NI2012 does not think small. Exhibit A being the curtain rising on the Titanic Belfast visitor centre, with a city-wide Titanic Festival and extraordinary light show to mark the occasion. Seems they’ve only just begun too. The summer sees another three whopper events being wheeled out in typical overachieving style. From Jude Law, to ocean [...]

Pinterest’s new competition is asking users to vote for what the most beautiful country in the world is. Naturally, our ears pricked up. You can vote on Twitter or Pinterest for your favorite country [cough Ireland!], and share the reason. Ireland is currently ranking at 13th… so please vote for us! There is a snazzy [...]

First off, let me be clear: I love nature. I have a fabulous enchanted wood image from as my desktop wallpaper, and I’m even wearing butterfly earrings. Some teeny things bug me about nature however… such as bugs. Well, them and the lack of roof and central heating and sturdy flooring, and possibility of sunburn/rain/wind [...]

Kids. You bring them to a stunning landscape, gaze out at the mystic sunset and all they want to know is why there are no jet planes, lasers or unicorns flying across it. Don’t worry, we’re way ahead of you. Ireland knows exactly how to impress little beady eyes, and how to tire out tiny [...]

“Titanic’s story is about the people,” says my taxi driver. It’s quite a firm reaction to my off-the-cuff remark that I was at TITANICa: The People’s Story, and to prove his point, I’m instructed to open the glove box and take out the book he’s reading. I pull out Titanic Survivor; the autobiography of Violet [...]

Titanic Belfast is one of the most distinctive structures of this century – and it’s only 2012. The largest Titanic visitor experience in the world, Titanic Belfast is also the biggest ever investment project in Northern Ireland. Since it began taking shape almost two years ago, its distinctive angles have been a glittering and exciting [...]

I’m blogging right from the heart of the madness of St Patrick’s Parade in Dublin. I’ve got an eagle eye view from the bus and I’ll be keeping you updated throughout… stay tuned! 11.45 St Patrick’s Day has meant parades for as long as I can remember. But there’s another new tradition raising its cheerful [...]

The effect of St Patrick’s Day reaches well beyond Ireland these days, with March 17th celebrated as the day the world goes green. There are 70 million people all over the world claiming links with our fair isle (and sure who could blame them?) and they want to join in the craic. That carefree St [...]

Attention all quiz buffs: here’s one to remember for your next trivia night – what is the collective noun for a group of starlings? Answer: a murmuration. These terrifically-titled flocks of tiny birds are known for their dazzling aerial displays, and while canoeing on Lough Derg in the Shannon Region, lucky ladies Liberty and Sophie were [...]

“There is a sense that something big is on the horizon”, says Belfast author Susie Millar. I’ve asked her about the atmosphere in the city at the moment. Belfast of course built the legendary Titanic and plans to mark the 100-year anniversary with nothing less than a festival, firework-laced opening of a Titanic visitor centre [...]