Christmas shopping in Galway - the sights and sounds along Shop Street

A window display in Galway

Here in Galway we really have the nicest shops and you won’t beat it for atmosphere, especially at Christmas. Who wants to spend their money in bland, faceless shopping centers, that couldn’t care less about you or your euros when you have got Shop Street...

At the top end, literally and figuratively we have Brown Thomas, a luxury department store, its corner location a hub of stylish yet affordable shopping, and all very elegant in classic black & white with a service to match. They always have the most gorgeous shop windows packed full of highly desirable goodies, so if you hear of a smash and grab raid in Galway it could well be me!

Just opposite is another shop window, I have been known to lick, Hartmanns the jewelers, where you can lust after all kinds of lovely trinkets from Rolex's to Mont Blanc and even Fabergé. Or be-dazzled by the sparkliest diamonds in Lazlo's as you sidestep into Premoli’s gorgeous shoes & boots shop.

The wedgewood blue and white front of the Treasure Chest hints at what’s inside, a timeless emporium of traditional Irish gifts. Further along on the right is McCambridges, a purveyor of fine foods since, well forever and a foodie haunt long before the term came into being.

Down a bit further is Easons, the last of our Irish bookstores, online is taking over but people still like to feel books or pick up an international newspaper or magazine. Then there's Anthony Ryans, a family drapers that’s catered for generations of Galwegians, from first Holy Communions to Weddings and everything else in between....

And from the traditional to the ultra modern, the award winning Born Centre on Galway's inland waterway system. I have a real soft spot for this place, stunning architecture, there is a glass panel in the floor where you can watch the might Corrib river rushing through underneath, and knitted tea cosies on the teapots in the cafe, which also serve smashing scones! a great place to escape the Christmas madness and relax....

For more information on Galway click here or download the free iPhone app.

By Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

The tipples, trifles and truffles that make an Irish Christmas

An Irish family favorite sherry trifle

Irish people are known the world over for their legendary hospitality but never more so than at Christmas, when the drinks are overflowing and cupboards and fridges are stocked with enough to see out the winter, never mind a couple of weeks. But then you never know who might call so you want to have a little something extra in, just in case.

Here are some top ideas for an Irish Christmas culinary indulgence:

Top of the list would have to be a couple of bottles of Irish whiskey Jameson’s is standard issue in most households for drinking neat. Purists would never ruin it by adding water! Or hot as in hot whiskeys and Irish coffees.

And where would be without Baileys? Short of brushing our teeth with the stuff, it’s liberally splashed into every cup of coffee at Christmas as a kind of instant Irish coffee to go with your mince pies.
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Of course the mince pieces would have to come from the Foods of Athenry, voted the best in Ireland for six years running now. Buttery rich, crumbly short crust pastry with a generous fruit filling with a little alcoholic hint of something, it’s a wonder they only come in sixes. And of course you have to have the Brandy Butter to go with them, and it’s the nuns in Kylemore Abbey, of Irish picture postcard fame, who make the very best after the Mammy!

You used to be able to rely on the Mammy for the Christmas cake and pudding. Hello, not anymore. Too busy on Facebook or going to Pilates at 84 if you don’t mind. But there are some great and very special alternatives, ie the Carton House Pudding from their own kitchen which comes beautifully packaged and presented in traditional greaseproof paper with the nostalgia inducing, string contraption for hoisting it in and out of the steaming pan. I don’t think so you can microwave it just as easily but the thought was in it

Or a Christmas cake, from Ballymaloe made from only the finest exotic and organic ingredients you would otherwise have to go on an expedition to find. Their cake is baked with that wondrous blend of female culinary talent that has spanned umpteen generations of the Allen family from Myrtle to Darina and current celebrity chef-ess Rachel. Of course Rachel makes the whole process look like a whizz, which it clearly isn’t, believe me. Those cakes are presently maturing nicely ready to be freshly marzipan-ed (almond pasted – the best bit and iced) before being devoured by the devoted.

And on that religious note, the monks of Glenstal Abbey have created a true match made in heaven (chocolate and alcohol) in the form of chocolates filled with liqueurs such as Benedictine and Chartreuse from the great abbeys of Europe.

A bit further down off the wild Atlantic coast of Kerry is another holy and sacred place the Skelligs Islands which are overlooked by another very special artisan chocolate company Skelligs Chocolate which make the most delicious chocolate truffles probably on the planet. Their collection includes over 60 different varieties including plum pudding, egg nog and hot toddy this time of year. They were also the first to produce a gin and tonic chocolate bar which tastes as good as it sounds.

And finally every family in Ireland has their own version of sherry trifle. which is a layered mixture of jelly and sponge with a good drop of the above, topped with tinned fruit (this is about tradition not the healthy option) thick custard and whipped cream with a sprinkling of 100’s and 1000’s of course. And if you don’t know what they are then the whole of the last paragraph was probably lost on you...poor thing.

Good health one and all and Nollaig Shona dhuit

For more information visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com.

The best Irish gifts online this Christmas

Wouldn’t it be nice to give something especially Irish this Christmas? Not only would you be supporting Ireland’s economic recovery if you have a mind to, but also lots of jobs that keep those rural communities we are all so fond of as tourists alive and awake! But most importantly you or your loved ones would be receiving a quality gift that will be appreciated and valued for its uniquely Irish appeal.

Like Waterford Crystal, who wouldn’t be pleased to ring in 2012 with a couple of crystal champagne flutes? The first edition Partridge in a Pear Tree from Waterford Crystals 12 Days of Christmas Range are reduced by 70% at www.giftshopireland.com while stocks last, they are fast becoming modern day collectibles. Just like their cut glass tree ornaments and baubles which make the perfect one size fits all gifts, from new babies, to birthdays and anniversaries and even hostess gifts this time of year. Gift Shop Ireland has the widest selection of Waterford Crystal in the world, as well as an exclusive on Nicholas Mosse pottery. Plus they are offering a 10% discount and free shipping worldwide for all Irish Central readers, simply enter the code Christmas Gifts at point of purchase.

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Another classical Irish gift is Newbridge Silverware which started out making cutlery in 1934, but has since diversified into designer jewellery, with several vintage collections to complement their Style Icons museum and smart contemporary giftware. Is there anything better than sleek cutlery that works, will stand the test of time and look beautiful? The Celtic 24 piece gift pack is a surefire winner. Guaranteed to set a lady’s heart on fire would be a little something from the Grace Kelly Collection which has everything from pearl earrings for her to classic onyx / silver cufflinks for him. All of the above (and lots more besides) come beautifully packaged and presented in pale blue and cream boxes from www.newbridgesilverware.com

Or if you would prefer to let the recipient, especially us ladies, do the choosing you can’t go wrong with a gift card from Brown Thomas, pretty please? Following on from the success of the Marvel room last year, Brown Thomas has pop-up Gift Box shops in all of its branches throughout Ireland to excite and delight shoppers this Christmas. Packed full of even more covetable and collectible designer goodies, believe me a gift card from Brown Thomas is as they say themselves, is the one gift that is sure to please all of the people, all of the time! Available online from www.brownthomas.com in whatever value you wish, simply add your personalised greeting and you wont see us for fairy dust….

Finally, why not send an edible feast to your loved ones here or at home. The Burren Smokehouse pack the finest hampers with the very best Irish food and drink from carefully selected Artisan producers throughout Ireland, alongside their own award winning organic Atlantic smoked salmon, which was fit for a Queen, Elizabeth II no less, when she was here last May. They have a huge range online from the small artisan baskets at €59 to full on banquets for €299, although the best selling baskets are the Whiskey Basket at €99, everything in it from the cheese to the marmalade and chocolates are laced with whiskey to the Clare Basket €89, all of the produce comes from County Clare, you can almost smell the Burren! But you would need to order from www.burrensmokehouse.ie before the 9th of December to guarantee pre-Christmas delivery.

If you do decide to buy Irish this Christmas and I hope that you will, thank you for supporting Irish jobs, Irish businesses and communities throughout Ireland.

www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Hidden Ireland - Ireland's private house a world away from Irish hotels

Old Irish house - stylish bathroom

Hidden Ireland is a collection of magnificent private houses throughout Ireland who offer seasonal accommodation, albeit on a grand scale, to the public.

A stay in one of these great houses is quite unlike anything else you will experience in Ireland. "Downton Abbey" addicts (like myself) will delight in the country house experience where you are made to feel more like an invited friend than a paying guest.

Whilst not obviously commercial and not to be confused with country house hotels, these wonderful homes (most of which have been in the same family for many generations) offer something truly different.

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A peek at the Hidden Ireland brochure reveals a wealth of stunning, architectural gems from which to choose. Perhaps a romantic Victorian hunting lodge, on a wild river teaming with fish, a Palladian mansion on a vast country estate with leafy walks or an elegant Georgian townhouse right in the heart of Dublin.

Although still available many of the pursuits traditionally associated with country life, like hunting, fishing and shooting, have naturally translated into organic farming, with fresh fish and game, vegetables and fruit in season often featuring on the evening menu. Dinner (by request) is usually served at a communal dining table (although you can dine alone if you wish) designed to further enhance your appreciation of Irish country house hospitality.

Apart from fine wine and conversation, you never know who you will be your fellow guests and what life long friendships might be forged at these impromptu gatherings. Repeat business is a testament to and the lifeblood of these establishments, ensuring a continuity of tenure and responsibility for the second generation of hosts and their children, who are breathing new life into Hidden Ireland. What has been their privilege is now their great pleasure to share with you.

For further details, including seasonal special offers and Christmas Gift Vouchers visit www.hiddenireland.com

Aras an Uachtaran in the Phoenix Park - President Michael D Higgin's new home

Susan outside the Aras an Uachtaran

Aras an Uachtaran, in the Phoenix Park is the house where the ninth Irish President Michael D Higgins, who was inaugurated on Friday in Dublin Castle, will live for his seven years in office.

Not many people know that you can actually visit Aras an Uachtaran yourself on Satrudays, unless it is being used for official state business, which means tours can be cancelled at short notice. While admission is free, tickets are limited to about 100 which are allocated on a first come first served basis from the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, close by at Ashtown Castle.

Visitors are then transferred by coach and given a guided tour of the state rooms and a short history of the building itself that used to be the Vice Regal Lodge when it was occupied by the then governing body of Englands various Lord Lieutenants, one of whom the Duke of Marlborough who was Winston Churchill’s father.

Elegant corridor at Aras an Uachtaran

It’s a wonderful opportunity to take a peak behind the familiar scenes being played out in the media today, to be part of a living history so to speak. The boardroom, where new governments are sworn into office, under the watchful eye of former presidents, whose portraits line the walls.

The dining room is laid out in crisp white linen with fresh flower arrangements (from the Aras’ own garden) mirrored under the crystal chandeliers.

The lounge used for meeting and greeting visiting dignitaries and royalty so familiar from news footage you almost feel at home, with a final glimpse into the President’s own office, which they are allowed to personalize for their term of office. In fact, I was amazed at how homely and lived in the Aras felt, with fresh garden flowers everywhere and polished brass fire irons beside the grand marble fireplaces set with peat briquettes waiting to be lit in welcome for the next guests, which could be you.

For more information visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/aras.html

Tweet a skeleton this Halloween at the Museum of Natural History in Dublin

The Natural History Museum in Dublin is the oldest museum in Ireland having been opened by Doctor David Livingstone (no less) in 1857. Known locally as the Dead Zoo, it has been a favorite of generations of Dubliners ever since.

Dubliners are on first name terms with many of the exhibits, including Spotticus the Giraffe. Spotticus is is now happily tweeting away to his loyal band of global fans, following his recent makeover in the Netherlands. Seemingly, caught in a time warp, this cabinet-style 'museum of a museum' has just recently been revamped and reopened to the public.

With some 10,000 items currently on display and another 2 million in storage, it houses the treasure trove of countless Victorian collectors. As you can imagine, Nigel Monaghan, curator of the Museum explains that’s an awful lot of dusting ...

Having lain about in relative obscurity for years the Natural History Museum is once again poised to be a trail blazer of scientific research and discovery (as it was at the turn of the last century) having boldly embraced new technology which has seen its visitor numbers double in recent years.

Innovative and free educational events and workshops for all ages are set to increase its profile and popularity even further. Visiting scientists and experts from all over the world have expressed a new appreciation and interest in the museums valuable collection of unique and rare items that are unlikely ever to be found again. Such as the huge skeleton of a fin whale, the second largest in the world which washed up in Bantry Bay in 1862 and the now extinct giant Irish deer whose antlers span an amazing 3.5 meters which was discovered in Monaghan and donated by the 4th Marquis of Bath in 1877.

And while we might live in a digital age that can conjure up reconstructions of extinct worlds at the touch of button, apparently it's no substitute for the real thing when it comes to scientific hard evidence. Who would have thought that a once moth eaten collection of stuffed animals, in a small museum in Dublin would be providing the world at large and generations to come with the raw data for new and exciting scientific research into our increasingly precarious and precious natural world.

For information on the Natural History Museum

Follow Spotticus the Giraffe on Twitter

For more information on the 3 other main Irish Museums

By Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Escape to the countryside with a fall break in Ireland

Isn't Autumn just the perfect time for a short break away in the country?

Summer is long gone and our thoughts are turning inwards to cosying up in front of a crackling log fire with a nice hot whiskey having perhaps tramped through a thick carpet of leaves in an ancient beech wood.

Ireland has many beautiful forests, national parks and leafy lanes bordering ancient riverside walks that wind their way through quaint little Irish villages that thankfully have retained their rural charm. Old fashioned, meaty butchers sport big roasts, proper sausages and locally caught game if you are lucky. The smell of freshly baked bread and cakes (you can forget your diet on a weekend away in Ireland) wafts out of small bakeries turned coffee shops where you can sit and people-watch a different kind of lifestyle altogether.

Country markets have made a very welcome return and injected a new shot of life into otherwise quiet communities. With an eclectic mix of produce, ranging from pickles to pumpkins you can pick up some nice goodies for a picnic or indulge yourself in a lazy pub lunch. Gastro pubs are on the increase in Ireland, offering hearty gourmet food at reasonable prices. Traditional favorites like bacon and cabbage might be served up with mustard flavored mash potatoes, however the accompanying pint of Guinness which is of course non- negotiable…

Why mess with perfection !

So if you fancy ‘shortening the winter’ (code for a treat before the bad weather sets in? why not check out some of the self-catering breaks available from Ireland's Hidden Places, check website link below for details of special offers and Halloween events.

Or if you would prefer to waited on? Downton Abbey style why not stay a night or two in one of Hidden Ireland's great Irish Country Houses who have also have great seasonal offers available right now.


By Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Hidden Gems in Irelands rockpools? - a new book of Irish landscapes

Ireland is renowned for it's magnificent landscapes being blessed with a diversity not many countries can equal, but having just picked up Daragh Muldowney’s beautiful new book even I have had to do a double take.

Called "Jewellery Box - Irelands Hidden Gems" (I wish I could have taken credit for it) but am more than happy to endorse his excellent work.

Daragh spotted something (under his feet) no one else did and had the creative genius to expose it, in this wonderful selection of images.

Inspired by Dulra (Irish for the natural elements) he spent the last summer exploring the miniature landscapes of Ireland's coastal rock pools. Getting up close and personal with these tiny universes, that are surprisingly teeming with life, prompted a deeper introspection, apprectiation and respect for nature in Daragh that he now stirs in us...

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The results are spectacular and the digital imagery surreal at times, like the image above (my favorite) entitled ‘Inner Peace’, two pieces of random floating oarweed that could be a resin sculpture yet hint of much, much more... 'Rusty Contours' a fusion of lichen and algae, mirror the hand painted Chinese wall papers of Ireland great houses, while Picasso’s Eyes speak for themselves. Most telling perhaps the 'Origin of the Species' a back lit jellyfish in a froth of air bubbles, smacks of the big bang...

Michael Viney, Ireland’s most eminent naturalist wrote the forward (an accolade in itself) in which he, so eloquently, applauds the young self-taught Daragh's artistic eye in capturing more than just images but also the connection between man and nature that has existed since the time of cave paintings right up to and including the mad digital age we live in, when its often all too. There is no space or distance from which to view or marvel at nature in the way we might have once done as carefree children splashing about in rock pools.

This book is a rare opportunity to do just that, view the world with fresh eyes, Picasso Eyes...

For more information visit http://www.dulraphotography.com/

By Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

9/11-- how the Irish are remembering the 10th anniversary

While people all over the world are certainly mindful of the terrible tragedy that occurred on that sunny September morning in New York City, the Irish have a special interest in paying their respects it seems, as the Ground Zero 360 exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts and History in Dublin is seeing huge footfall since it opened on August 18th.

Poignant reminders of that fateful day, forever etched in our lives, are portrayed in Nicola McClean’s haunting panoramic photographs.

Clear evidence of our long history of emigration to the U.S. is there to be seen on the roster of Rescue 2, FDNY, Brooklyn which lost 7 men that day including an M O’Rourke and the many, many others who died that day. Whether they were worked in the World Trade Centre or were ‘just doing their job’ in the Emergency Services, as many of their heart broken comrades have commented since.

There is not an Irishman or woman alive today that doesn’t remember where they were when the news of the terrible tragedy started to unfold, I was collecting my children from school and immediately went to light candles in the local church.

Ireland lived through the agonised wait for news of survivors that didn't come and an incredible sadness hung like that pall of smoke from the towers, all over Ireland. I visited Ground Zero a couple of years later and tears just streamed down my face like many others around me, visiting the St Paul's Trinity Church (miraculously untouched) and learning about the efforts of all those involved in the aftermath was a humbling yet reassuring experience of the man’s humanity to man when it’s needed.

Which is what makes people great and nations great, that will to survive, rebuild and prosper, the Irish wish America well on that journey.

Click here for more information about the Ground Zero 360 Exhibition visit

Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

The Old Jamesons Distillery - home to Irelands favourite whiskey

I have to say I prefer the Old Jameson's Distillery as a visitor attraction to the Guinness Storehouse for the simple reason that the tour here is guided whereas in Guinness’s you are left to your own devices. Which can be very pleasant, especially above in the Gravity Bar with a view of the city and a pint in your hand, but for me I want something more?

I like to leave a place a little bit wiser and in Jameson's case (a little bit tipsy) having learned something. Properly guided tours will do that for you and at Jameson's it’s very well done, just the right length of time and information to hold your attention, finishing up with a genuinely, convivial tasting session in the Jameson's Bar.

Perhaps, when you understand how something is made you appreciate it more? It’s quite amazing how three simple ingredients, barley, water and yeast can be turned into ‘uisce beatha’ or the water of life? And interesting too, how each of the processes, whether it was the malting of the barley, the marrying of the whiskey in casks or the vatting into bottles, shaped the lives and social history of such a small part of Dublin. Surely they could never have imagined Jameson's whiskey becoming the global phenomenon it is today.

Situated in an historical part of Dublin, Smithfield market is surrounded by cobbled streets. The original building is lovely with a theatre, bar, shop and restaurant, which seems to be very popular with ‘legal people’ (which must make for some great people watching) from the nearby Four Courts.


Old Jameson Distillery, Bow St, Smithfield, Dublin 7.


Phone 01-8072355 /Open 7 days a week


Admission Adult €13 Senior & Student €9.60 Family €29 (online discounts)


Website: www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/jamesons.html


By Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/index.html

Taras Palace one of the largest dolls houses in the world

Taras Palace at Powerscourt House in Wicklow, is one of the greatest dolls houses in the world, on par with the Fairy Castle in Chicago, and Queen Marys own dolls house at Windsor Castle in London.

Taras Palace is modeled on the famous Titania’s Palace which was sadly lost to Ireland in the 1970s and is now on display at Egeskov Castle in Denmark. The original having been built in Dublin in the early 1900s for Sir Neville Wilkinson’s daughter Gwendolen, who like all other little girls believed in fairies.

A wealthy man, he commissioned artists and craftsmen from all over the world to recreate this view of their privileged world in precise and meticulous miniature. With 18 rooms and over 3000 individual pieces it took some 18 years to complete and such a triumph that it went on public display for childrens’ charities, a role Tara’s Palace continues today.

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The 9' wide façade is a combination of famous Irish Houses notably Leinster, Carton and Castletown, with many of those unique interiors such as the Print Room in Castletown having been recreated to a scale of one twelfth of their original size. Yet, like all dolls houses Taras Palace is primarily a toy, designed to ignite the imagination of children of all ages.

“Enter the hall, with its marble stairs, Look around and sit in the chairs,

Take off your coat and hat, Go upstairs and stroke the cat...”

From 'The Story of the Present' by Miss Amanda Stafford.

Such is the level of craftsmanship that is extremely easy to imagine this fabulous dolls house coming to life. It’s all in the detail, the keys actually fit and turn in each of the tiny locks, and every visitor is sure to have their own favourite?

Whether it’s the grand reception rooms, kitchen with its tray set for afternoon tea, toys in the nursery or the music room with its exquisite tiny golden violin. From the library with it collection of readable first editions to the ornate plaster ceilings and inlaid parquay floors with persian rugs it’s fascinating and one of those rare exhibits that you could visit over and over again and still find something new to marvel at....especially as generous benefactors are constantly adding to the collection.

For more information please visit www.taraspalace.ie/

By Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Irelands Hidden Places enchanting hideaways...

I am not sure I should really be telling you about the Hidden Places of Ireland, an amalgamation of five of the nicest self-catering properties you will find in the Midlands, as I seem to have stumbled upon a little corner of paradise tucked away in North Tipperary that I would rather keep to myself. Previously I had only imagined what treasures might lie at the bottom of those seemingly endless driveways that wind their way through grassy parklands, studded with magnificent mature trees with only the odd racehorse lazily lifting his head to see who it is that has interrupted his bucolic peacefulness. For this is Aga-land darlings, where life in the big house rubs off nicely on the little houses this nice group of people let out on occasion to the savvy few. There isn’t a sound in these quiet back waters, apart from the rhythmic slushing of the watermill or the butterflies dancing through the flowery borders. Or the buzzing of bees in the organic gardens filled to bursting with exotic varieties of vegetables, asparagus peas anyone....

Not only are each of the properties totally unique like the Manhattan meets Moneygall style stone loft at Ballylina or the rose strew romantic Cottage by the Well at Fancroft . But really clever piece is that the owners each bring something, other than delicious food to the table, that they are happy to share with you. Roderick has a passion for classic cars, Tessa and Wink have horses and love all things equestrian, you can even stay with one of Ireland’s most acclaimed garden designers Angela Jupe and enjoy free access to her beautiful walled garden! how cool is that? There are breakfast packs of organic rashers and sausages from Oldfarm available if you fancy? not to mention brown bread homemade from locally milled flour and fresh eggs from the curious chickens that wander about freely, including vegetables and fruit in season. It’s a little peak at paradise and how the other (wise) half live, that can be yours for a week or a few days at a time....

For more information and details about price and availability visit

http://www.irelandshiddenplaces.com/


By Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/

Red lips and hot tips for the Galway Races

God be with the days of the Celtic Tiger when the Galway Race Festival was the richest and most glamorous event in Ireland’s summer sporting calendar. Where the golden circle used to press the flesh and toast their success in an endless flow of free champagne in the hospitality tents, at someone else’s expense! While the ordinary mortals, having spent hours in traffic queues as long as the M50 had to then join the scrum for an overpriced warm drink in a plastic glass, just to be part of the great occasion that is the Galway Races. Not to mention risking the fake tan (rain equals paint stripper) or your silly hat (gale force winds) are all par for the course in an Irish summer and I have never known ‘the going’ to be good enough for any Louboutin heel yet..

But, don’t get me wrong, 500,000 plus visitors every year would surely agree it’s the place to be, but listen up for some ‘hot ‘ tips. How to double your money? Apart from folding it in half and putting it straight back in your pocket? Well for starters? What everybody in Galway knows there is a lot more Sex (or whatever it is you are after) to be had in the City than on the Racetrack, leave that to the aficionados.

The fashionistas will party till dawn, then sleep till noon, spend the afternoon in hair and make up before shimmying on up to any of the top hotels cocktails lounges, fresh as the proverbial daisy, just as the lucky winners trickle in from the helipad….now that’s what I call studying the form girls.

Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Galway City App available for free download this weekend.

The National Museum of Ireland - a rainy day alternative for visitors

We are getting a rather mixed bag (to put it politely) of summer weather, so here’s a few ideas that will keep you warm, dry and entertained when it’s a soft day ( ie bucketing it down). Top of the list has to be the National Museum of Irelands Fab Four ie the Museum of Archaeology, the Museum of Decorative Arts & History, the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Country Life and the good news is that admission to all four is free!

The Museum of Archaeology on Kildare Street is quite simply fantastic and right in the heart of all the action (government buildings are next door) an iconic architectural gem in its own right with zodiac floor and marble columns, not to mention the gold collection, the bog bodies, plus a horde of Viking treasures. And you can take the weight off your feet for a while and watch a film in the theater upstairs, it also has a very good cafe.

The Natural History Museum just around the corner on Merrion Street, houses what is fondly known in Dublin as the ‘Dead Zoo’ these stuffed animals have been dead for a very long time ie since I was a child, so we are on first name terms Spoticus –the giraffe and me. Rent out ‘A Night in the Museum’ to get kids (or yourself) in the mood and let your imagination run riot!
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The Museum of Decorative Arts & History is over on the northside and is easily accessible on foot or the Luas stops outside the door if you are lazy? The Curators Choice is a selection of 25 of the nations best treasures including the Fonthill Vase. Which is the oldest piece of porcelain in Europe, that belonged once upon a time to (among others) the Dauphin of France no less, but was acquired by the Museum at an auction in 1880 for just £28.

And lastly, my favourite, the Museum of Country Life set in beautiful parkland, just outside Castlebar in County Mayo. A family could easily spend all day here so bring a picnic although there is a cafe as well. Turlogh House is a replica of what ‘big houses’ used to be like in Ireland. The Museum itself is a very modern and well designed building and exhibition space. It is very user friendly with charming, well put together collections that depict the lives of our forefathers who worked on the land or at sea. They were certainly very inventive if the Straw exhibition is anything to go by...

For full details of opening hours please consult the websites below. As above admission is free, ditto drop-in events etc although there may be a small charge for specialist workshops.

www.museum.ie/en/whats-on.aspx

By Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/

Tall Ships Festival in Waterford promises to be the largest event in Ireland this summer

“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and sky and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by” wrote the poet John Masefield over a 100 years ago.

The same evocative line of thought will lure some 500,000 to Waterford this weekend to visit the Tall Ships Festival which will be largest event in Ireland this year. Some 50 ships from all over Europe are taking part in the Tall Ships Race organised by the Sail Training Association of England with predominately youth crews of every nationality with youngsters still being asked to sign up for this leg of the race to Scotland. Oh to be under 25 again, never mind...

I was lucky enough to crew on the Stavros Niarchos once upon a time and it was magical, if hard work ! The first thing you are asked (gently encouraged) to do is go ‘up and over’ the rigging which is nerve wrecking the first time but you are doing it in your sleep (quite literally) by the end of the week. Because, while the ship is crewed by trainees on rotating watches you do have to be available to man the ‘bracing stations’, which can mean a sail change, so up you go.

But it’s wicked exciting…….especially at night, when you are catching the tradewinds, under a sky full of stars with dolphins off the bow. There isn’t a sound (if you are doing if right) and all 1000 sq mtrs of sail are set right as you take your trick at the helm, master of the ship and as close as you will probably get to being master of the universe in your lifetime. Don’t ever hesitate if you get chance of going to sea.

http://www.waterfordtallshipsrace.ie/

By Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Return the Ballyvaughan road sign now - controversy over removal errupts in Ireland

Do you know it defies belief, when every man woman and child in this country is putting their best foot forward to recover from our economic woes that the government pulls the rug from under us, yet again.

This time its one of those ‘jobs worth’ moments when the NRA (National Roads Authority) have simply removed an iconic sign that has been standing at the crossroads in Ballyvaughan for over 30 years.

Possibly the most photographed road sign in Ireland, as one protester rightly put it, more ‘folk art’ then actual road signage. It is located along what Conde Nast has described as one of the Top 10 road trips in the world, out to Doolin via Blackhead.

But the NRA obviously don't want you to go there. Let me introduce you to the latest great waste of money in Ireland - the new system of 'navigating by numbers'. Apparently the powers that be are spending 60 million euros on new road signage in Ireland. So, we now have complete dead-end boreens grandly renamed as the L150001 or whatever. Why? Who cares? The answer: nobody.

Locals know where they live. For crying out loud in this day and age of smartphones, using inbuilt satellite technology and tracking, only in Ireland would we be spending a fortune on misleading the tourists. If it wasn’t such a serious waste of money it might even be funny. but this is money that would be better funding tourism initiatives like my own and countless other small businesses who are trying to encourage not discourage visitors to Ireland.

And, okay we dont want you to get lost but its a very small green island, how lost can you get?

You can Like the Return the Ballyvaughan Sign Facebook page here.

Or rent a car and try out the Motoring by Numbers for yourself here

Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/

A better guide to Ireland - Dont follow the flock, get off the well beaten track

The recently published ‘official’ list of Irish visitor attractions leaves most of us (those in the know) scratching our heads and wondering why or how some of them even made the cut?

As is often the case the 'must see sights’ in any country (but most especially in Ireland) are the very ones to avoid? No prudent independent traveller wants to be ripped off or more importantly, waste their precious holiday time on over-rated tourist traps that should have been closed down a long time ago.
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READ MORE:

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Which would certainly be no real loss considering we now have world class attractions such as the Glasnevin Museum, Blackrock Observatory and Irish Museum of Country Life (free) running alongside such stalwarts as the Guinness Storehouse, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and the Cliffs of Moher. Buts there’s even more and dare I say better to be found (depending on your interests) throughout Ireland. Beauties like Beaulieu House, warm favorites Foxford Woollen Mills, the Foynes Flying Boat Museum and the wacky West Clare Railway.

Take your pick from over 100 listed on www.irelands-hidden-gems.com all of which have been independently visited, reviewed and photographed. Only the very best passes the test in terms of value for money and quality of experience. Which is why the listings are limited to the Top 10 in each of the categories ie Landscapes, History & Castles, Sacred Places, Culture & Tradition, Museums and Galleries. It keeps everybody on their toes (including me) and ensures you the visitor of a top quality experience of Ireland.

Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Now available as a travel app - Ireland Things To Do

Belan Lodge - boyhood playground of Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton

With fine weather on the horizon there has never been a better time to expand yours or your childrens by taking a self catering holiday at home. Only an hour from Dublin the lovely Belan Lodge, boyhood playground of the great Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton can be yours too for a week or a weekend. No long bank holiday drive, its a genuine hidden gem of a place, wild out with plenty of nature walks, canal banks and gastro pubs to be explored and whats more its very affordable, child and animal friendly, so what's keeping you?

Originally part of the very large and prestigous Belan House Estate which belonged to the Earls of Aldborough for over 400 years, before unfortunately being abandoned due to bad debts and mismanagement, although the Cornmills attached were always very successful. And they belonged once upon a time to Ebenezer Shackleton, uncle of the famous Irish Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. The Cornmills had one of the longest and deepest millraces in Ireland at the time which must have been a haven for the young boy with adventure in his veins.

As it was for another young lady, who wrote in the 1830’s of her childhood reminiscences of Belan, being the happiest of her life. “Here, on hot summer's evenings, we used to sit and watch the dragon files. I had never seen dragonflies before, and could not associate them with flies, I could only think of them as tiny winged spirits, whispering messages from afar to the reeds and irises which grew at the water’s edge...

She describes the warm welcome received from her hosts at Belan, with its turf fires and speaks eloquently and longingly of the breakfasts...hot potato cakes, eggs, cream, honey and freshly baked bread. The ‘accommodations’ even then were perfect with sunny windowseats to while away the hours with a book or out and about amongst the farmyard animals, dogs, ducks and donkeys...

She tells the story of a pastoral idyll, which is still true and exists today for a new generation of weary adults or adventurous children to delight in nature. Belan Lodge is a true haven of peace, tranquillity and genuine rural charm. The rates are very reasonable, you can stay as a bed & breakfast guest or fend for yourself (always a great option for families) and there is so much to do and see in the area.

For more information visit www.belanlodge.com

Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Queen Elizabeth's love affair with Irish horses

PHOTOS - Queen Elizabeth II's historic visit to Ireland photo gallery

On her recent visit to Ireland, Queen Elizabeth indulged her passion for racehorses with private visits to several Irish Studs including Gilmore where she lunched with the Aga Khan.

She also publicly visited the Irish National Stud to view the legendry Invincible Spirit, who I am told was impeccably behaved as always!

The Queen was extremely gracious and particularly nice to the young trainee jockeys which delighted the staff who were already honoured at having been chosen for a royal visit. While closed to the public for security reasons during the visit it is now business as usual and highly recommended as one of Irelands great days out.

The Irish National Stud in the rich green heartlands of County Kildare is where many of the great legends of international horseracing have been born and bred since 1906. And while big names like Arkle, Prince Palatine, l’Escargot and Dawn Run might trip off our tongues in a mixture of pride and pleasure for what is after all a national passion, how many of us would actually know one end (the important one) of a thoroughbred from the other?

Well, a visit to the Irish National Stud will sort that one for you and it’s far from being a sterile museum experience? This is a working stud with mares being brought in daily to be covered(what a nice word for it)by stallions like Invincible Spirit which costs €60,000 a pop! Do try and take one of the tours as the insider tips and tales are fascinating and while poor old Arkle is on display as a skeleton other former champions such as Vintage Crop, who won the prestigious Melbourne Cup in 1993,are to be seen out ambling about in sunny meadows enjoying their well earned retirement...

For more information visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/irish-national-stud.html

Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

PHOTOS - Queen Elizabeth II's historic visit to Ireland photo gallery

David Norris - will he be the next president of Ireland?

Thirty-thousand Irish citizens so far have signed petitions to get David Norris elected as the next president of Ireland in November of this year.

A most popular candidate the only thing that is likely to stop him is a dodgy electoral system or media prejudice regarding his sexual persuasion? David Norris is gay, so what? While he may be a fan of Georgian architecture, this is no Joycean dandy but a committed politician, an impassioned human rights campaigner, a proud Dubliner and Irishman.

And yes he has Anglo Irish roots but which one of us does’nt? Would it matter if he was part African-American? In fact his Irish roots go back to 6th century Laois on his mother’s side whose family the MacGiollas were servants of the kings of Ossary. A fitting legacy perhaps, for someone who see his new role as a servant of the people and country of Ireland.

Very well spoken (and undeniably colourful) David Norris will make a great ambassador who is keen to get Ireland noticed on the worldwide stage for all the right reasons. Our wonderful natural and built heritage, and the wider possibilities in terms of cultural tourism which have not yet been fully explored, in particular our great literary musical and scientific contributions.

Not that he will spend his time cutting ribbons or unveiling exhibitions, this is a warm and open man who is as happy and comfortable linking hands with Downs Syndrome children in the park as he will meeting and greet international heads of state above in the other park, at Aras an Uachtarain, the official home of the Irish President. Currently Dr Mary McAleese and formerly Dr Mary Robinson, the trail blazing, first female president of Ireland. And while we commend and applaud the two Marys, it’s time for a change. We need a man for our time, the difficult times that are in it? Someone we can be proud of, the last thing we want is for the role of the presidency to go back into mothballs.

Above all, with everything that has happened in recent years including the political corruption that led to the disastrous financial situation we now find ourselves in, we want a man of integrity that is not just out for himself. The only thing that is likely to stop him in his tracks, and boy has he hit the campaign trail running, hello? where are the other candidates? Are they just going to slither in the back door and take his place through some shady, legislative loophole? I hope not David Norris is the man for the job, good luck to him.

Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/

Ballyvaughan, County Clare - one of the loveliest villages in Ireland

Ballyvaughan village is a lovely little village on the road out to Doolin in north Clare. Voted one of the 10 best road trips in the world by Condé Nast Traveller it never disappoints. Picture postcard pretty, it nestles in the heart of the Burren, against a sheer backdrop of mountains all the way out to magnificent Black Head.

Only over the road from where I live it’s where I go for the paper on Saturday mornings or for a wander around the farmers market during the summer, which also includes an excellent craft fair in the Old School every Sunday. Village life centres around the Spar shop which is well stocked with a great deli counter and good wine list. The resident ‘fat cat’ lounges around outside cadging titbits from tourists waiting for the bus to Doolin.

Ballyvaughan though small, has a bit of everything pubs, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and even an international college of art. There are plenty of gift shops including Quinns (traditional crafts) and Lillimar(more contemporary) with nice jewellery and home items. Ballyvaughan is a kind of sybarite heaven, not least for the locals? A small perfect beach at Bishopsquarter (that’s never packed) the gorgeous Fear Gorta (hungry grass)Cottage Tearooms where believe me you will never go hungry. And all of this in the rampant floral paradise that is the Burren in early summer when alpine flowers such as blue gentians, mountain avens blend with wild orchids and geraniums. A new festival celebrating this unique phenomenon, the Burren in Bloom takes place the whole month of May with plenty of free walks and talks among the flowers.

For more things to do and see in and around Ballyvaughan visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/ballyvaughan.html

Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/index.html

Butlers Chocolate - a perfect way to experience Easter in Ireland

Butlers Chocolate Experience is the No 1 visitor attraction in Ireland right now in my opinion and I should know, having personally reviewed over a hundred such sites for my website www.irelands-hidden-gems.com.

Butlers Chocolate have to be commended for their innovation (a glass walkway tour over the factory floor) which is an amazing blend of information and fun (hands on chocolate painting workshop) and value for money (all the chocolate you can eat and your own personal chocolate bear to take home).

Only after the tour (a behind the scenes glimpse of the chocolate making process)did it occur to me that the same fastidiousness that goes obvious goes into producing and packaging their chocolate products, is what had been applied to the Butlers Chocolate Experience, which is a sure fire recipe for success if ever there was one....

Being the month that’s in it, Easter eggs twirl around on their molds, while mini-eggs wrapped in shiny foil grow into small mountains before your eyes. The pristine new eggs and trays of different chocolates arrive at the packing area where they are arranged into the Butlers signature boxes or wrapped in color paper and foil and hand-tied (of course) with ribbons. What I hadn’t expected was the surge of pride for an Irish product and a new respect for the people producing it, which will undoubtedly influence my future purchasing power....

For full details of my delicious tour of the Butlers Chocolate factory see http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/butlers-chocolate.html

By Susan Byron of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Where Queen Elizabeth II will stay in Dublin - Farmleigh House

Farmleigh house in the Phoenix Park was purchased from the Guinness family by the Irish government in 1999 for €29 million. A fantastic mansion on 78 acres, albeit in need of refurbishment the purpose was to provide a venue for state occasions and a place for visiting dignitaries to stay.

It is next door to Aras an Uachtarain, home of the Irish president currently Dr Mary McAleese and her family which you can also visit for free if you are lucky.

A limited amount of tickets are issued each Saturday at the Pheonix Park Visitor Centre. However Farmleigh is open all year round unless it is hosting government functions and its also free If you visit around Christmas time the house is beautifully decorated but a pleasure year round nonetheless with beautiful staterooms, a magnificent galleried Jacobean wood panelled library and Victorian conservatory complete with potted palms.

Outside there are very well maintained formal gardens including a Dutch sunken garden which has three descending terraces to an oval pool with a carrara marble fountain as its centrepiece. There are regular free events for children including storytelling and puppet shows at Christmas. And for adults free ticketed musical events, artisan food markets, gallery exhibitions etc. Or if you fancy letting someone else do the cooking a contemporary restaurant in the Boathouse on the lake.

For more things to see and do in Dublin visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/dublin.html

Glasnevin Museum - tracing your Irish roots

Glasnevin Cemetery is not where you might expect to find Ireland’s only Thea award winning visitor attraction and in fairness, not what I would normally recommend as a family day out? But the new museum at Glasnevin is so good, it’s hard to put into words.

Death is something we all have to face at some stage and far from being macabre or morbid, the Trust’s imaginative, sensitive and respectful handling of a difficult subject is to be applauded along with all the other accolades it has picked up since it opened in 2010.

Every Dubliner has some connection with Glasnevin and their excellent new online genealogy service is helping people from all over the world retrace their Irish roots. And to celebrate their first birthday the Glasnevin Museum are giving away 10 free vouchers to their Irish American friends for the best comments on this post.

Over a million people have been buried there, many in unmarked graves, since it was founded in 1832 by Daniel O’Connell, who believed every citizen had a right to a proper burial regardless of their religion which is why it remains secular to this day. Modelled on the Pere Lachaise in Paris, it doubled as a pleasure garden in Victorian times with elaborate mausoleums and clipped yews lining the maze of pathways, which are in constant need of repair and upgrading which the Trust hopes to have completed for the anniversary of our Independence in 2016.

The new museum (just inside the main gates) is on 3 levels with the tour starting underground in the Necropolis (City of the Dead). A scrolling screen displays the names of all the people buried there on a loop which takes 10 hours to complete. There is a small theatre where the filmed introduction is shown and a charming, nostalgic display of items categorised by the professions of people that might once of owned them.

Innovative displays (interactive headstones) lend a fascinating insight into the social history of Dublin, you can even eavesdrop on the gravediggers conversations. Upstairs there are further interactive displays (with great views) including a 10 metre timeline with a detailed history of the great and good (and not so good) buried at Glasnevin and an exhibition about Daniel O'Connell. The iconic new building is stunning, with good facilities (of course) a shop and a nice restaurant.

Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

To enquire about the online genealogy facility visit http://www.glasnevinmuseum.ie

Driving in Ireland is easier than you think?

Driving in Ireland is no longer the ordeal it used to be with new motorways linking all the major towns and cities. And you will soon get used to driving on the left hand side of the road if you stay in the flow of traffic and take your time at the first couple of roundabouts (traffic circles) Tolls are relatively cheap and you can pay at the kiosks as you pass through. The only tricky one is the barrier free M50 which is the tolled ring road around Dublin, this €3 toll is simply charged to your car rental account so you don’t need to worry about it. Petrol ie gas is expensive, currently €1.49 a litre so it’s worth upgrading to a diesel car if you intend doing a lot of mileage.

And its only when you leave the motorways that you will encounter the narrow country roads that for some reason seem to terrify our American cousins? Relax, you are in for a treat especially if you take any of the coastal routes? For example the road from Ballyvaughan to Doolin, out along the northwest coast of Clare has been voted one of the best road trips in the world by Conde Nast Traveller and is truly spectacular with the wild Atlantic Ocean on one side and the mountains of the Burren on the other, ditto Dingle and Donegal. Nor can you beat the wild heathery mountains and inky blue loughs of Connemara either. Just keep your eye out for sheep; they love to sleep on the tarmac verges.

Anybody crafty enough to detour off into the midlands will have the inland waterways, lakes, boglands and drumlins all to themselves as apparently only 1% of visitors go there in their rush to the east or west coasts. I can never understand this, as it’s absolutely beautiful, with Belvedere House, Birr Castle, Clonmacnoise and the Rock of Cashel, not to mention not one but two whiskey distilleries Lockes &Tullamore Dew waiting to be explored.

And besides what could be more magical than pitching up on a river bank or in a verdant little glade of an old ruined castle of stonewalled graveyard and having nothing around you but the birds and bees and maybe a few sheep or horses raising their lazy, inquisitive heads to have a look at you? And don’t worry about getting lost it really is a very little island!

Thrifty Car Hire doing a special deal for the month of April, with a week’s car rental starting at €80. So, what’s keeping you? And while prices will go up as it moves towards the peak season, there is always value to found (ask online) and it really is the only way to see and experience the ‘real’ Ireland.

For more details visit Thrifty Car Hire

Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/

10 Places President Obama will most likelyvisit in Ireland this May.

News of President Obama's forthcoming visit in May has been greeted with great joy and anticipation by the people of Ireland. We have always had a reputation for hospitality and a particular fondness for some American presidents ie JFK and Bill Clinton, but this is going to be a party to end all parties. It's already put a pep in the step of our newly formed government and Enda is right it's a great opportunity for us to showcase Ireland to the world and reclaim our national pride.

No doubt it will be a whirlwind tour but like I am always advising tourists, less is more! You really dont need to cover the whole of Ireland in a week, honestly I have lived here all my life and have only scratched the surface! You can see and more importantly experience the real Ireland much more if you limit yourself a little bit. With this in mind I have put together the following Top 10 for himself which you can easily follow yourself, without any pressure....

1 Dublin will probably be his first port of call and like most other tourists he will be advised to do the open- topped City Bus Tour? Only in his case there will be 1000’s of people lining the streets to welcome him. Enda wasn’t kidding when he said that the people of Ireland would give him a rapturous welcome. People are still talking about JFK’s visit in 1963 and the Clintons in 2005 so we’ll expect him to follow suit and address the nation from College Green.

2 Dublin Castle will be rolling out the red carpet here with a state dinner in his honour. It’s fabulous of course with all the pomp and pageantry you would expect for visiting dignitaries even though we don’t do royalty ourselves. Michael Collins reclaimed if for us after 800 years of British rule with a rude verse about the statue of justice in the courtyard. Perhaps someone will whisper it in his ear on the night?

3 Monegal there will be dancing at the crossroads here for sure with long lost cousins (54 times removed) crawling out of the woodwork to shake hands with the President. He has one actual cousin so far, Henry Healy and the original homestead has also been traced. So we‘ll have to let them have their day, but maybe after catching up with his relations and having a few pints he’ll head on up the road to Clonmacnoise.

4 Clonmacnoise is an important Irish heritage site, he did say he wanted them, which is picture postcard pretty with round towers and stone high crosses. It was once a strategic Pagan site with became a centre of Christianity during Ireland's golden age as a land of saints and scholars.

5 Bunratty Castle and Folk Park then again, like I tell everybody? If he has only time to do one visitor attraction in Ireland this is it. The real deal not some mocked-up theme park. They even relocated a cottage stone by stone from where it was standing in the middle of what was to become Runway 1 in nearby Shannon airport.

6 Cliffs of Moher worth a peak over of course and pretty damn spectacular this view from the western tip of Europe. From here he could follow the road up the coast to Doolin and out around Black Head with perhaps a stop off in Ballyvaughan for some chowder and mussels or Kinvara for a sail on a Galway Hooker.

7 The Burren this route whether by car or helicopter skirts the vast karst limestone plateau which was once a tropical seabed millions of years ago. In May it will be spectacular with the wild orchids, blue gentians and even Edelweiss blooming everywhere. Its the richest botantical landscape in Ireland with 600 different species per square metre.

8 Galway which was one of the busiest ports in Europe when Christopher Columbus stocked up here on route to the New World at the time (we know this because a Galway man and his dog left with him). Perhaps President Obama might like to do the same on the the ‘return leg’ so to speak.

9 Kylemore Abbey this is an oasis in one of most picturesque landscapes of Ireland, Connemara. This is where the Quiet Man was filmed and although rural life in Ireland has moved on thankfully since then, the mountains, lakes and even the little stone bridge are still there and every bit as beautiful today.

10 Museum of Country Life which probably wont be on the president's itinerary as its Enda Kennys hometown of Castlebar. But you should take a look at this state of the Art Cultural Centre. Its an excellent resource if you are interested in Irish traditions and customs or the rural farmsteads long or island fishing communities of long ago.

And finally, perhaps a little presidential downtime in Inisfree? Yes there really is such a place on Lough Gill just outside Sligo and really there is no better place to relax and enjoy a slower pace of life in Ireland, then on the Islands. Even the President of the United States of America needs a break from the dayjob now and again, to enjoy a round of golf or a little bit of fishing....





By Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/

Bought shamrock? Is it the real thing?

Visit our special St. Patrick's Day section

Read more: Michelle Obama wants to grow shamrock at the White House

As children we often gathered more clover than shamrock to wear in the run up to St Patricks Day as it’s almost impossible to tell the difference. And to be honest nobody seemed to care very much back then anyway, you simply washed the mud off the roots and pinned a bunch to your hat or lapel with a safety pin and off you went. Nowadays you can buy handy packets of commercially grown fresh shamrock at supermarket checkouts. But is it the real thing?

Seedsavers, an organisation set up 14 years ago in Ireland, to save the seed of indigenous varieties of apples and potatoes before they became extinct reckon they have ‘real’ shamrock. Thanks to the benevolence of an American who sent them the seed of an old shamrock plant that had been smuggled from Ireland some 99 years previously. It was replanted, harvested and is now happily and (safely for generations to come) growing like a weed at their headquarters in Mountshannon.

And what about the shamrock that is presented to The Whitehouse on behalf of the people of Ireland? Who grows that and where does the seed come from? Is it the real thing? Peter Martin of Living Shamrock.com assures me that it is, the seed having been verified by botanists in UCD. He explained to me how it is grown roots and all, in a specially patented (soil and water free) gel substance to keep it fresh for longer and handier to export. Which means that it arrives ‘live’ and ready to wear on St Patricks Day at Irish Embassies, Army Camps and other special Irish parades and events all around the world.

So herself (the first lady) can simply pop her shamrock into the ground afterwards and let its Irish roots dig happily into American soil. Beannachti na Feile Padraig by Susan Byron.

For information about St Patricks Day visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/st-patricks.html where you can also download a free iPhone app about St Patricks Day and all the events that are happening in Ireland.

Visit our special St. Patrick's Day section

Read more: Michelle Obama wants to grow shamrock at the White House

Over 100 St. Patrick's Day parades around the world

Visit our special St. Patrick's Day section

There are now 100's of St Patricks Day parades throughout Ireland and many of the smaller more local ones are just as much fun as the big one in Dublin. So dont feel disappointed if you cant make it up there on the day, even though it is the longest running and best (I am a Dubliner). What started out as a military parade with marching bands which then got regulated to Easter Sunday(to commerate the 1916 rising)eventually dying out in favour of the much larger St Patrick Day Parade that it is today.

Which has just grown and grown with the participation of groups of visiting marching, dancing and pipe bands from all over the world including brave barelegged cheerleaders from the USA and our own little Irish dancing girls, scouts and guides, all decked out in their uniforms, often blue with the cold....

What really reved it up a notch was the participation of Macnas, a small community based theatre company from Galway who invented huge fantastic moving puppets for use in street theatre, parades, particularly the Galway Arts Festival. Often copied but never matched, Macnas itself means 'joyful abandonement' they now have a signature entry every year as well as their own parade in Galway.

To sample the atmosphere and whet your appetite for a visit to Ireland you can watch the following video of the 2009 St Patricks Day parade in Dublin here.

Or visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/st-patricks-day.html where you can download a free St Patricks Day iPhone app and learn more about Ireland in 5 minutes than most wanabee Irish learn in a lifetime. Beannachti na Feile Padraig - Susan Byron

Visit our special St. Patrick's Day section 

Irish Holy Well, pagan origins - christian cures....

There are 100’s of holy wells all over of Ireland, sacred places since long before they were credited with the Christian saints names they bear today and are well worth a pause and a prayer if you are lucky enough to come across one of them. ‘Tobar’ is the Irish word for well, so anywhere with a name that ends in ‘tubber’ as in Baile an Tobair (the town of the well) or Ballintubber is bound to have one, most likely close to the church (where Pierce Brosnan got married) or graveyard.

Others, you will spot these easily enough by the roadside, as they are often adorned with statues, colourful (plastic)flowers and dozens of rosary beads. But many more you will have to ask about locally to get directions and possibly hike over some muddy fields and ditches to get to them. Which will be well worth the trouble (call it penance) as nearly all these wells are in stunning locations (the celts, monks, saints knew how to pick them) high up in the mountains, isolated onislands, or in wild and remote places such as the Burren (forty holy wells) which lend themselves to peaceful prayer or contemplation at least. Many are named after St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland or St Brigid, originally a pagan goddess, or a local saint such as St Colman in Clare and are credited with being a cure for most ailments the most popular being ‘eyes’ and ‘teeth’.

Whether that was because of the lack of dentists or the expense of spectacles at the time who knows but these places are still being visited today probably even more so? Perhaps as a cure for depression in these recessionary times or world weary travellers seeking solace in nature where the water (a symbol of new life in many cultures) gushes forth from the earth. People often leave small, if odd? tokens like chocolate wrappers, coins or pieces of cloth tied to the branches of overhanging trees. Which makes you wonder about the lives of the people who have visited over the years, hopefully their prayers were answered and their ailments cured.

Go dté sibh slán - May you go safely.

For more Sacred Places in Ireland visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/irish-symbols.com

Or download free St Patricks Day iPhone app here

Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

The truth about fairies and leprechauns just in time for St. Patrick's Day

Click here to visit our special St. Patrick's Day section

The truth? There is no such thing as leprechauns in Ireland so apologies to any would be believers in magical crocks of gold. The whole leprechaun thing was more of a Disney invention that came along with the likes of bad ‘oirish’ accents in films such as ‘Darby O’Gill and the Little People’.....

But fairies....they do exist, Oh yes and here in Ireland we do not mess with the fairies, ever! They are known to live in very special places called fairy rings, which are raised earthen circular mounds that you will see all over Ireland.

You are welcome to visit them, walk around them, make a wish by all means .... But it is thought to be very bad luck to interfere with these mounds. Driving motorways through them, Bad Very Bad....Certain trees are revered too, especially hawthorns which country people will never chop down or remove for fear of disturbing the fairies who often live underneath and who are likely to wreak havoc if disturbed? ie, sour milk, cause crops to fail, animals to sicken and die.....

So don’t say ye haven’t been warned !

No one knows more about fairies in Ireland then Eddie Lenihan a gifted story teller or Seanchai who lives in Clare, you has collected his stories from all over Ireland. This is one of his best....





If you ever get a chance to listen to one of his sessions, dont miss it you will be in for a treat. Or indeed if you are hauled up on a high stool in a pub somewhere, someday, it wont be long before a good story telling session will start?


For more about how St Patricks Day is celebrated in Ireland visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/st-patrick.html


Or download the free iPhone app http://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/st-patricks-day/id359998636?mt=8


Author Susan Byron of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/

Click here to visit our special St. Patrick's Day section