Podcasts about Skellig Michael

Martin in Letterkenny is shocked the town's Tourist Office isn't open until June and Christine is disppointed she can't visit Skellig Michael this weekend. Paul and Liam are worried a clampdown on sandwich board and bollard signs could hit their business. More listeners give their stories of suffering hair loss while receiving cancer treatment.

The UNESCO World Heritage site Skellig Michael/Sceilg Mhichíl had been due to reopen for boat visits, but this has been delayed due to legal disputes. Jerry spoke to local councillor Norma Moriarty.

In this episode, Greg Smith dives into Flannery O'Connor's bold claim: “If it's only a symbol, to hell with it.” Reflecting on his own conversion and a pivotal moment on Ireland's Skellig Michael, Greg explores why the reality of Catholic sacraments and aesthetics matters. He critiques three groups—liberal Protestants, evangelicals, and progressive Catholics—who treat the Church's sacred elements like props, stripping them of their truth. A must-listen for anyone wondering if Catholicism is more than just beautiful symbols. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

“Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind.” ~ Winston Churchill Guest Introduction:  Welcome to Exploring the Seasons of Life: Travel Edition! I'm Cindy MacMillan, your host and the owner of Pangea World Travel Agency, a boutique travel agency on the beautiful Space Coast of Florida. Today, as I record this episode on January 16, 2025, I'm thrilled to share details of an incredible group trip you won't want to miss. Let me introduce the 2025 Taste of Scotland & Ireland, a 10-day, 9-night group adventure starting on September 19, 2025. Imagine savoring a whisky tasting, marveling at the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, exploring historic St. Andrews, and enjoying a Medieval Castle Banquet — and that's just the start of this incredible itinerary. This group is perfect for history enthusiasts, culture lovers, scenic explorers and folks who Enjoy meeting new people, engaging with locals, and sharing experiences with a group of like-minded travelers. My guest today is going to walk us through the 2025 Taste of Scotland & Ireland tour with CIE Tours. Here's a glimpse of our conversation:  Now, it's my pleasure to introduce today's guest, Robert Eagles. 2:18  I really felt travel was my passion, so I began looking to get back into the travel industry. I found that CIE Tours had a position open, and the rest is history. 3:28 Founded in 1932, CIE Tours has built a reputation for excellence by delivering signature Irish hospitality. Now, 93 years later, we're proud to still be going strong, sharing the beauty and culture of Ireland with travelers worldwide. 6:21 I would say Paris. In high school, I did a study abroad program in northeastern France, but I only had one day to explore Paris. I've studied French extensively and find French history absolutely fascinating, so Paris holds a special interest for me. 10:25 All of our destinations feature accommodations that are always four-star or higher. Whether it's hotels, manor homes, or even castle stays included on some tours, you can trust that the accommodations will always be of exceptional quality. 11:36 The hotel we're staying at just outside of Edinburgh is called the Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club. It's absolutely stunning, with beautiful gardens to stroll through, a golf course, and a luxurious leisure club with pool and state-of-the-art gym. It's truly an incredible place to stay. 19:33 You'll visit the Skellig Experience, which focuses on Skellig Michael, one of Ireland's two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You'll learn about the early Christian hermits who built and lived in this incredibly remote settlement—a truly fascinating part of Ireland's history. 25:11   Our motor coaches are nothing like the ones you might remember from high school. These are luxury coaches, fully equipped with air conditioning and heating tailored to the season of your visit. A special group departure to Taste of Scotland and Ireland 

A mythical island known as the “other Atlantis,” Skellig Michael where monks once dwelled, and the story of how oysters saved humanity are just a few of the many highlights from today's episode. Marine biologist Stephen Kavanagh gives us an overview of wise traditions in Ireland. Stephen shares the earliest accounts of life in Ireland—from what the people ate to how they embraced art and beauty. In essence, he takes us on a tour of his beloved Ireland.   Check out Stephen's website: marinehealthfoods.com Subscribe to the Weston A. Price Foundation's YouTube channel Check out our sponsors: Gray Toad Tallow and the New Biology Clinic

"St Finian, known as the 'Tutor of the Saints of Ireland,' stands with St Enda of Aran at the head of the patriarchs of Irish monasticism. He showed great zeal and piety for God from his youth. He had already founded three churches before he set off for Wales to study at the feet of St Cadoc at Llancarfan (September 25, †577). In Llancarfan he became close friends with St Gildas (January 29, †570), another of St Cadoc's disciples. Upon his return to Ireland, he founded the great Monastery of Clonard during the same year the great St Enda (March 21, †530) reposed in Aran. A multitude of illustrious and holy men studied under St Finian, including the famous 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland.' St Finian founded many other monasteries during his lifetime, including the famous island monastery of Skellig Michael off the southwest coast of Ireland." (Saint Herman Calendar 2003)

It's How I Live Well time: where we learn how to live a little better from someone who has mastered it!Catherine Merrigan tells Andrea about her unusual living arrangements on Skellig Michael as an Office of Public Works (OPW) guide who safely corrals visitors up the 600 steps to the monastic remains.

From Everest base camp to Skellig Michael, Sarah Slattery, thetravelexpert.ie, had a rundown of all the best adventure holiday destinations and activities.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Coloque em vídeo! Sim, este episódio só faz sentido em vídeo! Sou eu... em Skellig Michael!

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 25, 2024 is: attenuate • uh-TEN-yuh-wayt • verb To attenuate something is to make it weaker or less in amount, effect, or force. // The switch from the clack of typewriters to the quiet tap of computer keyboards greatly attenuated the noise level of the office. See the entry > Examples: “The food sources at sea may well be sometimes subject to human greed, but the puffin colony on the Skelligs is robust, and this natural culling has always been a feature of their lives. Yet here, our lives—the few of us who live here—and those of the birds always overlap. We, too, are utterly insignificant in the grand extent of all things, and we share concerns with the wildlife here. There are interconnections; there is codependence between us, even if it is attenuated—at least in our human minds. And birds keep arriving at our doors.” — Robert L. Harris, Returning Light: Thirty Years on the Island of Skellig Michael, 2023 Did you know? Attenuate ultimately comes from a combining of the Latin prefix ad-, meaning “to” or “toward,” and tenuis, meaning “thin,” a pedigree that is in keeping with the English word's current meanings, which all have to do with literal or metaphorical thinning. The word is most common in technical contexts, where it often implies the reduction or weakening of something by physical or chemical means. You can attenuate wire by drawing it through successively smaller holes, for example, or attenuate gold by hammering it into thin sheets. Current evidence dates the term to the 16th century, in which we find many references to bodily humors in need of being attenuated; modern medicine prefers to use the word in reference to procedures that weaken a pathogen or reduce the severity of a disease.

If you have a desk job, you might envy Mike O'Shea, owner of Work At Height Training. His unique career includes sleeping on Skellig Michael, fending off polar bears, and assisting Tom Cruise with motorbike stunts off cliffs. Is he a safety expert, adventurer, entrepreneur, explorer, logistics specialist, or movie stunt consultant?

I speak about Skellig Michael and Global conflict Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is May the 4th, otherwise celebrated by some as Stars Wars day, which is very popular with a lot of Irish people. The historical and remote Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry has become renowned for screen tourism ever since its popular appearance in the most recent Stars Wars trilogy. Since its appearance in 2015, the old monastic island has been visited by fleets of tourists with lightsabers in hand. Today neighboring village Portmagee plays host to the second annual May the 4th Sci-Fi Film Festival, celebrating the galaxy far, far away. But has the whole thing become a little bit tired? Or is there still an appetite for all things Star Wars? To answer that Anton was joined by Nuri Albakri and Dave Byrne

In dieser Folge nehmen wir dich mit auf eine spannende Reise zum Skellig-Archipel vor der Küste des County Kerry in Irland, das du vielleicht aus den Star Wars Filmen als Luke Skywalkers Versteck kennst.

Die grüne Insel macht seit einigen Jahren auch auf der Leinwand eine gute Figur und wird auch von Filmemachern ob seiner grandiosen Landschaften und spektakulären Aussichten geschätzt. Doch wie kommen eigentlich die wunderbaren Flecken in Kino und Fernsehen? Wir sprechen darüber mit einer Location Scout: Naomi Liston kennt die grüne Insel und vor allem Nordirland wohl wie kaum eine andere Person. Sie ist weitgehend dafür verantwortlich, dass Nordirland in der Erfolgsserie Game of Thrones so vielfach vertreten ist. Sie erzählt, wie man die richtige Location findet und worauf man bei der Auswahl achten muss. Film Locations in IrlandDrehort Irlandhttps://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/themes/ireland-on-screen/ireland-on-screen/Quiz: Drehort Irland https://www.ireland.com/de-de/magazine/ireland-on-screen/ireland-on-screen-quiz/Ireland on Screen https://www.ireland.com/de-de/magazine/ireland-on-screen/movies-of-ireland/Star Wars in Irland https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/themes/ireland-on-screen/star-wars-in-ireland/Game of Throneshttps://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/themes/ireland-on-screen/game-of-thrones/Reise zu Game of Thrones Drehorten https://www.ireland.com/de-de/plan-your-trip/trip-ideas/game-of-thrones/ Game of Thrones Experienceshttps://www.ireland.com/de-de/magazine/ireland-on-screen/game-of-thrones-experiences/Nordirland ist das Land von Game of Throneshttps://www.ireland.com/de-de/magazine/ireland-on-screen/game-of-thrones-locations/Videos:Drehorte in Irland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5NlkIyc4uMStar Wars: Die Letzten Jedi: Hinter den Kulissen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYFzsxfNhWwNicht so weit, weit weg...Irlands Wild Atlantic Way, Drehort von Star Wars: Die letzten Jedi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UySfoZA5jMMVikings in Irland: Ubbe zeigt Tipps und Drehorte https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qME1cviA1eIVikings in Irland: Trovi zeigt ihre Geheimtipps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc_VKf0q8ZcGame of Thrones Autor George R. R. Martin besucht Winterfell in Nordirland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJnMBxmy4qAReiseroute zu den Drehorten von Game of Thrones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hUJUjYG14EGame of Thrones Drehorte und Aktivitäten in Nordirland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwZafSbfpqEArtemis Fowl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GMSCWiQOBE

This week's monument is the monastery on Skellig Michael, built on a tiny island to the southwest of Ireland, which was famously featured in the most recent Star Wars films. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Der Wild Atlantic Way ist mit seinen 2500 Kilometern die längste ausgewiesene Küstenstraße der Welt. Von der  Halbinsel Inishowen im Norden des County Donegals schentlang der irischen Westküste bis ins Küstenstädtchen Kinsale im Süden des County Cork. Irlands Westen verspricht überwältigende Naturschönheit und idyllische Ruhe. Von dieser Landschaft mit ihren Steinmauern, reetgedeckten Cottages, stimmungsvollen Bergen und verlassenen Stränden ließen sich schon Träumer, Landstreicher, Dichter und Maler gleichermaßen inspirieren. Nehmen Sie bei einem Abenteuer am Rande Europas eine Auszeit vom Alltag. Margaret Jenkins kümmert sich vor Ort um die Vermarktung des Abschnitts Galway, Clare, Limerick und kennt die bekannten Attraktionen ebenso wie die Geheimtipps entlang dieser Traumstraße. Links:https://www.ireland.com/de-de/destinations/experiences/wild-atlantic-way/https://www.wild-atlantic-way.de/

A mythical island known as the “other Atlantis,” Skellig Michael where monks once dwelled, and the story of how oysters saved humanity are just a few of the many highlights from today's episode. Marine biologist Stephen Kavanagh gives us an overview of wise traditions in Ireland. Stephen shares the earliest accounts of life in Ireland—from what the people ate to how they embraced art and beauty. In essence, he takes us on a tour of his beloved Ireland.   Check out Stephen's website: marinehealthfoods.com Subscribe to the Weston A. Price Foundation's YouTube channel Check out our sponsors: Gray Toad Tallow and the New Biology Clinic  

From Rathlin in the north to Cape Clear in the south, the islands off the coast of Ireland have long been a source of inspiration and of myth. But they're home to a rich diversity of wildlife too - and a wide range of people. In Inis na nIontas, actor and comedian Ardal O'Hanlon takes us on a fascinating journey, unearthing the history, observing the wildlife and meeting the islanders trying to live sustainably within their extraordinary environment. Inis na nIontas is Ardal O'Hanlon's first Irish-language show. His mother, Teresa, is a native Irish-speaker and, in this series, Ardal fulfils a longstanding ambition to practise and improve his Irish and promote its use to a wider public. Ardal O'Hanlon's first Irish-language show The first episode will be broadcast on TG4 on 10th January at 9.30pm. It focusses on the north, beginning on Rathlin Island, famous for its countless seabirds and, unique to the island, the golden hare. Here, Ardal learns how an astonishing archaeological find has rewritten Irish history, and he tastes some noodles made from kelp, sustainably farmed on the island. From Rathlin, Ardal travels to remote Tory Island off Donegal, where he learns of its musical tradition and its mystical past, and we see how farming practices are being fashioned to encourage the endangered corncrake. Next, Ardal heads to Arranmore, the largest island of the north. Here, he learns how the islanders are encouraging new residents, while on a beautiful, small islet the threatened little tern has found a welcome sanctuary. In the second episode, Ardal continues down the west coast to the Aran islands, where he learns from a practising monk of their ancient Christian heritage while, all around, a remarkable range of flora blooms, encouraged by traditional farming methods. Heading south, Ardal visits the abandoned Great Blasket Island, former home to Irish author Peig Sayers, now home to a thriving seal colony and two young caretakers. On nearby Valentia, Ardal is shown fossilised evidence of early life emerging from the sea. Along the island's coast, Ireland's only vermouth producers forage for ingredients, while in the surrounding waters oyster conservationists are hard at work. The episode ends with a visit to spectacular Skellig Michael, a UNESCO world heritage site made internationally famous in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With Luke Skywalker long gone, the island is home to numerous puffins and the world's most dramatic ancient monastery. In the final episode, Ardal is in the far south, where he discovers beautiful Garnish Island. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Garnish is a paradise filled with gorgeous, lush gardens. It's also a breeding ground for the rare and majestic white-tailed eagle. By kayak, Ardal sees its thriving seal colony, before heading further south to Sherkin Island, where he's at sea once more, being introduced to a playful pod of dolphins. A local historian tells us of the island's piratical past and a resident artist explains why Sherkin has become a painters' paradise. Ardal visits Cape Clear A short hop takes Ardal to Cape Clear, Ireland's southernmost island, where he's taken on a tour in one of the island's electric buses - the only in Ireland. We meet the island's resident ornithologist, who explains the huge importance of the island for migratory birds, and visit a gin distillery that uses foraged kelp. A climactic clifftop view, out across the Atlantic, marks the end to an unforgettable journey. From mighty, windswept cliffs to sub-tropical Edens, the islands of Ireland are extraordinary in their diversity and, for Ardal, the filming has been a revelatory experience. ARDAL O'HANLON - 'It was remarkable for me to witness the extraordinary diversity of our islands and to meet such a range of astonishing people. As an Irishman, I'd obviously heard of a lot of these places, but I was quite taken aback by visiting and seeing for myself. I was genuinely moved. We have some of the most breathtaking scene...

Seán Boylan, the legendary Meath manager, celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday and attributes his well-being, in part, to what he says are the healing properties of plants. Seán, who’s also a renowned herbalist, spoke to Jerry about parsley-piert. He says this herb has been native to Skellig Michael/Sceilg Mhichíl since the 10th century.

"St Finian, known as the 'Tutor of the Saints of Ireland,' stands with St Enda of Aran at the head of the patriarchs of Irish monasticism. He showed great zeal and piety for God from his youth. He had already founded three churches before he set off for Wales to study at the feet of St Cadoc at Llancarfan (September 25, †577). In Llancarfan he became close friends with St Gildas (January 29, †570), another of St Cadoc's disciples. Upon his return to Ireland, he founded the great Monastery of Clonard during the same year the great St Enda (March 21, †530) reposed in Aran. A multitude of illustrious and holy men studied under St Finian, including the famous 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland.' St Finian founded many other monasteries during his lifetime, including the famous island monastery of Skellig Michael off the southwest coast of Ireland." (Saint Herman Calendar 2003)

"St Finian, known as the 'Tutor of the Saints of Ireland,' stands with St Enda of Aran at the head of the patriarchs of Irish monasticism. He showed great zeal and piety for God from his youth. He had already founded three churches before he set off for Wales to study at the feet of St Cadoc at Llancarfan (September 25, †577). In Llancarfan he became close friends with St Gildas (January 29, †570), another of St Cadoc's disciples. Upon his return to Ireland, he founded the great Monastery of Clonard during the same year the great St Enda (March 21, †530) reposed in Aran. A multitude of illustrious and holy men studied under St Finian, including the famous 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland.' St Finian founded many other monasteries during his lifetime, including the famous island monastery of Skellig Michael off the southwest coast of Ireland." (Saint Herman Calendar 2003)

Den tidiga medeltiden ligger mer än ett millennium bakom oss, och för många nutidsmänniskor är det en svårgripbar era, men än idag finns det gott om museer och platser där vi kan komma epoken nära. Oavsett om vi håller oss till Sverige eller om vi söker oss mot kontinenten eller brittiska öarna är det lättare än vi tror att komma perioden mellan romarrikets fall och vikingatiden in på livet. I detta highlights-avsnitt rör vi oss från Hagia Sofia och Yerebatan Saray i Istanbul över de mosaikklädda kyrkorna i italienska Ravenna och de visigotiska votivkronorna i Spanien till fascinerande platser i Nordeuropa, som irländska Skellig Michael, Björketorpsmonumentet i Blekinge och bildstenshallen i Gotlands museum. Vi bekantar oss med intakta verktygslådor från södra Norrland, en Buddhaskulptur från Helgö i Mälardalen, den karolingiska klosterporten i tyska Lorsch, Sutton Hoo-fynden från England och de undersköna bokilluminationer som kan beskådas i montrar i Dublin och London.I detta avsnitt av podden Harrisons dramatiska historia samtalar Dick Harrison, professor i historia vid Lunds universitet, och fackboksförfattaren Katarina Harrison Lindbergh om lämningar efter tidig medeltid och järnålder i dagens Europa, med djupdykningar om många föremål och platser.Bild: Yerebatan saray, eller Basilikacisternen, efter restaurering. Fotografi av Kurmanbek (2022). Wikipedia, Public Domain. Klippare: Aron SchuurmanProducent: Urban Lindstedt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Die Insel Irland zählt über 30.000 Burgen, Schlösser  und Abteien – unmöglich sie alle zu besuchen. Die meisten von ihnen sind mittlerweile Ruinen, und doch erzählen sie die irische Geschichte besonders anschaulich. Wir stellen einige der schönsten und interessantesten Burgen, Schlösser und Abteien Irlands vor und erklären, warum die meisten von ihnen auf Erhöhungen im Landesinneren stehen. Gemeinsam mit Bartle D'Arcey begeben wir uns auf eine Reise in die irische Vergangenheit. Links:https://www.ireland.com/de-de/magazine/built-heritage/unmissable-castles/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/trim-castle/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/glendalough/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/wicklow-mountains-national-park/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/destinations/regions/skellig-islands/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/clonmacnoise/https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/kells-priory/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/king-johns-castle/ Weitere Links:https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/blarney-castle-blarney-stone/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/kylemore-abbey/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/slane-castle/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/dunluce-castle/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/bunratty-castle-and-folk-park/https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/castle-wardhttps://www.ireland.com/de-de/things-to-do/attractions/kilkenny-castle/ Castles zum Übernachten:https://belleekcastle.com/https://ashfordcastle.com/https://www.dromoland.ie/https://www.clontarfcastle.ie/https://www.castleleslie.com/https://belle-isle.com/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/magazine/accommodation/six-luxury-castle-stays/https://www.ireland.com/de-de/plan-your-trip/accommodation/castles-in-ireland/ Video:https://www.youtube.com/@entdeckeirland/videos

Robert L. Harris, author of "Returning Light: 30 Years on the Island of Skellig Michael."

Join Laureate for Irish Fiction Colm Tóibín in conversation with Emma Donoghue on her fourteenth novel Haven “Haven, Emma Donoghue's fourteenth novel, is set on Skellig Michael in the year 600 when three Irishmen decide to establish a monastery on this extraordinary piece of bare rock. The Chicago Review of Books has written: ‘In classic Donoghue narrative style, it all unfolds in a confined space under cramped conditions ... convincingly conveyed by Donoghue's raw descriptions and her exceptional skill with emotionally authentic dialogue.” — Colm Tóibín Born in Dublin in 1969, Emma Donoghue is an award-winning writer living in Canada. Her latest novel Haven, is about the monks who landed on Skellig Michael in the seventh century. She was nominated for an Academy Award and a Bafta for her adaptation of her Booker-shortlisted international bestseller Room, and her theatrical adaptation with songs by Cora Bissett and Kathryn Joseph (which premiered at the Abbey) will open on Broadway this April. She co-wrote the 2022 film of her novel The Wonder, Netflix UK's first feature shot in Ireland. Some of her other novels are The Pull of the Stars, Akin, Frog Music, The Sealed Letter, Life Mask and Slammerkin, as well as The Lotterys Plus One and The Lotterys More or Less for younger readers.

Mindie Burgoyne is a travel writer, blogger, author, tour operator, and speaker. Her focus is spiritual travel to mystical, magical places that stir the mind, body, and spirit. Her tour company has three subsidiaries - Chesapeake Ghost Tours, a trail of eleven regional ghost walks on the Eastern Shore of Maryland; Thin Places Mystical Tours, for annual spiritual tours and travel services to mystical/sacred sites in Ireland; and Travel Hag Adventures, a travel club for girlfriends.Mindie has written six books on regional travel and her writings and photographs have been featured in the Baltimore Sun, CBS News, National Geographic Television Network, the Today Show, Maryland Life Magazine, What's Up Eastern Shore, the National Catholic Reporter, Guideposts, the Vancouver Sun, Metropolitan Magazine and Notre Dame Magazine as well as numerous business and travel websites. Mindie currently runs four blog sites, three focusing on travel and one on opinion.https://thinplacestour.com/https://chesapeakeghosts.com/

In todays MM, lets go back in history and hang out with the Great Augustine of Hippo in the year 430 A.D.To help us with our trip, our guide and author for today will be Thomas Cahill and his excellent book, How the Irish Saved CivilizationKey Points from the Episode:Who is this people called the Irish?The importance of Irish Monasticism and the importance of their scribes.Skellig Michael, a fascinating place for the monks to settle in the 6th century.Other resources: More goodnessGet our top book recommendations listWant to leave a review? Click here, and if we earned a five-star review from you **high five and knuckle bumps**, we appreciate it greatly, thank you so much!Because we care what you think about what we think and our website, please email David@teammojoacademy.com, or if you want to leave us a quick FREE, painless voicemail, we would appreciate that as well.Be sure to check out our very affordable Academy Review membership program at http:www.teammojoacademy.com/support

The views of and from Skellig Michael on a clear day are breath-taking, and naturally it's a big tourism draw to that part of Kerry. Featuring in one of the more recent Star Wars movies has helped. Or has it? Rosalyn Dee is a travel writer with the Irish Independent, and she's been writing today about the double edged sword of being listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, and asking if over-tourism is doing more damage than good.

The views of and from Skellig Michael on a clear day are breath-taking, and naturally it's a big tourism draw to that part of Kerry. Featuring in one of the more recent Star Wars movies has helped. Or has it? Rosalyn Dee is a travel writer with the Irish Independent, and she's been writing today about the double edged sword of being listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, and asking if over-tourism is doing more damage than good.

"St Finian, known as the 'Tutor of the Saints of Ireland,' stands with St Enda of Aran at the head of the patriarchs of Irish monasticism. He showed great zeal and piety for God from his youth. He had already founded three churches before he set off for Wales to study at the feet of St Cadoc at Llancarfan (September 25, †577). In Llancarfan he became close friends with St Gildas (January 29, †570), another of St Cadoc's disciples. Upon his return to Ireland, he founded the great Monastery of Clonard during the same year the great St Enda (March 21, †530) reposed in Aran. A multitude of illustrious and holy men studied under St Finian, including the famous 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland.' St Finian founded many other monasteries during his lifetime, including the famous island monastery of Skellig Michael off the southwest coast of Ireland." (Saint Herman Calendar 2003)

"St Finian, known as the 'Tutor of the Saints of Ireland,' stands with St Enda of Aran at the head of the patriarchs of Irish monasticism. He showed great zeal and piety for God from his youth. He had already founded three churches before he set off for Wales to study at the feet of St Cadoc at Llancarfan (September 25, †577). In Llancarfan he became close friends with St Gildas (January 29, †570), another of St Cadoc's disciples. Upon his return to Ireland, he founded the great Monastery of Clonard during the same year the great St Enda (March 21, †530) reposed in Aran. A multitude of illustrious and holy men studied under St Finian, including the famous 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland.' St Finian founded many other monasteries during his lifetime, including the famous island monastery of Skellig Michael off the southwest coast of Ireland." (Saint Herman Calendar 2003)

Featured in Forbes, USA Today, CNN, and more, Kevan Chandler inspired a movement of people helping people, all starting with a backpacking trip to Europe in 2016. Born with spinal muscular atrophy, Kevan's adventures on the backs of his friends have taken him to the English countryside, Ireland's Skellig Michael, and even the Great Wall of China. As the founder of the nonprofit We Carry Kevan, Kevan continues his mission to redefine accessibility as a cooperative effort between the disabled and able-bodied communities. Guest Information: Instagram: @wecarrykevan Twitter: @wecarrykevan Youtube: wecarrykevan Facebook: wecarrykevan Follow @thevogeltwins for updates on the podcast, tips on travel and more! Instagram Tiktok Pinterest Facebook Youtube Like the show? Please leave us a review here! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thevogeltwinspodcast/support

An economist compares the challenges facing the health service to ‘'climbing Skellig Michael''. Speaking to Pat this morning was Brian Turner Economist and lecturer at Cork University Business School.

Where are we going on the next Celtic Invasion Vacation? Listen and also enjoy some music related to the invasion. Plus, you'll learn what you can expect to experience when you join an invasion. It's Pub Songs & Stories #258 WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. This is the audio liner notes for the songs I record and play. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast and my music, please join the Club. You'll get 2-3 podcasts per month. You'll be able to download songs featured in this show, get sheet music, and access to Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. You get a lot for as little as $5 per month. And you can save 15% with an annual membership. Thanks to my newest Gunn Runners on Patreon: Cecilia F 1:01 - WHAT'S NEW? This is a bonus episode. I finally settled on where to go for the next Celtic Invasion Vacation in 2023. I looked at Galicia in Spain, the Wicklow Mountains, south of Dublin, Ireland, and Westport in County Mayo, Ireland. And the winner is… Westport in County Mayo. I don't yet have details about the trip. Nor have I opened it up to the public. I'm gonna spend the next month working those out. But there are few things I want to explore while we are there. First, County Mayo was the home of Grace O'Malley. She was known as the Pirate Queen of Ireland. A quick search revealed that there are not many records of her. However, there are some letters that were exchanged with Queen Elizabeth I, which show a mutual admiration of each other, two strong women in a time of men. I'm gonna research a bit about the Pirate Queen and see what we can find. And to give you a small taste, The Gothard Sisters have a song inspired by Grainne, as she is often called. 2:15 - “Grace O'Malley” by The Gothard Sisters from Mountain Rose 5:49 - MORE ON TRAVEL One of my regular invaders, Jim, once said that what he enjoyed about our trips is that there are frequently different types of travel that we do. Meaning we might take a boat or train, instead of a car. So I'm always looking out for something cool like that for at least one day. Happily, Clare Island is nearby. I honestly know very little about Clare Island. Although, it sounds like Gracy O'Malley spent some time there as well. What I do know about it is that The Saw Doctors have a fantastic song called “Clare Island”. It makes me excited to see it. That's what I have so far. 6:31 - UPCOMING SHOWS SEP 28-OCT 2: ALEP, Shakertown, KY with Brobdingnagian Bards OCT 8: Ironshield Brewing, Lawrenceville, GA @ 7:00 – 10:00 PM. OCT 14-16: MultiVerse, Atlanta, GA NOV 4-6: Conjuration, Atlanta, GA I'm gonna share a replay from the Celtfather Unkilted podcast. I noticed after publishing that episode last month that there is one thing that is a bit off at present. That is the requirement of a vaccination card. I am not requiring that at present though the sentiment is still valid. These trips are small and your fellow invaders should be treated like family. Meaning I do expect that you will get vaccinated as needed to protect your family. 7:54 - WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT ON A CELTIC INVASION VACATION? If you go to the website you won't find much information. I usually list the itinerary when it becomes available but that can be January or March before the trip. You will find podcasts and links to pictures and videos. I don't know that any of it really paints a good picture. So I thought I would try to break down how these trips work to help you decide if you want to join me in the future. Celtic Invasion Vacations are not your typical travel tour experience. Most tourists travel on big buses. They go place to place. You stay up late. You get up early. There's 30, 60 or even 90 people packed on one to three tour buses. If you're like me, that sounds pretty miserable. My first two trips were on tour buses. Everyone was a fan of my music. So that was pretty awesome. The bus drivers were awesome too. But that's a lot of people for an introvert like me. I don't know how much of the fatigue was from so many people or the staying up late/getting-up-early business. But it's not my preferred way of traveling. I like small groups. My mom moved to Italy in 1985. So I've gone back-and-forth to Europe for a long time. My mom is an awesome adventurer. I went to school on an American military base in Vicenza, Italy for my senior year of high school. While all the other high school seniors went to Remini to get drunk, my mom and I went on in artistic pilgrimage following the works of Piero Della Francesca. She instilled in me the value of planning as well as spontaneity. You see that in my Celtic Invasion Vacations itinerary. When I finally make one that is. Typically, I don't have a full itinerary when I announce the latest trip. I have… ideas. In fact, I usually have one big idea. Then I find a way to make it work. One person told me he was disappointed when my trip to the Highlands of Scotland a few years back did not also include the Isle of Skye, like it was initially listed on the early itinerary. That was because I had a big idea. But when I finally settled on details, I realized it was impractical. I learned from that error. If I make any big changes to what was planned, you are welcome to back out. I don't usually settle on solid itineraries until December or January. I just don't have enough details to make a solid decision. That might make some people uncomfortable, especially when you're putting down nearly $3000, plus air travel, to join me. The adventure is worth it! The great thing about traveling on the Celtic Invasion Vacation in my opinion is that it is a small group. That means maximum flexibility for adventure. So let's answer some questions. 11:08 - WHEN ARE THE CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS? This can always vary. But typically I run my trips in late May or early June. This seems to be the best time to travel to Ireland and Scotland. People talk about rain in Ireland. June seems to invariably have one of the lightest rain falls ever. It's just... perfect! 11:28 - HOW LONG IS EACH TRIP? Celtic Invasion Vacations are about seven days long. The trips are officially scheduled from Saturday to Saturday. That's because that's how long most vacation rentals book. But I'm not going to be taking you to seven hotels in seven days. We stay in one place most of the week. If the vacation rental is more than a couple hours from the airport or there's something cool to see closer, we may stay in a hotel near the airport on the last night of the Invasion. It just depends on how soon everyone on the trip has booked their departure. 12:00 - WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE? I usually ask Invaders to arrive the day before the trip. That way you can recover from jet lag and adjust to the time change. But that also allows us to leave first thing in the morning on Saturday to drive to our vacation rental. While it is recommended, it is not required. As long as you arrive by 11 am on Saturday, we will adjust. You are also responsible for the hotel on Friday night. But you might find a roommate with other Invaders. 12:39 - WHEN SHOULD I DEPART? Again, it's up to you. I prefer you to set your departure after noon on Saturday. You can stay as long as you want. I usually leave on Sunday after the trip is over. 12:50 - HOW DO YOU SELECT THE DESTINATIONS? Destinations are chosen by invaders and of course me. I usually have an idea of a place I want to see. I look for a suitable vacation spot. But sometimes I ask for suggestions from Invaders. Our trip to Brittany and Cornwall were both chosen because some regular Invaders wanted to visit all seven Celtic nations. Of course, I get the final say. And if I can't get enough people to attend one of these more remote spots, I may make adjustments. Once we settle on a big destination, the next step is figuring out the generalized itinerary. 13:23 - IS THERE DOWNTIME? Yes. This is not an intense, constantly moving tour. Celtic Invasion Vacations are about relaxation, adventure, and fun. But how much can be up to you. There's usually at least one day where we are near to the cottage and take it easy. We explore the local town. Wednesday's have the option of a little extra downtime for those who need it. 13:49 - HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE ITINERARY? You can't make an itinerary until you know where you are going, right? Well, the challenge for me is that I need to know the exact place we are staying to figure out where our itinerary will go. My next step then is to start researching vacation rentals. I look for rentals in our destination area that hold between 8-12 people (sometimes more). I want it to look nice, comfortable and easily accessible. In fact, I want the majority of the cool stuff that we will explore to be within 30 minutes of where we are staying. Once I know the exact location, I can plan the itinerary. 14:23 - WHAT DOES A TYPICAL ITINERARY LOOK LIKE? The first day of the trip involves driving to our destination. We need at least one interesting place to stop along the way. Maybe two if you include lunch. When we arrive, we need groceries. I confess, there's something extra fun about going to a grocery store in Europe. Some of our Invaders join me for a shopping experience as we load up on breakfast and a couple dinners. I make dinner the first night, typically my secret pasta recipe. That evening is usually concluded with a little music by me. The second day is usually a good day to stay local. So we explore one or two of the cool things nearby. We try to spend time out of the car, walking around. It's good to stretch our legs after traveling. On either the second or the third day, I like to bring in a tour guide, if possible. My trips are not geared around "tours", but local guides are great for adding a little bit of history, culture, and legends to the experience. Guides are also good at giving us a local perspective of things we should check out that are not necessarily on our itinerary. In Brittany, we found some cool cairns that were not on our original itinerary. In Cornwall, we got an overview of Tintagel and found some standing stones I would've never found. In Wales, Gwilym Morus shared the incredible legends of Merlin and introduced us to an eco-resort, hidden in the mountains. In Donegal, we found some great restaurants and a former passage tomb. Around day three, we're ready for a different travel experience. That's when I try to get us out on the water or on a train. Something to shake up the feel of the trip. Day four is the midweek break. Again we stay local. Some choose to relax in our cottage. Others explore something new that's local. Day five usually takes us on a long adventure. We'll get in the van and drive further to see something outside of our main region. This gives us a nice look at other regions nearby. It also adds to the fun adventure. Day six is intentionally left open. We usually find something cool by this time that we might not have realized before the trip began. Or perhaps a guide or a local we met had a recommendation. That's when we take the advice of others to explore something different The final day is usually spent fairly local. It's time for last minute exploration of our area. Sometimes we pack up and make our way back  towards the airport. One or two bonus destinations end up on the final day. 17:17 - WHAT MAKES A CELTIC INVASION VACATION DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TOURS? I like to stress that Celtic Invasion Vacations are not tours. They are vacations. I want my Invaders to feel relaxed and happy by the end of the trip. Not exhausted, like I was on my first two trips to Ireland. You should be energized and excited for the next Celtic Invasion experience. 17:36 - HOW MANY PEOPLE JOIN THE INVASION? The number can vary. But I usually aim for between 8-12 invaders. Too many people and I start having trouble finding restaurants to eat at. 17:55 - WHAT PERSONAL PAPERS ARE NEEDED FOR TRAVELING ON A CELTIC INVASION VACATION? You DO need a passport. It's usually good to get your passport at least 90 days out. I would suggest applying for one a minimum of six months before you depart. But there are some expedited services that can get them sooner. Just plan ahead. You do NOT need a visa. You don't need an international drivers license either. In fact, your regular driver's license is fine if you plan to drive in Europe with any car company. Make sure you bring that at the very least. But of course, driving on the Invasion is usually done by me. Since the pandemic, you will need a vaccination card. Invasions are like family vacations. We want to take care of our fellow invaders. So your COVID vaccination card is essential for my trip and a lot of European travel. 18:45 - HOW MUCH DO CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS COST? That varies year to year. It starts at about $2800 for the land part of the trip, for each person on the trip. It does not cover the cost of air travel. You handle your own airline tickets. Your fee covers your housing for a full week. That's for a shared room, either a double if you're a couple or two singles. Depending on our housing, it may cost extra to get a single room to yourself. Your fee covers a breakfast every day and dinner at least five times. Often I cover more than that. Sometimes it works well to make lunches if we're not planning to be near restaurants. So I happily pay for lunch supplies if we need them. But in general, you are responsible for your own lunch. You can have what you like for breakfast each morning. Some days we have a full breakfast with eggs, bacon, yogurt, fruit, cheese, or whatever you want. Grocery shopping usually happens on the first day. So whatever you need, we can probably find it. Other days, if we want to get going early, then we will have a Continental Breakfast with just breads, cheese, yogurt or fruit. And yes, there's coffee. Every morning. And tea too. I need my coffee! I cook dinner at least 2 days during the week. We have my world famous secret pasta meal. And then there's the Celtic Invasion specialty... Prince Charlie... Secret. It's a recipe we picked up years ago and is now a tradition on the Invasions. There may be more than two meals. But of course, we like to eat out too. The toughest thing about dining on the Celtic Invasions is finding a place to eat. If the group is under nine people. That's usually not too difficult. But if we have more than that, it can be a challenge. I plan ahead for that. Because who doesn't like to eat out in Europe!?!?! I consider that a big part of the experience. 20:38 - IS THERE MUSIC? At least twice a week, we spend the evening relaxing at our cottage with dinner... and music. I am, of course, host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. But I'm also a musician. I play Celtic music with a sci fi drinking song twist. I call it Sci F'Irish music. You can hear my music through my website at celtfather.net. I plan to play for at least an hour. But a lot of it depends on you and how excited you are to hear some music. If we're really lucky, you might bring an instrument too. Then we can have an Irish session with songs and tunes afterward. And if we're really fortunate, I will find a musician or bring in a musician to come play for us. That's frequently difficult to pull off.  But when it happens. It's absolutely amazing! 21:27 - WHEN DOES OUR DAY BEGIN AND END? Breakfast is usually around 7:30 or 8 AM with a departure time of 8:30-9 AM. We don't usually do too much in the evening. Since Irish sessions usually don't begin until 9 PM, it's not something we usually attend outside of our cottage. But if it's something you want to do, we might be able to make it happen. 22:29 - HOW OLD IS TOO OLD? HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG? I have had people ages 18 on into their 70s on my Celtic Invasion Vacations. I'd say the vast majority are in their 40s, 50s and 60s. But I don't really think much about it because I adjust each trip to who's on it. In 2019, the younger group hiked up Skellig Michael while the less physically able landed on the Greater Blaskett Island by boat. The physically active walk, hike and run ahead if they so desire. Those who aren't, take it at their own speed. The Isle of Skye was one of the few places we went where it was better to be physically active. There's a lot of hiking on that island. But ye know, I don't think anyone's vacation fun was hindered by their physical activity. As for younger folks, I typically don't prefer to have young kids on the trip. I know the challenges associated with that. But I'm willing to consider it as long as the you feel the kids are up to getting up and going. One lady asked about a teenager. I think I might be open to a teenager who is a bit more independent but still willing to follow the rules. 23:48 - HOW DO WE TRAVEL? Typically we travel in a van. These are usually large nine-seaters with lots of luggage space. Sometimes we will add a second van or a car to carry extra Invaders. Speaking of luggage, we do have limited space. I find one suitcase per person is plenty, plus a carry on. You typically don't need more. There's usually laundry facilities too. So you can always wash something extra. There's a whole bunch of videos on YouTube where you can learn how to travel light. If you truly need an extra suitcase, that's fine. But your experience is so much better when you travel light. 24:32 - HOW DO YOU SIGN UP? The first step is for me to open up the Invasion to the public. You see, former Invaders get first dibs. Once it's public, here's what you do. First, email an application form to me. Second, send me a check for your deposit. That reserves your spot on the Invasion within 2 weeks of emailing your application form. Finally, just send me your final payment before the deadline and you're golden. Speaking of your final payment, you are welcome to break it up into multiple payments if you don't want to or can't pay all at once. I'm happy to work with you to make the trip happen. 25:05 - HOW DO I CANCEL IF I NEED TO? First off, there is a $400 non-refundable deposit. Though there is a caveat for the "non-refundable" part. If I change the dates, you can get a refund. If you can find someone to take your spot, or someone willing takes your spot, then you can get a refund. However, if you are sick and turned away by an airline or country, I can't offer a refund. Typically, 30-60 days before the trip, once I start paying for things, like our housing, vans, tour guides, whatever, I can no longer offer a refund. That usually starts about the time of the Celtic Invasion deadline. I'm not a corporation though. So there may be flexibility. My goal here is to have people "sign up" and then not drop a month later as happened on my very first Celtic Invasion. If you wanna go, make a commitment with a non-refundable deposit. 25:54 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS – CLOSING REMARKS All in all, Celtic Invasion Vacations are about happily experiencing the fun culture, history, and legends of one small but magical location. I hope you'll consider joining me on the next Celtic Invasion Vacation. Sign up at CelticInvasion.com so you don't miss out on this incredible adventure! And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. 26:20 - STAR OF COUNTY DOWN PLACEHOLDER Let's finish up with a recording of “Star of the County Down”. This was released on show #255 ConJuration: From Ren Fest to Sci Fi Conventions. You can download this song as an MP3 when you join my Gunn Runners on Patreon. 26:45 - “Star of the County Down” by Marc Gunn also from How America Saved Irish Music 30:24 - CLOSING What are you doing while listening to Pub Stories? I'd love your thoughts and feedback. So take a picture of yourself or where you are or what one of these stories reminds you of. Post it on social media. Use the hashtag #pubstories so I can find it and share your story. Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. The show was produced by Marc Gunn, edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the regular show wherever you find podcasts. You can also subscribe to my mailing list. You will get regular updates of new music, podcasts, special offers, and you'll enjoy more stories behind several of my most-popular songs. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #countymayo #thegothardsisters

Kate Heartfield sits down with acclaimed bestseller Emma Donoghue to discuss her latest move, Haven. Around the year 600, three men vow to leave the world behind and set out in a small boat for an island their leader has seen in a dream, with only faith to guide them. In seventh-century Ireland, a scholar priest named Artt has a dream in which God tells him to leave the sinful world behind. With two monks—young Trian and old Cormac—he rows down the River Shannon in search of an isolated spot in which to found a monastery. Drifting out into the Atlantic, the three men find the impossibly steep, bare island known today as Skellig Michael. In such a place, what will survival mean? Books are available from our friends at Perfect Books. The Ottawa International Writers Festival is supported by generous individuals like you. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter and making a donation to support our programming and children's literacy initiatives.

This is the first in a series of podcasts on life as it was on the islands off the west coast of Ireland.Featured in this podcast are:Beginish Island in Valentia Harbour in Co. Kerry with the legendary Gaelic Footballer Mick O'Connell.Illauntannig, one of the Seven Hogs which lie between Brandon Point and Kerry Head with boat-builder Bog Goodwin.Skellig Michael or The Great Skellig, west of the Iveragh Peninsula, with archaeologist Michael Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrate Celtic culture and music through travel. I'm gonna tell you what you can expect on my Celtic Invasion Vacations? If you go to the website you won't find much information. I usually list the itinerary when it becomes available but that can be January or March before the trip. You will find podcasts and links to pictures and videos. I don't know that any of it really paints a good picture. So I thought I would try to break down how these trips work to help you decide if you want to join me in the future. Celtic Invasion Vacations are not your typical travel tour experience. Most tourists travel on big buses. They go place to place. You stay up late. You get up early. There's 30, 60 or even 90 people packed on one to three tour buses. If you're like me, that sounds pretty miserable. My first two trips were on tour buses. Everyone was a fan of my music. So that was pretty awesome. The bus drivers were awesome too. But that's a lot of people for an introvert like me. I don't know how much of the fatigue was from so many people or the staying up late/getting-up-early business. But it's not my preferred way of traveling. I like small groups. My mom moved to Italy in 1985. So I've gone back-and-forth to Europe for a long time. My mom is an awesome adventurer. I went to school on an American military base in Vicenza, Italy for my senior year of high school. While all the other high school seniors went to Remini to get drunk, my mom and I went on in artistic pilgrimage following the works of Piero Della Francesca. She instilled in me the value of planning as well as spontaneity. You see that in my Celtic Invasion Vacations itinerary. When I finally make one that is. Typically, I don't have a full itinerary when I announce the latest trip. I have… ideas. In fact, I usually have one big idea. Then I find a way to make it work. One person told me he was disappointed when my trip to the Highlands of Scotland a few years back did not also include the Isle of Skye, like it was initially listed on the early itinerary. That was because I had a big idea. But when I finally settled on details, I realized it was impractical. I learned from that error. If I make any big changes to what was planned, you are welcome to back out. I don't usually settle on solid itineraries until December or January. I just don't have enough details to make a solid decision. That might make some people uncomfortable, especially when you're putting down nearly $3000, plus air travel, to join me. The adventure is worth it! The great thing about traveling on the Celtic Invasion Vacation in my opinion is that it is a small group. That means maximum flexibility for adventure. So let's answer some questions. 3:11 - WHEN ARE THE CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS? This can always vary. But typically I run my trips in late May or early June. This seems to be the best time to travel to Ireland and Scotland. People talk about rain in Ireland. June seems to invariably have one of the lightest rain falls ever. It's just... perfect! 3:32 - HOW LONG IS EACH TRIP? Celtic Invasion Vacations are about seven days long. The trips are officially scheduled from Saturday to Saturday. That's because that's how long most vacation rentals book. But I'm not going to be taking you to seven hotels in seven days. We stay in one place most of the week. If the vacation rental is more than a couple hours from the airport or there's something cool to see closer, we may stay in a hotel near the airport on the last night of the Invasion. It just depends on how soon everyone on the trip has booked their departure. 4:04 - WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE? I usually ask Invaders to arrive the day before the trip. That way you can recover from jet lag and adjust to the time change. But that also allows us to leave first thing in the morning on Saturday to drive to our vacation rental. While it is recommended, it is not required. As long as you arrive by 11 am on Saturday, we will adjust. You are also responsible for the hotel on Friday night. But you might find a roommate with other Invaders. 4:43 - WHEN SHOULD I DEPART? Again, it's up to you. I prefer you to set your departure after noon on Saturday. You can stay as long as you want. I usually leave on Sunday after the trip is over. 4:54 - HOW DO YOU SELECT THE DESTINATIONS? Destinations are chosen by invaders and of course me. I usually have an idea of a place I want to see. I look for a suitable vacation spot. But sometimes I ask for suggestions from Invaders. Our trip to Brittany and Cornwall were both chosen because some regular Invaders wanted to visit all seven Celtic nations. Of course, I get the final say. And if I can't get enough people to attend one of these more remote spots, I may make adjustments. Once we settle on a big destination, the next step is figuring out the generalized itinerary. 5:27 - IS THERE DOWNTIME? Yes. This is not an intense, constantly moving tour. Celtic Invasion Vacations are about relaxation, adventure, and fun. But how much can be up to you. There's usually at least one day where we are near to the cottage and take it easy. We explore the local town. Wednesday's have the option of a little extra downtime for those who need it. 5:52 - HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE ITINERARY? You can't make an itinerary until you know where you are going, right? Well, the challenge for me is that I need to know the exact place we are staying to figure out where our itinerary will go. My next step then is to start researching vacation rentals. I look for rentals in our destination area that hold between 8-12 people (sometimes more). I want it to look nice, comfortable and easily accessible. In fact, I want the majority of the cool stuff that we will explore to be within 30 minutes of where we are staying. Once I know the exact location, I can plan the itinerary. 6:26 - WHAT DOES A TYPICAL ITINERARY LOOK LIKE? The first day of the trip involves driving to our destination. We need at least one interesting place to stop along the way. Maybe two if you include lunch. When we arrive, we need groceries. I confess, there's something extra fun about going to a grocery store in Europe. Some of our Invaders join me for a shopping experience as we load up on breakfast and a couple dinners. I make dinner the first night, typically my secret pasta recipe. That evening is usually concluded with a little music by me. The second day is usually a good day to stay local. So we explore one or two of the cool things nearby. We try to spend time out of the car, walking around. It's good to stretch our legs after traveling. On either the second or the third day, I like to bring in a tour guide, if possible. My trips are not geared around "tours", but local guides are great for adding a little bit of history, culture, and legends to the experience. Guides are also good at giving us a local perspective of things we should check out that are not necessarily on our itinerary. In Brittany, we found some cool cairns that were not on our original itinerary. In Cornwall, we got an overview of Tintagel and found some standing stones I would've never found. In Wales, Gwilym Morus shared the incredible legends of Merlin and introduced us to an eco-resort, hidden in the mountains. In Donegal, we found some great restaurants and a former passage tomb. Around day three, we're ready for a different travel experience. That's when I try to get us out on the water or on a train. Something to shake up the feel of the trip. Day four is the midweek break. Again we stay local. Some choose to relax in our cottage. Others explore something new that's local. Day five usually takes us on a long adventure. We'll get in the van and drive further to see something outside of our main region. This gives us a nice look at other regions nearby. It also adds to the fun adventure. Day six is intentionally left open. We usually find something cool by this time that we might not have realized before the trip began. Or perhaps a guide or a local we met had a recommendation. That's when we take the advice of others to explore something different The final day is usually spent fairly local. It's time for last minute exploration of our area. Sometimes we pack up and make our way back  towards the airport. One or two bonus destinations end up on the final day. 9:20 - WHAT MAKES A CELTIC INVASION VACATION DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TOURS? I like to stress that Celtic Invasion Vacations are not tours. They are vacations. I want my Invaders to feel relaxed and happy by the end of the trip. Not exhausted, like I was on my first two trips to Ireland. You should be energized and excited for the next Celtic Invasion experience. 9:40 - HOW MANY PEOPLE JOIN THE INVASION? The number can vary. But I usually aim for between 8-12 invaders. Too many people and I start having trouble finding restaurants to eat at. 9:58 - WHAT PERSONAL PAPERS ARE NEEDED FOR TRAVELING ON A CELTIC INVASION VACATION? You DO need a passport. It's usually good to get your passport at least 90 days out. I would suggest applying for one a minimum of six months before you depart. But there are some expedited services that can get them sooner. Just plan ahead. You do NOT need a visa. You don't need an international drivers license either. In fact, your regular driver's license is fine if you plan to drive in Europe with any car company. Make sure you bring that at the very least. But of course, driving on the Invasion is usually done by me. Since the pandemic, you will need a vaccination card. Invasions are like family vacations. We want to take care of our fellow invaders. So your COVID vaccination card is essential for my trip and a lot of European travel. 10:48 - HOW MUCH DO CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS COST? That varies year to year. It starts at about $2800 for the land part of the trip, for each person on the trip. It does not cover the cost of air travel. You handle your own airline tickets. Your fee covers your housing for a full week. That's for a shared room, either a double if you're a couple or two singles. Depending on our housing, it may cost extra to get a single room to yourself. Your fee covers a breakfast every day and dinner at least five times. Often I cover more than that. Sometimes it works well to make lunches if we're not planning to be near restaurants. So I happily pay for lunch supplies if we need them. But in general, you are responsible for your own lunch. You can have what you like for breakfast each morning. Some days we have a full breakfast with eggs, bacon, yogurt, fruit, cheese, or whatever you want. Grocery shopping usually happens on the first day. So whatever you need, we can probably find it. Other days, if we want to get going early, then we will have a Continental Breakfast with just breads, cheese, yogurt or fruit. And yes, there's coffee. Every morning. And tea too. I need my coffee! I cook dinner at least 2 days during the week. We have my world famous secret pasta meal. And then there's the Celtic Invasion specialty... Prince Charlie... Secret. It's a recipe we picked up years ago and is now a tradition on the Invasions. There may be more than two meals. But of course, we like to eat out too. The toughest thing about dining on the Celtic Invasions is finding a place to eat. If the group is under nine people. That's usually not too difficult. But if we have more than that, it can be a challenge. I plan ahead for that. Because who doesn't like to eat out in Europe!?!?! I consider that a big part of the experience. 12:41 - IS THERE MUSIC? At least twice a week, we spend the evening relaxing at our cottage with dinner... and music. I am, of course, host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. But I'm also a musician. I play Celtic music with a sci fi drinking song twist. I call it Sci F'Irish music. You can hear my music through my website at celtfather.net. I plan to play for at least an hour. But a lot of it depends on you and how excited you are to hear some music. If we're really lucky, you might bring an instrument too. Then we can have an Irish session with songs and tunes afterward. And if we're really fortunate, I will find a musician or bring in a musician to come play for us. That's frequently difficult to pull off.  But when it happens. It's absolutely amazing! 13:30 - WHEN DOES OUR DAY BEGIN AND END? Breakfast is usually around 7:30 or 8 AM with a departure time of 8:30-9 AM. We don't usually do too much in the evening. Since Irish sessions usually don't begin until 9 PM, it's not something we usually attend outside of our cottage. But if it's something you want to do, we might be able to make it happen. 14:32 - HOW OLD IS TOO OLD? HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG? I have had people ages 18 on into their 70s on my Celtic Invasion Vacations. I'd say the vast majority are in their 40s, 50s and 60s. But I don't really think much about it because I adjust each trip to who's on it. In 2019, the younger group hiked up Skellig Michael while the less physically able landed on the Greater Blaskett Island by boat. The physically active walk, hike and run ahead if they so desire. Those who aren't, take it at their own speed. The Isle of Skye was one of the few places we went where it was better to be physically active. There's a lot of hiking on that island. But ye know, I don't think anyone's vacation fun was hindered by their physical activity. As for younger folks, I typically don't prefer to have young kids on the trip. I know the challenges associated with that. But I'm willing to consider it as long as the you feel the kids are up to getting up and going. One lady asked about a teenager. I think I might be open to a teenager who is a bit more independent but still willing to follow the rules. 15:52 - HOW DO WE TRAVEL? Typically we travel in a van. These are usually large nine-seaters with lots of luggage space. Sometimes we will add a second van or a car to carry extra Invaders. Speaking of luggage, we do have limited space. I find one suitcase per person is plenty, plus a carry on. You typically don't need more. There's usually laundry facilities too. So you can always wash something extra. There's a whole bunch of videos on YouTube where you can learn how to travel light. If you truly need an extra suitcase, that's fine. But your experience is so much better when you travel light. 16:36 - HOW DO YOU SIGN UP? The first step is for me to open up the Invasion to the public. You see, former Invaders get first dibs. Once it's public, here's what you do. First, email an application form to me. Second, send me a check for your deposit. That reserves your spot on the Invasion within 2 weeks of emailing your application form. Finally, just send me your final payment before the deadline and you're golden. Speaking of your final payment, you are welcome to break it up into multiple payments if you don't want to or can't pay all at once. I'm happy to work with you to make the trip happen. 17:09 - HOW DO I CANCEL IF I NEED TO? First off, there is a $400 non-refundable deposit. Though there is a caveat for the "non-refundable" part. If I change the dates, you can get a refund. If you can find someone to take your spot, or someone willing takes your spot, then you can get a refund. However, if you are sick and turned away by an airline or country, I can't offer a refund. Typically, 30-60 days before the trip, once I start paying for things, like our housing, vans, tour guides, whatever, I can no longer offer a refund. That usually starts about the time of the Celtic Invasion deadline. I'm not a corporation though. So there may be flexibility. My goal here is to have people "sign up" and then not drop a month later as happened on my very first Celtic Invasion. If you wanna go, make a commitment with a non-refundable deposit. 17:57 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS – CLOSING REMARKS All in all, Celtic Invasion Vacations are about happily experiencing the fun culture, history, and legends of one small but magical location. I hope you'll consider joining me on the next Celtic Invasion Vacation. Sign up at CelticInvasion.com so you don't miss out on this incredible adventure! And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.  

All smiles on the Kerry coast as Skellig Michael reopens to the public for the first since a rock fall shut it off. Paul Devane from Skellig Micheal Cruises spoke to Jonathan this morning.

Concerns over the recent closure of Skellig Michael is having on wildlife and local tourism there. Pat was joined on the show by Niall Hatch Birdwatch Ireland, Paul Devane Skellig Michael Cruises, and also Minister Patrick O' Donovan FG TD for Limerick County Minister for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief

Tom Leslie speaks to Jerry after hearing his interview with the Road Safety Authority and the IFA last week. Separately, Jerry speaks to Skellig boat operator Paul Devane after the Office of Public Works announced last evening that Skellig Michael was to close temporarily as a result of a rockfall.

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan speaks to Jerry as the reopening of Skellig Michael gets underway this weekend.

Questionable information on getting to this famous island off the coast of County Kerry.

Báisteach is a Below The Radar TV, Cwmni Da, Mac TV co-production for TG4 and BBC ALBA, made in association with LIC in China. The series was made with funding from Northern Ireland Screen's Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Creative Wales & Creative Scotland. Rain always seems to turn up when you least want it leaving your best-laid plans in tatters but rain is a vital resource. It feeds our rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. It nourishes our soil, enabling our crops to grow and our livestock to flourish. And it provides each of us with our required daily quota of water. Without it, we couldn't survive. In this three-part series Seán Mac, an tSíthigh uncovers how the story of rain is a global one and plays a pivotal role in cultures and religions around the world. From water shortages in Ireland to regenerating landscapes in India and Kenya, to sponge cities in China, we discover how rainfall impacts live across the globe. Episodes of Báisteach Episode one which broadcasts on the 6th of April unpacks our understanding of rain and the science of the drops of water that fall from our skies. Seán meets scientist Cormac Ó hAdhmaill at Fermanagh's Marble Arch Caves to see the impact made by rainfall that fell thousands of years ago. Seán also travels to the United Arab Emirates to discover how countries with very little rainfall are using science to enhance their lot. In the second episode of the series, Seán explores the impact rain has on cultures around the world. He visits a holy well in Ireland which contains water that fell as rain hundreds of years ago. He explores the cultural significance of rain in countries that don't see a lot of rainfall, and he puts the Child of Prague to the test to keep the rain away for an Irish wedding! In episode three we travel from Inis Oírr to Arizona to learn about how a lack of rainfall affects people's everyday lives, and how one Scottish community puts their abundant rainfall to use to regenerate their isolated townland. Seán visits Skellig Michael to discover how the monks who built a home on this isolated rock in the ocean harvested rainwater to survive. Background Presenter Seán Mac an tSíthigh said; “Given our relationship with it here in Ireland you might expect a documentary about rain to be a mundane exploration of the familiar. Yet within that familiarity, one can find the extraordinary, from the remarkable engineering feats of early-Christian monks on Sceilg Mhichíl in harvesting rainwater to the cutting-edge technology of cloud seeding in the Middle East where rain is created using planes and rockets. Parts of this series look to the past, examining the intimate relationship our ancestors had with rain and seeing how their cultural wisdom can inform us as we face today's climatic challenges. While filming in the United Arab Emirates, for example, I was struck by the ingenuity of society where huge cities have emerged from the desert, but I was also made aware of the fragility of such a potentially unsustainable existence. Our generation carries a burden of responsibility for future generations. We are temporary custodians of the climate of our planet I think this series offers food for thought as we face the challenges climate change brings with it.”

"It is one of the most important conservative allegories in the western world since 'The Lord of the Rings'." Join Fr. Brendan Kilcoyne for episode 50 of 'The Brendan Option' where he discusses the Catholic undertones to George R. R. Martin's series 'Game of Thrones'. "We've got the Wall manned by the black-clad order... the celibate order... the celibate order which is dying out. There they are defending the world behind them - like the monks on Skellig Michael - against the chaos in front." Visit our website: http://www.immaculataproductions.org #GameOfThrones #GoT #faith #Irish #Christian #God #CatholicMedia #Catholic #Christianity #Orthodox #Tradition #Ireland #TheBrendanOption #ImmaculataProductions - - - ---------------- SUPPORT US ---------------- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/immaculataproductions PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/ImmaculataProctions Our work won't be possible without your help. Thank you! ...And a special thank you to those who have already given us so much support! ---------------- FOLLOW US ---------------- There's the Benedict option, the Dominic option, and now we have the Brendan Option! Whilst you would have found St. Brendan voyaging the seas, our very own Brendan can be found as you surf the net. ⛵️ ✔ W E B S I T E http://www.immaculataproductions.org ✔ F A C E B O O K http://facebook.com/ImmaculataProductions ✔ I N S T A G R A M http://instagram.com/ImmaculataProductions ✔ T W I T T E R http://twitter.com/ImmaculataMedia ✔ L I N K E D I N https://www.linkedin.com/in/ImmaculataProductions ✔ V I M E O https://www.vimeo.com/ImmaculataProductions ✔ E M A I L info@immaculataproductions.org All Rights Reserved © 2021, Immaculata Productions

Since recording this episode on September 29th, Sean, Rosemary, and Christian have been celebrating Michaelmas, the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, for seven days straight, in honor of the seven churches, lined up from Skellig Michael in Ireland to Stella Maris Monastery in Israel, on the famous geographic Sword of Saint Michael. From the Book of Revelation to Paradise Lost, we learn all about Michael's incredible powers and his legendary performance in the Battle in Heaven, as he cast down the dragon Satan (formerly known as Lucifer). We find that after being cast out of Heaven, Satan landed in a blackberry bush and was so angry he urinated all over it, which is why we don't eat blackberries picked after Michaelmas. We do learn, however, that we can eat blackberry pie at our joyous Michaelmas celebration, along with carrots tied with string, a green goose, french waffles, and a beer made by landlords called Audit Ale. We also share some special Michaelmas connections to Lenny Bruce, Mikhail Gorbachev, Ike & Tina, Wonder Woman, The Seven Samurai, and the Netflix series Dark.The great Saint Michael rightly reserves most of our reverence this week, but we also save a little time at the end of the episode for The "Not-So-Good" King Wenceslaus, Saint Jerome the reformed skirt chaser, twin brother Saints Cosmas and Damian (early supporters of Medicare For All), and the absolutely lovely and charitable humanitarian St. Vincent De Paul. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/saints-preserve-us. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"St Finian, known as the 'Tutor of the Saints of Ireland,' stands with St Enda of Aran at the head of the patriarchs of Irish monasticism. He showed great zeal and piety for God from his youth. He had already founded three churches before he set off for Wales to study at the feet of St Cadoc at Llancarfan (September 25, †577). In Llancarfan he became close friends with St Gildas (January 29, †570), another of St Cadoc's disciples. Upon his return to Ireland, he founded the great Monastery of Clonard during the same year the great St Enda (March 21, †530) reposed in Aran. A multitude of illustrious and holy men studied under St Finian, including the famous 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland.' St Finian founded many other monasteries during his lifetime, including the famous island monastery of Skellig Michael off the southwest coast of Ireland." (Saint Herman Calendar 2003)

The lighthouse on Skellig Michael off the south west coast of Ireland was continuously occupied by lighthouse keepers for more than 150 years until its automation 1987. Skellig Michael has now become a tourist attraction since its ancient monastery was used as a location in recent Star Wars films. The last keeper of the light there was Richard Foran who has been speaking to Catherine Harvey about life on the remote island. Photo: The lighthouses on Skellig Michael. Credit: Alamy

Up-close and personal details from Skellig Michael, Han Solo (Film) vehicles continue to emerge, will Luke and Leia reunite in Ep 8? The 501st turns 20?! And so much more! Star Wars Report is available on iTunes! Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! You can show your support of the Star Wars Report podcast by becoming a Patron […]