Here are a few of the random facts I knew about Belfast up until today – The Titanic was built there It’s home to the chiseled architectural beauty that is Queen’s University St Anne’s Cathedral has the largest Celtic Cross in Ireland The actor Liam Neeson and writer C.S. Lewis were born there (okay, in [...]

There have been many visitors to Ireland who have admitted to leaving their heart behind. When guest blogger Charles Berkoff visited, he didn’t misplace his heart, but he did misplace his glasses. Little did he know that leaving his specs on a Dublin bus would tell him all he needed to know about Irish hospitality… [...]

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent me to Ireland for a twelve day party. On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent me To Kilkenny on Ice I fell down but it’s part of the party. On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent me To Santa [...]

Our young American friend, Sarah McNaughton, shares some tales from her three-day trip around Ireland’s southwest on the famous Paddywagon.

You probably know our hopping, hair-flying traditional Irish dancing from the ‘Riverdance’ show thundering through your town or at least your TV set. It’s a peculiar but much-loved style that has evolved over centuries and has enough customs and conventions to make your curly head spin! So we thought we’d save you the chin-scratching pondering [...]

We’ve featured a pretty wide range of job titles in our blog so far – honeymoon tester, garden designer, bartender, photographer – but I think we’ve found one of the most original by far. Meet Declan Mills – Ghost Guide on the Ghostbus, a revamped double-decker that’s been haunting the streets of Dublin for over [...]

Davey has worked in Irish bars since he was 15. Here, he explains why the Irish make the best bartenders, why it’s probably the best job in the world, and what the pub really looks like from the other side of the taps. ‘Oh hi, um, are you guys open yet?’ came the soft Southern [...]

Bet you thought all the best Irish festivals happen during the summer. And bet you thought live Irish music was mostly Céilís and Bodhráns, with the odd sell-out U2 stadium affair or screaming-tweens Westlife gig. Well have we got an October for you. The tuxedos and sparkling gowned-ticket-holders tottering around will be your first clue [...]

This year journalism student Julie Basque left her home in Oregon to spend a summer as an intern in Dublin, with some dashes of travelling around the rest of Ireland as well. Here’s her story of a memorable and not-at-all-as-wet-as-she-expected summer: “Hello, what are you doing here in Ireland?” the poised and reserved man in [...]

County Clare is preparing for the tide of dancing and romancing that rushes in with the upcoming Matchmaking Festival Picture, for a moment, an Irish farmer in September, carefully reviewing his To Do list and scratching off his tasks: 1. Gather harvest Tick. 2. Shoe horses Tick His eyes fall to the final line: 3. [...]