Podcasts about cliffs

Unity Without Compromise with Dr. Steven LaTulippe – Extremism grows from uncertainty and false certainty, pushing people toward fear, alienation, and bullying instead of honest dialogue. A call for balance, evidence, humility, and compassion urges readers to resist groupthink, avoid hyperbole, listen carefully, and choose brotherhood over dangerous ideological cliffs in public life...

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Conquering Cliffs: Sigrid's Spring Awakening in the Fjord Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-05-24-22-34-01-no Story Transcript:No: Vårsolen skinte klart over gården nær Geirangerfjord, og markene var fylt med blomstrende vårblomster.En: The spring sun shone brightly over the farm near the Geirangerfjord, and the fields were filled with blooming spring flowers.No: Sigrid sto spent ved skolebussen sammen med resten av botanikklassen.En: Sigrid stood excitedly by the school bus with the rest of the botany class.No: Det var 17. mai, og luften var fylt med lyden av barn som lekte og bunader som flagret i vinden.En: It was the 17th of May, and the air was filled with the sound of children playing and traditional Norwegian costumes, bunader, fluttering in the wind.No: Sigrid var en nysgjerrig og målrettet jente.En: Sigrid was a curious and determined girl.No: Hun drømte om å bli botaniker og så frem til dagens utflukt.En: She dreamed of becoming a botanist and looked forward to today's excursion.No: Målet hennes var å finne en sjelden blomst hun hadde lest om, og hun ønsket å imponere læreren og klassekameratene.En: Her goal was to find a rare flower she had read about, and she wanted to impress the teacher and her classmates.No: Kjell, Sigrid sin beste venn, sto ved siden av henne.En: Kjell, Sigrid's best friend, stood beside her.No: Han foretrakk å nyte naturen uten å måtte huske latinske plantenavn.En: He preferred to enjoy nature without having to remember Latin plant names.No: "Kom igjen, Sigrid! Det blir en flott dag ute," sa han oppmuntrende.En: "Come on, Sigrid! It's going to be a great day outside," he said encouragingly.No: De begynte å gå langs stiene som strakk seg gjennom det pittoreske landskapet.En: They began to walk along the paths that stretched through the picturesque landscape.No: Gården de besøkte var omgitt av frodige enger og dramatiske klipper.En: The farm they visited was surrounded by lush meadows and dramatic cliffs.No: Det luktet friskt av jord og nye skudd.En: There was a fresh scent of earth and new shoots.No: "Der oppe," sa læreren, "er hvor dere kanskje finner den sjeldne blomsten, hvis noen er modige nok."En: "Up there," said the teacher, "is where you might find the rare flower, if anyone is brave enough."No: Hun pekte mot en klippe som steg høyt mot himmelen.En: She pointed towards a cliff that rose high towards the sky.No: Sigrid visste at blomsten hun søkte, vokste der oppe, men klippen var bratt, og høyder skremte henne.En: Sigrid knew that the flower she was seeking grew up there, but the cliff was steep, and heights scared her.No: Kjell så på henne og skjønte hva hun tenkte.En: Kjell looked at her and understood what she was thinking.No: "Du klarer det, Sigrid. Jeg blir med deg," sa han.En: "You can do it, Sigrid. I'll go with you," he said.No: Det var en vanskelig avgjørelse, men Sigrid bestemte seg for å prøve.En: It was a tough decision, but Sigrid decided to give it a try.No: Sammen med Kjell begynte hun klatringen opp den steinete stien.En: Together with Kjell, she began the climb up the rocky path.No: Hver trinn føltes tungt, men Kjell var ved hennes side og oppmuntret henne.En: Each step felt heavy, but Kjell was by her side, encouraging her.No: Da de nådde toppen, så Sigrid den sjeldne blomsten.En: When they reached the top, Sigrid saw the rare flower.No: Den lå gjemt mellom steinene, strålte med en vakker blåfarge mot den klare himmelen.En: It was hidden among the rocks, shining with a beautiful blue color against the clear sky.No: Hun bøyde seg forsiktig ned og kjente en følelse av triumf.En: She bent down carefully and felt a sense of triumph.No: Hun hadde overvunnet frykten sin.En: She had overcome her fear.No: Tilbake på gården samlet klassen seg rundt Sigrid.En: Back at the farm, the class gathered around Sigrid.No: Læreren smilte stolt.En: The teacher smiled proudly.No: "Godt gjort, Sigrid," sa hun.En: "Well done, Sigrid," she said.No: "Du har identifisert blomsten. Jeg er imponert."En: "You have identified the flower. I am impressed."No: Sigrid følte seg fylt av selvtillit.En: Sigrid felt filled with confidence.No: Takket være Kjells støtte hadde hun klart det hun trodde var umulig.En: Thanks to Kjell's support, she had achieved what she thought was impossible.No: Når klassen feiret sine funn med barnlig glede i 17. mai-prosesjonen, viss hun at hun kunne stole på vennene sine til å hjelpe henne med å møte enhver utfordring i fremtiden.En: As the class celebrated their discoveries with childlike joy in the 17th of May procession, she knew she could rely on her friends to help her face any challenge in the future. Vocabulary Words:blooming: blomstrendeexcitedly: spentcostumes: bunadercurious: nysgjerrigdetermined: målrettetexcursion: utfluktrare: sjeldenlandscape: landskapmeadows: engercliffs: klipperscent: luktshoots: skuddbrave: modigesteep: bratttriumph: triumfovercome: overvunnetgathered: samletidentified: identifisertimpressed: imponertconfidence: selvtillitsupport: støttecelebrated: feiretdiscoveries: funnprocession: prosesjonrely: stolechallenge: utfordringfluttering: flagretencouragingly: oppmuntrendepicturesque: pittoreskerocky: steinete

A plane plunging into the Pacific, leaving nothing but sky and endless water. Forty-seven days drifting, starving, dying—and somehow surviving. Miners trapped miles underground, surrounded by darkness and despair. Cities scorched by atomic fire, where life itself seemed impossible. A Japanese prison camp designed to break men, and yet one refused to bow. Lightning striking without mercy. Cliffs crumbling beneath desperate hands. Fire swallowing a child whole. These are not tales of luck; they are moments where fate seemed set, where the impossible became real, and where ordinary people became witnesses to the miraculous. We uncover stories of survival that defy every law of nature, every expectation, and every logic humanity has ever known… But what were they saved for? Why them? And are you someone who has also been saved? Follow Good Fight Ministries on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodfightministries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodfightministries Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/goodfightmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodfightministries Rumble: https://rumble.com/GoodFightMinistries Support Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/goodfight The Submerging Church https://www.goodfight.org/product/the-submerging-church/

Fantasy Football show for May 14, 2026. Dynasty Week rolls on! Which rookies aren't getting enough attention? Plus, startup draft tips, dynasty trade values, reactions to De'Von Achane's contract extension, and more! Manage your redraft, keeper, and dynasty fantasy football teams with the #1 fantasy football podcast. Get the lowest price on the 2026 UDK at UltimateDraftKit.com - Instant access to the Dynasty Pass with the UDK+ (00:00) Intro (04:30) Rookie Sleepers (04:55) Nicholas Singleton (07:40) Zachariah Branch (10:25) Ted Hurst (13:29) NFL News (25:00) Dynasty Mailbag (25:20) Dynasty startup advice (28:25) Is Christian Watson a Trade For candidate? (31:10) Trade block philosophy (34:10) CMC for TreyVeon Henderson? (37:45) What are the positional ‘age cliffs'? (40:20) Bijan Robinson for Omarion Hampton + 1st? (43:40) Jadarian Price at 1.02? (48:25) Dak Prescott or Patrick Mahomes? (52:00) Tetairoa McMillan or Drake London? (53:35) Brian Thomas Jr. or Luther Burden? Connect with the show: Subscribe on YouTube Visit us on the Web Support the Show Follow on X Follow on Instagram Join our Discord Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dudes are back, Trent kicks things off with a wild Chinese buffet story that somehow ends with a pickle in his sushi roll, a perfect metaphor for reaching too early and immediately regretting it (just ask anyone who drafted Bucky Irving last year).The crew is back live every Tuesday, and this episode they're diving deep into Early-Round Reaches — the players they're flat-out refusing to draft at current ADP. They break down Ashton Jeanty, Malik Nabers' ACL recovery concerns, Brock Bowers' regression risk, Christian McCaffrey's age cliff, and plenty more overvalued names climbing boards right now.Trent pulls up Ian Harditz's data on the percentage of top-12 fantasy producers by age over the last 10 years, sparking a great conversation about when players actually fall off. They also react to your replies from X and debate smarter targets you should be loading up on instead.Then things get spicy as they close out the show with their hottest Boomer Sports Takes — from NIL ruining small schools, conference realignment regrets, bottomless apps at Buffalo Wild Wings, and why instant replay is getting out of hand.Connect with the Showhttps://x.com/TFFDudeshttps://www.instagram.com/tffdudes/Watch the Dudes on Youtube athttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2JAx3YD3P-OJRiaqA7wSQwQuestions for the showtffdudes@gmail.comWatch the Dudes on Youtube athttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2JAx3YD3P-OJRiaqA7wSQwSponsorsTrophy Smackwww.trophysmack.com/dudesSleeperwww.sleeper.comDudes100 and they will match you $100 

A remarkable prehistoric discovery has been made in Ireland, with 330-million-year-old fossil shark teeth uncovered in the Burren in County Clare and a fossil fin spine discovered in Donegal. The finds, which date back to the Carboniferous period when Ireland was covered by a tropical sea, are being described as scientifically significant and are helping researchers piece together the story of ancient marine life. Joining us now to talk about the discoveries, the importance of citizen science, and what these fossils reveal about Ireland's distant past is... Dr Eamon Doyle, Geologist for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark CONF Image © Crusher tooth of fossil shark Psephodus magnus (6cm long) discovered by Emma Glanville (NPWS) in the Burren National Park by Eamon Ward

With their first wedding anniversary just gone, and with Fridays being revealed as the most popular day of the week to get married, Amy and Darren reveal whether they'd get married on the same day and in the same month if they were to do it over again.The couple also chat about some of the biggest tourist attractions in Ireland and abroad, and have their say on whether each of them are overrated or not - from the Guinness Storehouse and Temple Bar, to the Cliffs of Moher and Kildare Village.Plus, there are listener questions to be answered - including Action Man vs Ken, and their favourite BBQ foods.If you've got questions or topics for Amy and Darren, send them to TheConways@GoLoudNow.com!

NEW BOOK -- The Price of Becoming Buy it -- www.LearningLeader.com/Becoming The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. Jim Collins is the author of some of the most influential business books ever written — Good to Great, Built to Last, and Great by Choice. His concepts have become part of the leadership vocabulary. Level 5 Leadership. The Flywheel. First Who, Then What. The Hedgehog Concept. He spent more than a decade at Stanford as a professor and has advised CEOs, four-star generals, and heads of state. His new book is What to Make of a Life: Cliffs, Fog, Fire, and the Self-Knowledge Imperative. It is the product of ten years of research and is the most personal thing he has ever written. We flew to Boulder, Colorado, to record this one in person with Jim. Key Learnings Jim's grandfather wrote his own death story. Jimmy Collins was a test pilot in the 1930s. He told Jim's grandmother, Dolores, that if he died, she should pull the last chapter from his desk and publish it. He died in a test crash. After the service, she pulled out the chapter. The title was "I'm Dead." The last chapter, written in first person, described the plane coming out of the sky, the screaming wings, the crash. The final words, by his own pen: "I am dead now." For seven decades, his grandmother never cried. When Jim asked her in her nineties to tell the story of his grandfather, she cried and said, "Thank you for that. I've never cried before." She'd been a single mom in the middle of the Depression. Of all the things Jim feels good about in his life, asking her to tell that story before she died at almost 100 years old is one he's most proud of. A cliff is an event that alters the trajectory of your life and forces you to reconstruct everything that comes after. Jim's first big cliff: he lost his father while his father was still alive. Jim's father took the family to San Francisco in the 1960s. They lived a few houses down from Haight Street. When a man was shot dead on their doorstep, Jim's mom moved them to Boulder. They lived in a cold basement with cots and a hot plate. They couldn't afford a Christmas tree, so Jim and his brother rolled a boulder into the basement and called it their Christmas rock. The Greyhound bus moment. In high school, Jim took a Thanksgiving turkey on a Greyhound bus down to New Mexico, where his father was living in an adobe hut with a dirt floor. He had this romantic vision: they'd cook the turkey, share Thanksgiving, bond as father and son. The whole weekend, his father had no interest in him. He spent it trying to convince Jim to convince his grandmother to give him money. On the bus ride home, looking out the window into the fog, Jim realized: there will never, ever be a father there. No male role models. No frameworks. No guidance. "I've got this one life. What do I do with it?" The inflection point in Jim's life is Joanne. They got engaged four days after their first date. He'd admired her from afar for years but never had the courage to ask her out. Once they were together, Jim began a conscious process: I need to become a person worthy of being married to her. He didn't know exactly what that meant or how to get there. But he knew that was the work. Forty-six years later, it's still a never-ending journey. What Joanne does brilliantly: she sees what needs attention. Jim is encoded to hear it. Someone once asked Joanne what she thought Jim's greatest strength was. She said: "Jim takes critical feedback better than any person I've ever met." Joanne sees what needs attention. Jim hears it. Then they adapt and adjust. That's the inner flywheel of their marriage. Circle the wagons together. Guns pointing out, never at each other. When life gets really difficult, whether it's disease or other cliffs. You are always together. Always on the inside of the wagons. Never aimed at each other. Joanne won the 1985 Hawaii Ironman by 92 seconds. With a hamstring injury that limited her running training to 16 miles a week, she came off the bike with a 10-minute lead. Then mile by mile, the lead shrank. Nine minutes. Eight. Seven. With a few miles left, she stopped in the middle of the lava field, massaging her legs, almost pleading with them to run. She looked up at the sky. Then her gaze fixed somewhere down the road. She started to run. You're racing for self-respect. Joanne told Jim afterward: in the end, you're racing to know that you couldn't have run a step faster. Only you'll know. If you know you couldn't have run a step faster, that's actually winning. When Jim writes, he's on the lava fields. When he finishes a book, he wants to know he couldn't have written one sentence better. When you're on the lava fields, this is the moment you want to quit. Don't. Writing is thinking. When the writing isn't working, the thinking isn't clear. Go back to the data. Find the through-line. There are three types of luck: What luck. A cancer diagnosis. A guitar left in an empty house. An event that breaks your way. Who luck. The people who walk into your life. Joanne. Morten Hansen. Jerry Porras. Bill Lazier. Zeit luck. When what you're doing intersects with the surrounding zeitgeist. Jimmy Page was in Surrey when the British rock explosion happened. Luck is an event you didn't cause, with significant consequences, and an element of surprise. The big winners weren't luckier. They had a higher return on luck. What you do with luck events matters more than the luck itself. Bill Lazier: the closest thing to a father Jim ever had. Jim ended up in Bill's class at Stanford because the class he was trying to take was full. The random course-sorting mechanism threw him into the first class Bill ever taught. Pure WHO luck. Jim did not cause that.  Discover your encodings. An encoding is a durable capacity of your intrinsic construction that resides within, awaiting discovery through the experiences of life.  Jim has done over 300 online courses on every imaginable subject. Constitutional law. Napoleon. World War I. The history of China. He started them to learn how to teach. Then his curiosity took over. That's what an encoding looks like in the wild. You have a constellation of encodings. Like stars. When your life captures a bright set of those encodings, you're in frame. When it doesn't, you're out of frame. The same person can look amazing in frame and not very amazing out of frame. The most important finding from this book: don't follow anyone else's advice. Their advice is well-meaning. It may have worked beautifully for them. But it worked for them because it flowed from their encodings. And their encodings are not your encodings. Barbara McClintock and Grace Hopper. Two women who won the Nobel Prize and shaped computer science. McClintock was encoded for solitary work. She didn't even have a phone. She heard about her Nobel Prize on the radio. Hopper was encoded to work through people. She kept a pirate flag in her office and once stole furniture for her team in the middle of the night. Two completely different encodings. What they shared: their lives were in alignment with their encodings. Leadership is the art of getting people to want to do what must be done. It's not a trait. It's a choice. Anyone in any organization can lead, depending on their desire to make a difference. Nobody needs to wait for a title. Ryan's encoding is "the relentless persistence of invitation." Jim observed that Ryan has incredible encodings for what he'd describe as attractive persistence. Not pushy. Not aggressive. But persistent and welcoming. The invitation never goes away. The way you lead should be different from everyone else. Because you are encoded differently. Trust your encodings, not their playbook. Roger Sherman saved the U.S. Constitution. Twice. He created the bicameral legislature compromise. He insisted the Bill of Rights be amendments, not rewrites. Yet most people don't know his name. He almost never spoke. He listened in committees and waited for the precise moment to introduce just the right point to turn American history. Quiet. Behind the scenes. Uncharismatic. Unglamorous. Enormously effective. That was his encoding. You should largely ignore what other successful leaders did. It's marvelous to listen to. It might give you ideas. But everything that worked for them reflected their encodings, not yours. The work isn't to copy their playbook. The work is to discover your encodings and trust them. The color of Jim's fire changed. When he was younger, his fuel was rage, fury, and a sense of terror with no safety net. He used to worry that if he ever lost it, he'd lose his drive. What replaced it was a different kind of fire: the joy of curiosity, of being lost in giant projects, of marvelous conversations, of sharing what he's learned. His drive is higher than ever. It just feels a lot better now. The 3x3 reflective practice. After almost any conversation, teaching moment, or significant interaction, Jim writes down three things that went well and three things he could have done better. He's done it for years. He's now systematizing it. He doesn't pause to celebrate. He pauses to learn quickly and move on. At the top of Jim's notes for this conversation: "The biggest reminder for today, reconnecting with an old friend." That's the celebration. What could be a better celebration than reconnecting with somebody you've had marvelous conversations with? Reflection Questions What is your most significant cliff? What did you reconstruct on the other side, and what are you still rebuilding? What are your encodings? Not what you've been told you should be, but what genuinely flows from your intrinsic construction. When have you felt most in frame? Like Jim with Joanne, is there a person or purpose you are actively trying to become worthy of? What would that work look like this week? More Learning #397: Jim Collins - Creating Your Generosity Flywheel, Make the Trust Wager (Part 1)#398: Jim Collins - Creating Your Generosity Flywheel, Make the Trust Wager (Part 2) #216: Jim Collins - How to Go From Good to Great  

There are places in Ireland that ask travelers to slow down, look around, and settle into the rhythm of a place instead of rushing through a checklist. Clare Island and Clew Bay in County Mayo are exactly that kind of destination. Just off the coast near Westport, Clare Island offers dramatic landscapes, deep history, welcoming locals, and experiences that feel personal rather than polished for crowds. During a visit to the island, Clare Island Whiskey founder Carl O'Grady shared why this corner of Mayo leaves such a lasting impression on travelers. This article is based on podcast episode 339 featuring Carl O'Grady, owner of Clare Island Whiskey and resident of Clare Island.Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links. Why Clare Island and Clew Bay Are Perfect for Slow Travel in Ireland For many visitors, an Ireland itinerary follows the well-known route through Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Galway, and the Cliffs of Moher. But County Mayo offers something quieter and more intentional. Carl describes the area as a place where travelers can reconnect with Ireland's stories, landscapes, and communities without feeling rushed. Instead of racing between attractions, visitors are encouraged to spend time exploring villages, talking with locals, and experiencing daily life along the Wild Atlantic Way. The journey itself becomes part of the experience. Reaching Clare Island requires a ferry crossing from Roonagh Pier, a short trip that immediately creates a sense of leaving the mainland behind and arriving somewhere distinct. What Makes Clare Island Different Unlike some of Ireland's busier offshore islands, Clare Island remains small and quiet. The island is about five miles long and home to roughly 100 year-round residents. That smaller scale means visitors won't find large crowds or packed tour groups. Instead, they'll discover: Scenic walking trails Quiet beaches Dramatic cliffs Local pubs with music sessions Historical sites connected to Grace O'Malley Opportunities to connect directly with local businesses and guides The island's slower pace is part of its appeal. Exploring Clew Bay from Westport Westport makes an excellent base for exploring Clew Bay and the wider Mayo region. With major updates underway at Westport Estate, the area is becoming an even stronger destination for travelers looking to stay longer in the west of Ireland. From Westport, visitors can easily explore: The Great Western Greenway cycling route Beaches near Louisburgh Croagh Patrick Achill Island Oyster experiences in Clew Bay Sea safaris along the Mayo coastline Clare Island ferry excursions Plan Your Trip, Not Just Your Stops Articles like this highlight a few great options — but they're just a small part of what Ireland offers. The Ireland Travel Compass brings together hundreds of places across the country and helps you understand how to combine them into a trip that feels balanced and easy to navigate. Explore the Ireland Travel Compass Experiences Around Clew Bay Carl highlighted several memorable experiences visitors should consider while exploring the area. Cycle the Great Western Greenway The Greenway follows a former railway line from Westport through Newport and onward toward Achill. Along the route, travelers pass through villages, coastal scenery, and quiet countryside that showcase everyday life in Mayo. Taste Local Seafood Clew Bay is known for exceptional oysters and seafood experiences. Visitors can learn about oyster farming, taste fresh oysters, and enjoy the bay's connection to the Atlantic. Take a Sea Safari Boat trips around Clare Island and the Mayo coastline offer views of towering sea cliffs, seabird colonies, and marine wildlife. Depending on the season, visitors may spot basking sharks, whales, dolphins, and seabirds along the coast. Visit Mayo's Beaches The beaches near Louisburgh and along the Clew Bay coastline are among the most beautiful in Ireland, offering long stretches of sand and incredible Atlantic views without large crowds. Grace O'Malley's Legacy on Clare Island Travelers arriving on Clare Island are greeted by Grace O'Malley's castle overlooking the harbor. Known as the Pirate Queen of Connacht, Grace O'Malley remains one of Ireland's most fascinating historical figures. Carl recommends Anne Chambers' book on Grace O'Malley for anyone interested in learning more about her life and influence. Historic Sites on Clare Island Beyond the castle, the island offers several important historical landmarks. Clare Island Abbey The 12th-century abbey contains rare medieval ceiling paintings dating to the 13th and 14th centuries. The abbey remains one of the island's most significant cultural sites and offers insight into centuries of island life. The Lighthouse The Clare Island Lighthouse has been restored into a unique accommodation experience overlooking the Atlantic. Carl's uncle served as the last lighthouse keeper there during the 1960s. Today, visitors can stay at the lighthouse while enjoying panoramic views of Clew Bay, Croagh Patrick, and the Mayo coastline. Clare Island Whiskey and Supporting the Island Community One of the island's most distinctive visitor experiences is Clare Island Whiskey. Carl explained that the goal is not mass production or global expansion. Instead, the focus is on creating a meaningful experience tied directly to the island and its future. Visitors can join whiskey tastings, learn about the island's history, and meet the people behind the business. The experience reflects the island's overall philosophy of thoughtful tourism and supporting local communities. Staying on Clare Island Visitors have several accommodation options on the island, including: Boutique guesthouses Bed and breakfasts Lighthouse stays Group accommodations Retreat-style experiences For families or multigenerational groups, staying overnight allows time to fully appreciate the island after day visitors depart. Planning a Visit to Clare Island Getting to Clare Island is relatively simple, but it does require a bit more planning than other destinations along the Wild Atlantic Way. Ferries depart from Roonagh Pier near Louisburgh, and weather conditions can occasionally affect crossings during winter months. That extra effort is part of what keeps Clare Island feeling authentic and connected to its community roots. Travelers who make the journey are rewarded with dramatic scenery, meaningful history, and the kind of welcome that leaves a lasting impression long after the ferry returns to the mainland. Start planning your own route The Ireland Travel Compass brings together hundreds of places across the country and helps you turn ideas like these into a trip that fits your time and travel style. Get the ireland travel compass The post Clare Island and Clew Bay: Slow Travel, Island Stories, and a Different Side of County Mayo appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Adam and Dan recap Adam's bizarre recent gig where his voice failed on some songs but suddenly returned mid-set, helped by Amber, and he tested gear including an M5 mic he now praises and a trem setter that improved his Vibrant guitar's tuning stability. They shout out listener Jason Hughes from Dayton, Ohio (Simple Daze), then pivot to Rolling Stone's new “100 Greatest Guitar Solos” list, calling it infuriating rage bait and introducing a “Greatest List Bingo Card” to flag predictable contrarian picks. They debate snubs and weird placements (e.g., “Sultans of Swing,” “Cliffs of Dover,” “Free Bird”), critique questionable inclusions, compare overlap with Guitar World's 2022 reader poll, and run through Rolling Stone's top 20, reacting to live-cut pretension and the surprising #1 pick: Prince's “Purple Rain.”

This May, the beautiful town of Lisdoonvarna in County Clare will come alive with the sights, sounds and flavours of the Burren Slow Food Festival, celebrating an incredible 21 years this year. Taking place on Sunday the 10th of May, the festival brings together artisan food producers, chefs, artists and wellness experts for a unique celebration of local food, sustainability and community in the heart of the Burren. To tell us more about what's in store, Alan Morrissey was joined by Colette Nagle, Limestone Yoga, Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, Burren Smokehouse and Carol Gleeson, Manager of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark. Image © Clare FM

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade and Alex continue their discussion of retirement tax pitfalls. They focus on how small increases in income can trigger disproportionately large financial consequences through lost benefits and higher effective tax rates. The conversation highlights key risks such as Affordable Care Act subsidy cliffs, Medicare IRMA surcharges, required minimum distributions, and deduction phaseouts, emphasizing that careful income management is essential to avoid cascading tax impacts in retirement. Listen now to learn more!   Key Takeaways Exceeding the ACA income threshold by even $1 can eliminate tens of thousands of dollars in health insurance subsidies. Pre-Medicare retirees must carefully manage income to avoid losing ACA benefits. Income at ages 63–64 can both reduce ACA subsidies now and increase Medicare premiums later. Small increases in income can create extremely high effective marginal tax rates due to benefit cliffs. Required minimum distributions can force unwanted income that triggers multiple tax consequences. The RMD “cliff” is really a series of overlapping tax effects rather than a single event. Roth conversions can help reduce future tax burdens by lowering tax-deferred account balances. Qualified charitable distributions are more tax-efficient than taking withdrawals and donating afterward. Deduction phaseouts can quietly increase effective tax rates beyond stated tax brackets. Strategic income sourcing can help retirees avoid triggering costly tax thresholds. Chapters 00:00 – Why Retirement Taxes Are More Than Just Tax Brackets 01:35 – The ACA Subsidy Cliff (The $1 Mistake That Costs $20K+) 08:35 – The Double Hit: ACA + IRMA 11:35 – The RMD “Cliff” and Forced Income Problems 17:55 – Smart Mitigation Strategies (Roth Conversions + QCDs) 20:45 – Hidden Tax Traps: Deduction Phaseouts 30:00 – The Big Picture: Managing Income to Avoid Tax Cascades   Links  

A chance meeting in Dublin led to a lively catch-up about how travel in Ireland is changing – and how visitors can experience so much more than the usual highlights. Boxty Sharing Platter at Gallagher's Boxty House in Temple Bar Custom Food and Whiskey Tours in Ireland What started as a Dublin food tour has grown into something much bigger. Gráinne, owner of Flavour Trails, has expanded her offerings to meet travelers who want more than a quick stop-and-go itinerary. Visitors can now choose from: Multiple Dublin food tours (including a traditional walking tour with five stops) Whiskey experiences Storytelling tours Fully customized private tours across Ireland The goal is simple: connect travelers not just to places, but to the people producing the food and drink they're enjoying. This article is based on podcast episode 337 featuring Gráinne Lawlor, owner of Flavour Trails in Dublin. Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links.Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links. From City Streets to the Irish Countryside While Dublin remains a fantastic base, many travelers want to explore beyond the city, and that's where these bespoke tours really shine. Options include day trips or multi-day journeys to places like: Cliffs of Moher Glendalough Giant's Causeway Donegal But these aren't typical sightseeing drives. Instead, each trip is built around immersive experiences. Travelers might: Go foraging with local experts Visit a working goat cheese farm Take part in a cookery school Tour local distilleries Meet producers behind the food One standout experience even includes a quick flight to Donegal, landing on the beach, followed by a distillery visit, dinner, and an overnight stay before exploring Glenveagh National Park. Building an Itinerary That Fits You One of the biggest shifts in Irish travel is flexibility. Instead of rigid itineraries, travelers can now shape their own experience. Want a single day out of Dublin? Choose a few curated stops.Have more time? Add more experiences and slow the pace. This approach allows visitors to: Spend more time in places they love Discover areas they may not have considered Avoid the “rush from one highlight to the next” It's a more personal way to experience Ireland—and one that leaves a lasting impression. Why Slowing Down Matters Many travelers still follow the classic routes: like heading from the Cliffs of Moher straight to Galway or rushing from Wicklow to Kilkenny. But that often means missing what makes those regions special. Take County Clare, for example. While the cliffs draw the crowds, the real magic is found when you linger: The Burren's unique landscape, where alpine, arctic, and tropical plants grow side by side Quiet moments just sitting in the landscape, rather than rushing through Small towns and local businesses that rarely make the brochures As Gráinne shared, sometimes the best travel moments come from simply staying put a little longer. Learn more about Flavour Trails in Gráinne's previous Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 282. A Taste of County Clare: Where to Eat, Stay, and Sip If you're planning to explore beyond the main attractions, County Clare is well worth your time. A Proper Irish Pub O'Loclainn's Bar in Ballyvaughan is a favorite, known for its welcoming atmosphere and excellent whiskey selection. It's the kind of place where you settle in and stay awhile. Seafood Worth the Stop The Anchor Inn in Liscannor is a standout for fresh seafood. It's the kind of meal that reminds you just how close Ireland's food is to its source. A Relaxing Stay The Falls Hotel offers a comfortable base, with a spa that's earned high praise – perfect after a day of exploring. A Unique Stop in the Burren The Burren Perfumery offers something a bit different. Even in quieter seasons, visitors can stop in for a warm drink, explore handcrafted scents, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Looking for more County Clare advice? Click here! The Ireland You Haven't Experienced Yet What stands out most is how travel in Ireland is evolving. It's no longer just about checking off landmarks, it's about connection. Connection to: The land The food The people behind it all Whether it's a quick day trip or a carefully crafted multi-day journey, there are more ways than ever to experience Ireland in a meaningful, memorable way. And sometimes, the best plan is simply to slow down, stay a little longer, and see what unfolds. The post Explore Ireland Differently: Bespoke Food, Whiskey & Cultural Tours appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Send us Fan MailKim Hughes, a Conscious Discipline certified instructor, joins us to discuss how parents, guardians and caretakers can become better "behavior detectives". Kim demonstrates how through treating tricky behavior as a form of communication, and using emotional co-regulation as a tool to get us back to square one, we can set the children in our care up for long-term success.  In this episode we discuss:Conscious Discipline as a practiceThe brain state modelMoving from controlling to connecting (modeling)Naming feelingsSeeing mistakes as future opportunitiesArming children with alternative modes of expressing needsAttached are links Kim recommends for furthering our education on emotional literacy:The Brain State Modelhttps://consciousdiscipline.com/methodology/brain-state-model/Cliffs notes for the skills of conscious disciplinehttps://consciousdiscipline.com/e-learning/webinars/parent-cliff-notes-for-the-skills-of-conscious-discipline/'Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline' (Dr. Becky Bailey, 2001)https://www.harpercollins.com/products/easy-to-love-difficult-to-discipline-becky-a-bailey?variant=32128336232482Contact New Horizon Academy Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Tik TokEmail us at parentingpickup@nhacademy.netCheck out our website to learn more!Thanks for listening!

A major earthquake off Japan was detected almost 10,000 kilometres away in Clare this week. The 7.7 magnitude quake which struck off the north-east coast of the Asian island nation on Monday morning was recorded by the seismometer in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark office in Ennistymon. Thousands have fled coastal areas to move to higher ground as Japan's meteorological agency warns that quakes "causing even stronger shaking" could be felt in the next week. Geologist for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, Dr Eamon Doyle, says studying events of this nature allows us to gain a better understanding of "how the earth works".

It's hoped the souls of four unidentified people can now rest easier at a Clare graveyard. It comes as four permanent memorials have been erected at Drumcliffe Cemetery in hour of two women, a man and another unknown individual recovered from the sea. The remains were recovered from Doolin, Fanore, Aille Na Searrach and the Cliffs of Moher between 2010 and 2020. Clare FM's Daragh Dolan visited Drumcliffe Cemetery where he spoke to Mayor of Ennis Mary Howard about her campaign for the four to be appropriately honoured. Photo (c) Clare FM

Start Artist Song Time Album Year 0:00:57 Magenta Strength 9:58 Tarot 2026 0:11:25 The Sunday Goose Forever Young 10:41 Where My Heart Lies 2026 0:22:42 The Paradox Twin My Main Function 10:54 A Romance of Many Dimensions 2026 0:34:08 Franck Carducci Love or Survive 13:06 Sheeple 2026 0:47:47 Code 18 Justice? 11:54 Two Places 2026 1:00:05 Karmamoi Nothing But (feat. Randy McStine) 9:49 Eternal Mistake 2026 1:10:50 White Chameleon The First Singularity and the enigmatics stairs of Escher 9:26 The First Singularity 2026 1:20:50 EchoVerse Fall Towards The Sky 9:48 Radical Rebirth 2026 1:31:02 Benjamin’s Kite A Fork in the Road 10:10 Celestial Indulgences 2026 1:41:39 Sum Of Seven Wonder 10:29 Echoes of the Hypermind 2026 1:52:09 Quaoar As Above, So Below (New House, pt. 1) 8:07 Five Friends Floating 2026 3:03:21 Anton Roolaart The Cry of Seven Doves 9:02 The Ballad of General Jupiter 2026 3:12:46 The Dear Hunter The Glass Desert I 5:19 Sunya 2026 3:18:05 The Dear Hunter The Glass Desert II – Cliffs and Stormlands 7:27 Sunya 2026 3:25:32 The Dear Hunter The Glass Desert III – The Plains 5:49 Sunya 2026 3:31:36 Telegraph Valley of Delirium 11:23 Topography of Mind 2026 3:43:53 Lunear Christmas Flowers 14:31 There is Always Next Time 2026

Send us Fan MailGrab your swords and prepare for adventure—it's time to journey back to the Cliffs of Insanity as the hosts channel their inner romantics and rogues to celebrate the beloved fairy-tale classic, The Princess Bride, starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, and directed by the late Rob Reiner.Expect sword fights, true love, whimsical storytelling, and plenty of quotable moments as the hosts revisit one of the most endlessly charming adventure films of all time. The hosts pair the film with the As You Wish cocktail. So join the hosts for a magical mix of nostalgia, humor, and swashbuckling fun—you won't want to miss a single inconceivable moment!Be sure to listen, subscribe, and follow the show on Instagram and YouTube@the.gentlemenpodcast.

The Burren and Cliffs Explorer shuttle bus service is set to return for the 2026 season, aiming to connect towns and villages across north and west Clare with some of the region's most popular attractions, including the Cliffs of Moher Experience and Burren National Park. With public consultation now underway to help shape its future, Alan Morrissey was joined by Siobhán McNulty, Director of Service with Clare County Council on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) cliffsofmoher.ie

Hello to you listening in Lopez Island, Washington! Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga. Why is my Quarter Moon Story Arts logo a lighthouse? I was inspired! Admiralty Head Lighthouse here on Whidbey Island served as a critical navigational guide back in the day of sailing ships traveling from the Pacific Ocean through the treacherous Strait of San Juan de Fuca. Sixteen miles from Admiralty Inlet ship captains could see the white light in the darkness warning them to steer a hard right to starboard, avoid the cliffs, and continue safely south through Puget Sound and on to Seattle. How did the captain know he was seeing Admiralty Head Lighthouse? Each lighthouse - no matter where in the world - has its very own distinctive light pattern, or signature, like an address on a house. Lighthouses mark points of navigation, warn about dangerous coastlines, and guide ships into safe harbor. But harbors are not created equal. Different harbors for different boats. A lighthouse stationed at a harbor entrance doesn't run up and down the coast beckoning all boats to its harbor. It serves a particular sized boat. Lighthouses don't chase boats; why do you chase clients? Question: What is it only you have to offer? Who needs and wants it? Who is meant to be drawn to your harbor? How will you attract your particular client with your own distinctive beacon of light? And, how will they know you are signaling them? CTA: If you could use a hand with your lighthouse questions, email me at info@quartermoonstoryarts.net and we'll get working on the answers. You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. AND!  Stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website during re-construction, check out the Communication Services, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as Quarter Moon Story Arts on Substack. Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts Music: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.  If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.

Standing on Ireland's wild Atlantic edge is always unforgettable, but if you're planning to walk the Cliffs of Moher coastal trail, a few important updates will shape how you experience it. Cliffs of Moher viewed from the cliffs trail Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail Update: What's Open and What's Not The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre is fully open, and the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail is also open – but they are no longer directly connected. That's the key change travelers need to understand. You can still enjoy both experiences, but you cannot step from the Visitor Centre onto the long-distance cliff trail like you could in the past. Access points at the centre have been closed, even though the trail itself remains open. This article is based on podcast episode 335 featuring Ollie Gleeson, owner of Ollie's Tours, a Doolin-based provider of Cliffs of Moher tours and other adventures.Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links. Cliffs Exhibition at the Cliffs of Moher What You Can Do at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre The Visitor Centre still offers: Easy access viewpoints Views from atop O'Brien's Tower A maintained walking area (roughly 500 meters each direction) Exhibits, facilities, and parking It's a great option if you want iconic views without a long hike – but it's not the full cliff walk experience. What's Happening with the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail The coastal trail from Doolin toward the cliffs remains open and is still one of the most rewarding walks in Ireland. However: The southern section beyond the Visitor Centre towards Hags Head is currently closed Trail improvements are in progress but limited by seasonal restrictions Repairs have already improved sections near Doolin, making parts of the walk easier and less muddy than before. How to Walk the Cliffs of Moher Trail Right Now If your goal is to actually hike the cliffs, you'll want to start in Doolin – not at the Visitor Centre. Start from Doolin for the Best Experience From Doolin, you can: Walk approximately 7 km (about 4 miles) toward the cliffs Enjoy uninterrupted coastal views along the way Reach areas just short of the Visitor Centre This route delivers the dramatic scenery most people expect when they picture the Cliffs of Moher. Use the Shuttle for a “Best of Both Worlds” Day From May through late summer (possibly into September), a free shuttle bus operates from Doolin to the Visitor Centre. A smart plan: Walk the cliff trail from Doolin Return to town for lunch Take the shuttle to the Visitor Centre for additional views This lets you experience both the rugged hike and the classic viewpoints in one day. Parking in Doolin You'll find several parking options: Paid parking on Fisher Street (near shops and pubs) Parking at Doolin Pier Limited parking at businesses like Hotel Doolin (for customers) Plan ahead and avoid leaving your car where it's not permitted for the day. Should You Walk with a Guide? You don't need a guide, but there are a few reasons you might want one. Ollie Gleeson with my tour group before our walk to Doolin (2023) Benefits of a Guided Walk Navigation and logistics are handled for you Safety support on uneven or exposed sections Local stories and history bring the landscape to life The trail can include narrow paths, uneven footing, and changing weather conditions, so having someone who knows the terrain can make a big difference. If You Go on Your Own Keep these tips in mind: Wear proper footwear (hiking boots recommended) Expect mud in places, especially after rain Stay well back from cliff edges Don't underestimate wind conditions Even on calmer days, the Atlantic weather can shift quickly. Weather on the Cliffs: What to Expect There's a saying in Ireland: there's no bad weather, only bad clothing. At the cliffs, that feels especially true. Conditions can include: Strong winds (sometimes strong enough to push sea spray upward) Sudden rain showers Bright sunshine Sometimes all in the same hour Dress in layers, bring waterproof gear, and be ready for anything. Including mud. Meet Your Guide: Ollie Gleeson Ollie Gleeson is a local guide from County Clare who leads daily tours along the Cliffs of Moher and to the Aran Islands. His offerings include: Guided cliff hikes from Doolin Aran Islands experiences, including Inisheer visits Bike tours and even proposal or vow renewal experiences His focus is simple: help visitors enjoy the landscape safely while sharing the stories that make the place memorable. Book direct at Ollies Tours. Learn more & get inspired on Instagram & Facebook. A Memorable Way to Experience the Cliffs Even with access changes, the Cliffs of Moher remain one of Ireland's most powerful landscapes. With a bit of planning – starting in Doolin, using the shuttle, and preparing for the weather – you can enjoy an incredible day along the edge of the Atlantic. And if the wind picks up while you're there? Just consider it part of the adventure. The post Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail Update: What Travelers Need to Know Right Now appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Dreaming of a trip to the British Isles? In this episode of All Things Travel, travel advisors Ryan and Julie of Wonder and Beyond Travel break down four distinct ways to experience Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and London — with expert insight on their favorite travel partner, CIE Tours.What's covered in this episode:

In a new missive from the Fortress of Proopitude, Greg and Jennifer banter about Boz Scaggs, Boonville and Berkeley.

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Vikings Draft Strategy: Identifying Talent Cliffs and Maximizing the Board — Tyler Forness and producer Dave discuss NFL Draft “talent cliffs” and how the Vikings can maximize value by anticipating position drop-offs and using consensus boards to check individual evaluations. Forness outlines perceived cliffs across positions: a thin quarterback class after Fernando Mendoza; a running back cliff after Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price; a deep wide receiver group into late round two; a tight end class led by Kenyon Sadiq with depth into day three; a sharp offensive tackle drop after the top seven; limited interior OL options once top centers/guards go; tiered edge and a weak defensive tackle class; and deep cornerback and safety groups that could allow waiting until day two. Using an A to Z Sports draft simulator, they run a seven-round Vikings mock emphasizing these cliffs, selecting Kenyon Sadiq, D'Angelo Ponds, Gracen Halton, Bud Clark, Kaleb Proctor, J. Michael Sturdivant, Eric Gentry, Thaddeus Dixon, and Eli Heidenreich, then preview upcoming draft-week coverage. 00:00 Draft Board Strategy 01:17 Talent Cliff Explained 02:36 Consensus vs Rankings 04:15 Tiers and Trade Ups 05:34 Mock Simulator Setup 06:27 Quarterback Cliff 09:01 Quarterback Premium Debate 14:21 Running Back Cliff 18:40 Wide Receiver Depth 21:44 Tight End Breakdown 24:52 Offensive Tackle Dropoff 26:33 Interior Line Cliffs 29:53 Center Injury Values 32:16 Edge Rusher Tiers 34:45 Defensive Tackle Tiers 35:56 Vikings Fit And GM Debate 36:36 DT Board And Draft Strategy 38:02 Red Flags And Size Outliers 38:38 Linebacker Class Takes 41:32 Athletic Testing And Sleepers 44:21 Cornerback Depth And Values 48:52 Safety Class And Targets 51:52 Round One Options And Trade Downs 55:23 Mock Draft Picks And Talent Cliffs 59:08 Late Round Swings And Trades 01:04:28 Wrap Up And Draft Week Plans _____________________________________________________________ ⭐️ Subscribe to us here! - https://www.youtube.com/@vikings1stskol92 ⭐️ Our Twitter can be found at @Vikings1stSKOL ⭐️ Our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/493z6mQXcN ⭐️ Tyler Forness can be read at A to Z Sports - https://atozsports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-news/ ⭐️ Submit questions: forms.gle/7LJkCAern9kdUkuD8 ⭐️ On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/vikings1standskol ⭐️ Watch the live show here: https://youtu.be/6CglO7DUyOg Fan With Us!!! Tyler Forness @TheRealForno of Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and A to Z Sports @AtoZSportsNFL, with Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this Vikings 1st & SKOL production, the @RealFornoShow. Podcasts partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clare's top visitor attractions are gearing up for a busy Easter, with a packed programme of family-friendly events and more than 15,000 visitors expected over the holiday weekend. From Bunratty Castle to the Cliffs of Moher and beyond, there's something for everyone. Alan Morrissey was joined on Morning Focus by Marie Brennan, Events Manager, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and Sharon Malone, Assistant Sales and Marketing Manager with Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre to tell us more. Image © Clare County Council

Just after Easter, Jody is heading back to Ireland—and this trip is filled with experiences, stays, and a few surprises that might inspire your own plans. Ireland trip preview: tours, experiences, and places to stay This upcoming visit blends guided tours, hands-on experiences, and independent exploring across Ireland—from the Causeway Coast to the southeast, with plenty of memorable stops along the way. Giants Causeway from the cliff walk above This article is also available as the Traveling in Ireland podcast, episode 333. Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links. Flying into Shannon: what to know Jody is flying into Shannon Airport, a favorite for its easy access to western Ireland. While direct routes can be limited outside peak season, arriving here puts travelers close to highlights like Bunratty Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Wild Atlantic Way. Travel tip: When possible, choose a direct flight into Ireland or a layover in your departure country for a smoother arrival experience. Northern Ireland and Donegal: a scenic adventure One portion of the trip heads north, covering: The Causeway Coast, home to dramatic cliffs and the famous Giant's Causeway The Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal, known for rugged beauty and quieter roads The Boyne Valley, rich in history and ancient sites A stay at Cabra Castle for a memorable castle experience This route is ideal for travelers who want a mix of scenery, history, and unique accommodations. See the Giant Adventure itinerary Southeast Ireland: crafts, culture, and hands-on fun Another part of the journey focuses on the southeast, with interactive experiences like: Crafting Claddagh rings Food tours featuring local flavors Puffin spotting on the Saltee Islands Falconry in Adare A visit to The Donkey Sanctuary in Cork This region is often overlooked, but places like Wexford offer a quieter, more local feel with plenty to see and do. See the Craft, Culture & Craic itinerary Returning favorites worth revisiting Even seasoned travelers return to places they love—and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park is one of those spots (I haven't wandered these grounds on my own since 2002!). Located near Shannon, Bunratty offers: A restored castle you can explore A folk park that recreates village life from the past Seasonal events and demonstrations It's especially good for families or anyone wanting an immersive look at Irish history. Cliffs of Moher updates and what to expect Work has been ongoing to improve safety along the cliff top trails around the Cliffs of Moher. Travelers planning a visit should check current access updates, as sections of the cliff walk have been closed during improvements. Note: the Cliffs of Moher site and visitors centre are not closed! The works are on the miles of walking trails along the cliff from Doolin to Hags Head. Unique places to stay across Ireland This trip includes a mix of new and noteworthy accommodations: Barnahown (County Cork): A B&B at the base of the Galtee Mountains Killiane Castle Country House & Farm (Wexford): A charming stay in a lesser-visited county The Grace (Westport Estate, Mayo): A newly opened accommodation with estate access Glamping on Inis Mór (Aran Islands): Beachside pods with easy access to island cycling and coastal views These options highlight the variety of stays available, from traditional to unique. Island time and coastal experiences Ireland's islands offer a different pace—and this trip includes a few standout options: Inis Mór: Explore by bike, enjoy coastal scenery, and slow down Clare Island (Mayo): A great day trip with history and views Saltee Islands: Known for seabirds, including puffins Ferries can be weather-dependent, so flexibility is key when planning island visits. New experiences to try in Ireland Adding hands-on and memorable activities can make a trip stand out. A few ideas from this trip include: Chocolate making on the Causeway Coast Falconry experiences (hawk walks) Wildlife spotting, including puffins Farm and animal visits for a more local connection These experiences are ideal for travelers who want more than sightseeing. Highlights to inspire your own trip Mix regions: combine north, west, and southeast for variety Add hands-on activities for memorable moments Choose accommodations that enhance the experience Include at least one island visit Revisit iconic sites—you'll see them differently each time If you're planning your own journey, tools like the Ireland Travel Compass can help you take ideas like these and turn them into a trip that fits your time, interests, and travel style. And if you'd like to follow along as this trip unfolds, you'll find updates, stories, and a few behind-the-scenes moments shared on Facebook and Instagram, as well as in the weekly email (sign up below). The post A Look Ahead to My Ireland Trip: Tours, Experiences & Stays to Inspire You appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Host: Janet Michael Guests: Gina Hilliard, President – Luray Page Chamber of Commerce Jen Jenkins, Parks Superintendent – Luray Parks & Recreation Sherri Glenn, Events & Marketing Coordinator – Luray Parks & Recreation Episode Summary Janet talks with Gina, Jen, and Sherri about upcoming events from free youth fishing derbies and outdoor concerts to the nation's 250th birthday celebration and a Chamber trip to Ireland. Events Covered

Cruise stops in Ireland can feel like a whirlwind – but with the right plan, even a few hours can turn into an unforgettable experience. With more cruise ships arriving at Irish ports each year, travelers have more options than ever when it comes to shore excursions. But not all tours, or tour providers, are created equal. Seabourn Ovation docked in CobhPodstawko, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons This article is based on podcast episode 332 featuring Bob McAuliffe, owner of About Ireland Taxi Tours.Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links. Ireland Cruise Excursions: How to Choose the Right Experience Bob McAuliffe, owner of About Ireland Taxi Tours, has spent decades helping visitors make the most of their limited time ashore. His advice is simple: focus on quality, not quantity. Bob's pro-tips will help you choose the right excursion and make the most of your time in port. Check Reliability Before You Book Before reserving any independent excursion, take time to read reviews and verify the company's reputation. Look at platforms like Google and TripAdvisor to get a sense of consistency and service. A reliable company should also guarantee that you'll return to your ship on time – something not every provider offers. Avoid Over-Ambitious Itineraries Ireland may look small on a map, but travel times can be deceiving. Routes often include narrow roads, scenic stops, and unexpected delays. For example, trying to visit the Cliffs of Moher from Cork during a short port stop simply isn't realistic. A good tour provider will tell you that—and help you plan something more enjoyable instead. Choose the Right Vehicle for Comfort Vehicle size matters more than many travelers expect. Irish cars are generally smaller than those in North America, so squeezing too many people into a standard sedan can make for a long, uncomfortable day. If you're traveling with a group or need accessibility accommodations, confirm the vehicle type in advance. Don't Trust Google Maps Timing Google Maps often underestimates travel time in Ireland because it assumes local driving speeds without stops. But visitors tend to pause for photos, scenery, and spontaneous discoveries – which is part of the magic. Build in extra time so your day feels relaxed, not rushed. Charles Fort, viewed from the harbour Why Local Drivers Make All the Difference One of the biggest advantages of booking an independent tour is the opportunity to connect with a local driver. These aren't just drivers – they're storytellers, guides, and often lifelong residents of the area. They know the backroads, the history, and the personal connections that turn a sightseeing trip into something memorable. That might mean: Stopping at a family-run sweet shop to watch traditional candy being made Visiting a quiet village not on typical tour routes Getting a quick lesson in hurling in a nearby field Tracing family roots with help from local heritage centers It's these moments, unplanned and personal, that tend to stand out most. This sheep didn't mind having his photo taken as we traveled through West Cork. Making the Most of Limited Time in Port Cruise schedules are tight, especially at tender ports where getting ashore takes additional time. Planning your day carefully ensures you see more and stress less. Start Early at Popular Attractions If Blarney Castle is on your list, for example, timing is everything. Arriving early can mean the difference between a quick visit and hours in line to kiss the Blarney Stone. Even better, allow time to explore the gardens, which many consider the highlight of the visit. Know When You Don't Need a Tour In some ports, you may not need a driver at all. For example: Cobh offers easy access to attractions like Spike Island, the Titanic Experience, and Fota House Dublin city center is highly walkable, with museums and landmarks close together A trustworthy provider will tell you when you can explore on your own, and when a guided experience adds value. Focus on What You Enjoy Rather than trying to tick off a “top 10” list, think about what interests you most. Love gardens? Ireland has plenty.Interested in history? Castles, heritage sites, and ancient ruins are everywhere.Prefer local experiences? Markets, pubs, and small workshops offer authentic connections. Your day should reflect your interests, not a generic checklist. Guest Feature: Bob McAuliffe, About Ireland Taxi Tours Bob McAuliffe is the owner of About Ireland Taxi Tours, a company offering private, customizable day tours and cruise excursions from all 12 Irish ports. What began as a local taxi service in Cork has grown into a nationwide network of experienced, local drivers who provide personalized tours based on each traveler's interests and schedule. Bob and his team specialize in: Cruise ship shore excursions Private day tours Custom itineraries tailored to individual preferences Accessible travel options, including wheelchair-friendly vehicles What sets the company apart is its focus on honesty and traveler experience. If a plan doesn't make sense, they'll say so—and suggest a better option. Contact & Booking: Website: https://www.aboutirelandtaxitours.ie Cruise excursions site Info & inspo on Facebook & Instagram Blarney Castle Top Cork Recommendations for Cruise Visitors If your itinerary includes Cork, these are standout stops that combine iconic sights with local flavor. Blarney Castle and Gardens While many come for the Blarney Stone, the gardens are the true highlight. Plan an early visit to avoid long queues and leave time to explore the grounds. The English Market A food lover's paradise in the heart of Cork city. Grab lunch upstairs at the Farmgate Café or browse local specialties. University College Cork (UCC) A quieter but fascinating stop with beautiful grounds, historic buildings, and unique features like the Honan Chapel and stone corridor. Bonus Stop: Local Sweet Shop Experience A visit to a traditional sweet shop like Danny Linehan's offers a glimpse into Irish confectionery—and a chance to watch treats being made by hand. Ireland's cruise ports offer incredible variety, from bustling cities to quiet coastal towns. With a bit of planning – and the right local insight – you can turn a short stop into a meaningful experience that feels anything but rushed. The post Ireland Cruise Excursions: How to Make the Most of Your Day in Port appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Today on the IC-DISC Show we're talking with Gordon Driscoll. Having spent his early career at Goldman Sachs investing tens of millions into metals companies, he kept noticing they were running their operations on Excel spreadsheets and software from the 1980s. That gap became Green Spark, a cloud-based platform now in over 900 scrap metal recycling locations. In this conversation, Gordon talks about what it took to break into an industry where relationships go back generations, why he thinks most business owners are thinking about software wrong, and how his team earned credibility by acting more like a partner than a vendor. He also shares a customer story that stuck with me about a scale operator who got his first lunch break in six years. Whether you're in scrap or not, Gordon's thinking on sustainable growth, earning the right to disrupt, and treating technology as a competitive advantage rather than a cost center is worth your time.     SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Why a Goldman Sachs investment banker left finance to build software for scrap yards The massive technology gap Gordon kept seeing in companies handling tens of millions in materials How Green Spark grew to 900+ locations by acting like a partner, not just a vendor The customer story about a scale operator getting his first lunch break in six years Why Gordon believes you have to earn the right to disrupt an industry, and what that looks like in practice The mindset shift from treating software as a cost center to using it as a competitive advantage   Contact Details LinkedIn - Gordon Driscoll LINKS Show NotesBe a Guest About IC-DISC AllianceAbout Green Spark Software   Gordon DriscollAbout Gordon TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Gordon: And I think that a lot of folks, candidly, just because they're not used to either our model or what technology can do today, they don't realize, which is changing, they still view software as a cost center. And ultimately the tools that we're seeing and the applications that we are pushing to the industry, a lot of our customers view as a competitive advantage. Dave: Good morning, Gordon. So where are you calling in from today? Gordon: Hey, Dave. Appreciate you having me on. I'm in Brooklyn, New York today. Dave: Oh, okay. That is great. So I must say, I know a lot of folks in the scrap metal industry, service providers, yard operators, brokers, but you seem to have a particularly unique background. So why don't you tell the story from the time you graduated college? Sounds like you spent some time in investment banking in New York. And what caused you to have this epiphany that you wanted to go provide software in the scrap metal industry? Gordon: Yeah, no, of course. It's worth an explanation because looking at my background on paper from finance to scrap software, it doesn't make much sense. So yeah, started my career in financial services, spent a few years in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and then moved into private equity investing, but all of that centered on natural resources, broadly speaking, but specifically the metals industry. So spent a lot of time up and down the value chain, anything from box site refineries in Australia to working with the biggest mills in the country like Cliffs or JW Aluminum or things of that nature. And then in the investing side, spent really just as much time on what I'll call the kind of conventional resource as I did the technology. And I quickly realized the businesses that we were at times giving tens of millions or hundreds of millions of dollars were either using Excel spreadsheets to run their business or platforms that were based in or founded in the '80s, '90s and 2000s, and ultimately saw similar patterns in the recycling industry. And by no means is using a system like that wrong by definition or inherent, but ultimately saw a massive opportunity to bring an industry that is deceptively huge that no one really pays attention to outside of the folk in the industry and folks who we saw it when we started in 2020 who are quite literally essential workers, bringing that technology to them. And it's been an awesome six years. It's been very exciting. I think that what we wanted to do, clearly the market has responded well, which I'm sure we will get into. And what's really exciting for me is not only working with the folks in this industry on a day in and day out basis, and I can talk to my relationship to the industry and general thoughts, but also specifically as technology has not really progressed linearly over the last couple years, but obviously I had some step changes with AI, being able to innovate alongside this industry and partner with our customers to bring those step changes to an industry like this. It's been super exciting. Dave: Now, well, thank you for that background recap. So let's talk about the founding of the company. So where did the name come from, Green Spark? Gordon: Yeah, great question. I unfortunately can't take credit for it. That has to be my co-founder, but we wanted to pay respect to where the industry came from in addition to one of the overlooked elements of the industry, at least from a public perception per perspective. So green in and of itself is a call to, this is the sustainability of the industry. Again, I think that metal recycling is done, especially around the work that Rema's done has done a great job over the last couple years with, let's say, public perception and really educating folks on not only the importance of this industry, but the benefits of the industry from an environmental perspective, hence the green. And Spark actually comes from something that folks used to do without XRF analyzers or without technology. And the irony is not lost on me. So 50, 60, 70 years ago, and still obviously doable today, when you spark different types of metals, the color of the spark actually denotes the greater the quality. So a yellow spark versus a red spark. So again, we wanted to, again, combine the importance of the industry with a callback to what folks used to do without all of this new technology. Dave: Okay. No, well, thank you. I was really curious about the name, and that makes a lot of sense. It's both looking at the future and still remembering the past of the industry. I like that. So you and your co-founder, did you all bootstrap this or did you tap into some of your investment banking contacts and raise money? Gordon: Yeah, so we started that way and quickly realized to do what we wanted to do at the pace that we wanted to do it would require outside capital. So yeah, we ended up talking to folks in our network in addition to capital partners that not only understood what our thesis was, which is, again, it's relatively straightforward. At GreenSpark, we want every single scrapyard and metal recycling facility on planet Earth to use our platform. It's not necessarily easy, but it is straightforward. And we realized the kind of pace that we wanted to move. And candidly, given what customers are used to in this industry, i.e., One platform that spans a large part of their business, in addition to the dynamics in the industry, which is us against folks who have been here for 20, 25, 30 years who have lazed the trail for folks like us, we realized to close that gap, we wanted to partner with folks with the capital to scale the team and scale the product relatively quickly. Dave: Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. So what, and I don't want to get too technical, but I do want to get technical enough for this to make sense. So what was the differentiator or the different approach you were taking? I'm guessing you're cloud-based instead of on- premise. Is that a safe assumption? Gordon: Yeah, 100%. And yeah, I won't get too in the weeds, but I also think it's important to understand what our thesis was. Back then, what's changed over the last couple of years just given what's happened in technology? So yeah, I think from the jump, there are a couple just clear reasons why we felt good about the idea so far. Number one, we are entirely web-based. And I think importantly, we are web or cloud-based fully natively. So rather than trying to either acquire a business that's already been existing or partner with an existing software in the industry, we built everything from the ground up. It's entirely cloud-based. And I think that outside of the benefits just to this industry, really what we've seen resonate is one, the mobility of a platform like this. So the way that we describe it is every single time you touch the material, it costs you money. So if you can distribute technology and bring it closer to the material, things like scanning licenses right from your phone, things like mobile grading and inspection, things like cloud-based driver apps. You're able to cut down on those costs because you're actually bringing technology to the material, not the other way around. Number two is integrations, increasingly, which to zoom out a little bit is certainly not true two decades ago, but was true five or 10 years ago. Increasingly, customers like ours don't have the overhead to have a full-blown IT team to have developers on staff, and you're left with a bunch of one, either one system that can't do everything perfectly. So you have one system that other does stuff well, or you have a bunch of these disconnected systems that we call it this latent integration tax. It's not something that kind of hits you over the head, but when you have four or five or six systems, you have folks spending hours a day reconciling data between those two systems, making sure that you can get information from one to the other. And from day one, GreenSpark was really built as the modern connector in the industry. And again, back to our thesis, getting in every single scrapyard in the world, we want to focus on what this industry needs, and we want that focus to be super narrow. And if someone does something better than us, we just want to integrate with it. So whether it's native integrations with ERPs like QuickBooks and NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics or CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce or even, I don't know, things like Google Maps, which kind of auto completes address and powers live navigation directly in the driver app. I'd say folks are using more technology generally speaking versus less. And what we want to do is make sure that all of those systems can push and pull in the right places together versus either having our end customer do it or having our end customer require resources to connect those systems manually. Now, over the last year or two, a lot of that's changed with the admin and increasingly the maturity of artificial intelligence. And I think that's where this gets really exciting. Obviously being built on a fully cloud-native tech stack allows us to leverage that technology very quickly. And I think that the way that our team is set up, not just on the technical side, but also on our customer facing side, our ability to rapidly iterate with our customers and rapidly get feedback from our customers on how we're applying things like AI and Agentic AI to their workflow has been really invaluable over the Dave: Last year or two. Well, that is, boy, I've got a bunch of questions. So that's great on the native interoperability or interconnectivity with other apps, but help me understand the ... Because I've seen some companies in this space that maybe have focused on trying to have as much native to the app as possible. So try to do financials within the system and other things. So give me a sense of how you describe the core features of the product and where it ends and where an integration with an ERP CRM or financial software fits in. Gordon: Yeah, that is a great question. That line always changes based on what our customers want to do, but at its base, we want folks running their entire business out of GreenSpark. The way we think about it outside of the integrated GL that is on the come, which I can touch on later, is that we want to be the customer's operational system of record. So everything that they're doing on a day-to-day basis from receiving, paying, managing inventory, managing contracts, customers, outbound shipments, invoices, documentation, both over-the-road dispatch and exports and logistics tracking, in addition to our reporting suite, we want all of that to happen directly in GreenSpark. Now, to be clear, that obviously comes with the obligation, honestly, or the need to ensure that the operational and financial systems of record move in lockstep. So again, wherever someone is already working in an accounting system or a CRM, we want to push and pull data to and from those systems, but we want to really cover as much of that workflow as possible. The product has expanded both in breadth and in depth recently, and I think that there is a desire in this industry to have everything under one hood, not just from the product capability side, but folks in this industry are used to and want to work with people that they trust and that they can rely on. And I think a really important part of anyone, especially as a relative outsider, like either our business or me personally, I think it's the obligation of any vendor in this industry to emulate how the industry operates. So outside of just product capabilities, a lot of folks want to, again, work with teams that they trust and teams that they can rely on, teams that they can pick up the phone and talk to if something's wrong, which is something that we spend a lot of time and resources doing. Dave: Okay. So let's say, and this may sound like a hypothetical question, but I see it all the time where there's consolidation in this industry that's been going on for 20 years, yet the total number of scrap yards out there seems to keep increasing. And from my own personal experience, it's because some small yard gets acquired by a big company, the people who sold get disappointed with how the integration of everything works. They get through the earnout, they set out a non-compete, and then it seems like there's two more scrapyards that populate from every one that's sold because one group goes off and starts one and one another. So say somebody was starting an operation from scratch and they said, Gordon, we want to do as much in Greenspark as we can. Can you all do financials? Can you function as a CRM? Could they really run the entire business just in your single product suite? Gordon: Yeah, 1000%. We like to ... So it's funny you mentioned that. We've seen the same thing. We probably onboard what we call startup yards. We probably onboard eight to 10 of those a quarter, which really speaks to the just kind of organic growth in the industry, broadly speaking. And the way we market it is it's you and GreenSpark. Those are the two almost full-time employees at the business as you get this off the ground, you can run everything within GreenSpark. Typically, a yard like that will use something like QuickBooks, and especially for yards that are starting out, we try to be as consultative as possible because there are so many moving pieces. And candidly, in many respects, internally, we are still a startup and we know what it's been like to see the cash in, cash out every single day to have way more problems than what you do with when you're starting a business. So candidly, we love working with folks like that, and we try to extend our reach from anything from software to the scales and cameras that you should be getting, connecting that yard with other folks in our network. But to answer your question, again, we are typically the kind of second employee that folks hire because it's such a comprehensive platform that you can run your entire business out of. The other thing that I think that folks have really benefited from is process standardization. What we try to do at GreenSpark is not only give you the tools to succeed, but really the best practices, standard operating procedures and workflows built around our product that have been hardened by hundreds of customers throughout the industry. So whether it's staying on top of inventory, working the kind of physical flow of the yard out when you're going to get different pieces of information to keep trucks moving. And ultimately, what folks in that scenario should be looking at on a day-to-day, week-to-week and month-to-month basis to understand the trends in their business, we try to make that as out of the box as possible versus just giving you a set of tools and saying, "Hey, go ahead and figure it out. " Dave: No, that does make sense. Okay, that's a good overview. What's your iteration cycle like? How often are you doing point releases, major releases? Gordon: Yeah, great question. I think that again, this is one of the biggest differences between us and some of the other folks, or said another way, this is one of the main benefits of being a more modern player. We're releasing daily. So literally four or five times a week, we will be releasing new updates on the platform. Sometimes you'll never know. It could be increasing storage for image capture. Other times, you 100% will. About two weeks ago, we released a fully new module that includes live container tracking for your export containers. So if you're shipping on a CIF or a CFR basis, you can see in real time where that container is on the water with live ETA updates. So we don't need to get too deep into that use case, but I think it's a good benchmark for what those releases look like. We have the ability to obviously turn on or off any of those changes for any of our customers. Change management is obviously a huge part of the industry, broadly speaking, and obviously customers' relationships with technology. So said another way, we don't really try to change for change's sake, especially when folks are running their business in very well-defined workflows. So we're really big on communication upfront for what's going to change, if anything is going to change. And we have a really robust early access period where we'll work with, in that example, we'll identify folks who are already shipping on a CIF or CFR basis, trial that live container tracking, let's say, with 20 or 30 folks beforehand before we roll it out to the rest of the group. So we like to push updates quickly, get feedback early, and then ultimately give the users or our customers the agency to opt in or opt out based on what's most important to them. Dave: No, I can really appreciate that update frequency. I've been for about five years owner of one Tesla or another. And one of the things I really appreciate is the frequent software updates. I've also owned Rivians and they also are very good. But when you compare that to the legacy automakers, they just can't do the most basic over the air update. You have to bring your car into the dealership. And so I can appreciate the benefit of that rapid iteration. So talk to me about customer support. What kind of metric and process do you all have? If a customer has an issue, how do you triage the importance of it? How do you escalate it? What's the metrics you use for response times? Just whatever there you're comfortable discussing. Gordon: Yeah, no, that is a great question. I'd say a couple things. As I mentioned, vendors in this industry need to emulate how the industry operates and people operate in different ways. Some folks want to figure something out themselves. So we have a really robust help center within GreenSpark that has over 120 articles on how the product works. That's paired with a full online academy. So we like to get ahead of any support questions by giving folks the tools they need to succeed and equip them with as much information as possible. That said, whether something goes wrong or whether they need to talk to someone, we want to create every channel available. So whether it's phone, email, or our in- app messenger, some folks don't want to speak to someone, some folks do. So we want to make sure that we're really meeting our customers where they are, depending on what they are used to. I'd say overall for support, a lot of folks in this industry and a lot of folks in software generally speaking, always look at response time. They say, all right, yeah, we want to get back to everyone within a minute or two, or we pride ourselves on acknowledging you. That's obviously important. And our response time is under a minute. It's about 56 seconds these days. So we do want to obviously emphasize that. We care about resolution though because folks don't want to be talked to. They want their problems to be solved. So the main kind of success metrics we look at on the support side, outside of just saying, "Hey, I'm seeing what you're seeing as well," which is an important part of it. We really focus on the overall resolution. We also really focus on transparency. No one wants to shoot a message or shoot an email into a black box and not know where they stand. So average response time is under a minute. If something is wrong, we typically try to keep folks updated every 15 or 20 minutes, especially if it's a critical issue. And our average resolution time is just under an hour as well. So really trying to focus on the kind of outcome in addition to making sure that folks know exactly where they stand. Dave: Okay. Wow, I don't know the numbers from the other companies, but that seems pretty remarkable. So I've been in this industry for about 20 years and I've been going to the REMA conferences for about that long. And it seems like when I go walk the trade show at REMA, that it seems like there's just a software company on every row. And so I'm curious, I would've been, if somebody asked me, "Hey, I want to start a software business or company for the scrap industry," I would've said, "Wow, it seems super crowded, lots of competition, doesn't seem like a great place." What was the opportunity you saw that what I would call a crowded space didn't scare you? Gordon: Yeah, that's a great question. I think, again, back to the original thesis, just given the vintage of our software platform relative to others, I think that at a super high level, we felt really good about our inherent competitive advantage given our modern tech stack, the ability to leverage web-based integrations, the ability to leverage the mobility that other folks candidly structurally can't do given their tech stack and given how they're set up as a business. And again, no disrespect to anyone else in the industry. The way that I think about it is they've done a lot of the heavy lifting of educating the market on the benefits of technology and candidly taking this industry from spreadsheets and DOS systems into the 21st century. But I think that there are, as I mentioned, a lot of different ways to differentiate in this industry. And I think that especially with older products, you're never in a good spot if you are a dynamic business and Scrap is a very dynamic industry using a static software product because inherently the software that you're using or the technology that you're using is not going to be able to adapt to the changes in the industry that you require as a very dynamic business. Now, over the last couple of years, obviously with artificial intelligence and what folks can do with AI, that's opened up a multitude of possibilities on how folks can use that in their business. And it's a really interesting space, I think, in the market because everyone I talk to, whether it's someone like you, whether it's the owner's son who might be taking over the business or it's a 76-year-old truck driver, it seems like everyone's used ChatGPT or some sort of tools. It could be anything from analyzing their mortgage to asking what the weather's going to be tomorrow. But I think that's a fundamental difference between, let's say, cloud computing, which has happened over the last 10 or 15 years and what's happening now. And the reason I bring that up is there are so many advantages to using AI, not just every day, but for core business applications. Folks are used to these technologies given, I don't know, they've been in the news for the last two straight years, and if folks can use them for consumer applications, and all of those advantages really accrue asymmetrically to a platform like us. So I think when you think about the kind of advantages and it being a relatively crowded market, we view things a little bit differently because when you look at the market itself, yeah, there are a lot of players and that was born out of regional and territorial compliance differences, obviously founders relationships with folks in specific territories. But when you look at businesses that can leverage that technology that you can reliably think you can use in 2050, not 2027, and folks really are thinking that long-term in this industry, given these are generational family businesses or folks are in this for the long haul, we feel really good that the number of prospective players that you could reasonably think could run your business in 2050 is actually much smaller than the overall market. Dave: Yeah. So whereas a layman, I saw crowded market, you saw market ripe for disruption, bottom line. Gordon: Yeah. And I think people love to think about disruption in technology. And I think that the way that I think about our product and what we're looking to do, you need to earn the right to disrupt an industry. And I think that we tried to come in with a lot of humility and a lot of respect for the industry. We wouldn't have succeeded if we came in and said, "Hey, I read a 50-page PDF report on the scrap industry. You guys are doing it wrong. Here's GreenSpark." That's obviously not going to work at all. So I think that what we really try to focus on again is meeting folks where they are, evolving their workflow and then being very targeted in places for disruption. So for example, let's take dispatch. Folks are used to either a whiteboard or an Excel spreadsheet or they're using some system that might not have capabilities for a mobile driver app or candidly doesn't have the power with respect to dispatch to scale integration or a modern load board where you can drag and drop trips around. That I would say is evolving someone's workflow from what they're used to to using GreenSpark. By the same token, our dispatch AI agent actually integrates directly with folks' emails and phone systems to collect that information and autonomously create tickets on user's behalfs that all they need to do is approve, modify, or reject that dispatch request. That's what I would say is something that is disruptive to that yard in a very positive sense. But I think that understanding where to evolve versus where to disrupt given what the industry's used to is a really important part of the story as well. Dave: Okay. No, that is very helpful. And it looks like you have a milestone occurring next month. Is it your five-year anniversary? Gordon: It is my five-year anniversary. So yeah, sorry, go Dave: Ahead. So I'm just curious, how's it going? Have you been able to get even one customer? How's the thesis worked out for you? Gordon: Yeah, still waiting on number one. No, kidding. Yeah. So as I mentioned, a lot of work's gone in and the market's responded, I'd say very well so far. We're in over 900 locations right now, primarily in North America, but also internationally with yards of every shape and size. So we work with folks who are doing 50 or 60 transactions a day on the retail side up to anything from 400 to 500. We have folks who are buying specifically from dealers. We have folks who have both demo and scrap operations. We have folks who have 35 locations up and down the Eastern seaboard. So it's a really fun position to be in to have access to the feedback that we have in terms of what direction to take the product. And our focus is in the overall businesses to continue scaling both with larger customers, providing the best experience for some of our single location operations and then moving internationally. And I think that, again, keeping a really narrow focus just on metal recycling and specifically just on the tools that this industry needs and being able to leverage the integrations to, again, partner with best-in-class accounting softwares, best-in-class route optimization, best-in-class CRMs has allowed us to keep that really narrow focus and serve this industry on what they specifically need, not more generalizable parts of the technology stack. Dave: Okay. No, that sounds great. So what was the question I was going to ask you? Oh, so I know when you shared your business plan with your investors, every business plan always shows the same hockey stick growth, especially in Gordon: Technology, Dave: But your growth rate seems pretty impressive. How close did it come to your projections? Was it close? Were you behind? Are you actually ahead? How's that worked out? Gordon: Yeah, no, it's a great question. And we try to stay away from hockey stick growth like that because what we want to do is, again, we want to grow sustainably in this industry and we want to make sure that, again, we're going to be here for the next four decades, not the next four years. In terms of overall projections, we obviously race to that kind of million dollar revenue mark relatively quickly. I've been able to triple that two years ago and then double that last year. And I think that, again, it's come from the reception we've gotten in the market. It's also come from our ability to scale the team to support that. So whether it's on the engineering side or on the post-sales side, I think that there's a bit of a misnomer in folks' perception of software companies, specifically when it comes to companies with outside investment that people only care about growth. Growth is obviously an important part of the story. Hopefully everyone that listens to this wants to grow their business, but ultimately the software business model breaks if we have a customer for a year. There are high customer acquisition costs in terms of sales and setting up environments, setting up instances, and ultimately our model only works if we have folks for 10, 20, 30 years. And what we try to do is create customers for life very early on in the overall cycle. So said another way, we wouldn't have been able to achieve the growth that we are achieving if our retention wasn't as high, if not higher than our kind of new business growth, and it's something that we probably ourselves on because ultimately our customers are the lifeblood of this business and no one really wants to switch software because it's a pin in the butt. But what we try to do is again, keep those customers for life so that we can grow sustainably rather than continuing to fill a leaky bucket so to speak. Dave: No, that's one of the things I really love about the scrap metal industry. As somebody who's serving that industry like you are and I am, is one that industry tends to be incredibly relationship driven and your reputation is everything in this industry because there's two degrees of separation between every person, at least in the US scrap metal space. It's like two degrees of separation and the relationships people have last decades. I have clients, and I'm sure you do too, where the grandson is buying and selling from the grandson of another company where they've been doing business together for 70 years. And I was in a client's office early on and this guy said, "Hey, I need to take this call." And he just did a deal to sell a million dollar scrap load to somebody. And it was just on the phone call. I'm like, "Oh, do you need a moment to document that? Do you need to get the contract out? " And he's like, "No, it's done." I'm like, "Well, don't you need payment?" Because literally he was like, ship the product five minutes later. He might've called somebody and said, "Hey, ships up so- and-so." I'm like, "Well, what do you mean? You don't have a contract, you don't have a PO, you didn't get payment upfront. How do you know you're going to get paid?" And they're like, "Yeah, because I've been doing a business with him for 30 years and he's reputable and he wouldn't do that. And if he did screw me, he'd be done in the scrap business because I'd just tell Gordon: Everybody Dave: I know. " So I really appreciate that because I've found that if you're a reputable long-term thinking company, it's actually easier to get traction in this kind of industry than a business that's not that way. And they all seem to think long-term, like you said, multi-generational, the relationships last decades. So yeah, so speak a bit more to that from what you've seen as far as the importance Gordon: Of the Dave: Relationships and the reputation. Gordon: Yeah, 100%. I think back to the point about getting blackballed, we always joke, a happy customer tells, I don't know, maybe three people, if we're lucky, pissed off customer tells about a hundred. So by the same token though, I always joke with my sales reps, I don't care how good you are at selling GreenSpark. If David, you owned a yard and you were excited about GreenSpark, you're going to be our best sales rep. So again, back to the retention story, it's a double-edged sword because obviously their reputation is very important in this industry. At the same time, to maintain the growth rates that we've had, this isn't really an industry where if you triple your sales team, you triple revenue because of the network effects and because of the connectivity in the overall industry. And I think that what we really try to pride ourselves on is not just being a software company, but a partner to these businesses. So I already talked a little bit about with startup businesses, we'll consult on scales and cameras and we'll send over EMAC item list so you can get started very quickly. One of our sales reps just connected Azorba buyer with one of our new shredder operations to help grow that business. Over the last three months, we've brokered six different sales of businesses that are either using Greenspark and are looking to sell or are using GreenSpark and are looking to buy in the broader market. So outside of just being a software company, again, as I mentioned, vendors in this industry need to emulate how the industry operates. And I know that I'm probably beating a dead horse with that, but understanding how our businesses operate and trying to be the best partner to them outside of just their technology layer is really important. You'll also see us at conferences, I'm probably on the road two or three times a week, either visiting existing customers or prospective customers, and whether it's our onboarding team getting onsite for go live or same thing with renewal conversations, we try to build that relationship as much as possible because as you mentioned, that's how the industry does business. And I don't think you can be successful in this industry, whether you're buying and selling scrap or selling stuff to folks who do that if that's not core to your overall business model. Dave: No, that makes sense. I can't believe how fast the time has passed. I've just got a couple more questions for you. One is share some things that your clients have told you about why they've been really happy with the software, happy they implemented. What are the kinds of things they say to you? Is it that we really appreciate that your salesman took me out for drinks three different times? What are the things they tell you that they just really appreciate about your company? Gordon: Yeah, that's a great question. It runs the gamut based on different user roles, and it's going to be different whether it's an executive or an owner, an operations manager, a commercial buyer, or someone on the logistics team. But again, typically it is around the people that work here because those relationships are so important. So I think in terms of overall feedback, I'm actually just pulling up, we do what's called a net promoter score. And so we send out ... Yeah, exactly. And I'm just going to read you the last five, honestly. We have one owner feedback of all of these, our last six are all 10s, and the inventory tracking is unbeatable. It's user-friendly and the support team Greenspark has is the greatest of all time. Yeah, we were pretty fired up with that one. Another owner in Kentucky, I like the web-based interface. I also like the progressive attitude the company has in regards to being a leader in the space. Another one out of Texas, it is so easy to use. Another owner out of Texas, the transition was smooth. The assistance for help has been great, and so far the product delivers what was promised. And I think that ... Yeah. And again, these are all of our customers on unprompted feedback when we send these emails out. So I'd say it's a really good example of that. We're getting a lot of traction from a bunch of different people within the actual yard. So anything from, again, the scale operator to the owner is looking at different reports. And I think outside of that, we take a lot of pride in helping the folks on the front lines. We had one customer down in Louisiana, I don't know, about six months ago, we were on site and the operator said to our onboarding rep, "I can't thank you guys enough. This is the first time I've had a lunch break in six years because I can finally manage all the work that I'm doing right, right at the scale." And I'm not naive enough to sit in my ivory tower and think that we're changing the world with a scrap software, but stuff like that really does matter to folks. And making a difference, not just in the overall business growth, but for the people on the ground that are using this every single day is super rewarding. Dave: That is awesome. And then so the last two more questions. One is, so what do you enjoy the most about your role within the company that just gives you the most just enjoyment, satisfaction? Yeah, Gordon: A couple things. I'm just a huge nerd, man. I love commodities. It's the coolest thing ever. The entire world's based on resource scarcity. I think we were talking about this before, whether it's what's happening in Venezuela, what's happening with tariffs, what's happening in Greenland. Everything is about resource scarcity and everything is about being as efficient with the resources you have as possible. So talking with customers, and I think not trying to have the answer all the time, but working with them to solve their problems is really fun. I don't know, two weeks ago, copper ripped to 660, and I was some of our customers first calls. They're like, "Hey, what do we do? How do we respond so quickly? Where in Greenspark can I tie things to benchmark prices so I'm covered? What are other customers doing with these movements?" And I think that it's obviously been an uphill battle, just given you need credibility, you need a reputation in this industry, but over the last six years, getting to know the industry really well, getting to know our customers really well, and candidly, being viewed as a partner in their businesses is really exciting. Internally, ramping new employees is so fun because There's always that moment of like, "Oh, I'm not sure I knew what I got myself into with this whole industry." And I think that a lot of people, whether it's on the technology side or the actual yard side, if you haven't grown up in it, you might not know the, it's called nuances, how business is done, which is super exciting. And then third, on the product side, it's a privilege to be able to not just hear feedback from our customers, but actually be able to deliver them the new technology that we're seeing in the market. Historically, product development has been very bilateral. Customer says, "Hey, I need this field for this reason on an outbound ticket software company, build that field. The field gets built and you can go on in and do your work." The paradigm shift of what we're seeing in AI just changes all of that. So now I get to sit in my seat and pretty much say, "Hey, we can take any document in your business, ingest it, and turn it into something else." Whether it's a rail car notice that we turn into a pending load, whether it's a consumer PO that you can upload and automatically create a sales order. And we get to sit here and I get to have conversations with customers all the time and say, how would you want to apply this new tool or this new technology to your business? Hey, we can use AI material recognition to better understand how good your guys are at grading quality. Hey, we can spin up a voice agent to take phone calls and immediately surface to a buyer if someone has a load over a certain size to sell. Would that be helpful? How do you want this to work? And ultimately, what value do you see to these kind of big new categories of software? It's so fun. Dave: Wow. Yeah, your enthusiasm comes through. So my last question, is there anything I didn't ask you that you wish I had? Gordon: I don't know. I don't think so. I think we're in a really fun spot and I'd say that the folks who are listening to this, what I recommend, especially with new technology is one, obviously keep an open mind, but we have a lot of folks who traditionally approach software transitions or software generally is, do I need to do this or what is the worst that would happen if I went through a transition? And I think that a lot of folks, candidly, just because they're not used to either our model or what technology can do today, they don't realize, which is changing really in real time, they still view software as a cost center. And ultimately the tools that we're seeing and the applications that we are pushing to the industry, a lot of our customers view as a competitive advantage. And they might not love me saying that, but I would because then that'll go away over time. But I would really challenge folks to think about how they can use software and technology as a competitive advantage rather than just a record keeping system. Similarly, how they want their business to run, not just today, but in 2030, 2040, 2050, and really challenge themselves to think whether or not the systems that they're surrounded with can support that. And I think that when folks apply that framework and then take a look at businesses like ours, it becomes a decision that is not super difficult. Dave: Well, I think with that, I think that's a good stopping point. Gordon Driscoll of GreenSpark Software, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Just a really lot of great information, and I know our listeners are going to enjoy it. Gordon: Awesome. Dave: There we have it, another great episode. Thanks for listening in. If you want to continue the conversation, go to icydiscshow.com. That's icy-DISCSOW.com. And we have additional information on the podcast, archived episodes, as well as a button to be a guest. So if you'd like to be a guest, go select that and fill out the information and we'd love to have you on the show. So that's it. We'll be back next time with another episode of The Icy Disc Show.Special Guest: Gordon Driscoll.

The Women's Australian Open is being held at Kooyonga this week, and is co-sanctioned by the LET. The field is strong and hopefully we see a return of the buzz created by year on year staging of the Women's Australian Open as a stand alone event in late summer in Adelaide. We take a look at the field and briefly discuss the weeks of lead-in women's golf in Australia.  We then speak with Zoee Dolling, past Club Captain at Kooyonga about the event, the course, and her golf journey. Zoee is a relatively recent convert to the game but has dived in to golf head first! She shares her enthusiasm for women's golf, her Club and this event. We also get into a little broader discussion on golf across the state of South Australia, including the imminent opening of The Cliffs on Kangaroo Island, and the next few years of the LIV Adelaide event. Thanks so much to Zoee for chatting with us! As mentioned in the episode – interstate and overseasvisitors who wish to play Kooyonga can enquire via this link - https://www.kooyongagolf.com.au/cms/golf/playing-at-kooyonga/visitor-golf-enquiry/Last minute ticket purchases to the Women's Australian OpenGolf at Kooyonga can be made here - https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=GOLFAUS26 And for those who want to see more of The Cliffs course atKangaroo Island - click here - https://thecliffs.com.au/cms/ And a special treat – a 40min highlight package from the1972 Australian Open contested over Kooyonga, won by Peter Thomson. https://youtu.be/5F2BQxhPe-Y?si=SWgTn3obsrGDZBgd Our Podcast is published with support from Angus And GraceGo Golfing. Check their insta page and website for some of the best golf apparel on the planet. The latest Australian Golf Passport cap and tee have both sold out but there's tons more cool stuff in store. We thank Matt – our OG partner! Thanks to Dean and everyone at Seed Golf – they continue toprovide 20% off for Australian Golf Passport listeners via the code AGP at checkout. Get your hands on some premium golf balls at a super low price. Once you've tried them you will be so thankful.  Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagrampage (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter / X (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators. Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me-Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.com

Group tours are one of the most popular ways to experience Ireland – especially for travelers who want to see a lot without worrying about driving, directions, or logistics. Nearly half of overseas visitors explore Ireland this way, which means coaches crisscross the island daily, bringing travelers to castles, coastlines, and charming towns. But what is it actually like to travel around Ireland on a coach tour? And how do you make sure the tour you choose matches the experience you want? This National Secondary road to the Cliffs of Moher is just wide enough for tour buses to squeeze past each other. This article is based on podcast episode 329 featuring Clodagh FitzGerald, a professional tour guide in Ireland.Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links. [powerpoint] Group Tours in Ireland: How Coach Travel Works Professional tour guide Clodagh Fitzgerald spends her days leading travelers around Ireland, and she describes the role as wearing many hats. A guide becomes the storyteller, problem solver, travel advisor, and sometimes even the group timekeeper. Each tour follows a planned itinerary, and the guide's job is to help travelers understand what they're seeing along the way – sharing history, culture, geography, and the little details that make Ireland special. For travelers, the biggest benefit is simple: someone else handles the logistics. Typical coach tours include: Transportation across Ireland A knowledgeable guide providing commentary Pre-booked accommodations Select included attractions Some scheduled meals Planned sightseeing stops Instead of worrying about navigation or parking, travelers can simply enjoy the journey. How to Choose the Right Group Tour in Ireland Not all tours are created equal. Before booking, it's important to carefully review the itinerary and details. A few things experienced guides recommend travelers check: Length of the Tour Consider how much time you actually want to spend in Ireland. If you're traveling from North America, it's wise to arrive at least one day before the tour begins to recover from jet lag and adjust to the time difference. Starting a tour the same day you land can mean spending the first day tired, disoriented, and missing out on the experience. What Is Included (and What Isn't) Tour itineraries often use wording like “see” or “visit.” Those two words can mean very different things. See often means you'll drive past the attraction. Visit usually means the group will stop and go inside. Reading the itinerary carefully helps avoid disappointment later. Hotel Locations Some tours stay in city centers, while others stay outside town. Neither is wrong, but the location affects your free time. If you want to explore pubs, shops, or restaurants in the evening, staying in or near the town center makes that much easier. Built-In Free Time Even on a group tour, it's nice to explore on your own. Many itineraries include: Free evenings Independent sightseeing time Opportunities to shop or explore small towns This balance lets travelers enjoy the structure of a tour while still having personal travel moments. What to Pack for a Coach Tour in Ireland Travelers forget things on every tour, but a few items come up again and again. Some essentials to pack include: A washcloth – not all Irish hotels provide them Prescription medications (always in carry-on luggage) Familiar over-the-counter medicine you normally use Earplugs or headphones for comfort on the coach Weather layers and rain protection Ireland's weather can change quickly, even in summer. Packing for rain – no matter the forecast – is always a smart move. Understanding Group Travel Dynamics Coach tours bring together travelers from different places and backgrounds. That's part of the fun, but it also means being mindful of the group. A few simple habits make the experience smoother for everyone: Be on time when the group departs Keep phone calls and music quiet on the coach Pay attention when the guide explains timing and stops Respect shared travel spaces Tours run on schedules, and if one person is late, the entire group may be affected. But the flip side of traveling together is the camaraderie that often develops. By the end of a tour, many travelers have formed friendships, shared photos, and even planned future trips together. Three Places Travelers Wish They Had More Time When tours move quickly, certain destinations leave visitors wishing they could stay longer. These three locations consistently top the list. Kilkenny Often called Ireland's medieval capital, Kilkenny is packed with winding streets, historic buildings, and excellent local shops. Many tours stop for only a short visit to see Kilkenny Castle, but the town rewards travelers who slow down and explore. Things to see and do: Tour Kilkenny Castle Walk the Medieval Mile Visit St. Canice's Cathedral Browse artisan shops and cafés Dingle Located on the spectacular Dingle Peninsula, this colorful harbor town is full of personality. Many tours visit as a quick stop during a scenic drive, but travelers often wish they had more time to enjoy the town itself. Highlights include: Traditional music pubs Boat tours in Dingle Bay The Dingle Distillery Walking along the harbor It's a place where spending the evening, rather than just an hour, can completely change the experience. Kylemore Abbey Set against the dramatic landscape of Connemara, Kylemore Abbey is far more than just a quick photo stop. The estate includes: The Victorian walled gardens Woodland and lakeside walks The Gothic church The abbey itself While some tours allow only a short visit, travelers often say they could easily spend an entire day exploring the grounds. About Clodagh FitzGerald Clodagh is a professional tour guide who leads coach tours across Ireland throughout the travel season. Her experience guiding international travelers offers a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on how group tours operate and how visitors can make the most of them. Clodagh has previously joined the podcast to share her tips for Kinsale and Waterford. The post Group Tours in Ireland: What to Expect and How to Choose the Right Coach Tour appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Being asked to “fix” an underperforming team or leader can be a genuine opportunity – or a glass cliff. Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher break down how to assess high-stakes roles, identify red flags, and determine whether you're being set up to succeed or to take the fall. Essential guidance for ambitious women evaluating career-defining moves.Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on leadership, career progression, and closing the gender gap. Join the Lead to Soar Network at leadtosoar.network or get Michelle's book The Leadership Compass at michelleredfern.com/book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chinese Ambassador to Ireland has confirmed he'll be exploring investment opportunities at the Roche site in Clarecastle. Zhao Xiyaun (Jow Shee-wen) visited Clare for the first time yesterday where he took in the former pharmaceutical plant, Clarecastle GAA Club, Áras Chontae An Chláir and the Cliffs of Moher on his trip. Clare FM's Daragh Dolan was in attendance for the visit at Clarecastle GAA Club where he spoke to Shannon resident and member of the Chinese Association of Ireland Sang Man and Mayor of Clare Paul Murphy, but first asked his excellency Ambassador Zhao about the purpose of his visit.

The Cliffs of Moher is continuing to see a marginal growth in visitor numbers. A new report from the Cliffs of Moher Experience shows just over 1.5 million people visited the tourist attraction last year, with nearly half of the figure hailing from the United States. According to data from the University of Limerick, 29% of visitors stayed at least one night in the county with only 10% staying for at least two. Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor and Clare Tourism Strategic Policy Committee member Joe Garrihy says improvements have to be made.

When I was on my journey of running one mile in all-then 121 Pennsylvania state parks in 2021, I took notes after every run. It was an effort to make sure I would remember my experiences. I'd take notes like, I spotted a fox here. Or I fell there. Or I want to hike the full trail here. But one of the most important pieces of information I recorded was my overall feeling of the park. It's difficult to get a sense of a natural landscape in just one mile, often running half a mile one way and then running half a mile back the same way. But some places just stand out and beg to be explored some more. Here's what I wrote about Trough Creek State Park on March 13, 2021. “Well, this place is incredible. I have to come back.” It only takes a few seconds at Trough Creek to realize it's special. And that it deserves more time to be explored. You even get that sense by just driving through the park. Traveling through the scenic gorge along the Great Trough Creek you see signs for Balanced Rock, Rainbow Falls, Ice Mine, Copperas Rocks, Paradise Furnace Cemetery and the suspension bridge.Your mind can't help but get excited by the idea of what the heck all these things are and how you can go see them. For outdoors people it feels like entering a theme park. What ride do I go on first? And with so many of these wonderful features, you'd expect it to be huge. Some place you'd need a week to explore. But that isn't the case. At less than 600 acres with only 12 miles of hiking trails, you can see most if not all of it in a weekend. But this isn't a one and done sort of park. Once you visit Trough Creek, it sinks its hooks into you. Its trails, its views, it's features beckon you for many more visits. Despite the fact that Trough Creek is more than two hours from me, I've been there multiple times while passing other great state parks along the way. It is just that damn cool. And no matter how many times I've been there, I want to keep going back.And that's about the biggest complement I can give to a state park. On this episode, I speak with Michael Garbinsky. Michael is the environmental education specialist at Trough Creek State Park. Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:Keystone Trails AssociationPurple Lizard MapsPennsylvania Parks and Forests FoundationSisters' SunflowersDiscover Clarion CountyGo Laurel Highlands Support the showSupport the showVisit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected. Hosting, production and editing: Christian AlexandersenMusic: Jon SauerGraphics: Matt Davis

A remarkable discovery has been made right on our doorstep — a fossil of a horseshoe crab dating back more than 300 million years has been found near the Cliffs of Moher. The fossil is the first of its kind recorded in Ireland in over a century. For more on this to explain why this tiny fossil is such a big find, Alan Morrissey was joined by Eamonn Doyle, geologist with the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. Photo (c) Clare County Council

In this episode of 1st Talk Compliance, Kevin Chmura is joined by Robyn Johns, as they discuss recent updates to their November live webinar, Compliance Cliffs: Navigating Telehealth Waivers and Reimbursement Changes. Learn how the policy landscape has shifted in recent months—especially around telehealth flexibilities, controlled substance prescribing, and the 2026 CMS payment rules.   Kevin Chmura Welcome to 1st Talk Compliance. I’m Kevin Chmura, CEO of Panacea Healthcare Solutions. Today we’re bringing you a timely update on our November live webinar, Compliance Cliffs: Navigating Telehealth Waivers and Reimbursement Changes. Since that webinar, several policy changes have moved quickly, especially in telehealth flexibilities. Controlled substance prescribing and 2026 CMS payment rules. Before we jump in, just a quick note. 1st Talk Compliance is brought to you by 1st Healthcare Compliance, a part of Panacea Healthcare Solutions. We help healthcare organizations strengthen their compliance programs with practical education tools and compliance management support. So teams can reduce risk, keep pace with regulatory change and operate with confidence. Now I’m pleased to welcome back Robyn Johns from Med USA. Robyn, thanks for coming back. Robyn Johns Thanks, Kevin. I’m happy to be here. Kevin Chmura  Great. So, let’s jump in. So, in November on the webinar, we spent a lot of time on what people were calling the telehealth cliff, which was creating a tremendous amount of uncertainty on whether flexibilities would expire. Can you catch us up on what the status is now? Robyn Johns  Yeah. The major update is that the spending package released on January 20th includes extensions of the telehealth flexibilities all the way through December 31st of 2027. Kevin Chmura So that’s a pretty meaningful runway. That’s great, but I guess doesn’t eliminate compliance obligations, but it is reducing near-term uncertainty which give everybody some time to standardize workflows. So, it’s in the news, but maybe you could tell. So, what’s in the spending package at a high level and what should healthcare leaders like us be paying attention to? Robyn Johns   Right. So, it was the one from the 20th was a $1.2 trillion spending package released by the House Appropriations Committee and it was just passed yesterday on the 22nd in two separate votes by the full House. So, those bills included the remaining six of the twelve appropriations necessary to avert a government shutdown. So that’s good news for everyone. If we can get them across the finish line, they funded many of the federal government agencies such as HHS, Labor, Defense, HUD, and also Homeland Security. That was a contentious one. That’s why they had to do two separate votes. It funds them through fiscal year 2026, which ends on September 30th of this year. Kevin Chmura  So, OK, so we have a funding package with multiple healthcare policy riders. Not, I guess not too surprising in today’s day and age. So, besides the telehealth through 2027, what else is included in there that compliance and operational leaders should know about? Robyn Johns   So the writers also include PBM reform and it extends hospital at home actually through 2030, which is another one that hit a lot of facilities hard with the government shutdown. It extends Medicare dependent hospital and low volume hospital programs, which is really beneficial for our rural providers and it delays the Medicaid disproportionate share cut again until fiscal year 2028. Notably, for a lot of people, it does not include an extension of the ACA subsidies, which were such a sticking point in the government shutdown last fall. Kevin Chmura  Yeah, that that that last point is operationally really important and coverage instability often turns into eligibility churn and puts real pair mix pressures on the you know same patients, different coverage, right.? And that’s just you know probably increases downstream compliance and documentation stress. Yeah that’s a that’s a tough one. So what’s the timing of congressional action now? Robyn Johns So with the House passing all of the bills, they now send the full appropriations package to the Senate. The Senate will take all of that up when they return from recess on Monday the 26th, and will hopefully pass them all ahead of the January 30th deadline. And hopefully without any significant changes which might require them to go back to the house because the house will be on recess next week. Kevin Chmura  Wow. So split schedule, it’s why we should keep ourselves in a monitoring posture. I guess we should always be monitoring, but things are moving pretty quickly right now and you sort of get into that world of what is expected is not what’s in effect. Which is always, always a tough place to operate, but hey, that’s healthcare, isn’t it? So, given the extension to 2027, in your opinion, what should compliance teams be doing now? Like what’s some practical next steps? Robyn Johns First, you’ll want to make sure that your internal policies and educational materials reflect what’s currently in effect. No major changes since most of those telehealth things were extended, but it’s always good to double check because lots of things change around the beginning of the year. Also validate your payer specific rules. Medicare policy direction is influential, but commercial payers and state laws differ. So, you got to make sure that you are matching up with those differences. And then third, we should we talk about strengthening your auditing of documentation, the modifiers, your place of service, medical necessity, all of those things that can vary depending on the payer and the specific situation of the patient. Kevin Chmura  Yeah, that that payer variation point is where a lot of organizations end up being exposed, I guess, right? Telehealth’s not really governed by one rule. You’ve got federal policy, state overlays, and then you have commercial policy updates really coming at you a number of different ways. So, I guess a good controls to maintain maybe a payer policy matrix and try to align it into your documentation and coding guidance. Probably a solid piece of advice. Robyn Johns   Absolutely. Kevin Chmura   Yeah. So, let’s move on to probably one of the highest risk areas that we covered in the webinar, and that’s controlled substance prescribing via telehealth. What’s the latest there? Robyn Johns   Good news there as well. At the end of the year, DEA and HHS extended the telehealth flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances through this year, December 31st of 2026. There are a few rules that can apply, but because they extended the flexibilities, it’s pretty much status quo until they change it again at the end of the year. Kevin Chmura   Cool, so that’s a critical compliance area because of the high risk profile and it that really includes some regulatory scrutiny and enforcement, not really just a reimbursement issue. Robyn Johns   Yes, it’s highly watched. Kevin Chmura   Yeah. And I guess as well, it should be. So given that, what control should organizations prioritize right now to reduce risk in that area? Robyn Johns  Definitely you’ll want to have clear prescribing policies, good documentation standards, and role-based training. Also, usually they want to include identity verification and required checks when they’re applicable, and consistent auditing to ensure that your process is followed, not just written down. This is another area where state regulations can vary, so you would want to make sure that you are compliant in every state where you see patients. Kevin Chmura   Yes and you’re the expert, not me. But I guess I’d add if you expand health to if you expand the telehealth quickly, take time now to ensure your governance is mature. And I’m thinking credentialing, supervision, documentation and audit trails always the basics that can help you pulled up under scrutiny. Robyn Johns   Definitely. When you expand quickly, sometimes you sacrifice certain things for speed. So, you have a minute now to go back now that you’re sure that those policies aren’t changing anytime soon to just go back and make sure that everything’s in place, all of those areas. Kevin Chmura  Yeah, I mean like any business runs better and with certainty, but at healthcare we rarely have that. So, great. So, moving on to the 2026 CMS updates that that we talked about a little bit. So, there’s been some changes in payment policy that are driving operational changes and it’s where those operational changes come in, where we introduce compliance risks if teams can’t keep pace and often they can’t. So, what are the 2026 physician fee schedule highlights? Robyn Johns   Yeah. So, we talked about these back in November and of course they went into place at the beginning of this year. So, a little bit of good news there with the conversion factor. It included the 2.5% increase that had been mandated by Congress. It also included a .75% increase for clinicians in advanced APMs or a .25% increase for clinicians who participate in MIPS or who are exempt. And then there was also a .49 budget neutrality increase. Kevin Chmura So, so the real impact varies by payer mix, site of service and quality of participation. What about RVU related changes? Robyn Johns   So that’s kind of the devil in the details there. It also implemented a -2.5% efficiency adjustment on certain non-time based services to the physician work RVU and there is also a + or -50% practice expense RVU adjustment for facility based services. So, it’s -50% if it’s facility based services or a +50% for non-facility based services. Kevin Chmura   Wow. So site of service is increasingly strategic and it’s where we see compliance issues often arise, right? You get inconsistent documentation, coding and policy adoptions across different departments and locations. Certainly not easy. Robyn Johns   No. Something you definitely need to watch closely because it is different depending on where you are and what services you’re providing. Kevin Chmura   Yeah. So, one other hotspot or another hotspot that that we often see is incident to. What's going on there? Robyn Johns  So the physician fee schedule in that they updated the definition of direct supervision for incident to billing to permanently allow supervision through real-time audio video communication except for services that have a 10 or a 90-day global surgery period. So, the supervising physician no longer has to be physically present in the office suite, they just have to be immediately available through real time audio video communication. Kevin Chmura   OK, so that’s operationally pretty significant, right? But I guess the compliance take away is relatively simple. If you’re using remote supervision, your incident to workflows must be precise. I guess who supervises, how it’s documented, and where the exceptions apply as precise as you can make all of those, huh? Robyn Johns   Yes, absolutely. Because you are relying on remote supervision, you’ll want to make sure that that is documented very effectively. Kevin Chmura   Yeah, cool. So, what about the OPPS and ASC final rule highlights for 2026? Robyn Johns Yeah. For those that these apply to, there was a 2.6% increase as well in the payment rates. They also expanded hospital price transparency requirements and we’re seeing a lot more attention and probably enforcement in that as well. There was a three-year phase out of the inpatient only list. Site neutral payments were expanded to include Drug Administration Services and the ASC covered procedures list is expanded much in relation to the inpatient only list Phase out. Kevin Chmura Yeah, that that that that’s an interesting one. So the phase out of the inpatient only list is a real operational shift and it’s one of those opportunities for providers to move volume to better cost locations, but really your compliance needs to follow those patients, right and where you’re having them. And so, when your volume moves, audits and education have to move with it, which is probably a challenge and what we know and we at our parent company, at Panacea, price transparency just remains a compliance and reputational priority because failures lead to penalties, but bad data also leads to a lot of scrutiny. So, good that there’s some, you know some guidance there, but it’s clear that those are going to be things that really need to be paid attention to from a compliance perspective. Robyn Johns Yes, for sure. Kevin Chmura So it was hard to watch the news over the last, I don’t know, six to twelve months without talking about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. So, we’ve been tracking it. I know you’ve been tracking it. So, what’s the timing on practice impacts that you expect? Robyn Johns So most of those One Big Beautiful Bill Act Medicaid requirements that are likely to impact practices, they don’t actually begin until January of 2027. So, practices still have some time to continue their assessment and preparation for those. The immigrant eligibility changes do take effect on October 1st of this year, 2026. So that’s a little bit shorter period of time, but you do have a little bit of time to continue to figure out how that may affect your practice if you have a high number of Medicaid patients, and prepare for the ways that you can offset those eligibility changes and payment requirements. Kevin Chmura Yeah, that clarity on the effective dates really can help teams allocate resources correctly and that’s often a challenge especially when you’re tracking proposed rules versus final rules and not sure when things will go into effect. So that’s good. So, as you’re looking out on the landscape in 2026, what are some of your top compliance priorities that you’re advising organizations to focus on? Robyn Johns Yeah, we’re currently focused on probably five or so top priorities for 2026, not in any specific order, but we are watching data privacy and security. Part of that is because HIPAA updates are underway to both the privacy and security rules, though timelines are unclear. We’re not sure when or i f we’ll see any final rules on those, but we do know that healthcare remains a prime target of cyber-attacks, so we have to constantly be vigilant to that and related to that, but also separately, is AI and other emerging technologies. AI is changing the landscape for the types of attacks we receive, but also the way we have to respond to them. It also is changing the landscape of healthcare generally, both in the provider office and at the payers and at the government. Those other emerging technologies like digital tools, those can increase the compliance risk in your environment, and we need to remember that both government and commercial payers are using AI to identify outlier claims faster and increase their auditing. Then we also have the fraud, waste and abuse enforcement. CMS we know has currently been focused a lot on Medicare Advantage, but that scrutiny can shift oversight over to providers as well because that’s where so much of the data that the Medicare Advantage plans use comes from. The OID also continues to focus on telehealth. There are other focuses are drug device and biologics and program integrity areas such as DME, Hospice and Drug Administration. So, want to make sure that you’re watching all of those if you practice there. Fourth one we have is vendor and third-party oversight. Many of the largest breaches that have we’ve seen have originated with third parties. So, organizations really need to make sure that you have careful oversight and maintain good monitoring on your third-party vendors and others who may have access to your systems and data. And finally, we know we’re going to continue to see those rapid regulatory updates. Federal and state changes often conflict. We have lots of states that are currently in their legislative period. So that will bring out some changes. And then in addition to that, commercial payers are tightening their policies and auditing in response to the pressures that are being put on that on them, whether from the government or just from a financial perspective. Kevin Chmura Yeah, it is something the pace of acceleration of some of the advances in technology and how they how they’re going to impact us. But I guess you know that’s really the reality of 2026 and beyond. You’re going to see an uptick in in in speed to policy changes, faster detection, which will be something and probably more third-party exposure as we rely on more and more vendors and others to help us do what we need to do every day, but I’m sure you know the advice I’ve heard you give many times and we have to agree with it. A strong compliance program has to be built to adapt. That means clear governance, repeatable monitoring and targeted auditing tied to the current risk with an eye on the future and where everything’s going. Robyn Johns Yeah, definitely. It’s an exciting time, lots of opportunities for improving our programs and really tightening things up to make sure that we’re protecting ourselves and all the information that we are responsible for. Kevin Chmura Yeah, great. So, Robyn, thank you for the update and for helping our listeners translate policy movement into practical compliance actions. To everyone listening, if you want the full context and deeper discussion, you can access the webinar on demand at 1st Healthcare Compliance’s website. It’s called Compliance Cliffs: Navigating Telehealth Waivers and Reimbursement Changes. Thank you for listening to 1st Talk Compliance and we’ll see you next time. Thanks, Robyn. Robyn Johns Thanks, Kevin.

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet-up at The Cliffs of Insanity to record this week's episode of Hot and Bothered, all about The Princess Bride.This week we discuss frame narratives, parental vs. romantic love, and why literally everyone loves this movie. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Thomas Doherty to talk to us about the legacy of Rob Reiner. ---Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on InstagramIf we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Hannah and Vanessa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clare County Council says it remains in positive and active discussions with landowners along the Cliffs of Moher walking trail, with a view to reopening the entire route. Contractors are currently carrying out remedial works on the northern section of the trail, which has been partially closed since Summer 2024 following two fatal incidents. The local authority has now taken over management of the trail in a caretaker capacity from the Clare Local Development Company as negotiations with local stakeholders continue along the southern trail aswell. Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty is hopeful an agreement will be reached soon.

Eric Trump, son of American president Donald Trump, has said his father intends to build a Trump Tower in Dublin. The president joined Ian this morning to talk about his plans and his planned renovation work on the Cliffs of Moher.

If you've spent any time researching Ireland trips online, you may have noticed a strange pattern: different companies, different websites… and yet the itineraries feel almost identical. There's a reason for that, and it goes back much further than modern travel trends. Why Ireland itineraries follow the same routes Ireland's most familiar travel routes weren't designed with today's vacation style in mind. They were created as efficient ways to move people through the country using the transportation that already existed. In the early 1900s, Ireland didn't yet have a tourism industry as we know it today. What it did have was rail, and soon after, bus travel. By the 1930s, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) began offering some of Ireland's first organized touring routes. These weren't built around lingering in places or slow travel. They were logistical solutions. The main questions were practical: How do you move people efficiently? How do you show them the country using existing infrastructure? How do you make it work for the greatest number of travelers? Those early routes worked remarkably well – and that's part of the problem. How early transport shaped today's “must-see” stops Once those touring routes were established, certain places naturally became regular stops. Not always because they were the only places worth seeing, but because they fit neatly along the route. Take the journey between the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney. Adare sits conveniently along that path, making it an easy place to pause. Over time, it became known as one of Ireland's prettiest villages – a reputation reinforced by decades of repeat visits. Dublin and Galway evolved into touring hubs for similar reasons. They were connected by rail as early as the mid-19th century, later by bus, making them logical anchor points for traveling west and then looping back again. Some places were already well known long before organized tours existed: The Cliffs of Moher had been a beauty spot since the 1830s, when Cornelius O'Brien built his tower and hosted social gatherings on the cliffs. Ladies View in Killarney gained fame after Queen Victoria's 1861 visit, when her ladies-in-waiting admired the sweeping view over the lakes. None of these locations became popular by accident. But once they were woven into early touring routes, they stayed there — reused, repeated, and passed down generation after generation. How those routes shaped what Ireland is “known for” As those early itineraries became the template, they influenced far more than bus tours. The places along those routes became the Ireland that was photographed, written about, and shared around the world. Over time, they shifted from being convenient stops to being seen as the definitive Ireland experience. They became: The “must-see” locations The places travelers felt they had to visit to say they'd really been to Ireland That's why, even today, most visitors still follow the same general framework – the same bones that were laid down nearly a century ago. Seeing Ireland differently without missing the magic That doesn't mean the well-known sights aren't worth visiting. They absolutely are. The Cliffs of Moher, Killarney National Park, Galway, and Dublin are popular for good reason. But after years of traveling Ireland and planning trips for others, one thing becomes clear: there are many places across the country where travelers can have very similar experiences without the crowds, the constant packing and unpacking, or the feeling of racing the clock. The best Ireland vacations usually include a mix: Iconic locations that live up to their reputation Lesser-visited places that offer space, depth, and a more relaxed pace Planning an Ireland trip that feels intentional Rather than starting with “Where does everyone go?”, a more satisfying approach begins with how you want to experience Ireland. That's the idea behind the Ireland Travel Compass — a planning system built around a five-step process that helps travelers design trips that are truly their own. Instead of inheriting an old touring route, the focus shifts to: Smaller regions Less driving Deeper experiences More time actually enjoying where you are The Compass includes a detailed planning map with more than 300 points across Ireland, featuring: Castles you can visit — and castles you can stay in Historic sites and heritage experiences Accommodations, dining, and tour recommendations Activities ranging from history and culture to animal encounters Every recommendation is based on firsthand travel experience and years of working directly with families and independent travelers. It's especially helpful for travelers who don't want to see everything in one trip — and understand that Ireland is best explored over multiple visits. If an Ireland vacation that feels thoughtful instead of rushed sounds appealing, the Ireland Travel Compass offers a way to step outside the inherited routes and create something that fits you. Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 323 The post Why So Many Ireland Itineraries Look the Same (and How to Plan One That Doesn't) appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

Wondering when to book your dream vacation to get the best value? In this episode of All Things Travel, hosts Ryan and Julie break down the real cost differences between peak season and off-season travel—and the savings might surprise you.Travel advisors Ryan and Julie, co-owners of Wonder and Beyond Travel, analyze three popular vacation types to show you exactly how much you can save by adjusting your travel dates. They compare actual pricing for peak versus shoulder season travel, helping you make informed decisions about when to book your next adventure.What You'll Learn:The true definition of peak season, off-season, and shoulder season travelAdvantages and disadvantages of traveling during different times of yearReal price comparisons for three popular vacation stylesHow the academic calendar drives pricing at family destinationsWhy hurricane season affects Caribbean and Alaska cruise pricingTips for maximizing savings on cruises, European tours, and all-inclusive resortsFeatured Destination Comparisons:Alaska Cruise - Celebrity Cruises 7-night Inside Passage (savings up to $1,300+ per couple)Ireland Adventure - 8-9 night guided tour including Dublin, Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher, and more (savings up to $2,000 per couple)All-Inclusive Resort - Sandals Royal Bahamian with club-level perks (savings strategies and hurricane season considerations)Ryan and Julie discuss important trade-offs to consider, including weather conditions, crowd levels, resort refurbishments, and availability of attractions and restaurants during off-peak times. They also share how flexibility with travel dates—especially for all-inclusive vacations—can significantly impact your bottom line.Whether you're planning a cruise, international adventure, or beach getaway, this episode gives you the tools to balance your budget with your vacation priorities and find the perfect time to travel for your family.Support the showLove the podcast? Help us continue to create great travel content by supporting the show. You can do that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1197029/supporters/new Ready to plan your vacation? Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Visit our website www.allthingstravelpodcast.com and click on "Plan Your Next Vacation" Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page and Instagram Page! Please share the show with your travel buddies!! Click this link and share the show! Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!

Fluent Fiction - Catalan: Conquering Cliffs: A Journey of Fear and Inspiration Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2026-01-21-08-38-20-ca Story Transcript:Ca: El dia començava amb un cel clar i un sol brillant sobre la Costa Brava.En: The day began with a clear sky and a bright sun over the Costa Brava.Ca: El mar blau es reflectia en els ulls de la Núria mentre es preparava per a l'excursió.En: The blue sea reflected in Núria's eyes as she prepared for the excursion.Ca: Els penya-segats eren imponents, amagant històries antigues entre les seves roques.En: The cliffs were imposing, hiding ancient stories among their rocks.Ca: L'hivern donava una frescor especial a l'aire, estimulant cada pas que feia la parella.En: Winter gave a special freshness to the air, invigorating every step the couple took.Ca: La Núria era aventurera de mena.En: Núria was adventurous by nature.Ca: Li agradava explorar nous paisatges i trobar inspiració per als seus quadres.En: She loved exploring new landscapes and finding inspiration for her paintings.Ca: Tanmateix, dins seu, hi havia un secret temor: les altures.En: However, within her, there was a secret fear: heights.Ca: En Jordi, el seu amic sempre enèrgic, mai s'havia adonat d'aquesta por.En: Jordi, her ever-energetic friend, had never realized this fear.Ca: Ell caminava al seu costat, ple de confiança, animant-la contínuament.En: He walked beside her, full of confidence, continuously encouraging her.Ca: "Vinga, Núria, aquesta part del camí és preciosa, no t'ho perdis!En: "Come on, Núria, this part of the path is beautiful, don't miss it!"Ca: ", deia Jordi amb entusiasme.En: Jordi would say with enthusiasm.Ca: El camí serpentejava per la costa, revelant vistes espectaculars del mar.En: The path wound its way along the coast, revealing spectacular views of the sea.Ca: Però també es tornava més complicat, amb pendents rocosos i trams estrets que deixaven veure el mar des de vertiginoses altures.En: But it also became more challenging, with rocky slopes and narrow sections that offered dizzying views of the sea below.Ca: La Núria sentia el cor bategar-li fort, però no volia defallir.En: Núria felt her heart beating hard, but she did not want to falter.Ca: La voluntat de superar la seva por i trobar inspiració guiava cada pas.En: The will to overcome her fear and find inspiration guided every step.Ca: "Ara vindrà la part més alta", va avisar Jordi.En: "Now we're coming to the highest part," Jordi warned.Ca: La Núria es va aturar un moment, mirant cap amunt, cap al punt culminant de l'excursió.En: Núria paused for a moment, looking up towards the culminating point of the excursion.Ca: Allà, el camí s'elevava fins a un penya-segat que prometia una vista de somni.En: There, the path rose to a cliff promising a dreamlike view.Ca: L'aire fred li bufava al voltant, i les onades trencaven amb força contra les roques a sota d'ella.En: The cold air blew around her, and the waves crashed forcefully against the rocks below.Ca: Tot i això, va respirar profundament, trobant la valentia en el suport de Jordi i el desig de vèncer la seva por.En: Nevertheless, she took a deep breath, finding courage in Jordi's support and the desire to conquer her fear.Ca: Finalment, van arribar a la part superior.En: Finally, they reached the top.Ca: La vista era impressionant: un horitzó infinit, blaus i verds del mar fusionant-se amb el cel.En: The view was breathtaking: an endless horizon, blues and greens of the sea blending with the sky.Ca: La Núria es va sentir petita al costat d'aquella magnitud, però també poderosa.En: Núria felt small in the face of such magnitude, but also powerful.Ca: "Ho has aconseguit, mira què bonic!En: "You did it, look how beautiful it is!"Ca: ", va exclamar Jordi, sense adonar-se del que significava aquell moment per a la seva amiga.En: Jordi exclaimed, unaware of what this moment meant for his friend.Ca: La Núria va mirar endavant i va fer una passa més, acceptant el paisatge i el seu temor.En: Núria looked ahead and took another step, embracing the landscape and her fear.Ca: El vent li acariciava els cabells, i un sentiment d'alliberament va envair-la.En: The wind caressed her hair, and a feeling of liberation washed over her.Ca: Amb els ulls lluents, va somriure a Jordi.En: With sparkling eyes, she smiled at Jordi.Ca: En aquell moment, en Jordi va entendre.En: In that moment, Jordi understood.Ca: Va veure el que havia aconseguit i el que havia implicat.En: He saw what she had accomplished and what it had entailed.Ca: Li va oferir un suport sincer amb una abraçada i un "Estic molt orgullós de tu".En: He offered her sincere support with a hug and an "I'm so proud of you."Ca: Després de vèncer les altures, la Núria va sentir una nova confiança.En: After conquering the heights, Núria felt a new confidence.Ca: Sabia que podia confiar en si mateixa i en les seves forces.En: She knew she could rely on herself and her strengths.Ca: Aquesta experiència seria l'empenta per a nous projectes artístics, plens de colors i emocions.En: This experience would be the push for new artistic projects, full of colors and emotions.Ca: Quan van tornar a baixar dels penya-segats, la Núria portava amb ella no només inspiració, sinó també la certesa que podia afrontar nous reptes.En: As they descended from the cliffs, Núria carried with her not only inspiration but also the certainty that she could face new challenges.Ca: La Costa Brava quedava enrere, portant una part del seu cor i pintant-lo a l'ànima de la Núria per sempre.En: The Costa Brava remained behind, taking a piece of her heart and painting it onto Núria's soul forever. Vocabulary Words:the sky: el celthe cliff: el penya-segatthe breeze: la brisathe wave: la onadathe path: el camíthe slope: el pendentthe view: la vistathe horizon: l'horitzóthe landscape: el paisatgethe fear: la porthe step: el pasthe magnitude: la magnitudthe inspiration: la inspiracióthe confidence: la confiançathe courage: el coratgethe support: el suportthe joy: l'alegriathe realization: la realitzacióthe enthusiasm: l'entusiasmethe air: l'airethe liberation: l'alliberamentthe certainty: la certesathe challenge: el reptethe project: el projectethe painting: el quadrethe strength: la forçato overcome: superarto explore: explorarto inspire: inspirarto conquer: vèncer

What do you do when following God starts to feel exhausting?In the Land of Blue, we've reached The Gusty Cliffs of Opposition—a place where ridicule, doubt, and resistance threaten to push us back. In Nehemiah 4, God's people face mockery, fear, and internal discouragement while rebuilding the wall. And yet, they keep going.This message explores how Christians can stay emotionally and mentally strong when opposition comes—whether it's criticism from others, internal doubt, or spiritual resistance. Opposition doesn't mean God has abandoned you. Often, it means the work matters.If you've ever felt worn down, questioned your calling, or wondered if it's worth continuing, this sermon is for you.

If you're planning a trip to Ireland in 2026 these tips will make planning smoother, help you avoid crowds, and maybe even save you a bit of money. Probably the most important tips are when NOT to be in Dublin, but there are some updates to European entry & exit systems that you need to know, as well as really important advice for 2027. Jody Halsted – Ireland Family Vacations and the Traveling in Ireland podcast In case you're wondering why you would want to get your Ireland travel advice from me… My name is Jody Halsted, and I am an Ireland travel advisor. I have been traveling to and through Ireland for over 23 years (!!), publish Ireland Family Vacations, host the Traveling in Ireland podcast, assist hundreds of travelers with their Ireland vacations each year and, occasionally, I also host small group tours through Ireland (I have 2 this spring so you can look forward to some live from Ireland episodes in April and May). That's a lot! But Ireland travel is my passion; and my goal -100% – is to help you have an amazing Ireland vacation. And I have quite a few ways to do that. My website, Ireland Family Vacations, is a complete resource for Ireland vacation planning – filled with information on what to do & see as well as handy tips for planning your trip and free itineraries to get your plans in motion quickly. (Don't let the name fool you! I travel through Ireland solo, with my husband, with my family, and hosting small group tours. Whatever your group size or dynamic I am able to assist!) My itinerary personalization, vacation coaching, and custom itinerary creation services help you maximize your Ireland experience, and my small group guided tours are designed to not only deliver the ‘authentic' Ireland of your dreams but also introduce you to the people and hidden places that make the country so very magical. If you love the process of planning your trip the Ireland Travel Compass walks you step-by-step through my expert process, from when to visit and how long the perfect vacation lasts, to what to see, where to stay, and even what to eat. It's basically my entire Ireland vacation planning brain laid out. On a more personal note, I have 2 daughters, now in college, who have been traveling through Ireland with me since before they could toddle and one very supportive husband (who loves it when I plan other people's vacations because it means I'm not planning my own). At Malahide Castle (It's probably time to get new family photos done)By Aoife for Flytographer; Dublin, Ireland. All rights reserved. Now that you know all about me, let's jump into what you need to know as you consider planning an Ireland vacation in 2026! This article is based on Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 320. Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links. 2026 Ireland Travel Tips You Need Ireland Travel Rules & Regulations There are currently no restrictions in place for North Americans traveling to Ireland.Ireland travel restrictions and other requirement are found here. In Case of Cancellation Read and understand cancellation policies on everything from flights and transportation to tours and accommodations before booking. If booking with a credit card be aware of the cancellation coverage you may have with that card. I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance if you book tickets our tours that don't allow 100% refund if cancelled. And always if you are booking a tour package (and not necessarily the one the company offers). 2026 Looks like Another Busy Year from Travel to Ireland from North America Irish tourism numbers showed that tourism from Europe into Ireland was down, but numbers from North America remained steady. From my perspective things are already looking busy, especially in the months of May, late August, and September. (The shoulder season is the new high season.) More Direct Flights to Ireland in 2026 Aer Lingus, Ireland's flagship airline is adding 2 new US routes in 2026, bringing the total to 18 routes from Dublin!This is important because Aer Lingus is considered a ‘budget' carrier. And when budget carriers enter a market, US based airlines will drop rates to compete.

Several of my travel partners rolled out special offers that run well into the new year — and a few stretch all the way through 2026. From tours and tastings to stays and savings, these are the deals worth grabbing while they last.

County Clare is filled with spectacular places to explore, but when I think about the places I've returned to multiple times and the ‘wish list' so many people have for their Ireland vacation, these are my top 3 recommendations: the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, and an evening of live trad music. Together they offer an unforgettable mix of landscape, history, and culture. Top 3 Things to Do in County Clare Whether you're drawn to dramatic landscapes, medieval stories, or the energy of a lively pub session, these three experiences capture the heart of County Clare. They're easy to plan, enjoyable for all ages, and offer a true sense of what makes this county so unforgettable. Bonus: if you are short on time, you can absolutely fit them all into one day. Ireland Family Vacations is programmatic ad-free, supported through partnerships with trusted travel brands I personally work with and recommend. We may earn income from purchases made via affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. ​See why this is important. Cliffs of Moher The Cliffs of Moher are undeniably the number one natural tourism spot in Ireland, often described as a bucket-list destination. Travelers frequently express that seeing the cliffs is essential to feeling like they've truly visited Ireland. The cliffs offer dramatic views that change with the weather and time of day, making each visit unique. For visitors, the Cliffs of Moher provide various ways to explore. The visitor center offers informative exhibits about the history and lore of the site. Adventurous guests can embark on a guided cliff walk with local experts from Ollie's Tours or Pat Sweeney, ensuring a safe and enriching experience. Alternatively, a scenic cruise from Doolin Pier allows visitors to appreciate the cliffs from a different perspective. For the best experience, it's advisable to visit early in the morning (before 10am) or later in the afternoon (after 4pm) to avoid the majority of tour buses. Bunratty Castle Bunratty Castle, the best-preserved tower house in Ireland, presents a fascinating look into medieval life. Fully restored and furnished, the castle is a superb representation of how it would have been used in its heyday. Visitors can explore the castle's dungeons, climb the circular staircases to the battlements, and immerse themselves in its rich history. Adjacent to the castle is the Bunratty Folk Park, which offers a glimpse into traditional Irish life. The park features authentic houses and buildings, creating a living history museum where visitors can witness daily activities as they were centuries ago. For families and history enthusiasts alike, spending at least two and a half hours here is recommended to fully appreciate both the castle and the folk park. Additionally, Bunratty Castle hosts a medieval banquet year-round, making it a delightful culinary experience for those seeking evening entertainment. Reservations are essential, especially for the first seating, which often fills up quickly. Pro Tip: if the first seating is full, book into the second seating then email and request to be added to the wait list for the earlier seating. Often times these are booked by tour operators and seats can become available if the tour isn't completely full. Be sure to follow up as your trip approaches. Live Trad Music While traditional Irish music can be found throughout the country, County Clare is particularly renowned for its vibrant music scene. Doolin, a charming village near the Cliffs of Moher, bills itself as the ‘home of traditional Irish music'. With numerous pubs hosting live sessions and events, visitors are never far from the sound of fiddles and flutes. The Doolin Music House, hosted by Christy Berry, offers an authentic experience where guests can enjoy music alongside stories and camaraderie in a cozy setting. Throughout the year, County Clare hosts various music festivals, ensuring that every visit is filled with melodic moments. Russell Festival (Doolin) – late Feb Corofin trad Fest – late Feb Kilfenora Trad Fest -late April Doolin Folk Fest – mid-June Willy Clancy Summer School – early July Kilrush Trad Music & Dancing Festival – late July Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival – all September (always loads of music!) Planning Your County Clare Visit County Clare offers so much more to see, taste, and experience beyond these top three picks. To help you plan your time in the west, I've created a County Clare Travel Guide with my Top 5 things to do, recomhttps://irelandfamilyvacations.com/ireland-vacation-planning/clare-lodging-attractions/mended tours and places to stay, transport tips, family-friendly suggestions, and practical insights to make your visit easy and enjoyable. Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 312 The post Top 3 County Clare Experiences appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.