Return to Halloween’s Haunted Roots on a Trip to Ireland
The Emerald Isle has always been a land where ancient practices are interwoven with the supernatural – and many of the fun and spooky Halloween practices we love today can be traced back to the pre-Christian Celtic festival of Samhain and Irish folklore. No wonder Ireland is considered the ‘Home of Halloween’ and the cradle of some of our scariest – even haunting! – traditions and stories! The pagan festival of SamhainCelebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November...
Top Souvenirs to Bring Home from a Trip to Ireland
St. Patrick’s Day may be the day when we are all just a little bit Irish, but anytime we visit Ireland, we can bring home a little bit of Ireland – for our own memories, or to share an Irish blessing with our friends and loved ones. The Emerald Isle is known for its vivid landscapes, love of life and literature, horse flesh and history, and perhaps above all, the embracing warmth of its people. Ireland is also a treasure trove...
And the Top Tourism Attraction in Europe This Year Is...
Not the Eiffel Tower. Not Rome’s Colosseum. Or even Barcelona’s magnificent Sagrada Familia cathedral by Gaudi. The attraction voted Europe’s best in awards dubbed the “Tourism Oscars” also earned the title of Europe’s Leading Beer Tour Visitor Experience 2023. Ireland’s Guinness Storehouse is one of the highlights of a visit to Dublin, and walks visitors through the history and the making of one of the world’s most beloved beer brands and Irish cultural icon. Who doesn’t have a pint of Guinness...
Why 'Coming Home' is the Best Way to Discover Your Irish Ancestry
St. Patrick’s Day finds most of us rooting around in our closets for a green sweater to fulfill the ‘wearing of the green’ on a day that they say ‘everyone is a little bit Irish.’ For more and more people, it’s also about finding your roots, even right at the source in the Emerald Isle. Tourism Ireland says there are 70 million people dispersed around the world who can claim Irish ancestry. In the US and Canada, it’s one of the...
Top Souvenirs from a Trip to... Ireland
If you’re one of the almost 20% of Americans and Canadians with Irish ancestry – or have fallen in love with the lore of the ‘Emerald Isle’ – a trip to Ireland is the perfect way to immerse yourself in its vivid scenery, storied towns and landscapes… and of course, stock up on the souvenirs that symbolize the country’s history, craftsmanship, and flavors.Here’s a list of the best places in Ireland to visit to shop for ways to remember your...
7 Castles in Ireland Where You Can Stay
St. Patrick and the Emerald Isle. Dramatic coastline. Historic towns and cobblestone streets. Pubs and parties. Folklore and green pastures… and castles. Hundreds of castles and manor houses dot the Irish countryside. They not only evoke Ireland's storied past. Many allow you to live out your inner fantasy world of warrior kings and legendary princesses during overnight stays. Look for a tour of Ireland that allows you to lay your head at some of these stately homes:Ashford Castle, County Mayo You'll be joining the...