Sometimes, it pays to be old..er, when travelling!

Tourism Ireland is offering free train travel in the Republic of Ireland for visitors who are over 66 years old, with their FREE Golden Trekker program. This offer is valid for train travel in the Republic of Ireland only and up until 31st December 2010.

To avail yourself of the Free Golden Trekker, you must email Tourism Ireland (goldentrekker@tourismireland.com) at least 72 hours before your arrival in Ireland. Information that you will need to provide include your name, date of birth, passport number, date of travel and the train station from which you will be commencing your journey, etc.

Once your information has been processed, Tourism Ireland will send you your Golden Trekker Confirmation (“warrant”) which you then present at the Irish Rail ticket office of your nominated train station. Your warrant is valid for four days only and if you intend travelling for longer periods, you’ll need to apply for more than one warrant. A maximum of three warrants per individual is allowed.

If you’re planning on a Ireland vacation, this is a good opportunity to explore Ireland by train and take advantage of this pretty generous offer by Tourism Ireland.

To find out more details about the offer and the Irish rail network, see Tourism Ireland Golden Trekker web page here >

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April 11th, 1912 was the date that the Titanic made a port of call at Cobh on her maiden voyage.  Seventy-nine passengers boarded the Titanic in Cobh and it was the final port of call for the Titanic as she set out across the Atlantic on that ill-fated voyage.

The tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic is commemorated each year by Cobh Tourism. The 2010 commemoration will take place on Sunday – April 11th at 2.30 pm.

Cobh town centre

The 2010 ceremony will mark the 98th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. It commences with a parade leaving from the Clock Tower Gallery on Lynch’s Quay to the Titanic Memorial in Pearse Square in Cobh Town Centre.

The ceremonies include musical honours, prayers and the laying of wreaths. Further ceremonies then take place in the Promenade where the names of the 79 passengers who boarded the Titanic in Cobh are read.   The Mayor of Cobh will then place a wreath in the sea, in memory of all those passengers and crew who perished in the North Atlantic.

Cobh is a town with many past sad memories and history, but the good news is the resurgence in the cruise liner business.  On April 14th, the Oriana will call into Cobh and Cobh harbour is busy all the year through to September with many liners calling in.

Address:
Pearse Square
Cobh, County Cork
Republic Of Ireland
Tel : +353 (0)87 259 3850
Web: www.visitcobh.com

Read more about Cobh and Queenstown here.
Have a look around Cobh harbour with Travel Signposts

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So where else can you go in Ireland after the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival.  Why not slot in another fun event, the Galway International Oyster Festival in the west of Ireland.

The Festival kicks off on September 24 with the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship. Competitors, who are winners from their respective countries, travel to the city of Galway to compete for the world title.

The Magnificent Mardi Gras Party takes place on Friday night, September 25 where you’ll enjoy non-stop entertainment by top class artists and cabaret acts.  Yes, you’re guaranteed to find your dancing feet before the nights’ end and of course, there’ll be lots of delicious food and drinks served as well.

Four days of oysters, Guinness, fun and entertainment, what else could one ask for!

For more information on the Festival, read our post HERE.

See our Hotel Choices page for the best Galway hotel deals

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Singles looking for love and romance – forget about dating services and online dating and head for Lisdoonvarna in County Clare this September and early October.

Join thousands of Irishmen and women at the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, one of Europe’s biggest singles events.  Apart from enjoying all of the good-natured fun and grand “craic”, Cupid may be there and you could get lucky and find your perfect match!

If you’re not yet ready to get hitched, rest assured that not everyone goes to Lisdoonvarna to look for a spouse – singles come  by the thousands in search of a good time. During the month of September, there are dances running from 12.00 noon each day and carrying on right into the wee hours of the morning. There’s live Irish music in most pubs and lots of ale and Guinness flowing.

For more information on the Festival read our post HERE.

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To be sure, to be sure, to be sure, March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day and a week-long celebration takes place for this national holiday.  St. Patrick’s Day has come to be representative of everything Irish – from the colour green, the shamrock, three-leafed old white clover, leprechauns , the Irish harp, the Celtic Cross and not to forget Guinness.

The Festival kicks off in Dublin from March 12th with parties, parades and lots of shows and entertainment in the evenings.  Although Dublin is the centre stage for the official events, elsewhere around the country, in every town and village there are just as many wild and colourful events and festivities for this big day!

‘The Sky is the Limit’ is the theme for the 2009 parade.  Starting at 12:00 noon from Parnell Square North, the Parade weaves through the city centre and ends at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  For over two hours you will be entertained by spectacular displays of creative talent such as the Irish street theatre companies, Irish music, ceremonial groups and international marching bands who will be creating an exciting carnival atmosphere.

The Irish are fun-loving people, have a great sense of humour and always out for some good cheer.  In the current economic environment when purse strings are getting tighter, Festival organizers promise to fill this six-day extravaganza with heaps of FREE FUN for all!  No one knows how to have a great time better than the Irish and I’m sure there will be plenty of Guinness flowing as well.

By the way, Dublin has about 850 pubs, many of them with a great history behind them.  So, if you’re visiting the Emerald Isles and fancy some ‘craic, ceol agus ól’ or fun, music and drink, you could try an Irish Pub Crawl. It would be an smashing experience – to be sure!

Helen

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Monday, March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day and if you happen to be in Dublin this weekend, you’re in for a great treat. 

The 2008 St. Patrick’s Festival Parade kicks off in fine traditional style with the ever popular Army No. 1 Band, followed by the Reserve Defence Forces Colour Party and Marching Body and the Garda Mounted Unit, a guaranteed crowd pleaser . There are bands from around the world, including Japan and Italy.  The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Paddy Bourke, holds centre stage as he travels in style in the spectacular Lord Mayor’s State Coach.  Providing the great finale to the ceremonial section is the Band of Garda Síochána.

There are all kinds of shows and events on this weekend, and I’m sure lots of Guinness will be flowing.  Dublin has about 850 pubs with particular styles and clientele so you’ll have plenty to choose from.  The Irish are such fun and hilarious people so to be there on St. Pat’s Day would be an amazing experience … to be sure!

Helen

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DAY 13 – When we called into Cobh (pronounced Cove), I had no idea of this town’s connection to the ill-fated Titanic.  On the harbour front, is this bright yellow building where you’ll find the Titanic Bar.  Two rooms of the splendid Titanic have been recreated in this bar and restaurant.  Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic before its doomed Atlantic crossing on April 14, 1912.

Cobh was one of the main ports from where Irish emigrants left for the USA and elsewhere.  Between 1848 and 1950 almost 6.5 million people emigrated, with 2.5 million of these leaving from Cobh.  Cobh commands one of the world’s largest natural harbors, hence its prominence as a naval base in the 18th century.  It was also a port of call for luxury transatlantic liners in the 1950′s.

After a visit by Queen Victoria in 1849, Cobh was renamed Queenstown.  Colorful fishing boats add color to the waterfront.  Cobh is situated on Great Island, one of the three large islands in Cork harbour, Little Island and Fota are the others.  The three islands are now all joined by roads and bridges.  The harbour is one of the largest and safest anywhere.

On the quayside there’s a memorial to the victims of the Lusitania, many of whom are buried in the old church cemetery.  The Lusitania was sunk off Kinsale in 1915 by a German submarine, an action which was responsible for bringing the U.S. into the Great War.

Statues of Annie Moore and her two brothers stand outside the Cobh Heritage Centre.  Annie Moore was the first emigrant to be processed on Ellis Island in 1892.

Helen

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DAY 12 – Killarney is the tourist capital of Kerry, and the second most popular tourist destination in Ireland.  World famous for its national park and lakes, Killarney is also rich in historical houses, castles and monuments.  Some of its attractions include Muckross House, Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey and Inisfallen Island with its monastic ruins. 

Killarney town itself is a hub of activity, with many colorful hotels, restaurants, shops and pubs.  As we explored this quaint town, what stood out was the number of pubs in this little place.  No one goes thirsty in Killarney as pubs abound.  

Food is also easy to find in Killarney as most pubs and hotels usually serve food at the bar during the day.  Cafes and restaurants can be found on virtually every street in the town and as we walked around, the smell of freshly baked bread wafted out from a bread shop, triggering some hunger pangs.  We searched out Gaby’s Restaurant as we had read that it was the best seafood restaurant in town. Its interior incorporates seafaring memorbilia and the menu was interesting, but a touch pricey.  We also checked out The Flesk Restaurant, which specializes in seafood and is apparently very popular with American visitors.  Its drawcard – hearty meals at reasonable prices.  

Killarney is pleasant town to be in and an ideal base for touring West Cork, the Ring of Kerry, Dingle and Tralee.  I thoroughly enjoyed our stop here.

Helen

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DAY 11 – For lovers of Waterford crystals, Waterford city is home of this world renowned maker of hand-crafted cut glass.  In 1783, George and William Penrose founded their crystal manufacturing business in the heart of Waterford city.  In their factory, they produced plain and cut flint glass products.  Throughout the ages, Waterford has been producing the world’s most exquisite crystals and these are easily available in most major department stores around the world.  We were therefore more keen on exploring the city sites rather than looking at crystal glassware.

Founded by the Vikings in 914, Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city. It is set by the estuary of River Suir and is a major seaport.  On the quayside is Reginald’s Tower, one of the major historic sites and the largest structure in the old defences.  Although the vikings built the original fort, it was the Anglo Normans who built this structure.  Believed to be the first mortar building in Ireland, the walls are 3m thick.  Reginald’s Tower is the oldest civic urban building in Ireland.

Although Waterford retains its medieval layout, most of the city’s finest buildings are Georgian.  John Roberts, a local architect, was responsible for much of the city’s Georgian heritage, including Christchurch cathedral.

Helen

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DAY 12 – A quick photo opportunity of the Rock of Cashel which was a symbol of royal and priestly power for more than a millenium.  From the 5th century onwards, it was the seat of the Kings of Munster.  Cashel was handed over to the Church in 1101.  It flourished as a religious centre until an invasion by a Cromwellian army in 1647.  3,000 inhabitants were massacred then.

We got to make a quick stop at Cashel village which included a delightful series of informal reconstructions of various traditional thatched village shops, a forge, and other businesses, together with a penal Chapel situated in a confined area within the town.

Our lunch stop was at Adare, reputed to be Ireland’s prettiest and most picturesque village. The thatched-roof houses reminded us of the Cotswold.  Adare is  situated on the Maigue river, a tributary of the Shannon river.  Adare (Gaelic name ‘Ath Dara’ meaning the ‘ford of the oak’ – from the combination of water and woodland) dates back at least to the early 13th century.  Almost all of the present village was built in the 19th century.

The early developments were very haphazard but from about 1820, streets and buildings were laid out according to the, then, Earl of Dunraven’s design. Today, Adare has a rich heritage, as well as architectural and scenic beauty.

Helen

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