Conference tallis::celt

    
    Hello,
    
    I went to Ireland last May ... It's wonderful !!
    
    If you're on the east coast - go to Howth, just north of Dublin;
    and Wicklow, south of Dublin.
    
    I wouldn't miss Rock of Cashel either.
    
    Most of All... The Cliffs of Moher, on the west coast, mid-way from
    Limerick to Galway.  
    
    I'll see if I can find some of the names and addresses of B&B's
    we used.  There was a wonderful one in Cahir, near Cashel.  I'll
    reply with the address if I can find it.
    
    Enjoy
    -Karen

    
    
    A few other wonderful places ......
    
    Aran Islands
    
    Connemara
    
    "Ring of Kerry"
    
    
    
    
    keVin
    

    First of all, Ignore note .2  :^)
    
    Next, one has to realize, (before one goes to Ireland) that in Ireland,
    there are only two types of Irish people there: Those that hail
    from CORK, and those that wish they did. I mean, once you go to
    CORK, there really is no other reason (or need) to go anywhere else.
    
    So, don't waste your time with those "tourist traps" like Doolin,
    killarney, Ring of Kerry, and Ballyvaughn. Just head for the Coal
    Quay in Cork. And tell 'em Finbarr Murphy sent ya!
    
    

    Wherever you go, take your time.  Don't wear yourself out.  Better
    to take the time to get to know the people you meet than worry about
    seeing "places".  You'll feel real sad when you leave after ten
    days regardless of how many places you see.  The one thing that
    will keep you from depression is knowing that you'll need to
    continually be in the plaaning stages for Ireland trips to see all
    the places you didn't get to see the last time!!
    
    Might be better not to plan very mcuh and just let the trip "take
    its course".  For example, you may want to plan on (assume Dublin
    is the start)  Dublin 3 days ---> Galway 2-3 days ---> Cork 2-3
    days.  Or Dublin ---> Galway ----> Ring of Kerry.
    
    You're going to have some very tough decisions for only 10 days.
    We were there 3 weeks and wish we could have had 6 weeks.
    
    Good luck and have a great time.  DON'T RUSH!  Ireland taught us
    how to relax.......

    
    
    I guess I can,t disagree with your estimation of those folks that
    are not from Cork.  I understand that my ancestors came over from
    Cork circa. 1848. It seems that they where hungry and were caught
    stealing sheep. Given the choice they left Ireland.

    Cork

    
    
    re: .6
    
    Dick: How bout giving us a little more info about Cork.
    
          Pat Barry will be there in May, and myself and Paddy Culbert
    	  plan to visit Cork in early August. Could you and or Pat Manning
    	  give us some info on places to visit and places to stay while
    	  in Cork.
             
    	
    	keVin
    
    p.s. I think Mike Foley was a member of the Cork All-Star Sheep
         Stealing team.  :-)
    
    

    
    I think I should give the east coast a bit of a mention,scenery
    does exist outside of Kerry and Cork.If u travel north of Dublin
    to Dundalk,and take the road to Carlingford,a beautiful coastal
    town ( which won the tidy town of Ireland competition),and drive
    around the Cooley mountains (scene of the infamous raid of Cooley),
    and down into Omeath (in Northern Irl.) and head for Mourne Mountains,
    you will be stunned by the pure beauty of it all.
    
    I do have to promote the local tourist industry.
    
    Then again William Butler Yeats is dead 50 years today,so a trip
    up to Drumcliff in Co.Sligo to his burial spot in the shadows of
    Ben Bulben can induce a lot of tranquility in the inner self.
    
    What the hell head for Galway,and visit Morans of the Weir,and sample
    a pint of the black stuff,and a plate of smoked salmon and brown
    bread.Its a great spot.
    
    Indulge yourself.

       
       Avoid the turnstiles at the Galway Race Track.
       
       --Mr Topaz

    You could also take a trip down some of the side streets of Dublin
    and witness the child junkies/prostitutes. (And wonder why?)!!!
    
    Visit areas such as Tallagh, Ballyfermot, (not picking on Dublin
    alone, there are similar areas in EVERY city/town in the country),
    and embrace the nouveau (and many not so nouveau) poor and the 
    attending hardship/disillusionment, (to families/children, to marriages 
    to self).
    
    On the Wednesdays and Thursdays you could visit the labour exchange
    in whatever town you may be in and watch the smiles on the faces
    of the men who now have a few bob in their pockets for the first
    time since the previous Thursday, as they head to the pub to quinch
    the week old thirst. (And wonder how much will be left for the wife
    and children by closing time?)!!!
    
    On Sundays you can go to Mass and witness the (hungover) self-righteous 
    be told what to think and how to act. A valueless service 'cause
    thinking for oneself and in many cases acting with compassion for
    others of different outlook can be such a pain.
    
    As you drive through the countryside wonder at the beauty of the
    green fields untoutched by human hand, as the farmers collect the
    dole and the country import their produce needs from Holland and
    Malta.                                    
          
    On the other hand you could visit the palaces inhabited by our 
    Bishops/Priests and politicians. (And wonder how?)!!!
    
                Yours feeling homesick,
    
                       Murphy.
                       

    Now Now Murphy,,,,
    
       You are only allowed to put replies in this file that are not
    as depressing as the last....  
    
       All countries have there problems and I got the feeling that
    today, more than usual you are really missing home.... 
    
       Go to the streets of Lowell, Lawrance, Boston, New York and you'll
    see the same things....
    
       But back to the topic at hand.
      
       The most beautiful parts of Ireland are on the North West Coast
    Line.  At least that's what I've been told.  The North of Ireland
    has it's magic too.   
                            
    paddy
    
    

    
    re .10
    
    You could look at the cars outside the labour excahnges in any village
    in Ireland, and see the big cars pulling up and claiming from the
    State,and then see a large majority of people heading off to do
    work on the side.
    
    The State is currently paying out approximately 3.5 million pounds
    per DAY on Social Welfare claims,in a country where approx. 1 million
    peoople are working out of a population of 3.5 million.
    
    Emigration is a big problem,as i am sure u are aware of.The feeling
    here among the politicians is that most young people who emigrate
    will return later well equipped for the business world.What do u
    think,will u emigrants return ??
    
    Maybe this is for another note...
    
    anyways...
    
    regards Peter.

    Yes, 
    	I will return but not until the economy picks up a bit and the
    job situation improves. I moved to England 3 years ago out of 
    desperation, and in need of some experience that was not available
    in Dublin. If I was offered a job back in Ireland( not with DEC)
    in the next few months, I probably not take it unless it offered
    some sort of security. Nevertheless I hope to come home in about
    3-5 years and settle down.
    
    Just my two pence worth
    
    Tom

Maybe...

I will return.  Only when I don't have to work 6 days a week to
take home about 25% of everything I earn. 

When I don't have to spend 50% of my time overseas to make a living.

When the schooling has improved to the extent that I don't have to
register my kids before they are born to get them into a school I
consider to be good.

When the weather improves a little. :-)

When the politicians get off their a**es, take a cut in their own
pay, drop the pensions they pay themselves for the times when they
were in government, and DO something for the country.



Tomorrow, if I could....

    re .7
    
    The time has come to erect a "Berlin Type" wall around Cork. We
    can then keep Mr Burns under control when he arrives. It will also
    serve to keep the cute hoors in Cork.
    
    By the way in what ditch have you left Joe Farrell. He still has
    not come home. His wife is after your blood Mr Burns
    
    
    				MBr

    
    Re: .12
    
    I have one example for you.  Mr. Pat O'Brien or Co has just moved
    back to Ireland a few days ago after living in the US for about
    5-10 years.  I'd like to think that it was Liam Ferrie's Irish Emigrant
    that helped to lure him back as he was the first Irishman on my
    hardcopy Texas distribution list of the Irish Emigrant.
    
    He went without a definite job although he had several viable leads
    when he left.  And, he's realistic and prepared to come back to
    the US if his work has problems or if his American wife has problems,
    etc.  Has two little boys and a baby daughter.  Great guy, great
    wife and kids.  Surely a big gain for Ireland and a loss for Texas.
     
    JO'R

    re. .5  Patrick Barry,
    
    So they were "Corkers", eh?!!! Great Stuff!!
    
    I'm telling ya, Cork has it all!!

Salmon Angling - River Blackwater (Fermoy. 20mi from Cork.) (BTW, Spring salmon 
                 avg 12lbs!! but 20lbs and over have been caught!!)
Brown trout -    From the River Lee. 8mi up river. (BTW, these aren't the
                 same  thing as the River Liffey "brown trout" (a.k.a.
                 'toilet fish'. Stay away from them!!! Just another reason not 
                 to go to Dublin!! Besides all those "jackeens". :^))
Sea angling/Deep sea fishing - Cork harbor. (Crosshaven). 
                 (Kinsale. 18mi from Cork.)
                 (Ballycotton. 25mi. from Cork.)
Boating, sailing and rowing. Crosshaven, Kinsale, Inniscarra.
International Choral Festival (held in May, if I remember correctly!)
Golf - Little Island - (6mi east), Douglas, (3mi so.east), 
Muskerrry, (8mi west), Monkstown, (9mi so.east - 9 holes only at Monkstown).
Greyhound racing on Western Road (Mon-Wed-Sat, March to Oct). I 
used to live near the track in my student days!
Horse racing at Mallow (20mi from Cork) at Easter, in June and 
August.
Pony-trekking
Tennis

Sites: Bells of Shandon. A great view of the city after a scary 
climb up through the belfry!

Blackrock Castle. Very picturesque restaurant on Cork Harbor.

The Coal Quay. What can one say about this place?!! Cornmarket 
St. Morning is the best time to see this open air market, where 
the hawkers 'raucous' wit accompanies their bargaining over
an incredible assortment of stuff. Like Haymarket in Boston. 
Also, Dublin has a "cheap imitation" open air market called Moore St. 
Not half as interesting or "colorful" as the Coal Quay of Cork. Also, 
there are pickpockets in Moore St. 
You'll need a translator to understand what's being said in the 
Coal Quay!!

Fitzgerald Park on the Mardyke has a (free?) museum of Celtic 
history, and a beautiful array of flowerbeds.

Blarney Castle. What can one say?!! 5 miles from Cork. You can go 
for the gift of eloquence, or to see a fine example of an old 
castle and castle living.. There was also an old car museum in
Blarney. I don't know if it's still there.

St Finbarr's Cathedral. A fine example of early French Gothic 
architecture. There are tours of the cathedral. Named after the
scholar/saint who started a Monastic school here in the 6th century, from 
which present day Cork grew up around.

There is also a delicious, dark beverage brewed in Cork 
called Murphy's Stout. A TRUE IRISH drink. Not like that 
imitation, English beverage, called Guinness that the jackeens of 
Dublin would have you believe is "OIRISH"!  :^) 
Being a true, Irish beverage, Murphy's tastes better than that 
"other" stuff. Accept no substitutes!
I think they give tours of the plant too. 

Well, there you have it! No need to go anywhere else, especially 
not to Dublin! :^)   (Sorry Dermot!)

                                    

    MBr
    
      As I enter this note keVin is picking Joe Farrell to tip a few
    pints.  A hardy pair they are as we have a bit of freezing rain
    on the back roads of New Hampshire tonight.  But I'm sure they will
    make it they are using ice skates 8*).
    
      KeVin and I did go out a couple times with Joe. You should ask
    Joe about the friend he brought the first night. He had a fondness
    for Ships 8*). 
    
    paddy

    
    
    KB ............................CALLING JF
    
    KB ............................CALLING JF

                                             
    
    Did you feel a little sea-sick on Friday morning  ??		:-)
    
    
    
    
    	keVin
    

    Strange......very strange......Paddy you live in a world of your
    own......thankfully...
    
                          M.

    Murphy,
    
        Now where are you off to for the Bluegrass tonight?
    
    And I have never ever said that I wasn't strange, but a world of
    my own that's a new one.  See you in Lawerence for a pint of the
    brown stuff?  I think we all should do the hybo's one night in the
    not to distant future.  Maybe in a couple weeks on a Sat.night we
    can have keVin do it up......
    
       Maybe George and Me-haul will come..... 8*)
    
    paddy 

Re: .17

  Guinness Stout is good no doubt
  On draught or in the bottle
  But Murphy's Ale will without fail
  quench the thirsty throttle!

Recited to me by my maternal grandfather, Mike Hurley of Upton, Cork.

    Dublin. I am fed up with all these culches (spelling ?)
    
    Rene the Dub .-)

    Better a Culchie than a West Brit any day!!! ;-)
    
    - Dave.

    re. .25 <Reel (Cork)men drink Beamish xxx.........>
             ^^^^
    
    Do you mean, just musicians (a.k.a. "Reel men") that come from Cork?
    
    :^)
    
    
    Well, at least it's not the River Liffey water!  :^)

    A word of advice for you ramblin Paddies.
    
    You should consider starting a new note when the relevance of your
    comments to the initial note are suspect.
    
    Anyway, the failure of all repliers to mention Dingle town (An
    Daingean) prompted me to throw my 10 Cents in. A continuous
    party will be found, plenty of music and plenty to see by driving
    out around the Peninsula (Ventry, Blasket Islands etc.).
    
    By the way, it is a must to take the Conor Pass into Dingle town.
    
    Flaherty's (it's big red door is on a postcard), Dick Mac's (tiny
    bar/leather shop, snugs too) and Pub Paidi O Se (smashing bar 
    owned by former Kerry Footballer) are 3 places I wouldn't miss
    when in Dingle.
    
    Tim. 

    
    
    	Tim: We plan to travel from Clare to Kerry via the Killimer
             Car Ferry, and after a stop at Nora Murphy's Pub in Brandon,
    	     we will travel via "The Pass" to An Daingean just for the
    	     sheer beauty of listening to Irish Music played over a
             loud-speaker located in the centre of the city.    :-)
    
    
    	     
    
    
    	keVin
    
    

    re. .27 (addressed to Patrick Barry, 495.0)
    
    FOR GOD'S SAKE BE CAREFUL OF GOING TO KERRY!!!!!!
    
    The place is desperate altogether! The territory is fraught
    with marauders, scalawags, poteen makers, and rascals, 
    (y'know, KERRYMEN!!:^) )
    
    I wouldn't go near the place!
    
    
    p.s. BTW, Tim when is Puck Fair this year?! 

    Ah, now ye really have me going. Tis a real shame Patrick is going
    to miss Puck Fair (circa Aug. 12), not to mention la Rose of Tralee
    (end of Aug) and the Pattern Day in Ballyheigue (Sept 8). 
    
    Tim.

    
    
    We'll be in Ireland from July 27th thru Aug. 16th so the Puck Fair	     
    is still a posibility for us and it would be a fine way to finish 
    up the holidays.
   
     :-)
                                                                               
    Up The Banner  !!!
    
    
    keVin

    Work is a terrible curse. It has taken me 3 days to have a look
    for the MBr's 'last ditch' remark regarding my good fortune to be
    in the US. Well, we have a new song "Brennan on the Bounty" , not
    to be confused with "Brennan on the moor".
    
    Male MBr to female EZ "Is it true that you are really EZ"
    
    Female EZ to male MBr "Any significance in the little 'r'
    
    The mind boogles. What a trip. Great time had and meeting Kevin,
    Paddy and Joe. Looking forward to the summer.
    
    

    I've been to Puck Fair and with time so precious, I'd avoid it.
    Nothing happens.....Galway Arts Festival is the event that's worth
    investing your time in. Paddy and yourself need to be immersed in
    a little decent culture. During these two weeks the rest of the
    country pales by comparison.......This be a fact.
                                      
                        Murphy, the trustworthy one.

    Mr Farrell of Jacobs fame,
    
    	Its a myth that you have returned. You have not been seen in
    a hostelry yet. 
    
    	Remember you are close to being outside the Pale. I have almost
    given up on you.
    
    			MBr

    
    
    	MBr: The last time we saw your man, he was climbing the mast	
             of a tall ship and saying something about wanting to get
    	     a patch for his eye, and he kept yelling the word "Mutiny"
    
    
    	     He was also inquiring about the location of local pet shops
    	     and what the cost of an average size parrot would be ..
    
    
    	     :=)
    
    
    	
    	keVin
    
    
          
    

    Well, I kind of biased, as two of my grandparents were born in Cork.
    I have stayed with cousins there and at the Metropole when my mother
    was with me.  I have only one experience with a B&B there and it
    was not a good one, but there are many.  I suppose that the four
    faced liar was the hit for my 10 year old daughter.  Playing the
    Shandon bells there is ok, but up through the bell tower to the
    walk way provides a great view of all the surrounding area.  Right
    up from there is where my great-grandfather had his butcher shop
    on Gerald Griffin Street across from the North Catherdral.  Patrick
    Street is fun.  The whole area down there is a good time.  SS Peter
    and Paul is beautiful.  
    
    I can't say that I've made the rounds of the pubs as most of my
    time in that capacity was spent on the north side in the Eagle
    Bar with the Stephen Hayes and his brother Liam.