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Health & Fitness

The Green Grass of Home: Ireland

Ireland, steeped in history, culture, great people, land of song.

With around a third of the United States claiming Irish ancestry, it’s not surprising that the Emerald Isle feels so much like home to many visitors. 

It can be slightly damp, what the Irish call a "soft day," so you should also take a brolly with you (umbrella). Ireland is littered with castles, and one everyone should see is Bunratty and experience the medieval dinner. 

Give it a twirl

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A must, is to go to a ceilih (Gaelic, pronounced kaylee) which is a wonderful sight, a dance floor crammed with locals of all ages  all willing to have a go. The Ceilih band beats out its electrifying rhythms while everyone performed intricate steps with precision and grace. If you don’t know what you are doing, people stove you into place until you get the hang of it. After a couple of beers, your feet will whirl and twirl so you look like a local.

My parents were avid fishermen and golfers, and we went regularly to Southern Ireland to the same village and stayed at the same farm for over twenty years.   We took part in all the village activities during our visits and loved the nightly visit to the local pub for a sing-along. I grew up on “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” which they seemed to sing regularly.

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A good eight day tour of Ireland should start in Dublin and go to Trinity College where the Book of Kells is housed. This is the Irish 8th century treasure. Take a city tour to see the sights and then go to the Merry Ploughboy Pub for a great meal and a show of traditional Irish songs and dancing. 

Golfing and fishing in the south

I think the prettiest part of the land is the south. Fly into Dublin and out of Shannon. Blarney Castle and Killarney should be next on your itinerary. Everyone should kiss the famous Blarney Stone of Eloquence and visit the woolen mills.  Great fishing and golf around Killarney.  

The hotels will get tee times for you. On the west coast of Ireland is where you will hear lots of Gaelic spoken. Great little villages are Sneem, and Cahirciveen. 

The Cliffs of Moher, which rise some 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, brings you to one of the most famous golf courses in the land, Lahinch, and on to Ennis, a nice little market town.

Dress for weather and walking

To get the best out of golf rounds in Ireland, always take a caddie. Not only will their local knowledge save you shots and help you stay focused, they may also help to keep you dry. Irish weather is notorious for changing from bright sunshine into a heavy downpour. On many courses, no golf carts allowed, so be prepared to walk.

Ireland has some great shopping. Crystal, china, and the Aran heavy sweaters are what you're looking for. You can take a day trip to Inis Mor, the largest of the enchanted Aran Islands. Do go into the village pub wherever you stay. That’s the social life of the Irish people and you will hear some wonderful singing.

An important tip: You can save a lot of money by taking a package, i.e. air, hotel, sightseeing, and a car if needed.  

Some favorite hotels, the Merrion, Dublin, Dromoland Castle, County Clare, the Kildare Hotel, Straffan and Hayfield Manor in Cork. You’ll be given a thousands welcomes.

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