But according to our alumni “Wild Westies”; or people who travel with us on a Wild West Irish Tour, nothing is more surprising than these top three [technically four] things:

1. The Fairy Glen…

As of today, you now have the opportunity to virtually visit The Wild West of Ireland.

The Heart of the Wild West!

Wild West Irish Tours…

Good morning (afternoon) to you all! Hope the week is treating you well so far.

We at Wild West Irish Tours just wanted to take a moment to say thanks - and to introduce the special event kicking off tonight: the launching of the brand new, exclusive Wild West Atlantic Way Tour!

Yep – you heard it here first (or possibly second; if you follow us elsewhere), folks – we’re gearing up to do…

Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame! -- W.B. Yeats.

Through the history of folklore worldwide; fairies, or some variant of…

Wayne Rooney is tiny. Really tiny. I stood less than ten feet away from him on Sunday, on the pitch in the Aviva, and I reckoned I was taller than him. When I got home I checked and so I am. But then I reckoned I was taller than most of the Irish and English football…

I want to return to Western Ireland for spiritual and artistic reasons. In college I fell in love with Irish literature, from the pagan/pre-medieval myths to the current day. I love Irish music, too. And oddly enough, I married a man from County Cork (we met in college). My mother’s family has a lot of Irish heritage as well. We are descended from a man who came on a ship to New York Harbor on Christmas Eve, 1847. I can only imagine what was in Martin’s heart when he left Cork and when he…

Well, considering that I have yet to contribute anything to this site, now seems like an excellent place to start. My knowledge of Irish culture is considerably lacking and I wish to amend this vexing predicament, preferably by going on an all inclusive trip to Ireland. Though I may have an innate fondness for all things potato related (or the "starchy tuberous crop" as it is described on Wikipedia), I wish that there could be something more substantial and less spudly connecting me to my…

Dearest Ireland and your Wild West heart, 

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to visit you, yet, Ireland. Somehow, I've known you my whole life without having met you, and always felt we would meet one day. I let it live deeply and quietly within as I dreamed myself into a…

Ok, so really I’m completely obsessed with and addicted to Irish butter. We eat it every single day. To be exact, I did the math and we eat 24 ounces every week, which comes out to…drumroll please….72 pounds/32.5 kg a year! It is the best butter on the planet so of course it comes from this magical country. That being said, Ireland is literally in my blood in more ways than one! I’ve always known that my roots on my mother’s side go…

Please click on the video below to find out why I want to win in my contest entry!

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. …

Arise in the morning with a day anew

What new adventures are waiting for you

Chatter and laughter filling the air

Full Irish breakfast is the fare

We spy the blue beastie driving up from the drive

Quickly we get ready like bees in a hive

We board our blue stallion not knowing which way

We are headed towards cloudy…

Endless shades of green everywhere you look

Sounds of water from a babbling brook

Fresh smells the air after a summer shower

As we walk the woods you can feel the power

Of a land whose people love so dear

And with each step taken dwindles our troubles and fears

Soon we gather and board into the Blue Beast

And with steady driver at the helm we head to a pub for a feast

Soon voices, music, and laughter fill the air

And we celebrate…

 ...and not a battle at all?  Was the area of Brù-na-Bóinne where the survivors of 'Noah's' flood emerged? What about the 

strange report from Charles O'Kelly, a Colonel in James’ army, who said the whole thing was a conspiracy to hand Ireland to William?…

The Wild Geese gained a spotlight on 'Communications Corner,' on Queens Public Television (QPTV), the Queens, NYC, public television network. During the broadcast, co-founder Gerry Regan shares his personal background while discussing the ever-growing and very passionate membership of the world's leading social network…

Ireland's worldwide invitation to the Irish diaspora to come home in the very ambitious and controversial countrywide event "The Gathering" has exceeded all expectations.  A resounding success, especially for Irish tourism, the central statistics…

The Halloween 'Legend of Loftus Hall Experience Tour for Adults Only'  has been sold out for months! Having a wine and tapas bar and reserved table for after the tour had added to the value of this creative endeavour of the Hall's new owners.  

Near the end of my recent trip to Ireland, Wexford maritime historian and writer Jack O'Leary took me down to…

Part 1:  From Ireland to America:  Bonded Through Time and Famine

Part 2:  From Ireland to America: The Kennedy Homestead New Visitor Center

It was a big year for New Ross, County Wexford.  In June the new visitor center opened…

UPDATE:  My Irish Backpacking, No-Low Budget, Roving Reporter Tour So Far!

The Ferry to Rosslaire across the Irish Sea from Pembrook or a flight to Dublin from Warwickshire and a train down to the Parish of Carne and the most likely villages of my Scallion and Doyle ancestors? A bus to one of the two hostels in Gorey and/or pick up a tent and sleeping bag and camp out at beautiful…

(First published in December 2011)

Maura Mulligan was first-born in a family of six siblings, children of farmers who ran the family farm in the rural village of Aghamore, County Mayo.  After immigrating to the United States and working for telephone companies and even trying life in the convent, Maura took up memoir and fiction…

By Susan Kimura



During Ireland's Great Famine 3,000 Irish Quakers contributed their time,…