“The Bog Road” as it is know is a three mile stretch of road between Athlone and the village of Clonown. The village has the unusual distinction of not having a pub - for Ireland this is quite an anomaly!…

Turf cutters have unearthed more than home heating fuel from Ireland's bogs.  Bog bodies - naturally preserved human remains - are a fascinating study.  The chemical composition of the bog has antibiotic properties which kill the bacteria that would normally break down the flesh.  The…

ÓGRA, a Gaelic word meaning youth, is Ireland’s only full range of cosmetic products that uses peat from raised bogs as the integral ingredient in its range. Since time immemorial, nature has held the secrets to youth, beauty and vitality. Deep in the valleys of Ireland, we have uncovered this secret. 

ÓGRA was…

Yes, believe it or not, I saw the oldest surviving manuscript in Ireland. It’s called the Cathach (meaning the Battle Book) and it was used by the O’Donnell Clan as a protection or talisman when going into battle.

Because of its fragile state, it is rarely shown…

A game of hurling in Mercedes, Argentina (1917)

A frequently asked…

A Church index of sorts.

While I've been travelling around with my friend Janet, Daniel who helps me with from-ireland has done a bit of organising of my last few months posts and created a Church index.

Mainly the Churches are in the counties I name above, but, we also have some Cork, Carlow, Kildare, Waterford, Dublin, Westmeath, Offaly (King's Co.) and Galway churches.

I just know I've forgotten somewhere!!

This is actually a very pretty little church and the thing about it is that it is on my way from Laois to Tipperary as I was a few weeks ago on my way to Nenagh. You literally drive through this little patch of Offaly and then you are into Tipperary. I have done the graveyard a good while ago but I haven't checked my site to get a link. Been at the computer for about 2 hours now and all I seem to be doing is talking!!!…

In Ireland, Clonmacnoise was a light in the Dark Ages.…