Month: May 2016

by Admin · July 19, 2011

The patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick’s day is celebrated everywhere their is an Irish community worldwide. And why not? The following is a quick fire overview of St. Patrick that’s sure to impress all your friends on the big day:

• St. Patrick didn’t actually drive all the snakes out of Ireland, the country is still full of bishops, politicians and bankers.
• St. Patrick was born in Britain near the end of the fourth century to wealthy parents.
• At the age of 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and brought back to Ireland where he remained in captivity for 6 years.
• He spent most of his time in isolation shepherding sheep. Usually hungery, lonely and scared, he turned to religion for comfort, and began hearing God’s voice.
• With instruction from God, he escaped his captors and returned to Britian.
• Safely home, an angel tells him to return to Ireland to convert the pagans to Christianity.
• After fifteen years study, Patrick is ordained a priest and returns to Ireland as a missionary.
• Patrick dedicates the rest of his life to converting the Irish to Christianity.
• Patrick is belived to have died on 17th of March around 460 A.D.
• Every year on 17th March the Irish have a party to celebrate St. Patrick’s day, even the non-religious among us!

Now you know pretty much all you need to know to tell friend and foe alike the origins of St. Patrick’s Day. For those who would like a little more details see this page The History Of St. Patrick

Tags: History Of St. Patrickpatron saint of IrelandSaint PatrickSt Patrickst patricks daystory of staint patrick

by Admin · July 19, 2011

Ancient legend has it that at a time when Ulster had no King the tribes of the province decided the best way to settle the argument was to have a boat race on a lake. The first man to race to the far side of the lake and place his hand on the shore was to be King.

There were many contenders for Kingship and the competition was fierce. One man, so passionate was his love for Ulster, that when he realised he was losing the race he quickly cut of his hand and threw it to the shore. His bloody hand was the first to touch ground and the Kingship of the province of Ulster was his!

Find Out More About The Province Of Ulster

The following is a traditional Irish recipe for Irish Soda Bread, enjoyed by the Irish since the 1840s. Enjoy! Ingredients 250g plain white flour 250g plain wholemeal flour 100g porridge oats 1 tsp bicarbonate…

Douglas Hyde was born January 17th 1860 at Longford House in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Hyde’s father, Arthur Hyde, was a Church of Ireland rector.

He was a scholar of the Irish language from an early age. It was during his childhood while living in Roscommon that he began to take an interest in the language, greatly influenced by local native speakers. In later years (1893) he co-founded the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaedhilge), a cultural organisation formed predominately to promote and revive the use of the Irish language, then in rapid decline.

The Gaelic League quickly grew in popularity across Ireland and attracted dedicated members like Patrick Pearse, Éamon de Velera, Michael Collins and many more of the figures who would later play leading roles in the struggle for Irish Independence. It should not be under estimated importance of the Gaelic League in this regard as many of the leaders of the 1916 Rising first made contact through it’s network.

Hyde believed Irish culture and language should transcend politics and was uncomfortable with the growing nationalist following the Gaelic League was attracting. Eventually he resigned as president of the League in 1915.

Hyde was inaugurated as the first President of Ireland in June 1938. Dispite a massive stroke that left him partically paralised and wheelchair bound, he remained in office untile June 25th 1945.

Hyde died July 12th 1949 at the age of 89. He was affoarded a full state funeral. Because he was a member of the Church Of Ireland, his Roman Chatholic friends and collegues where prohibited from attending his funeral mass by the Chatholic Church. All but one (Dr. Noel Browne) waited outside the doors of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and joined the cortege after the mass. Hyde was burried with his people in grounds of Portahand Church in County Rosscommon.

There are many memorials dedicated to Douglas Hyde including two schools Coláiste de hÍde, Tamhlacht and Gaelscoil de hÍde , Roscommon. Also Hyde Museum, Frenchpark, Roscommon, The Douglas Hyde Gallery in Trinity College Dublin city centre and Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon (GAA grounds).

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The following is a traditional Irish recipe for Irish Soda Bread, enjoyed by the Irish since the 1840s. Enjoy! Ingredients 250g plain white flour 250g plain wholemeal flour 100g porridge oats 1 tsp bicarbonate…

The following is a traditional Irish recipe for Irish Soda Bread, enjoyed by the Irish since the 1840s. Enjoy! Ingredients 250g plain white flour 250g plain wholemeal flour 100g porridge oats 1 tsp bicarbonate…

The following is a traditional Irish recipe for Irish Soda Bread, enjoyed by the Irish since the 1840s. Enjoy! Ingredients 250g plain white flour 250g plain wholemeal flour 100g porridge oats 1 tsp bicarbonate…

by Admin · July 19, 2011

Ireland is in the European Union and the Irish currency is the Euro which is the same currency used in 16 other countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. If you are travelling between these countries you do not have to change your currency, the Euro coinsfrom each of these countries is accepted in all of them.

The Euro currency consists the following notes and coins:

The following will give you an idea of prices in Ireland (2009):

• Cup of Coffee in a coffee shop will cost between €1.70 to €3.75
• Eat out in a restaurant 3 courses will average around €32 per person ( that is middle of the road restaurants)
• Pub grub meal will cost between €10 and €15
• Pair of jeans will cost between €25 and €60
• Cost of fares on the public bus in Dublin, see following link:
  http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares–Tickets/Fare-Information/
• Bed and Breakfast Accommodation, per person sharing per night, €35
• Train fares, see http://www.irishrail.ie for fares and service information
• Soft drinks in bars (cola, Sprite, 7up, juice and so on), usually €2.50

Ireland And Value For Money, Have Your Say.

Did you recently visit Ireland or are you resident? Please share your thoughts regarding prices, service and value for money. Were you pleasantly surprised with prices or did you experience a lack of value and poor service? Have your say and make your comments below.

Tags: EuroIrish CurrencyIrish currency the Euro