Visiting Santa in Ireland – Some Options

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

From the 30th of November to the 23rd of December 2012, The Lodge at Tayto Park will be transformed into a magical Christmas grotto. The Tayto Park is located at Kilbrew, Ashbourne in Co. Meath.

It has been described as being the Irish North Pole as you’ll find a real log fire blazing, giant toy soldiers and Santa’s own elves that lead the way into the grotto, lollipops Willy Wonka would be proud of, large snowman, polar bears and giant gingerbread men are just some of the features that help bring the Christmas magic to the Tayto Lodge. Continue reading →

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The Boss Plays Ireland 2013

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

The Boss – Bruce Springsteen announced that he will play three gigs in Ireland over the summer of next year.
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Ireland’s Rugby young guns stun the mighty Pumas at the Aviva Stadium

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

Whilst our soccer team has yet to set the world alight as of late, we can rest assured that Irish rugby is alive and kicking after the brilliant performance by our national rugby team against leading rugby nations Argentina in Saturdays match at the Aviva Stadium. Continue reading →

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McIlroy nominated for 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

Irish golf star, Rory McIlroy has made the short list of 12 nominees’, all in with a chance of winning the much coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award for 2012.
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Transatlantic flights directly to Cork Airport on the agenda?

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

I have written before about the options for quickly getting to Cork from North America and arriving in our friendliest airport. While these options have always meant making a connection on the eastern side of the Atlantic, there has been the strongest signal yet that Aer lingus are considering opening up a direct, non-stop service from New York to Cork Airport.

The airline’s CEO, Christoph Mueller, recently said the company was evaluating future fleet requirements and that while no decisions are imminent, the airline is interested in using Airbus’s A321neo on transatlantic routes.

With its lower capacity, this smaller, more efficient aircraft could enable the carrier to operate year-round services between New York and Cork according to Mr Mueller.

This would be a huge boost to North American visitors coming to Ireland on vacation as it would open up Ireland’s most passenger-friendly airport as an option for a hassle free arrival in Ireland.

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Kick off the year of the Gathering in Style

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

Dublin City Centre will be the place to be this New Year’s Eve as 2013 will be kicked off in style. The New Year’s Eve Countdown Concert at College Green will be the only ticketed event of the festival.

There will also be a serious of free events over the course of the two day spectacular including an ever impressive fireworks display in St. Stephen’s Green,  torchlit procession through Dublin’s streets broad and narrow; 5 festival zones located around Dublin City Centre and the Big Brunch which takes place in Meeting House Square on New Year’s Day. Continue reading →

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Prayer Book of Michael Collins turns up 90 years after his death

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

Famous throughout Ireland, Michael Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála (TD) for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919. A director of Intelligence for the IRA and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, Collins was an influential and respected figure in Ireland then and still today, and each year an annual commemoration ceremony takes place in August at the ambush site at Béal na Bláth, Cork, where Collins was shot and killed in August 1922, during the Irish Civil War. Continue reading →

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The O’ Breen Surname History

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

obreenThe O’ Breen surname is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic-Irish name “O’Braion”, descendant of “Braon” and dates from the 11th century.  To this day it is a widely distributed name throughout Ireland. It can be translated by name meaning “moisture” and “drop”.  Originally there were different clans of Breen, Mac Breens and O’ Breens. The Mac Breens were located near Knocktopher, County Kilkenny. By 1659 the prefix “Mac” (son of) had been dropped. The O’Breens were located in the counties of Westmeath and Offaly.

Some notable O’Breens: Continue reading →

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G8 Summit to be held in Ireland

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

UK Prime Minister, David Cameron has confirmed on a visit to Northern Ireland today that next year’s G8 summit of world leaders will be held in County Fermanagh.

The five-star Lough Erne hotel and golf resort (of Rory McIlroy fame) will be the venue for next June’s meeting of the leaders of the world’s eight richest nations.

This is a huge boost for “the Irish Gathering 2013” as one of the world’s biggest meetings will be taking place on the island of Ireland. We expect millions of people from all over the world to vacation in Ireland as part of the year long celebration.

 

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The Bulmers Comedy Festival Clonmel

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

The Bulmers Comedy Festival at O’Keeffes in Clonmel now in its 6th year will host probably its biggest and best line up so far as some of the best comedians from Ireland and around the world entertain the crowds between 22nd – 25th November.
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