Michael Quane's Posts - The Wild Geese2024-03-28T21:51:18ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuanehttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/68530020?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://thewildgeese.irish/profiles/blog/feed?user=3tljio3s2hxl8&xn_auth=noPatrick Coffey, Estimable Irish Gilder, Exhibits at NYC Consulatetag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-11-09:6442157:BlogPost:1749382015-11-09T18:00:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84714584?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84714584?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="150"></img></a> <strong><span class="font-size-5">R</span>enowned Irish carver and gilder Patrick Coffey is holding</strong> an exhibition of his works, "1916 and Irish Tribal Art," at the Consulate of Ireland in New York City, Monday November 9 to Friday November 13, from 10 AM to 2 PM. To make arrangements for a viewing, please call (718) 651-7336. A reception for the artist will be held on…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84714584?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="150" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84714584?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="150" class="align-left"/></a> <strong><span class="font-size-5">R</span>enowned Irish carver and gilder Patrick Coffey is holding</strong> an exhibition of his works, "1916 and Irish Tribal Art," at the Consulate of Ireland in New York City, Monday November 9 to Friday November 13, from 10 AM to 2 PM. To make arrangements for a viewing, please call (718) 651-7336. A reception for the artist will be held on Tuesday November 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Please also call the above number to make arrangements to attend the reception. The Consulate is at 399 Park Avenue in Manhattan, on the 17th Floor. A valid photo ID is required.</p>
<p><em>Pictured, the 1916 Commemorative Mirror</em></p>
<p>Patrick Coffey, born in Cobh, County Cork, is celebrated around the world for his depictions of ancient Irish art. His focus is on the 1st through 9th centuries, working with native woods, such a the Whispering Tree and the Blackthorn. Among his most famous pieces are "The Sidh Harp" and "The War Club." </p>
<p>Complementing his carving talents is his fame in gilding. In this, he is also inspired by Irish history, although often more modern history. An exquisite example of his gilding is his "1916 Commemorative Mirror," re-creating the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84714707?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="100" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84714707?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="100" class="align-right"/></a></p>
<p>Coffey's art is part of many prestigious collections around the world, including the private collections of Ronald Reagan, the Sultan of Brunei and King Faud of Saudi Arabia. He is the nephew of famed soccer announcer Tommy Smyth, and he presented Smyth with a commemorative shillelagh when his uncle was Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick's Parade in 2008. He has presented a shillelagh to subsequent grand marshals, including Timothy Cardinal Dolan this year.</p>
<p><em>Right, Brian Boru Harp</em></p>
<p>To learn more about the artist, go to his website, <a href="http://www.patrickcoffeyart.com" target="_blank">www.patrickcoffeyart.com</a>.</p>A Warm Irish Welcome in Whistler, British Columbia, Canadatag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-09-30:6442157:BlogPost:1713472015-09-30T23:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-5">T</span>here are many Irish pubs around the globe,</strong> but some of them, while they have the trappings -- Irish prints on the walls, an Irish-themed menu and Guinness available -- are missing the most important thing: the warm atmosphere you expect in Ireland. That isn't the case in…</p>
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-5">T</span>here are many Irish pubs around the globe,</strong> but some of them, while they have the trappings -- Irish prints on the walls, an Irish-themed menu and Guinness available -- are missing the most important thing: the warm atmosphere you expect in Ireland. That isn't the case in <a href="http://www.dubhlinngate.com/" target="_blank">The Dubh Linn Gate</a>, a major dining, drinking and entertainment venue in the resort of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.<br/> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84714788?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="325" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84714788?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="325" class="align-left" style="padding: 10px;"/></a>Located in the luxurious Pan Pacific Hotel, The Dubh Linn Gate is one of the places to be in tony Whistler. It offers a menu of Irish and Canadian comfort food (think colcannon and poutine); a selection of Irish beers, including Murphy's, Smithwick's, and, of course, Guinness; varieties of Irish whiskeys, including Jameson and Bushmills, and Irish entertainment.</p>
<p>On a Monday night Dubh Linn Gate had a talented singer named Chad Oliver. He sang some Beatles favorites and country rock very well, but it was when he did a round of Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners and even U2 that he brought the house down.</p>
<p>While the evening entertainment was most enjoyable, diners also like the lunchtime views of the skiers or bikers (depending on the season) from the outdoor patio. But the best thing is the welcoming and helpful attitude of the staff, many of whom come from Ireland, led by Jonathan Dobie. That's what gives it the real Irish pub atmosphere.<br/> <br/> For someone like me, who has spent a lifetime sampling Irish pubs, The Dubh Linn House is now a highlight. I was happy to learn they have opened a branch in Vancouver, which I'll certainly try on my last night there before flying back to New York.<br/> <br/> Whistler is best known as the location of the skiing events at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The high-end resort has continued its growth as an all-season resort, and is a favorite of mountain bikers as well as skiers. Its location in the Cascade Mountains, two hours north of Vancouver, makes it easily accessible, and its well-planned growth insures that its spectacular scenic beauty will remain unspoiled.<br/> <br/> For information on The Dubh Linn Gate, go to <a href="http://www.dubhlinngate.com">www.dubhlinngate.com</a>. For information on Whistler, go to <a href="http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com">www.whistlerblackcomb.com</a>.</p>Great Irish Pubs of Indian Summer (And Year Round)tag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-09-22:6442157:BlogPost:1705722015-09-22T03:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><a href="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mfcollectnew/ChIJPw_xYlljwokRVyYX-lJ60I4/C4M3fPOk1g.png" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mfcollectnew/ChIJPw_xYlljwokRVyYX-lJ60I4/C4M3fPOk1g.png?profile=RESIZE_710x" style="padding: 10px;" width="400"></img></a> <strong><span class="font-size-5">W</span>ith its sunny weather, vacation time, and, for the lucky, a shorter work-week,</strong> summer is a great time to catch up on hobbies, whether parasailing, mountain biking, or in my case, visiting new or favorite Irish pubs.<br></br> <br></br> After much exhaustive research, with summer now nearly behind, I share…</p>
<p><a href="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mfcollectnew/ChIJPw_xYlljwokRVyYX-lJ60I4/C4M3fPOk1g.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mfcollectnew/ChIJPw_xYlljwokRVyYX-lJ60I4/C4M3fPOk1g.png?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" class="align-right" style="padding: 10px;"/></a><strong><span class="font-size-5">W</span>ith its sunny weather, vacation time, and, for the lucky, a shorter work-week,</strong> summer is a great time to catch up on hobbies, whether parasailing, mountain biking, or in my case, visiting new or favorite Irish pubs.<br/> <br/> After much exhaustive research, with summer now nearly behind, I share herein a list of some pubs near (for me) and far that are worth a visit anytime of the year. So, here, in no particular order, are a few worth a stop for a sip of the good stuff. If not specified, these pubs, like me, all reside on Long Island.<br/> <br/> <a href="http://connollystationli.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Connolly Station</a> - This popular pub in Malverne is a great place for a meal with family and friends. Besides tts Irish menu, they have Italian and TexMex dishes as well and all are expertly done. I had a shell steak here that was worthy of acclaimed New York City steakhouse. An added attraction is traditional Irish music on weekends.<br/> <a href="http://cobblestonespub.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-11-at-Jul-11-2015-4.45.08-PM.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="http://cobblestonespub.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-11-at-Jul-11-2015-4.45.08-PM.png?width=200" width="200" class="align-left" style="padding: 10px;"/></a><br/> <a href="http://cobblestonespub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cobblestone's Pub</a> - Despite the name, this Queens, NY establishment is more like a New York neighborhood bar than an Irish pub, but it's worth a trip for its superb kitchen. The dining area is large, possibly because of its nearness to the Queens County Court House across the boulevard. I had the best charbroiled burger of the summer here, better than the gourmet burger chains. Plenty of screens for watching the games, be it soccer, football or baseball.<br/> <br/> <a href="https://www.rira.com/portland/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ri Ra</a> - A favorite of locals and visitors alike in Portland, Maine. It has the decor and feel of the real thing, so much so that I was surprised to learn it's part of a multi-state chain. Great bartenders and authentic Irish menu, even a typical Irish breakfast.<br/> <a href="http://www.kittyoharas.com/files/8914/0910/9380/5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="http://www.kittyoharas.com/files/8914/0910/9380/5.jpg?width=200" width="200" class="align-right" style="padding: 10px;"/></a><br/> <a href="http://www.kittyoharas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kitty O'Hara's</a> (right) - This new Baldwin pub has a mod feel and a menu that goes beyond the Irish specialties. What's different here is the attractive patio dining. Entertainment on summer nights is mostly country rock, but traditional Irish music takes over in fall and winter.<br/> <br/> <a href="http://www.flanaganspub.net/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flanagan's</a> - This large Lake Ronkonkoma pub is run by Limerick man Dave Crowe, who named it after his ma. She would be proud of her son, who has been a giant in the pub scene on Long Island. Very popular and often SRO, it's a great place to stop for a meal or some Irish coffees.<br/> <br/> <a href="http://radiganspub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><br/> <a href="http://www.lillysoflongbeach.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMp7-5E7j_yuGxR51gppcjqG9sAdYRu-dmx7OOrd_MMWqlXu2ksFqzsix9Cph1hg-7Z2g&usqp=CAU" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMp7-5E7j_yuGxR51gppcjqG9sAdYRu-dmx7OOrd_MMWqlXu2ksFqzsix9Cph1hg-7Z2g&usqp=CAU&profile=RESIZE_710x" width="300" class="align-left"/></a><a href="http://www.lillysoflongbeach.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lilly's of Long Beach</a> (left) - This cool-looking new pub in Long Beach is more like a modern Dublin emporium than a country pub. Welcoming staff and sidewalk tables make it a pleasant summer dining scene. Extra credit: It's owned by a Tipp man.<br/> <br/> <a href="http://mohegansun.com/poi/dining/the-lansdowne-irish-pub-and-music-house.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Landsdowne Pub</a> - This cavernous bar/restaurant in Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Casino unfortunately doesn't have a true Irish feel to it, despite the old Dublin prints on the wall and the many Jameson Reserve bottles on display. Perhaps a few authentic Irish bartenders would help?<br/> <br/> So, how did you spend your summer?</p>Suburban New York County Plans Memorial to 1916 Risingtag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-08-12:6442157:BlogPost:1674602015-08-12T00:00:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713045?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713045?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="198"></img></a></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-5">A</span> coalition of Irish American groups</strong> in New York's Suffolk County have joined in a campaign to raise funds for a memorial to the 1916 Easter Rising.</p>
<p>Members of the local chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Emerald Societies of the Suffolk County Police and Fire Departments and the Gerry Tobin…</p>
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-5">A</span> coalition of Irish American groups</strong> in New York's Suffolk County have joined in a campaign to raise funds for a memorial to the 1916 Easter Rising.</p>
<p>Members of the local chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Emerald Societies of the Suffolk County Police and Fire Departments and the Gerry Tobin Irish Language School plan to erect the memorial behind the Peter Cohalan Court complex in Central Islip, on land already designated by the county government.</p>
<p>The memorial will consist of a 10' by 10' block made of granite and limestone, engraved with the names of the patriots executed by the British after their surrender, the text of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, and a rendering of the Dublin General Post Office, which served as the headquarters of the revolutionaries.</p>
<p>The groups have raised about half of the $80,000 needed to erect the monument, and hope to raise the rest by October, so they will be able to target the dedication on the centennial of the Rising in April 2016. A benefit is planned for September 28 at Flanagan's Pub in Ronkonkoma. Another 1916 monument was built on Long Island, in Mineola, the seat of adjacent Nassau County, dedicated in 1979.</p>
<p>For more information, e-mail Chris Thompson, at <a href="http://cthompson@suffolk1916memorial.org" target="_blank">cthompson@suffolk1916memorial.org</a> and visit the project's website, at <a href="http://www.suffolk1916memorial.org">http://www.suffolk1916memorial.org</a>.</p>
<div style="display: none;" id="__if72ru4sdfsdfruh7fewui_once"></div>In The Kingdom of Kerry, Don't Forget The Ringtag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-08-05:6442157:BlogPost:1669492015-08-05T21:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713020?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713020?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="317"></img></a> <span class="font-size-2"><span style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde';"><strong><span class="font-size-5">I</span>'ve written before about the Lakes of Killarney</strong></span>, the "crown jewels" of Ireland's "Kingdom" of County Kerry. But to complete your royal tour, you have to take one of Ireland's, if not the globe's, most scenic drives, the "Ring of Kerry." …</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713020?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="317" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713020?profile=RESIZE_320x320" class="align-left" width="317"/></a> <span class="font-size-2"><span style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde';"><strong><span class="font-size-5">I</span>'ve written before about the Lakes of Killarney</strong></span>, the "crown jewels" of Ireland's "Kingdom" of County Kerry. But to complete your royal tour, you have to take one of Ireland's, if not the globe's, most scenic drives, the "Ring of Kerry." This 100-mile route around Kerry's Ivereagh Peninsula is not to be missed by anyone who visits Ireland's lovely southwest coast. In fact, the legendary town of Killarney can serve as the starting point for a one- or two-day drive "around the Ring" that you'll remember your whole life.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Since the route is a circular one, you can start in Killarney from either direction, but I prefer the northern route, via Killorglin, so that after your trek you can stay the night at one of the grand hotels in the village of Kenmare, on the peninsula's south shore.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Killorglin is a market town, famous for its "Puck Fair," which started as a cattle and sheep sale, but has developed into a tourist attraction in itself. The three-day festival is held each year starting August 10. In addition to the market, the fair honors the saving of the town from Cromwellian troops in the 1600s, when a spooked billy goat tipped off the townspeople that the British were coming. Today's Kerry residents, joined by many visitors, celebrate the goat's heroism well into the night at local pubs.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">From Killorglin, the scenic route cuts southward to Glencar, amidst lush hills that demonstrate why Ireland is known for its "forty shades of green." The road comes to the coast again at Glenbeigh, where a superb beach called Rossbeigh Strand provides a vista of beauty that is typical of the Irish seascapes. The cool breezes from the bay, even in summer, make the beach more popular for horseback riding than sunbathing. And what a lovely ride it is.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Continuing west on the coastal road, through mountains that hug the sea, will bring you to the village of Cahersiveen. A statue in the village square memorializes an Irish Volunteer in the War for Independence, hearkening back to the small New England towns where a Revolutionary War soldier looks down on the village green. Off the coast of Cahiersiveen is Valentia Island, where boats can be commissioned for a ride to the stark Skellig Rocks, a place of pilgrimage where Irish monks fasted and prayed during the Middle Ages.</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span class="font-size-4" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">From Killorglin, the scenic route cuts southward to Glencar, amidst lush hills that demonstrate why Ireland is known for its 'forty shades of green.'</span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-2">If time or weather do not permit a side trip to the Skellig Rocks, continue on from Cahersiveen along Ballinskellig Bay to Waterville, home of the Waterville Links, one of the top golfing venues in the British Isles. The area has historic significance because of its connection to "The Liberator," Daniel O'Connell, who campaigned for Irish Emancipation in the 1820s.The great orator, who was born near Waterville, prepared his speeches just south of the town in Derrynane, which has a magnificent scenic beach. The town was also known as a retreat for famed comedy film star Charlie Chaplin, who regularly vacationed there. An annual comedy film festival honors his memory, as does a statue in the town.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Waterville was in the news for another, less positive reason last year, as news articles told of a cafe owner who had posted a sign in his window saying "No loud Americans." Many of the townspeople, whose livelihoods depend on tourism, were outraged. It was especially ironic since Jack Mulcahy, an American industrialist who was born in Kerry, invested heavily in the town, including the restoration of the Waterville Hotel and famed golf links.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">As you continue on the main road towards Sneem, there is a detour worth taking down a narrow country lane to Staigue Fort, an ancient haven dating to the fourth century. As with many Irish antiquities, you will have "the run of the place," accompanied only by the ever-present sheep, as you muse about pirate raids and wars past in the now peaceful countryside.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">The village of Sneem itself has many roadside shops and cafes where you can stop for afternoon tea on your journey. It also boasts one of Ireland's great old hotels, the Parknasilla Great Southern, a 19th century mansion set amid subtropical gardens. The palm trees here, though rare in Ireland, are typical of Ireland's Ivereagh Peninsula, which is warmed by the Gulf Stream. The Victorian-style hotel was built when well-heeled British visitors enjoyed seeing the Irish countryside from railway cars. All of the Great Southern hotels in Ireland followed the same style, serving as familiar railway stopovers offering comfortable amenities to the tourists of that era. Dinner at the hotel's Pygmalion Restaurant, one of Ireland's most elegant, will make you feel like one of John Bull's upper crust.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Continuing along the route by the Kenmare River brings you to Tahilla, a quiet village that has been a retreat for Irish politicians and European diplomats. Then comes Kenmare, one of Ireland's picturesque "tidy towns," a center for some of the best freshwater and saltwater fishing in Erin.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">If you've already toured the Lakes of Killarney, you might want to spend the night in Kenmare before continuing on to Cork, that is, if Irish itinerary is following the tried-and-true route around the southern coast to Dublin. Among the hotels that will surprise you in little Kenmare are the Kenmare Bay and the landmark Park Hotel.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">If your journey is continuing to Cork, and if you're not timid, you can take the eye-popping route over the mountains via the Healy Pass to Bantry Bay, but only if you're an intrepid driver and the weather is good. Otherwise, you can travel back to Killarney by the less arduous Moll's Gap, and you'll find modern highways (called national roads in Ireland) from there.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">"Rounding the Ring" is a staple of any visit to the Emerald Isle. It's going in circles, but you won't regret it.</span><br/> <span class="font-size-2">To find out more, go to <a href="http://www.discoverireland.ie%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0">www.discoverireland.ie. </a></span></p>
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<div id="__zsc_once"></div>Clare's Quin Abbey, Among Ireland's Hidden Sacred Groundtag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-08-02:6442157:BlogPost:1669032015-08-02T16:00:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713127?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713075?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" style="padding: 10px;" width="640"></img></a> <strong><span class="font-size-5">T</span>hroughout Ireland's lovely and storied countryside,</strong> visitors can find magnificent religious sites that are a testament to Ireland's glorious and tragic history. Some of the best known include the Rock of Cashel, St. Kevin's Monastery at Glendalough, and the ancient university of Clonmacnoise.</p>
<p>But in addition to these…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713127?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="640" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713075?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="640" class="align-center" style="padding: 10px;"/></a><strong><span class="font-size-5">T</span>hroughout Ireland's lovely and storied countryside,</strong> visitors can find magnificent religious sites that are a testament to Ireland's glorious and tragic history. Some of the best known include the Rock of Cashel, St. Kevin's Monastery at Glendalough, and the ancient university of Clonmacnoise.</p>
<p>But in addition to these notable locations, there are numerous ruins of abbeys, monasteries and churches that are not on the tourist maps and little visited. The most chesished in my memory is Quin Abbey, which I came upon quite accidentally on one of my first trips to Ireland.<br/> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713153?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713153?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-right" style="padding: 10px;"/></a></p>
<p>Qunn Abbey in County Clare is almost in the shadow of Shannon Airport but is little known and less visited. I came upon the abbey while seeking a direct road to the nearby Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland's most popular scenic wonders. With no one around, I climbed over a stone wall and spent several hours exploring the ruins of the abbey and its somber graveyard.</p>
<p>The Franciscan friary dates from the 15th century when the MacNamara family built the cloisters on the remains of a Norman castle. The abbey was confiscated from the Franciscans in 1541 after England's Henry VIII suppressed the Catholic Church. For decades, the site was in disrepair until the MacNamaras regained control and restored the grounds in 1604. But in 1651 Cromwell's troops destroyed the abbey again, and massacred the friars.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84713153?profile=original" target="_self"><br/></a></p>
<p>In 1691, the friars returned and there was a Franciscan presence until 1820, when the last friar living on the ruined grounds died. The abbey was declared a National Monument in 1880.</p>
<p>I have visited Quin Abbey several times and have always marveled at its quiet dignity. Although officially there is caretaker on the site, perhaps because I usually visit Ireland "off season," I have never encounterd one. I have read reviews on Tripadvisor.com in which visitors, who also came upon the landmark accidentally, have found the caretaker's recitation of the abbey's history helpful. But although I would no doubt benefit from this knowledge, something in me prefers visiting Quin Abbey when no one else is around, when I can walk among the ruins and try to imagine what is was like in its era of spiritual activity. It is something that I, for one, find inspiring in today's secular world.</p>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;" class="font-size-4">Something in me prefers visiting Quin Abbey when no one else is around, when I can walk among the ruins</span></p>
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<p>Quin Abbey is nine miles from the town of Ennis in County Clare and there are directional signs on local roads. In the Franciscan spirit, there is no charge for entering the grounds. There is a bar / restaurant across the street that has received favorable reviews for lunch and a Catholic church nearby that serves the village.</p>
<p>In addition to Quin Abbey, some other religious sites that are off the beaten track are Timoleague Friary near Kinsale, County Cork, and Holy Cross Abbey in Tipperary, The latter is one of the few ancient religious sites in Ireland restored completely as a parish church.</p>
<p>For more information on visiting Ireland, contact the Irish Tourist Board at <a href="http://www.discoverireland.ie">www.discoverireland.ie</a>.</p>Yeats Society of New York Honors Its Founder, Andrew McGowantag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-06-10:6442157:BlogPost:1611762015-06-10T17:18:32.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p>The W.B.Yeats Society of New York observed its 25th anniversary June 9 with a "Roast and Toast" of founder Andrew McGowan at the National Arts Club. The event also celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of William Butler Yeats, the immortal Irish poet and playwrite, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923. Yeats was born in Sandymount, Dublin, on June 13, 1865.</p>
<p>The stellar evening at the landmark NAC offered readings of Yeats's poetry, as well as in-person and video…</p>
<p>The W.B.Yeats Society of New York observed its 25th anniversary June 9 with a "Roast and Toast" of founder Andrew McGowan at the National Arts Club. The event also celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of William Butler Yeats, the immortal Irish poet and playwrite, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923. Yeats was born in Sandymount, Dublin, on June 13, 1865.</p>
<p>The stellar evening at the landmark NAC offered readings of Yeats's poetry, as well as in-person and video tributes to both Yeats and McGowan. Among those honoring Andy for his tireless, often solitary, work on behalf of New York's largest society honoring a singular literary figure, were MC and board member Don Bates; George Heslin, founder of the Origin Theatre Company; Declan Kiley, curator of the Morgan Library and Museum; Larry Kiirwan, lead singer of <em>Black 47;</em> and Barbara Jones<em>,</em> Consul General of Ireland in New York. Video tributes, which included a few barbs at Andy, came from the likes of noted novelist Peter Quinn, celebrated raconteur Malachy McCourt, and Charlotte Moore, artistic director of the Irish Repetorey Theatre. There was also a tribute to Andy as "Pop" featuring his wife, Judy; his sons Ian, Peter and Sean, his three daughters- in-law and five grandchilden. The grand finale of the festivities was the presentation to Andy of the society's "Golden Apple Award."</p>
<p>Sndy McGowan was born in the Bronx, New York, of Irish immigrant parents who came from Donegal and Leitrim. He is a graduate of City College of New York and has been active in CCNY alumni activities, as well as his fraternity, Phi Kappa Theta. After serving as a public relations professional with St. Luke's Hospital Center, he became president of DWJ Television, the nation's oldest and largest video news release company. He founded the W.B. Yeats Society of New York June 13, 1990, on the poet's 125th birthday, to stimulate interest in Ireland's outstanding literary figure.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84712291?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84712291?profile=original" width="167"/></a><em>Andy and Judy McGowan</em></p>
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<div style="display: none;" id="__hggasdgjhsagd_once"></div>In Galway, When the Sun Goes Down, the Craic Is Up!tag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-06-04:6442157:BlogPost:1600562015-06-04T17:00:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">I</span>reland's "Wild Atlantic Way"</strong> usually refers to the rugged conflux of seacoast and mountains to be found in the western counties. But in the city of Galway, "The Wild West" takes on a different connotation.</p>
<p>Galway, known throughout history as a trading center, has…</p>
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">I</span>reland's "Wild Atlantic Way"</strong> usually refers to the rugged conflux of seacoast and mountains to be found in the western counties. But in the city of Galway, "The Wild West" takes on a different connotation.</p>
<p>Galway, known throughout history as a trading center, has become Ireland's "fun capital" and is indeed known throughout Europe as a place to let your hair down. Perhaps it's the fact that for centuries it catered to the wine trade, making it a favorite port of call for mariners. Even the immortal Columbus was known to have made Galway one of his cherished stops. Or maybe the fact that it's a college town, drawing students from around the world, has given its bar scene such a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Or it could be that, as Ireland's "festival city," there's always a reason for a party.</p>
<p>Whatever the reasons, visitors find Galway one of the most enjoyable and memorable of their Irish experiences. And there's much to love:</p>
<p><strong>The Pubs</strong> - With legendary pubs like The Quays, The King's Head and the "hallowed ground" of traditional Irish music, Tigh Nechtain, you're sure to find an emporium to your liking in Galway. My personal favorite is the "The Skeff" in the Skeffington Arms Hotel. This multi-storied old pub has beautifully carved wooden ceilings and balconies that reminded me of the music halls/bars of America's own "Wild West." It was a surprise of a Friday evening to see tuxedo-and-gown clad students at the bar, so I inquired if it was prom night. No, they said, this was just how they began a regular evening of pub-crawling. Obviously in Galway, pub crawling has developed into an art form.</p>
<p><strong>Festivals</strong> - From the Galway Film Festival in February, The Galway Races and the Arts Festival in July, and the Galway Oyster Festival in September, there's always a season for a celebration in Galway. The Galway Oyster Festival, sponsored of course by Guinness, is an event everyone should attend at least once in their lifetime. Its high ticket prices for luncheons and banquets had received some criticism that the festival was "elitist," causing the committee to add some low-cost and no-cost public events, so regular people can join in the fun.</p>
<p><strong>Dining</strong> - Irish cuisine has reached high standards since the latter part of the 20th century, and Galway has been up front in the movement. Restaurants like Aniar, the Kai Cafe and White Gables are well known for haute cuisine. And for good old-fashioned fish 'n chips, McDonagh's is world famous.</p>
<p><strong>History</strong> - The Spanish Arch is a part of the old city walls, where many a cask of wine was unloaded in Galway's mercantile past. Lynch's Castle, now a bank building, is an example of a fortified house from the 16th century. It is reputed to be the birthplace of the term 'lynching' because an official of that name hung his own son for murder there. The Claddagh is the riverside area which was a fishing village from ancient times, and the birthplace of the legendary Claddagh ring.</p>
<p><strong>Shopping</strong> - The main shopping thoroughfares are Shop Street and Quay Street. They are as much known for their buskers and street theatre as shopping, but there are also many worthwhile boutiques, bookstores, pubs and restaurants to keep visitors occupied.</p>
<p>In summary, there's plenty to do in Galway, no matter how wild, or not, you care to get. And those lovely sunsets that Bing Crosby so admired? Lets say they're a call to get the party started.</p>
<p>For more information on Galway, go to <a href="http://www.galwaytourism.ie">www.GalwayTourism.ie</a>.</p>
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<p><b>Tell us why YOU want to experience the ‘Wild West’ of Ireland, and you might win a free 9-day trip there, courtesy of Wild West Irish Tours and WOW Air.</b> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://thewildgeese.irish/group/the-wild-west-of-ireland-you-won-t-forget-your-fir" target="_self"><b>Get the details!</b></a></p>
<p><a href="http://thewildgeese.irish/group/the-wild-west-of-ireland-you-won-t-forget-your-fir" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84712022?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a></p>Ireland's Surprising Wild West, Where Eagles Soartag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-05-29:6442157:BlogPost:1588772015-05-29T03:00:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84712088?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84712088?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="375"></img></a> T</span>here are many surprises to be found</strong> in Ireland's "Wild West," and one for me that was completely unexpected was to see eagles and other birds of prey flying above the countryside in County Sligo.</p>
<p>I happened upon Ireland's Raptor Research Centre after visiting the monument to…</p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84712088?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="375" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84712088?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="375" class="align-left"/></a>T</span>here are many surprises to be found</strong> in Ireland's "Wild West," and one for me that was completely unexpected was to see eagles and other birds of prey flying above the countryside in County Sligo.</p>
<p>I happened upon Ireland's Raptor Research Centre after visiting the monument to the New York "Fighting 69th" Irish regiment in America's Civil War. Just south of the monument in Ballymote I saw a sign for the raptor centre and decided to stop. I was very glad I did, because it was another memorable experience that you can come upon just wandering around in the Emerald Isle.</p>
<p>The Irish Raptor Research Centre is a privately run sancuary for more than 100 birds of prey, including eagles, falcons, hawks and vultures. While it has an internationally known research program, it is open to visitors who want to learn more about these magnificent creatures. Besides being able to see these beautiful and powerful birds of prey, visitors can actually see the birds in flight, sometimes perilously close. I can admit to feeling some hairs raised on the back of my head as an eagle swooped down to within a few feet of me. It was as scary and exhilirating as the fasted roller coaster ride I've ever taken. For those traveling with teenagers, this has to be a must stop.</p>
<p><br/> To find out more about the Irish Raptor Research Center, including opening times and admissions, go to their website, <a href="http://www.eaglesflying.com">www.EaglesFlying.com</a>.</p>
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<p><b>Tell us why YOU want to experience the ‘Wild West’ of Ireland, and you might win a free 9-day trip there, courtesy of Wild West Irish Tours and WOW Air.</b> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://thewildgeese.irish/group/the-wild-west-of-ireland-you-won-t-forget-your-fir" target="_self"><b>Get the details!</b></a></p>
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<div style="display: none;" id="__hggasdgjhsagd_once"></div>The 'Wild' (North) West: Dear Old Donegaltag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-05-16:6442157:BlogPost:1568692015-05-16T00:00:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">T</span>he wildest county in Ireland's "Wild West"</strong> is little known to a lot of visitors to Ireland, because it's not on the well- worn, u-shaped trail that many tourist take between Shannon and Dublin. That's a reason why Donegal's blend of mountains, lakes and seacoast have…</p>
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">T</span>he wildest county in Ireland's "Wild West"</strong> is little known to a lot of visitors to Ireland, because it's not on the well- worn, u-shaped trail that many tourist take between Shannon and Dublin. That's a reason why Donegal's blend of mountains, lakes and seacoast have remained relatively unspoiled and less "touristy," compared to many of the more famous places in the emerald isle.</p>
<p>It was not until my fifth trip to Ireland that I got to see the wild beauty of the country's northwest, and I was quite unprepared for the many-faceted charms of this part of Ireland. It's a region that has been a veritable secret to all but those whose ancestors emigrated from this part of Ulster, many during the famine years, which hit Donegal particularly hard.</p>
<p>Probably the best way to see Donegal is by renting a car. Those coming from Shannon or Dublin can reach Donegal easily these days by modern highways. Your first point of interest will be Donegal Craft Village, outside Donegal town, where artisans create pottery, glassware, and fabrics that are synonymous with the area. In the town itself you can get a classic Donegal jacket from the Magee Tweed Factory.</p>
<p>After leaving Donegal town, the scenery takes over. On the coast road you'll find some of the most majestic scenery in Ireland. Along this route are the 2,000-feet high cliffs of Slieve League (above), higher than the more famous Cliffs of Moher in Clare.</p>
<p>A perfect place to spend the night is the village of Glencolmcille, a folk centre of Ireland, and a breeding ground for traditional musicians and storytellers. In the 1980's the parish priest, Father James MacDyer, was determined to improve the standard of living of the local people. He spearheaded a drive to preserve the area's heritage while attracting tourists as well, establishing the Glencolmcille Folk Village and organizing a cooperative for Irish knitted sweaters. He even attracted artists and writers by highlighting the area's beauty as an inspiration. In those days the pastors pretty much ran Irish villages, and though the practice was maligned by many, in Father MacDyer's case, his activism benefited the residents a great deal.</p>
<p>Continuing north along the coast the visitor will enter the "Gaeltacht" or Irish speaking region, one of the few left in Ireland where the Irish tongue is spoken as the first language. The area is full of picturesque lakes and estuaries, and being one of the most ancient regions of an ancient land, is the reputed home of a large colony of leprecauns. Indeed the village of Gweedore in this area is deemed the best place in Ireland to see, or at least listen to tales of, the little people.</p>
<p>Not far from Gweedore is Glenveagh National Park, home of the largest red deer herd on the island. The 170 square km park is the second largest in Ireland and includes Glenveagh Castle, a restored fortress on scenic Lough Veagh. The castle and grounds were a gift to the people of Ireland by Irish-American owner Henry Mclhenny, a Philadelphia art collector.</p>
<p>Near Glenveagh is the Glebe House and Gallery, one of Ireland's leading art museums, with more than 300 works by Irish and European artists, including a number by Jack Butler Yeats, brother of William Butler Yeats, Derek Hill and even Picasso.</p>
<p>North of Glebe house is the town of Letterkenny, chief town of Donegal and a busy shopping area. Just outside of Letterkenny, however, the wild scenery continues on the Inishowen Peninsula. Buncrana, at the head of the peninsula, boasts some interesting antiquities, such as a stone fort atop Grainan Mountain. It's a fitting place to end your visit to a mystical part of Ireland.</p>
<p>The Irish certainly can keep a secret, 'cause they've kept Donegal in hiding all of these years. But the secret is out, and Donegal is a must trip for anyone gearing up to see Ireland's "Wild Atlantic Way."</p>
<p><b>Tell us why YOU want to experience the ‘Wild West’ of Ireland, and you might win a free 9-day trip there, courtesy of Wild West Irish Tours and WOW Air.</b> <a href="http://thewildgeese.irish/group/the-wild-west-of-ireland-you-won-t-forget-your-fir" target="_self">Get the details!</a></p>
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<div style="display: none;" id="__hggasdgjhsagd_once"></div>The Lakes of Killarney - Ireland's Crown Jewelstag:thewildgeese.irish,2015-02-18:6442157:BlogPost:1447522015-02-18T03:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84710422?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84710422?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> T</span>he good people of Ireland's County Kerry</strong> call their land "The Kingdom," and if that's so, then the Lakes of Killarney must be the Crown Jewels.</p>
<p>Killarney's lovely lakes have been immortalized in song and story for their breathtaking beauty. Indeed, Queen Victoria and her…</p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84710422?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84710422?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a>T</span>he good people of Ireland's County Kerry</strong> call their land "The Kingdom," and if that's so, then the Lakes of Killarney must be the Crown Jewels.</p>
<p>Killarney's lovely lakes have been immortalized in song and story for their breathtaking beauty. Indeed, Queen Victoria and her court were so mesmerized by the panoramic vista from a hilltop overlooking the lakes that the scene was named for all time "The Ladies' View."</p>
<p>And while the beauty of the lakes is reason enough to visit the small village of Killarney in the southwest corner of the Emerald Isle, there are a number of additional charms that make this area of Kerry a must-see for any visitor to Ireland.</p>
<p><br/> <span class="font-size-3"><strong>Killarney Attractions</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Killarney National Park</strong> - There are 26,000 acres of some of the most beautiful scenery in Eire. Enjoy hiking, cycling, fishing, horseback riding in parklands, beaches and mountain trails.</p>
<p><strong>Torc Mountain</strong> - You can take a vigorous, though not too taxing trail to the top to admire a spectacular view of the lakes, while also admiring a wonderful waterfall on the way.</p>
<p><strong>Ross Castle</strong> - This restored 15th century castle is a classic Irish fortress that figured in Ireland's fights for freedom.</p>
<p><strong>Muckross House</strong> - A Victorian demense now open to "commoners," showing life on a landlord's estate. It includes exquisite gardens and a working farm.</p>
<p><strong>Muckross Abbey</strong> - These ruins of a 13th century Franciscan abbey are mute testimony to the faith of the Irish during times of persecution.</p>
<p><strong>The Gap of Dunloe</strong> - Perhaps the most famous individual tour in Ireland, takes visitors to Kate Kearney's Cottage, from which you can go on foot, horseback or "jaunting car" (horse-drawn carriage) through a mountain pass, and then by boat across Killarney's lakes to Ross Castle.</p>
<p><br/> <span class="font-size-3"><strong>Other Activities</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Golf</strong> - Ireland has some of the finest golf courses in the world, and that's not even talking about the scenery.Courses in Killarney include the Dunloe Golf Course and the Castlerosse Golf Club. Within a short driving distance are the legendary Ballybunnion Golf Course and the Waterville Golf Club.</p>
<p><strong>Dining</strong> - For a small village, Killarney offers sophisticated dining choices, and with its location near Ireland's Southwest Coast, deliciously fresh seafood.</p>
<p><strong>Singing Pubs</strong> - One of the "grand" experiences of a trip to Ireland is enjoying a night of song, mirth and camaraderie in one of Killarney's singing pubs.</p>
<p><strong>Hotels</strong> - Wonderful accommodation choices abound in Killarney, from hospitable B&B's to luxury hotels, such as the Killarney Park and the Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa.<br/> <br/> For more information, visit Killarney's oficial website, <a href="http://www.killarney.ie">www.Killarney.ie</a> , or Tourism Ireland at <a href="http://www.discoverireland.com">www.DiscoverIreland.com</a>.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Interested in Irish travel? Join Michael Quane's "Global Irish Travel" members' group:</strong></p>
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">T<span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">he only Irish attraction</span></span></strong> <span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">to make Conde Naste Travel Magazine's "20 Most Beautiful UNESCO Word Heritage Sites" was County Antrims's Giant's Causeway. </span>The 40,000 basalt stone columns that stretch into the sea…</p>
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">T<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">he only Irish attraction</span></span></strong> <span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">to make Conde Naste Travel Magazine's "20 Most Beautiful UNESCO Word Heritage Sites" was County Antrims's Giant's Causeway. </span>The 40,000 basalt stone columns that stretch into the sea towards <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Scotland</span> were <a title="Click to Continue > by Cinema-Plus-1.7c" id="_GPLITA_1" name="_GPLITA_1" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline-block ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; float: none ! important; font-weight: bold ! important; height: auto ! important; margin: 0px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-transform: uppercase ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important; width: auto ! important;"></a>formed, geologists say, by volcanic lava. But Irish mythology says the strange formations were the work of the hero Finn McCool, who built the causeway as a path to cross the Irish Sea and do battle with a rival Scottish giant.</p>
<p>Whatever the derivation, the Giant's Causeway is a scenic wonder that you can not only gawk at, but climb over and around as well. And that's what hundreds of thousands of visitors do each year, after taking a short bus ride from the visitors' centre, operated by the National Trust. In addition to climbing on and among (weather permitting) the columns, there are <a style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline-block ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; float: none ! important; font-weight: bold ! important; height: auto ! important; margin: 0px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-transform: uppercase ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important; width: auto ! important;" title="Click to Continue > by Cinema-Plus-1.7c" id="_GPLITA_2" name="_GPLITA_2"></a>hiking trails to the top of the impressive cliffs which tower over the causeway itself.</p>
<p>The visitors' centre also provides an informative and entertaining film, which outlines both of the conflicting <a style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline-block ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; float: none ! important; font-weight: bold ! important; height: auto ! important; margin: 0px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-transform: uppercase ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important; width: auto ! important;" title="Click to Continue > by Cinema-Plus-1.7c" id="_GPLITA_3" name="_GPLITA_3"></a>accounts<img style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline-block ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; float: none ! important; font-weight: bold ! important; height: 10px ! important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-transform: uppercase ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; vertical-align: super ! important; width: 10px ! important;" src="http://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png"/> of the causeway's beginnings. You can also purchase Irish handicrafts and souvenirs at reasonable prices (the causeway is no tourist trap), and get information on other attractions along the ruggedly beautiful coast of County Antrim.</p>
<p>Other nearby sites worth visiting include:</p>
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<p><strong>Dunluce Castle:</strong> Imposing ruins, dating from the 16th century, dramatically situated on a cliff overlooking the Irish Sea.</p>
<p><strong>The Glens of Antrim:</strong> Take a breathtaking ride along the coast, detouring into the nine glens, where you'll find lovely hidden coves, time-warped fishing villages, forests, waterfalls, and even the mountain where St. Patrick is reputed to have tended sheep while in slavery.</p>
<p><strong>Carrick-a-Rede:</strong> Here, you can walk, if you dare, across a rope bridge that spans an 80-foot chasm.</p>
<p><strong>The Old Bushmills Distillery:</strong> Recover from the rope bridge experience at Bushmills Distillery with a taste of Irish malt whiskey, after touring the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery.</p>
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<p>The historic village of Bushmills is literally minutes away from the Giant's Causeway. A great place to stay is the Bushmills Inn (<a href="http://www.bushmillsinn.com">www.BushmillsInn.com</a>), which provides one of the warmest welcomes you'll find in an island famous for hospitality. Having a Bushmills double malt before a turf fire in one of the inn's cosy sitting rooms is only topped by the superb dining in the inn's acclaimed restaurant, where you can feast on Irish smoked salmon or succulent New Zealand lamb.</p>
<p>The Giant's Causeway and Bushmills are about a four-hour drive from Dublin, mostly on modern highways ( called "dual carriageways" in Ireland). If you decide to say in Belfast and tour one of Europe's emerging "hot" cities, try the Fitzwilliam International Belfast, a boutique hotel adjacent to the Opera <a style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline-block ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; float: none ! important; font-weight: bold ! important; height: auto ! important; margin: 0px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-transform: uppercase ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important; width: auto ! important;" title="Click to Continue > by Cinema-Plus-1.7c" id="_GPLITA_4" name="_GPLITA_4"></a>House. While Belfast was for years considered "off limits" due to the sectarian troubles, with the current peace initiative, it's actually one of the safest places in Europe these days.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84709525?profile=original"></a> For further information on the Giant's Causeway and surrounding areas, log on to <a href="http://www.causewaycoastandglens.com">www.CausewayCoastAndGlens.com</a>, or contact the Irish Tourist Board at <a href="http://www.Ireland.com" target="_blank">www.Ireland.com</a>.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Interested in <a style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline-block ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; float: none ! important; font-weight: bold ! important; height: auto ! important; margin: 0px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-transform: uppercase ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important; width: auto ! important;" title="Click to Continue > by Cinema-Plus-1.7c" id="_GPLITA_6" name="_GPLITA_6"></a>Irish travel? Join our <strong>Global Irish Travel</strong> group:</em></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84709653?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84709653?profile=original" class="align-center" width="171"/></a></p>
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<div style="display: none;" id="__if72ru4rkjahiuyi_once"></div>Serene Greenery in County Galwaytag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-11-23:6442157:BlogPost:1290362014-11-23T02:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84708223?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img><p></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">I</span>reland is known around the world</strong> as a place of fun, with pubs, singing and dancing, and of course, that's all true. But the Emerald Isle can also be a place for tranquility and quiet beauty. A visit to Brigit's Garden, just outside Galway City, will show that serenity and introspection are also part of the Irish experience.</p>
<p>Brigit's Garden is a perfect stop for those who…</p>
<img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84708223?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/><p></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">I</span>reland is known around the world</strong> as a place of fun, with pubs, singing and dancing, and of course, that's all true. But the Emerald Isle can also be a place for tranquility and quiet beauty. A visit to Brigit's Garden, just outside Galway City, will show that serenity and introspection are also part of the Irish experience.</p>
<p>Brigit's Garden is a perfect stop for those who are venturing out to explore the fabled Hills of Connemara or Ireland's "Wild West" Coast. Located in the village of Roscahill, County Galway, it's about a twenty-minute drive north of Galway City. My wife and I stopped there as part of a day trip that took us into Connemara as far as Kylemore Abbey. The eleven acres of beautiful landscaped gardens are not only visually stunning, they also provide insight into the history aznd development of Ireland's Celtic heritage.</p>
<p>Designed by Mary Reynolds, winner of the gold medal at the 2002 Chelsea Flower Show in London, the gardens provide a journey through the four cycles of the ancient Celtic calendar. The first is the Winter Garden, reflecting the Celtic feast of Samhain, which corresponds to our present feast of Halloween. This was the beginning of the yearly cycle for the ancient Irish, a time of reflection on death but the promise of rebirth as well. A mound of earth in the shape of a sleeping woman wraps around a womb-like pool. It is a place of stillness, for reflection on new beginnings,</p>
<p>In the next cycle, the Imbolc, or Spring Garden, celebrates the stirrings of spring on St. Brigit's Day, which also corresponds to an ancient Celtic festival that celebrated the season of new life. The garden's pathway leads through a meadow and orchard with a chlldren's garden featuring huge suspended baskets you can swing in. A stone garving in the ground symbolizes both the Catholic St. Brigit and the Celtic goddess who similarly was the patroness of poetry, metal working and midwifery.</p>
<p>The Summer Garden celebrates the ancient fire festival of Bealtaine, which corresponds to the modern May Day and the coming of warm weather. This was the time of love, marriage and the adventures of youth. The garden of wildflowers tells the story of Diarmund and Grainne, represented by a sculpture of flame figures. It leads through a stone-columned walkway to an ancient Celtic throne on which visitors are invited to sit, masters of all they survey.</p>
<p>The Autumn Garden reflects the legend of Lughnasa, start of the cycle marking the harvest and the transition of summer to fall. Two interlinked circles are surrounded by huge standing stones, similar to England's Stonehenge, providing spaces for dancing, and leading to a table for the harvest feast. This garden has an abundance of vegetable plants, celebrating all that has come to fruition in the year past.</p>
<p>Though the four gardens carry the theme of the site, there are additional attractions that will interest the visitor as well. These include a huge calendar sundial carved on the ground, which tells with great accuracy the date and time. Those who have the time will also want to take the half-mile nature trail through the site's meadows and woodlands. You can see a ring fort that housed an ancient forge, a roundhouse meditation hut with a thatched roof, a crannog, and a children's discovery trail and play area. You can also learn the symbolism of the ancient Celtic alphabet, carved on the Ogham trees.</p>
<p>For further information, visit <a href="http://www.brigitsgarden.ie">www.BrigitsGarden.ie</a>, or the West of Ireland website, <a href="http://www.irelandwest.ie">www.IrelandWest.ie</a>.</p>
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<div style="display: none;" id="__if72ru4rkjahiuyi_once"></div>Dublin's Clontarf Castletag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-11-18:6442157:BlogPost:1283702014-11-18T02:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84708168?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84708168?profile=original" width="750"></img></a> T</span>o lovers of history,</strong> Ireland is a land of castles and battlefields, and there are many of both in the Emerald Isle, given its contentious past. The Clontarf Castle Hotel brings the history-minded both, given its location in a renovated castle, close by the site of the important…</p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84708168?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84708168?profile=original" width="750" class="align-full"/></a>T</span>o lovers of history,</strong> Ireland is a land of castles and battlefields, and there are many of both in the Emerald Isle, given its contentious past. The Clontarf Castle Hotel brings the history-minded both, given its location in a renovated castle, close by the site of the important victory over the Danes by the army of High King Brian Boru in 1014. Ireland is observing the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf, fought on a beach outside Dublin, which prevented a Viking conquest of the country.</p>
<p>Today’s visitors, however, especially the business-minded, may find the four-star Clontarf Castle Hotel’s convenience to modern establishments, notably Dublin Airport and Convention Centre Dublin, more important. They can be reached by car without having to maneuver through Dublin’s Centre City traffic.</p>
<p>Though a castle has been in the site since the 12th century, Clontarf Castle Hotel is by no means a medieval Irish stronghold. The hotel itself is a complete renovation, with new additions, of a castle building built in the 1830s. In their decorating,, however, the owners did try to give a “Game of Thrones” feel to the public areas. Teenagers in our party enjoyed sitting in the regal-like chairs in the lobby, perhaps day-dreaming of the days when knights were bold.</p>
<p>The hotel rooms, while not palatial, are modern and comfortable, and the staff is quite good at making guests feel like royalty. The hotel, too, is more reasonably priced than like-level accommodations in the middle of town. One of the problems, however, is that, the venue is popular for wedding receptions, which may tend to be boisterous. If you value your sleep, it’s best to ask for a room on the upper floors, and away from the reception areas, at least on the weekends.</p>
<p>While away from the congestion of Dublin traffic, the hotel is still convenient for visitors who want to go sightseeing and shopping in the city. Just a half a block walk from the entrance is a stop for a double-decker bus which will take you right to O’Connell Street in about ten minutes, even during the morning rush. Since we left early, the youngsters in our party got to chat with Dublin students on their way to high school.</p>
<p>For us, the Clontarf Castle Hotel was a great way to top off a two-week vacation that started in Shannon. We got to Dublin Airport refreshed and unfrazzled after our whirlwind tour of Ireland.</p>
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<div style="display: none;" id="__if72ru4rkjahiuyi_once"></div>Mystical Newgrange is a 5,000-Year-Old Irish Gemtag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-08-30:6442157:BlogPost:1156182014-08-30T01:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84704353?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84704353?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> <strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">I</span>t's older than the pyramids of Egypt</strong> and England's Stonehenge, and it's an astronomical wonder as well. Yet the passage grave at Newgrange, in Ireland's County Meath, is often ignored in…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84704353?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84704353?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;">I</span>t's older than the pyramids of Egypt</strong> and England's Stonehenge, and it's an astronomical wonder as well. Yet the passage grave at Newgrange, in Ireland's County Meath, is often ignored in <a title="Click to Continue > by SaveerAdduon" id="_GPLITA_1" href="http://www.holidaymag.co.uk/newgrange.html#" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline-block ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; float: none ! important; font-weight: bold ! important; height: auto ! important; margin: 0px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-transform: uppercase ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important; width: auto ! important;" name="_GPLITA_1">package tours</a> of the Emerald Isle.</p>
<p>That's a pity, because the megalithic tomb at Newgrange provides a fascinating primer on how Ireland's people lived - and died - in the beautiful Boyne Valley more than 5,000 years ago.</p>
<p>Like Stonehenge, Newgrange is a favorite haunt of spiritualists, animists and present-day Druid cultists who are wont to visit on feasts like Halloween or the pagan observance of the winter solstice.</p>
<p>Easily reached by the main N1 road that goes north from Dublin (about a 30-minute drive), Newgrange is part of a "heritage trail" in County Meath called Bru na Boinne.</p>
<p>It also includes such sites as Knowth, which has two smaller burial chambers and striking images of Celtic art; the Hill of Tara, ancient home of the "High Kings" of Ireland; Kells, where the famous illuminated manuscripts of the Gospels were written; the Hill of Slane, where St. Patrick lit the Pascal fire in defiance of a pagan king's edict, and Slane Castle, an estate dating from 1701 that's more famous now as a venue for rock concerts by such bands as U2 and the Rolling Stones. </p>
<p>Newgrange itself, just a five-minute drive from where the N1 enters the ancient city of Drogheda, boasts a well-laid out and informative visitors center that illustrates how the 1-acre mound was built with materials that came from the four corners of the island. <br/> <br/> It also provides an intriguing glimpse into the lives of Ireland's inhabitants, circa 3200 B.C. A film gives visitors an appreciation of one of the monument's greatest features: the alignment of its entrance with the winter solstice (Dec. 21), when the first rays of the sun sparkle through the passageway to light up the burial chamber. How members of this ancient civilization were able to accomplish this mathematical feat remains a mystery. <br/> <br/> A re-creation of the inside of the passage tomb is available at the visitors center, but it's no substitute for the real thing. It is certainly worth your while to take the short bus ride that ferries visitors up the hill to the burial mound, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.</p>
<p>Surrounded by 97 curbstones decorated with the swirls characteristic of Celtic art, the huge stone tomb is truly monumental in scope. It has been estimated that it would have taken 300 workers using tools available in the era at least 20 years to build it. <br/> <br/> Panoramic views from the hill of the River Boyne and its peaceful countryside give little hint that the area was a fierce battleground from the time of the high kings through the English conquests. <br/> <br/> Entering the chamber itself is a somber experience that gives you an appreciation for the small physical stature of the workers who built the huge tombs. Led by an informative guide, visitors also get to experience the darkness of the tomb and a re-creation of the winter solstice phenomenon. <br/> <br/> Another historic site nearby is the walled city of Drogheda, which was besieged and sacked by Cromwell's army in 1649. Drogheda's attractions also include St. Peter's Church, whose shrine features - for all who dare to look - the preserved head of the drawn and quartered Irish martyr St. Oliver Plunkett. <br/> <br/> Anyone interested in history, Irish or otherwise, is certain to find a "mound" of treasure in Newgrange and the Boyne Valley region.</p>
<hr style="width: 100%; clear: both; visibility: hidden;"/><div class="paragraph" style="display: block;"><span class="font-size-2"><em>For further information on Newgrange, go to <a href="http://www.meath.ie/tourism." target="_blank" title="" style="text-decoration: underline;">www.Meath.ie/tourism</a> and for more information on Ireland generally go to <a href="http://www.discoverireland.com">www.DiscoverIreland.com</a>.</em></span></div>
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</table>Tipperary, an Overlooked Irish Charmertag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-07-24:6442157:BlogPost:1069722014-07-24T18:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><br></br><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84706618?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84706618?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> I</span>f you’re concerned that modernity</strong> has caused the Emerald Isle will lose its rural charm, set your compass to <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/County+Tipperary" title="County Tipperary">County Tipperary</a> for a taste of "the real Ireland."…</p>
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<p><br/><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84706618?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84706618?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a>I</span>f you’re concerned that modernity</strong> has caused the Emerald Isle will lose its rural charm, set your compass to <a title="County Tipperary" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/County+Tipperary">County Tipperary</a> for a taste of "the real Ireland."</p>
<p><a title="Tipperary" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Tipperary">Tipperary</a>, Ireland's largest inland county, was immortalized in the popular British marching song from World War I, "It's a Long Way to Tipperary." And while that may have seemed true from the fields of <a title="Flanders" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Flanders">Flanders</a>, Ireland is a wee country, so for visitors to <a title="Dublin" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Dublin">Dublin</a> or Shannon, Tipperary is not a such a great distance at all. Moreover, the joys of Tipperary are worth a short detour from the well-worn, U-shaped tourist trail around the southern coast.</p>
<p>Those who do invest the extra time will find it a most rewarding part of any trip to Erin. Among the natural sights you can take in on a one- or two-day excursion to "Tipp" are <a title="Lough Derg" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Lough+Derg">Lough Derg</a>, a fishing and boating paradise that's part of the <a title="River Shannon" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/River+Shannon">River Shannon</a> estuary, and the <a title="Golden Vale" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Golden+Vale">Golden Vale</a>, which boasts some of Ireland's richest farmland and is increasingly famous as a breeding area for championship race horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> County Tipperary’s heritage as the preserver of the traditional Irish sport of hurling (which is like field hockey – for masochists) can be followed in Thurles, where the Gaelic Athletic Association was born. Semple Stadium in Thurles is the spiritual home of hurling and has hosted many a regional championship triumph for the “Tipp” hurlers.</p>
<p>There are plenty of historic attractions as well. <a title="Nenagh" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Nenagh">Nenagh</a> is a market town in <a title="North Tipperary" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/North+Tipperary">North Tipperary</a> known for its imposing castle, whose 12-foot-thick walls have weathered many an attack. <a title="Cahir Castle" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Cahir+Castle">Cahir Castle</a> (pictured above), from the 12th century, is one of the largest restored fortresses in the country, and the backdrop for many movies set in the Middle Ages. The Rock of Cashel, a fortress-church compound on a starkly beautiful rock formation, was the 11th-century headquarters of heroic high king (and <a title="Ronald Reagan" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Ronald+Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> ancestor) <a title="Brian Boru" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Brian+Boru">Brian Boru</a>. And <a title="Holy Cross Abbey" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Holy+Cross+Abbey">Holy Cross Abbey</a>, also from the 11th century, is one of the few Irish monasteries to have been fully restored to its former grandeur. It is still used as a village church.</p>
<p>Tipperary is made up of many quaint villages, such as Ballyporeen. Proud to be known as the ancestral home of President Reagan (who visited there in 1984), it's less effusive about its connections to another celebrity, <a title="Boy George" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Boy+George">George O'Dowd</a> - more famously known as Boy George. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the US presidant’s visit, one local entrepreneur renamed his bar “Reagan’s Pub.” When the notoriety eventually died down, the pub closed in 2008, but its interior was moved to California, and it’s now a room in the Reagan Library</p>
<p><a title="Roscrea" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Roscrea">Roscrea</a>, another market town relatively unaffected by modernity, is nestled beneath the <a title="Slieve Bloom Mountains" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Slieve+Bloom+Mountains">Slieve Bloom Mountains</a>, a popular hiking and horseback riding area two hours' drive from Dublin.</p>
<p>Another attraction found throughout Tipperary is traditional Irish music. The county has been an incubator for singers and musicians of "trad" - as traditional Irish music is called - since the time of the Clancy Brothers, who gave voice to the genre in the <a title="United States" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/United+States">U.S.</a> through frequent appearances on "The <a title="Ed Sullivan" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Ed+Sullivan">Ed Sullivan</a> Show" in the 1960s. The Clancys emigrated to America from the Tipperary village of <a title="Carrick-on-Suir" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Carrick-on-Suir">Carrick-on-Suir</a>.</p>
<p>Yes, Tipperary really isn't so far away, and taking the detour will give you a view of a way of life in Ireland that's all but disappeared in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Galway.</p>
<p><em>For more information on visiting Tipperary, contact Tourism Ireland at <a href="http://www.discoverireland.com/">www.DiscoverIreland.com</a>.</em> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84706669?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84706669?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>'One Great Irish Spot': Clonmacnoisetag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-03-10:6442157:BlogPost:821732014-03-10T01:00:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84704350?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84704350?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> I</span>n Ireland, Clonmacnoise was a light in the Dark Ages.…</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 21.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; background: white;"></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84704350?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84704350?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a>I</span>n Ireland, Clonmacnoise was a light in the Dark Ages.</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 21.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; line-height: 13.5pt;">Walking inside its chapels' tumbled walls and seeing birds nesting in its silent bell towers, it's hard to believe that this was once one of</span> <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Europe" title="Europe" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; line-height: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Europe</span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; line-height: 13.5pt;">'s great universities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: 13.5pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;" xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">But <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Ireland" title="Ireland"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ireland</span></a>'s Clonmacnoise, quiet now but for the rustling of the nearby <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/River+Shannon" title="River Shannon"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">River Shannon</span></a>, was the home of some 3,000 scholars at a time in Europe's Dark Ages when Ireland stood as a beacon of learning. And while a trip to the Emerald Isle offers much in the way of fun - singing, dancing, shopping and lively pubs - a visit to Clonmacnoise in rural <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/County+Offaly" title="County Offaly"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">County Offaly</span></a> is a sobering journey into a history at once glorious and tragic.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: 13.5pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;" xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">Clonmacnoise was founded by St. Ciaran in A.D. 547, under the sponsorship of Prince Diarmuid (later to become high king of Ireland), about 100 years after the conversion of the country to Christianity by St. Patrick. It was a monastery and center of learning for more than 1,000 years, but its proudest age was from the sixth to the ninth centuries, a time of European anarchy after the fall of the Roman Empire. During that period, Ireland's scholars kept learning alive, and Irish monks founded monasteries all over the Continent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: 13.5pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;" xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">This is the period chronicled in <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Thomas+Cahill" title="Thomas Cahill"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Thomas Cahill</span></a>'s "How the Irish Saved Civilization." Clonmacnoise, mentioned prominently in the book, became one of Ireland's most important monastic cities, renowned not only for its scholarship but as a center for artisans producing such medieval masterpieces as the Cross of Cong, a bejeweled processional cross now in Dublin's National Museum, and the illuminated manuscript "The Book of the Dun Cow," now in an <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/University+of+Oxford" title="University of Oxford"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Oxford University</span></a> library. Two High Celtic crosses in the visitors' center demonstrate the sophistication of stone sculpture in medieval Ireland, and the remains of such buildings as the Nuns' Church and the Cathedral, dating from the 10th century, are fine examples of early Hiberno-Romanesque architecture.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: 13.5pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;" xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">The 67-foot-high <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Jassin-O%27Rourke+Group+LLC" title="Jassin-O'Rourke Group LLC"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">O'Rourke</span></a>'s Tower is in remarkably good shape, given that Clonmacnoise suffered some eight raids by Vikings, a dozen more by warring Irish clans in the 10th and 11th centuries and destruction by invading English troops from the 12th century through the 1640s.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: 13.5pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;" xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">Also in the visitors' center is a grouping of ancient carved grave slabs, lovingly restored and displayed as if in an art gallery. While the center's museum, which opened about a dozen years ago, does give an excellent presentation of the site's history, I preferred the atmosphere of my first visit, years before the museum was in place, when the lonely, stark ruins gave mute testimony to the glories and tragedies of this holy site.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: 13.5pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;" xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">The significance of Clonmacnoise is apparent from the fact that it was chosen as a final resting place by such luminaries as <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Turlough+O%27Connor" title="Turlough O'Connor"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">King Turlough O'Connor</span></a> and his son <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Rory+O%27Connor" title="Rory O'Connor"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rory O'Connor</span></a>, the last high king, buried there in 1198. Another historic aspect of the site is the fact that the Nuns' Church was ordered built by Dearbhforgaill, queen of Breffni, whose abduction led to an invasion by Anglo-Norman mercenaries, resulting in the first English colonization of Ireland.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: 13.5pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;" xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">Called "greater than kingdoms in its dignity," Clonmacnoise was the most important monastic site of Ireland's golden age of learning. It is still a place of pilgrimage, with crowds of the devout traveling to the site each September. Though not on the tourist trail around Ireland's southern coast from Shannon to <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Dublin" title="Dublin"><span style="color: #015fb6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dublin</span></a>, and though missing from the itineraries of most escorted tour packages, Clonmacnoise is worth a visit by anyone interested in the faith, learning and yes, sorrow of Ireland's storied history.</span></p>
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<p></p>Playing the Wild Rover: Some Irish Pubs Around the Globetag:thewildgeese.irish,2013-11-21:6442157:BlogPost:635522013-11-21T02:00:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84701911?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84701911?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> France has its Eiffel Tower, the U.S. its Statue of Liberty, but arguably the most iconic attraction in Ireland is that cathedral of conviviality, the Irish pub. The unique thing that this Irish institution has is that, unlike the others, it’s exportable, if you don’t count plaster-of- Paris imitations of Lady Liberty and the Eiffel Tower,that really don’t do it for…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84701911?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/84701911?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a>France has its Eiffel Tower, the U.S. its Statue of Liberty, but arguably the most iconic attraction in Ireland is that cathedral of conviviality, the Irish pub. The unique thing that this Irish institution has is that, unlike the others, it’s exportable, if you don’t count plaster-of- Paris imitations of Lady Liberty and the Eiffel Tower,that really don’t do it for anyone.</p>
<p>Since Irish pubs have found their way to all corners of the globe, I thought it might be helpful to provide a guide to some of the members of the genre in various countries. I won’t even bother talking about the U.S. or Australia, where you’ll have no difficulty finding an Irish emporium in a ten-minute walk in most cities. But Irish pubs have sprung up in many countries without large Irish populations as well, and following are some fine examples.</p>
<p><strong>Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia</strong> - A country that calls itself “truly Asia” has one of the warmest Irish pubs in the globe, Delaney’s in Kuala Lumpur, located in the Federal Hotel. When I visited, a singer of mostly East Indian extraction named Sheila Isaac (her grandfather was Jewish) sang Irish ballads in a perfect brogue. At the bar you can chat about the experience of living abroad with Irish and Scottish ex-pats, who are mostly in the oil business. There are other Irish pubs in KL, including Finnegan’s which is more well known. But if you find Delany’s, just a few blocks from the Shangri La Hotel, you need go no further.</p>
<p><strong>Beijing, China</strong> – known as Beijing’s first Irish pub, Paddy O’Shea’s, in the Dong Cheng District near the New World Courtyard Marriott, has been serving up Guinness to Irish ex-pats doing business in Beijing for many years.</p>
<p><strong>Manila, The Philippines</strong> – Almost making up for the demise of The Craic, which was a victim of urban redevelopment, are Irish pubs that have three of Metro Manila’s busiest sections covered. Murphy’s serves an Irish ex-pat clientele in Makati, which is Manila’s financial district; Mulligan’s Authentic Irish Pub and Restaurant holds sway in the Paranaque, where the international airport is located; and Molly Malone’s keeps the fires burning in Ermita, Manila’s entertainment district.</p>
<p><strong>Amsterdam, The Netherlands</strong> – The city is more famous for other forms of entertainment, but you’ll find a traditional Irish welcome and, even a sesiun of Irish music, at Mulligan’s. There’s no “pub grub” here, but as the owner slyly states, there’s hundreds of good restaurants within walking (crawling?) distance. There are actually dozens of Irish pubs in the Netherlands, but Mulligan’s, celebrating its 25th year, claims to be the oldest. And why would ye argue?</p>
<p><strong>Zurich, Switzerland</strong> - There are more than a dozen Irish pubs in Switzerland’s financial capital. Probably the most famous is the James Joyce Pub, paying tribute to the immortal Irish writer who spent much of his self-imposed exile in Zurich and is buried there. The interior of the pub was shipped from Dublin to replicate a Joycean atmosphere.</p>
<p><strong>Barcelona, Spain</strong> - There are reportedly some 20 Irish pubs in Barcelona, not surprising considering the city’s reputation for nightlife. An attractive pub in a quiet section is Paddy’s Lane, a small edition with an outdoor patio in the city’s Barri Gothic quarter. A lively place just off Barcelona’s rollicking Las Ramblas is Flaherty’s.</p>
<p><strong>Rio de Janiero, Brazil</strong> – If you’re planning to attend the Olympics in Rio in 2016, sure an’ ye should have a pub available for savoring the day’s events. One of the most popular in Rio is Shenanigans. Enough said.</p>
<p></p>Help Our Philippine Brethren Todaytag:thewildgeese.irish,2013-11-19:6442157:BlogPost:634232013-11-19T20:30:00.000ZMichael Quanehttps://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MichelQuane
<p><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1512902.1384179157%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/philippines-typhoon.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1512902.1384179157%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/philippines-typhoon.jpg?width=300" style="padding: 2px;" width="300"></img></a> <strong><span class="font-size-5">T</span>he government of Ireland has pledged aid</strong> of more than 3 million euro to the disaster-stricken Philippines, and Irish missionaries are in the forefront of providing assistance to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, according to Irish news reports. Tipperary-born…</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1512902.1384179157%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/philippines-typhoon.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1512902.1384179157%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/philippines-typhoon.jpg?width=300" width="300" class="align-left" style="padding: 2px;"/></a><strong><span class="font-size-5">T</span>he government of Ireland has pledged aid</strong> of more than 3 million euro to the disaster-stricken Philippines, and Irish missionaries are in the forefront of providing assistance to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, according to Irish news reports. Tipperary-born Sister Anne Healy, for example, of Trocaire, the overseas relief agency of the Catholic Church of Ireland, led volunteers who delivered food to thousands who survived the Nov. 8 catastrophe.</p>
<p><strong>Left, residents struggle to rebuild their homes in the Philippines after being slammed by Friday's typhoon. </strong><strong>Photo: Bullit Marquez/AP</strong></p>
<p>This is not surprising, considering the historical affinity of these two small nations at opposite ends of the globe. Indeed, the two countries have quite a bit in common. Both have a had a tragic, centuries-long history of domination by an oppressor (in the case of the Philippines it was Spain), both have a excelled in music and literature out of proportion to their size, both are known for the hospitality of their people, both have had many who’ve experienced the need to emigrate, and both have had a long tradition of Catholicism.</p>
<p>The ties between the Philippines and Ireland goes back to the 19th century, when Irish Catholic religious orders founded houses in the Philippines. The missionaries opened schools and hospitals that became among the best in the country. Today, many government officials count schools like the Jesuit Ateneo University as their alma mater. Originally started by Spanish Jesuits, American Jesuits staffed the school after the United States took over after the Spanish-American War. One of the Irish Americans who taught at Ateneo in the 1960s was Father Joseph O’Hare, S.J., who later became president of Fordham University.</p>
<p><a href="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/03/9a/26/e0/molly-malone-s-irish.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/03/9a/26/e0/molly-malone-s-irish.jpg?width=250" width="250" class="align-right" style="padding: 2px;"/></a></p>
<p>There was even an Irish connection during the Philippines’ years of revolution against Spain. The Filipino national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, married Josephine Bracken, daughter of an Irish-born British soldier stationed in Hong Kong, on the eve of his execution by the Spanish in Manila. Bracken later led Filipino revolutionaries in a number of battles against their colonial overlords, to the point where many called her the “Joan of Arc of the Philippines.” She was subsequently banished by the Spanish, who wouldn’t execute her because she was a woman.</p>
<p><strong><strong>Right, Molly Malone's Pub, Manila</strong></strong></p>
<p>In recent years, during the Celtic Tiger boom, Filipino nurses were recruited to work in Ireland, as they have been in the United States. And the business relationship between the two countries has grown stronger, with many Irish ex-pats stationed in Manila. A handful of Irish pubs have even been opened in the city, notably Murphy’s in the business district, Mulligan’s near the airport, and Molly Malone’s in the central entertainment district.</p>
<p>Though so many miles apart, Ireland and the Philippines do indeed have much in common, and many Irish number kind and convivial Filipinos among their good friends. Anyone who wants to help our friends in need can do so through the <a href="http://www.goal.ie/NewsDetails/329" target="_blank">Irish humanitarian agency GOAL</a>, <a href="https://www.trocaire.org/donate" target="_blank">Trocaire</a>, The Red Cross, at <a href="http://www.redcross.org" target="_blank">www.redcross.org</a>, or Catholic Relief Services, <a href="http://www.crs.org" target="_blank">www.crs.org</a>. <strong>MQ</strong></p>