“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”—Saint Augustine

I am not really sure when our sons love for pretty much anything and everything Irish began. His passion runs deep and has continued to grow stronger over the years. His obsession for the music, history, food and culture is indescribable. When he was around four years old I use to play Richard Searles tapes. We had Emerald Castles, Dance of the Renaissance and Earth Quest. We would play them over and over and he would dance around the house. We would also attend the Renn Faire in Maryland and the Southern Maryland Celtic Festivals and still do whenever possible.

So I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when he wanted a trip to Ireland for his High School graduation gift!! I was thinking he would ask for another instrument. He plays clarinet, oboe, guitar, flute, drums and is currently learning on his own like most of the other instruments the violin. I didn’t really know what to say except maybe for your college graduation. Thinking in the back of my head how the heck can I make this happen.  Well that was six years ago… he graduated Virginia Tech last spring with a History degree. We are so very proud of him! I saved what I could over those years which hasn’t added up to much. I work at a jail full time in the property room so I don’t really make much money but am determined to get him to Ireland! So far all I have been able to do is get us passports.  I had to use part of the money I had saved for the trip for major knee surgery he had two summers ago.

We want to visit many places in Ireland, Belleek Woods, Mahon Falls, Gulway, The Fairy Glenn, Ballysaggertmore, Croagh Patrick, just to name a few. Just to be able to even see one place would be amazing. I dream of the day when I can see and hear him playing his flute in an Irish pub in Ireland!! He plays at our local pub here at home almost every Friday or Saturday night with his brother and friends. Music at the Pub

“But then there’s a moment like tonight, a profound and transcendent experience, the feeling as if a door has opened and it’s all because of that instrument, that incredible, magical instrument!”—Northern Exposure 1994—Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider

I can’t put into words how much I would love to win this trip for my son.

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quiestest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey”—Pat Conroy

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. Get the details!