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