Cork has recently been nominated by Lonely Planet as one of the top places to visit in 2010. Under its ‘Best In Travel 2010′ guide it ranks Cork with cities like Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Vancouver as a place not to be missed.

‘Cork is at [...]]]> “An unshakeable confidence and innate sense of pride”

Cork has recently been nominated by Lonely Planet as one of the top places to visit in 2010. Under its ‘Best In Travel 2010′ guide it ranks Cork with cities like Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Vancouver as a place not to be missed.

‘Cork is at the top of its game right now: sophisticated, vibrant and diverse, while still retaining its friendliness, relaxed charm and quick-fire wit’ – a city with ‘an unshakeable confidence and innate sense of pride’.

The guide recognises Cork for its defining experiences and places special attention on its restaurants, festivals and events, shopping and places to stay. It also pays tribute to the fact that Cork ‘crackles with youthful energy’ whilst at the same time preserving its sense of history and tradition.

It’s great to see the city acknowledged like this, and all in all fantastic news for Cork.

And why the title ‘MyCork’…?

Very simple, it’s in recognition of the Polish people who have also made Cork their home, and who are now an integral and active part of the community. Whilst it’s true that many have left more recently there remains a strong and positive presence, and the Polish are part of the dynamic that makes up the modern character of the city.

So much so that they have their own city website – mycork.org

Now the site is in Polish so unless you are Polish, or just want to brush up on the language, there’s probably not much point going over. I did spend a bit of time on it though, and what i picked up on was similarities between the modern Polish diaspora in Cork and the Irish in London I grew up with in the 60s and 70s.

What comes across is the sense of identity, family values, an eagerness to make the best of where you are, and an enthusiasm to get out there and enjoy what’s around you. There’s obviously challenges but the Polish are a welcome part of that diversity, and it made me think ‘when you see a Polish man walking along the streets of Cork today, you’re also in many ways seeing an Irish man walking through London yesterday’.

Well done Cork, and to everyone who lives there and makes it what it is.

And here’s a bunch of happy Corkonians havin a bit of fun…!

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Some headlines

The official Irish name for Dublin is Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath, and the English name comes from the Irish words Dubh Linn meaning ‘black pool’. The city is near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast at the mouth [...]]]> For the many who ask Google each month, the answer is… DUBLIN!

Some headlines

The official Irish name for Dublin is Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath, and the English name comes from the Irish words Dubh Linn meaning ‘black pool’. The city is near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey, and is at the centre of the Dublin Region. Originally a Viking settlement, it evolved into the Kingdom of Dublin and subsequently became the island’s primary city after the Norman invasion.

Situated in the province of Leinster, the city covers 44 square miles and the wider urban area 356 square miles. The population is approximately 1.66 million, however it’s predicted this might reduce for the first time since 1861 over the next few years. The CSO (Central Statistics Office) also predicts however that it will move upwards to 2.1 million by 2021.

European Capital of Sport in 2010
Approximately 50% of the capital’s inhabitants are under 25, and it was voted the friendlist European city in 2007 and again in 2009 (someone obviously forgot to include Cork in the vote!). It has been selected as the European Capital of Sport in 2010, and is host to the 4th largest stadium in the continent, Croke Park, which has a capacity of 82,500. Croke Park (Páirc an Chrócaigh) has been selected as the venue for the UEFA Cup Final in 2011.


European Capital of Science in 2012.
The University of Dublin is the oldest in Ireland (16th century) and its sole college, Trinity, was established by Royal Charter in 1592 and has 15,000 students. The National University of Ireland is also in Dublin, as is University College Dublin, the largest in Ireland with over 22,000 students.

Dublin City University (10,000 students) specialises in business, engineering, and science. Dublin Institute of Technology focusses on technical subjects as well as arts and humanities. The National College of Art and Design, and Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology, provide training and research in the art, design and media technology fields. The capital is also home to Dublin Business School, the National College of Ireland, and the Institute of European Affairs.

The city has been selected as the European Capital of Science in 2012.

Dublin Castle
On the site of a Danish Viking fortress in the 930′s, Dublin Castle was built between 1204 and 1230. Viking power was broken at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 when the Vikings and their allies were decisively defeated by an Irish army under the command of King Brian Boru (Brian Boru also died in the battle), and the castle was later constructed under the order of King John of England. Here’s the Dublin Castle website.

History
Dublin is also one of Europe’s oldest cities and has a fascinating history. You can find out much more at: Wikipedia, Chapters of Dublin and Dublin Uncovered.

Fly in
Dublin Airport is 10km north of the city. If you’re thinking of visiting you can get details about airlines and flight schedules at Dublin Airport.

Sail in
Dublin Ferry Port is 2 miles from the city centre, and Dun Laoghaire Ferry Port is six miles south of the city – 30 minutes by train to the centre. Five ferry companies operate up to sixteen sailings daily, connecting Dublin with Holyhead (Wales), Liverpool (UK) and Douglas (Isle of Man).
Dublin Ferry Port Tourist Information and Stena Line.

Places to stay
There’s plenty of Dublin hotels, B&Bs, guest houses and hostels to choose from so it’s well worth shopping around and comparing:


Places to see / things to do
Dublin is rich with tourist attractions and there are many websites to help you on your way. Here’s a few to point you in the right direction:

Dublin.ie   Visitdublin.com   Dublintourist.com   Dublinevents.com

And here’s some photos recently taken by Bernadette on an early morning walk in the city…

Daniel O'Connell

Buildings of gold

Inside the GPO

'Real vision is the ability to see the invisible'

All that glitters....!

O'Connell Bridge

Hopefully that’s enough to get you started, and if you’re on the way enjoy the visit!

PS: the “real capital of Ireland” is Cork, and the capital of Cork is Ballydehob! but i’ll come back to that another day

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Bernadette’s brother Brian has published a fantastic little guide, “The Paris of Joyce and Beckett”, and it gives you a great excuse to go exploring the French capital.

There are 9 itineraries taking you to many [...]]]> How would you like to follow the steps of Joyce and Beckett in some delightful walks around Paris?

Bernadette’s brother Brian has published a fantastic little guide, “The Paris of Joyce and Beckett”, and it gives you a great excuse to go exploring the French capital.

There are 9 itineraries taking you to many of the main attractions, and the book expands on the experience by painting imaginary scenarios concerning the two great literarists at different points in their lives. (Joyce came to Paris from Trieste with his family in 1920, and Beckett’s En Attendant Godot was first staged in 1953.)

The guide has had a number of reviews and some great feedback…

The Irish Post: “Serves to create an extremely convincing landscape in which both of these writers lived.”

Books Ireland: “We look forward to seeing crocodiles of Joycists and Beckettians marching determinedly along these routes.”

Independent On Sunday: “Take this with you on your next Paris trip.”

A flavour…

ITINERARY VIII: RUE DES FAVORITES – LAMARCK CAULAINCOURT – QUAI DE VALMY – PLACE D’ITALIE

SCENARIO:
It is December 1948 and one of the most severe winters of the century is about to begin. Beckett is in his seventh floor apartment rue des Favorites (15th arr.). He is in a state of existentialist immobility and in considerable gloom. Funds are low and he is stuck at a crucial stage of En Attendant Godot (Waiting for Godot). He is reflecting morosely on the lack of response the previous year to his quite substantial output of Eleutheria, Molloy and Malone Meurt (Malone dies) but determines nevertheless to persevere with his new drama. It is a struggle however. Outside a cold drizzle is falling on the grey pavements below, a true Parisian pluie fine. Beckett decides to go out and puts his raincoat on…

The guide isn’t available on Amazon, or eBay, or anywhere else online, you have to do this the old fashioned way and either pop into a bookshop or contact Brian direct.

Copies are available at:
Queens Park Books, Salisbury Road, London, NW6.
the London Review Bookshop, Bury Place WC1, Daunt Books, Marylebone High Street.
The Four Provinces Bookshop, 244 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1.
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop Middle Street, Galway.
The Winding Stair Bookshop Ormond Quay, Dublin.
The James Joyce Centre, 35 Nth Great George Street, Dublin.
Shakespeare and Co. 37 Rue de la Bucherie, Paris.

or by mail order from London Irish Literary Travel 62b Hereford Road London W2 5AJ
(£7.49/Euro 9.99/$15.00 – please make cheques/postal orders payable to Brian O’Shea).

You can also get in touch with Brian by email at bri.oshea@gmail.com

Bon voyage, and we hope you enjoy exploring Paris in a different and truly pleasant way.

Emigration to the area dates back to the early 1800s and was due in part to promotion by the British Press, the Great Hunger, [...]]]> Saint John New Brunswick was the first port of call for many of the Irish who emigrated to Canada, and in 1871 the city was recorded as being 54.1% Irish!

Emigration to the area dates back to the early 1800s and was due in part to promotion by the British Press, the Great Hunger, and because of ‘word of mouth’ from Irish emigrants who’d already settled there. Changes to the Passenger Act in 1827 also meant cheaper fares, and Canada’s busy timber trade with Britain provided the transport that stopped in Irish ports on their return journeys across the Atlantic.

Over the years the Irish spread outwards, and these days Irish communities can be found in all parts of the province. In 2001 the Canadian census recorded that those of Irish ancestry made up nearly 19%, or close to 136,000, of New Brunswicks population.

The Irish Canadian Cultural Association of New Brunswick celebrates the presence of Irish culture and history in the province, and is dedicated to the thousands of Irish emigrants who have made New Brunswick their home. The association provides province-wide coverage of Irish-related topics and issues, and is well organised with seven chapters each having its own Executive Committee and membership.

You can find plenty of interesting information at their website, and their facts and trivia page for example tells the story of how Irish immigration has contributed to the growth and culture of New Brunswick as a whole.

Hats off to the association, and all credit due to the enthusiasm and commitment of the people who have kept their celebration of Irish heritage so intact.

Additional references:

Early emigration to Canada wasn’t easy, and The Irish Story at new-brunswick.net gives you an idea of the difficult times the Irish faced when making the passage to their new home.

Yep, it’s a whole new meaning to a taste of the black stuff – Guinness have teamed up with Richard Branson to celebrate 250 years of brewing, and you (yes you!) can win a trip into space.

First off there’s at least three climates…

Cork Airport – built on a hill so its often in mist whilst everyone else swelters. West Cork – edge of the gulf stream, tropical plants and twin to Florida on [...]]]> Bring brolly, suncream, wellies and your humour, there’s no way you’re going to know what’s happening!

First off there’s at least three climates…

Cork Airport – built on a hill so its often in mist whilst everyone else swelters.
West Cork – edge of the gulf stream, tropical plants and twin to Florida on a hot day.
The Rest of Cork – so big you could be in your raincoat at one end and ‘skimpies’ at t’other!

Cork International Airport!

Airlines makes a fortune with Cork tourists – it’s bring the whole bloody wardrobe every time!

Sometimes this happens…

then so does this…

but go to West Cork, push a stick in the ground, and you’ll be going home with a palm tree!

Here’s todays weather forecast for Cork, as reported from the airport…!

and here's the averages over the year...

Cork Climate graph contributed by climatetemp.info

....and here's the stick me Aunt Kitty brought back to Boston last time she was over!

Born in Dublin in 1987 to working-class Irish and Nigerian parents, Laura Izibor is one of Irelands new young talents to hit the big time. She must have got a hint of what was coming after topping the Jacob’s/RTÉ 2fm song contest while still in secondary school, and winning a [...]]]> This girl is travelling…!

Born in Dublin in 1987 to working-class Irish and Nigerian parents, Laura Izibor is one of Irelands new young talents to hit the big time. She must have got a hint of what was coming after topping the Jacob’s/RTÉ 2fm song contest while still in secondary school, and winning a Hope for 2006 Award at the Meteor Music Awards meant the train was definitely leaving the station.

She performed at the 2006 Electric Picnic music festival, and in Music Ireland in 2007, and has also opened for Aretha Franklin, India.Arie, Estelle and John Legend on tour. Her debut album ‘Let The Truth Be Told’, which took four years to record, was released in Ireland on 8th May 2009, in the UK ten days later, and earlier this week in the US.

Even whilst writing it’s just been anounced that Laura will be performing on the Early Show on CBS tomorrow morning, so things are motoring! A beautiful pianist with an unbelievably soulful voice, here she is doing a live performance of ‘From My Heart to Yours‘…

and now we’re in the mood here’s Laura singing ‘Shine‘…

and whilst we’re on a roll we can’t leave out ‘Mmm‘…

and finishing off with Laura doing a rehearsal of ‘Don’t Stay‘…

Don’t know about you, but i think my favourite is ‘Don’t Stay’, maybe i’ll just listen to them all again, and again, and…

And sure there’s a warm welcome waiting (and a pint on the bar) in County Offaly for you sir.

Slainte and a happy St Patrick’s day.

John Philip Holland (Seán Pilib Ó Maolchalann, 29th Feb 1840 – 2nd Aug 1914) was an emigrant Irish American who developed the first submarine. He emigrated to the US in 1873 having been born in Liscannor, County Clare, to his Irish speaking mother, Máire Ní Scannláin.