The votes for "The 'Wild West' of Ireland: You Won't Forget Your First Time' are the culmination of our 24-day exploration of the glories of travel in Ireland's rugged western counties.  Our panel of five judges -- Val Robus, Joe McGowan, Mike Quane, Lucinda Quinn and Denise Foley -- proved to be as diligent and passionate as our 60 entrants. What we didn't envision was the depth of yearning exhibited by so many of the entrants, all keen to embrace the Irish experience first-hand.

Our five judges have spent, collectively, many hours going through the posted entries, which included several videos. The jurists have singled out three entries they found particularly compelling. These now comprise the Grand Prize winner, along with second- and third-place finishers.

Before we formally announce the winners, Joe Gannon, Fran Reddy and I, along with Michael and Trish, our partners at Wild West Irish Tours, with our colleagues at Irish American News and WOW Air, all want to state emphatically that in our view you all are winners, as you all demonstrate to us once again what a remarkable group of people are drawn to Ireland and the Irish worldwide.

Here then are the winners:

3rd Prize: Nicole Samantha Fishkind, from Whitman, Massachusetts. Nicole wins this exclusive WIld Geese logo women’s ¾ sleeve t-shirt (left)..

2nd Prize: Leanna Jenkins, from Kansas City, Missouri. Leanna wins a Wild Geese Logo women’s zip up hoodie (left).

Drum roll please ....

1st Prize, winner of the free tour-package for two from Wild West Irish Tours with round-trip airfare from the US to Dublin via WOW Air is Maureen Kelley-Olson, hailing from Richmond, Virginia.

Congratulations to our winners and all our entrants!

To view the full roster of entrants, all of them cherished equally by our team and partners, visit "The Wild West" headquarters page.

Meanwhile, stay with us -- the best is yet to come!