Hilary's Celtic Tours

18/12/2013

Here is my latest blog on growing up Irish - just in time for Christmas :)

A Protestant Irish Christmas  No matter what kind of discomfort or inconvenience I was experiencing as the result of a cold, damp November in Dublin, I would always remind myself that Christmas was...

23/11/2013

Is this a subtle Irish attempt to convert the rest of the world to drinking tea?!

18/11/2013

Here is some proof that there are advantages to traveling in Ireland in the fall! I wrote a blog on Altamont House and Gardens some time ago: http://hilarysceltictours.blogspot.ie/2012/05/altamont-gardens-irelands-little-know.html

14/10/2013

I recently started a new blog on Wordpress. Here's my latest post which I hope you get a kick out of!

It was a dark and stormy night. I was driving home late after spending an evening in Dublin with friends at the cinema. A real classic, “Xanadu” starring Olivia Newton-John. Oh well – that’s … Continue reading →

10/10/2013

Here's a fun ditty in Irish for you!

Hey guys Irish Man here hope you enjoy the video Also please check out my new video the "cup song in Irish with lyrics" This song was made by TG Lurgan all c...

09/10/2013

If you enjoy exploring ruins that are very old indeed, check out Cong Abbey in Co. Mayo. Cong was made famous back in the 1950's by a certain John Wayne movie named The Quiet Man. But to my mind, a better reason to visit Cong is for this serenely beautiful abbey and its grounds. The existing structure was built in the early 1100s and has a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles side by side. And while you're at it, walk down to the river and check out the Monks' Fishing Hut. It's a great place to sit and meditate on just how hard those monks worked. Why else would they set up an alarm system to tell them a fish had been caught unless they were off being busy in another part of the abbey?

And when you're done exploring, The Hungry Monk Cafe is across the road, serving yummy home-made desserts, and great tea and coffee.

Many thanks to Jenna and Matt Blythe for sharing their lovely photographs!

04/10/2013

Fungie the dolphin lives around Di**le - just another reason to go there!

County Kerry's resident dolphin Fungie wants to say hello! http://bit.ly/18wyUVa

12/09/2013

So, you're heading off to visit the Cliffs of Moher, and you're not sure whether to take a boat out and view them from the sea, or drive to the visitors center and hike up to the top of the cliff. Let me help you decide. First of all, the cost for the one-hour boat trip is 20 euro per person. The cost for the visitors center is 6 euro per person and this includes access to the on-site museum. The boat trip is windy and cold (well it is Ireland). However, it does give some nice close-up views of the wildlife. But...if it's dramatic coastline photographs you're after, then the cliff top view is for you. I think my photographs prove the point. Of course you could go whole hog and do both! If you are lucky enough to arrive at this beautiful place on a clear day, don't put any of the sight-seeing off until tomorrow! Sadly, with my last group, we did the boat trip on the day we arrived, and intended to visit the cliff top the next morning, but alas, we woke up to cliffs shrouded in fog. In Ireland, you have to make the most of those clear days when you have them.

*I should mention that if you book ahead online, you can buy the boat trip for 15 euro per person.

10/07/2013

Kinsale is a place where going back in time is both interesting and fun. Especially if you include Don & Barry's Historic Stroll on your itinerary.

A Little History of Kinsale:
In the 1600's, Kinsale was considered the most important port of the region. It's strategic location on England's doorstep made it a potential threat to that nation by such enemies as Spain and France. And considering Ireland's own determination to be free of English rule, made the need to keep it secure from foreign influence and aid vital to England's security. In an effort to protect her interests, England built two star forts in Kinsale, James Fort and Charles Fort. We visited the larger of the two, Charles Fort, which remained in operation until 1922. I have included several pictures in this album.

21/06/2013

We experienced an excellent tour of this 12th century castle in Co. Meath. Our tour guide was animated, witty, and a fount of knowledge. If the pictures look familiar, Braveheart was filmed here!

13/05/2013

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

The history of celebrating Mothering Sunday or Mothers Day in Ireland derives from when children from poor families were send to work as domestic servants or apprentices for wealthier families. One Sunday in the middle of Lent, the children were given a day off to visit their 'Mother Church' and worship the Virgin Mary. After visiting Church, the children visited their mothers bringing them with flowers they picked along the way & daughters would bake a special cake. The tradition was nearly lost after the Industrial Revolution but was was revived again after World War II.