Aer Lingus Changes Baggage Policy

corey says… Starting July 14th, Aer Lingus will change its baggage policy for long-haul flights (including, those from the US). One bag is free. Additional bags will cost $50 per bag.

Details at www.aerlingus.com.

Irish Travel All A-Twitter

Twitter, originally uploaded by Craftsquatch.etsy.com.

corey says… Ireland Expert Pat Preston has a new blog post featuring some useful Irish travel Twitter users. Read her post at http://web.me.com/patpreston/Site_13/Blog/Entries/2009/7/2_Ireland_Travel_Twitters.html and remember to also check out our Irish/Irish-Interest Twitter List.

Guinness Unveils Three Remarkable Experiences

corey says… Big news from Guinness today… like ALL-CAPS kind of BIG news! In honor of their 250th Anniversary, Guinness is pulling out the BIG GUNS to make this celebration a world-wide sensation.

The fine folks at Guinness just announced the GUINNESS EXPERIENCES, three extraordinary opportunities especially for the luckiest of Guinness lovers. These include an unforgettable trip into space aboard Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Spaceship, a journey to the depths of the sea in the world’s first GUINNESS deep sea bar and an exclusive gig in an intimate studio setting with multi-platinum recording artist The Black Eyed Peas.

When Arthur Guinness signed the 9,000 year lease on the St. James’ Gate brewery in Dublin, I don’t think he imaged he’d be sending someone into orbit!

Here’s a closer look at the prizes…

GUINNESS SPACE EXPERIENCE

The GUINNESS SPACE EXPERIENCE will offer one lucky person the awe-inspiring opportunity to become one of the first early non-professional astronauts to venture into space with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, and truly experience the ‘black stuff’ firsthand. The partnership between GUINNESS and Virgin Galactic brings together two iconic global brands.

The winner and a friend will be treated to an unforgettable trip to New Mexico – Virgin Galactic’s home at Spaceport America. Whilst there, the winner will be given full training to ensure they are mentally and physically prepared for the momentous flight that will race them through the Earth’s atmosphere at almost 2500mph – three times the speed of sound. Sitting 68 miles above the Earth’s surface, they will experience the amazing feeling of weightlessness; floating effortlessly around the cabin. The final jaw-dropping chapter to this astounding adventure will be the view of Earth from the blackness of space, stretching 1000 miles in all directions, before returning safely to the spaceport to receive official astronaut wings.

GUINNESS SEA EXPERIENCE

The GUINNESS SEA EXPERIENCE will offer one winner and two friends a truly unique experience; venturing to the depths of the sea in the first ever GUINNESS deep sea bar. The guests will be treated to an incredible four day trip to the Lofoten Islands in Norway, where they will board the exclusively designed GUINNESS deep sea bar and plunge into the black stuff. The winner and friends will be able to enjoy a GUINNESS in style, surrounded by a breathtaking seascape to depths of up to 70m below sea level.

GUINNESS STUDIO EXPERIENCE

The GUINNESS STUDIO EXPERIENCE entitles one winner and two friends to an exclusive live performance by The Black Eyed Peas at an intimate recording studio as part of their forthcoming world tour. This is a private, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the winner and friends to experience the band’s music, up close and personal.  After the performance, the winner and friends will round off this great experience by spending some time hanging out with the band, before enjoying the perfect GUINNESS.

This promotion is open to adults all around the world and will run from 1st July through to Arthur’s Day, 24th September. For your chance to win and for information on the GUINNESS 250 celebrations and Arthur’s Day, visit www.guinness.com.

Laundry Day

liam says… It was laundry day at Knockahopple Cottage. Not the way I usually do it. You know, sort the lights from the darks… load the machine… put in the soap… push a couple of buttons… get a cuppa of something… go back in half-hour… complain how much work there is in doing laundry… put all the clothes into the dryer…. unload… fold… and put away. No…not this week at Knockahopple Cottage.

Tom the caretakerman was busy varnishing the pine ceilings and walls in the bedrooms, so it would have been in poor taste for me to drive into Nenagh to the Silverclean Laundry while he worked away. Instead, I decided to work around the house. It didn’t take long for the fumes to start killing me. I don’t know what it is, but the smell of varnish gives me the worst heartburn of my life. Yes, heartburn… like I have eaten twenty pounds of the hottest Tandoori food and washed it down with a couple of sausage pizzas (If anyone knows why that is please let me know).

Looking at my pile of dirty laundry and the bright blue sky outside, I told Tom, I was going outside to wash my clothes in a bucket.

“Work away,” Tom said.

Of course I didn’t have hand-washing detergent, but a spot of shampoo would suffice. My clothes aren’t all that dirty, just in a need for a bit of a swish in the water and a hang up. But still, I had two bags full.

I headed around the side of the cottage and turned on the spigot. As the bucket filled with water from the hose, I added a couple of squirts of shampoo. Then the work began… into the water… out of the water… into the water… out of the water. I became a human agitator.

At the start, it was an enjoyable task. Those first three pairs of socks were a sheer pleasure. I remained quite ambitious through the socks and the underwear… even through the shirts. After two hours of Pioneer Laundry Day, I still had five pairs of blue jeans to finish. The novelty had worn off somewhere after the first shirt.

Jeans are always a bitch to wash by hand. To make matters worse, they were the dirtiest of all the laundry. Looking at the various stains I was reminded of my adventures digging in the yard, crawling on my knees to paint, climbing on top of the shed to replace the tarpaper.

Into the water… out of the water… into the water… out of the water. By this time I cursed every plunge into the bucket.

Of course it was midway through the first pair of jeans when I discovered the difference between shampoo and hand-wash laundry soap… shampoo doesn’t rinse out quite as easily.

So had to double up on the rinsing. Into the water… out of the water… into the water… out of the water. I tried to whistle the Irish Washerwoman song, but I was too short of breath by that point

Once the task was done, it dawned on me that with all the earth-moving done on the yard, I no longer had a clothesline. Time to make do… over the gate… on top of the bushes… on the fence… anyplace I could find to hang the clothes and hurry along the drying process. Thank goodness it was a sunny day.

I remember as a child my grandmother talking about Tuesday being laundry day. I now realize why a whole day was put aside for this job. I was only washing for one… she was washing for herself, my grandfather and SIX girls. I’m surprised it wasn’t washing WEEK. Thank God for Maytag!

My pioneer washing days are done. I’ll be diligently saving my money so by next year, I can buy a large capacity washing machine. Now, if I could only find one that would cook breakfast…

My special washing setup	The drying rack.
My outdoor drying area... recovering from earthmoving	The neighbor's dog, Beanie... who is no help at laundry.

Official Irish Dirt

corey says… There are a couple companies selling Irish turf, others selling footprint-sized plots of land on the Emerald Isle, but I hadn’t heard of Official Irish Dirt.

There’s truth in advertising here… from www.officialirishdirt.com you can order real soil from Ireland. They make no promises of greener plants or a preferred home for fairies, but I have a hunch the results will be enchanting… it is, after all, a piece of the auld sod.

I’m especially fond of the Belleek pot with shamrock seeds and Irish dirt, but I can also see it as the inspiration for an Irish-themed section of a flower bed… or even a nice memorial in the garden.

Maybe if we ask real nicely, they might take part in a summer giveaway we’ve got in the works. I think I might just check in on this… I know how much you all love giveaways.

You can also become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Official-Irish-Dirt/91134852970?ref=s

and follow on Twitter @The_Auld_Sod & @IrishDirt

Wild Church, Chinese Feast and Fairyland

liam says… I woke up like a child on Christmas last Sunday. No, not expecting a toy under the tree, but I was going to the Jasmine Palace for their Sunday Chinese buffet. I know it may be hard for you to imagine such excitement over dinner, but the Jasmine Palace in Limerick is the best Chinese restaurant I have ever eaten in.

They’ve got it down. The food is made fresh… it’s displayed beautifully and the taste… well… you are just going to have to go there yourself. Plus, they remodel the joint every few years, so I never know what changes they’ve added. It is on O’Connell St… just about in city center.

My friend Tony and his visitors, Mike and Jenny, invited me to spend the day with them. I drove over the hill from my valley to his at 9am and Tony had a cuppa waiting for me. His guests were in their bedroom getting ready and Tony and I

Get a bird’s eye view of the Atlantic via the Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher, originally uploaded by Kathy~.

Phil says…

Stepping into Ireland’s vast natural beauty is possible on a daytrip to the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Located in County Clare, the attraction is approximately three-and-a-half hours from Dublin and just over an hour from Shannon/Limerick, for those using Irish car hire services at Ireland’s two major airports.

Holidaymakers keen on getting plunging cliff-top views are advised to visit the natural site, which offers ideal photo opportunities. Sitting between Liscannor and Doolin, drivers can travel to the attraction and instantly take in the far-reaching views.

Facing the Atlantic, the cliffs number five miles (eight kilometres) in length and vary in height from 91 feet (120 metres) to a towering 702 feet (214 metres). Taking a camera is recommended to photograph the impressive headland as well as other sights on the horizon, including the Aran Islands and the rocky outcroppings of Connemara (County Galway) in the distance.

Many visitors like to stroll beside the cliffs and head towards O’Brien’s Tower, which is located on one of the site’s highest points. On the way is the opportunity to spot all sorts of wildlife that prosper on the headland due the region’s protected status. This ensures the thriving of many plants and animals, such as, puffins, kittiwakes, guillemot, fulmar and razorbill. To see even more native animals, it is worth looking out to sea as dolphins and whales have been spotted swimming around the cliffs.

O'Brien's Tower photo by Matt McGee

O’Brien’s Tower, a focal point for many visitors to the Cliffs of Moher, was actually built in 1835 with holidaymakers in mind. Named after its constructor Cornellious O’Brien, the structure was created to serve as an observation platform for tourists. The tower welcomes visitors to this day and offers spectacular views of the Emerald Isle.
In addition to taking in the fresh air and scenic views, many holidaymakers pay a visit to a newly-launched, eco-friendly attraction built within the cliff tops.

Called the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience, the attraction features a range of facilities constructed underground to provide an atmospheric visit. The centre provides ample information regarding the immediate area, how the cliffs were formed and about the vast wildlife living on the headland. The attraction also boasts interactive resources and a virtual cliff face that transports visitors straight to the edge of a detailed computer generated image of the famous precipice.

Visitor centre at the Cliffs of Moher

Those continuing on to visit other attractions within the county may like to watch the centre’s The Clare Journey film, which showcases the delights offered in the surrounding area, including other natural attractions such as the Lough Derg and the Shannon Estuary.

You’re invited to listen to our podcasts about the Cliffs of Moher at:

Episode #51

Episode #8

This Week’s Irish-Interest Headlines

corey says…

This week’s collection of headlines from around the internet… as posted to our twitter feed.

Blarney Stone: Gross www.irishcentral.com/travel/The-Blarney-Stone-is-the-dirtiest-rock-on-the-planet-48273567.html OR Not Gross www.diddlyi.com/profiles/blogs/the-blarney-stone-is (via @Diddlyi)

Video: An Irish Weaver’s Rugged Remote Life www.connemara.net/video/index.aspx?videoid=QI1FMoIFd_A (via @irishthymes)

Ice cream stop on Slea Head Drive/Dingle Peninsula http://icecreamireland.com/2009/06/23/milseoga-ui-mhurchu-ar-imeall-na-mara/

Meaití Talks About Tradition & Milwaukee Irish Fest School

Episode Guide – Podcast #90 Meaití Talks About Tradition & Milwaukee Irish Fest School

We chat with Meaití Jó Shéamuis about traditional Irish sean-nós singing, passing down traditions and Milwaukee Irish Fest School. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.

Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes

Show Notes

00:00

Intro Song: New Mown Meadows, The Connacht Heifers sung by Meaití Jó Shéamuis

00:15

Oral traditions of sean-nós singing, lubini and

Afternoon Among Friends.

liam says…I had a wonderful afternoon. A few days ago, Anna Mae asked if I could stop in to Cureeny Church and put up a flyer for the Active Retirement trip being planned for August. It would be the perfect chance to run into the church, pin up the flier and light a candle for my father. I was glad to do it, and today I had a little time to visit my little country church before heading to Toor to visit my cousin Mary and her son Tim.

It was a bit blustery, but still there was a brightness in the sky as I turned at Cureeny Cross on my way to the church. As I passed Mick’s cottage, now abandoned and going to ruin, I remembered the great hoolie I hosted at Knockahopple Cottage almost 15 years ago. Mick was there, and I he pulled me aside and