent two days travelling through Westeros (the Causeway Coast and Co. Down) and got to visit the new #GOT museum in the Titanic Quarter, Belfast. Andy Lee chats to some of the stars of Game of Thrones, Liam Cunningham, Isaac Wright and Ian Beattie at the opening of the new GOT tour in Belfast. Flip Robinson of Giant Tours (who was a body double for The Mountain and Hodor) shows us around the beautiful Causeway Coast, and brings us inside some of the most iconic scenes in the award-winning HBO series. There's our Archery competition in Winterfell, as Jamie Mackrell (who fought in the Battle of the Bastards) showed us around and much more too! Go and follow @OffTheWall_GOT on Twitter and Instagram to stay with us throughout season 8 - get in touch with us and let us know what you want to hear. 👊 Subscribe to our Off The Wall playlist on YouTube: Subscribe to the Off The Wall podcast on Spotify: Andy Lee, Eoin, Tommy and Sue Murphy will be with you every Tuesday afternoon throughout Season 8; disecting each moment, guiding you through the deaths and the back-stabbings, and bringing you our theories on the prospects of the living and the dead who are vying to rule Westeros! Join us throughout Season 8 of Game of Thrones! Huge thanks to Discover Northern Ireland; Aquaholics, Giant Tours and Winterfell Tours in Castleward for bringing us throughout the #GoTTerritory and showing us how HBO have shot the season 8.

We’ve got such grá (love, as Gaeilge, for international listeners) for Northern Ireland… but you knew that already! From walking the streets of Belfast with Caroline Wilson to pulling up a chair at Alison Abernethy’s…

Latest episode of Have You Got A Minute? With Denis McNeill

Janet and Tim Herb are bringing an insight to your favorite culinary and travel minds on social media.  On this episode of Talking With Herbs, Janet and Tim are joined by Northern Irish travel personality Colleen Buchanan. You can find her and all of her amazing photographs on Instagram at @BlackasPitch. She gives us the run down on where to go if we were to travel to Northern Ireland. She talks about the amazing beaches, surfing, the Causeway Coast, and more. Make sure to follow our guests as well as us on Instagram, Facebook, and the like. Janet can be found on Instagram @Herbieland, and Tim can be found on Twitter @TimHerb. You can also find the show on Instagram @TalkingWithHerbs Also make sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let us know what we're doing right, what we could do better.

Transcript -- Explore the variety of rock types in this geological excursion along the Causeway Coast.

Explore the variety of rock types in this geological excursion along the Causeway Coast.

Transcript -- Explore the variety of rock types in this geological excursion along the Causeway Coast.

Explore the variety of rock types in this geological excursion along the Causeway Coast.

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!

We reveal Northern Ireland as an up and coming tourist hotspot and visit with John Bustard from the Causeway Coast and Glens.