The Tyranny Of nice Dot Com

If you are interested in history, then Ireland is the place to be. The number of Irish museums and historical places of interest is astounding, offering a fascinating insight into the history of the country. No matter what county you visit, there are many places, buildings and historical sites to visit. The best Irish museums and historical places are the ones you have time to get to – they all, big or small, are well worth the trip.

If you are in Dublin, a visit to the National Museum of Ireland is a must. With four different locations, 3 of them in Dublin city itself, the exhibits feature over 4 million artefacts tracing the archaeological findings, natural history and heritage of Ireland. The fourth exhibit, in County Mayo, is the country life exhibit, tracing the roots of country life in Ireland. The decorative arts exhibit in Collins Barracks in Dublin provides a fascinating look at the history of artistic crafts for which Ireland is famous, including lace work, ceramics, metalwork and glasswork. The museum was opened in 1877, so the buildings the exhibits are housed in have historical value as well.

No matter which city you visit in Ireland, there will be a museum exhibiting artefacts found in the county providing a peak into the history of the area. Ulster, Cork and Galway have super museums, and the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre in Ulster is worth a visit too. In Dublin you will find a Toy Museum and Transport Museum, as well as Dublinia, a Viking and medieval history exhibit that is quite different to the usual museum visit.

There are about 83 castles in Ireland, featuring prominently on the itinerary for visitors wanting to see historical places in Ireland. Most of the castles were built between the 13th and 16th centuries, each with its own history and legends. Limerick Castle is of course home to the famous Blarney Stone. Legend has it that kissing the stone will give the kisser the ‘gift of the gab’, or the power of persuasion. Dublin Castle is now the seat of Irish Government, but was once the site of King John of England’s fortress, built around 1230. The Bedford Tower is the centrepiece of this building, which was built in 1761. Grange Castle in County Kildare boasts a 15th century tower house.

Any visit to Irish museums and historical places must include the beautiful cathedrals and other religious sites that Ireland has aplenty. Starting with St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, built in 1220, to Glendalough, a sixth century monastery, there is no shortage of fascinating religious sites in Ireland. The smaller villages and towns offer up some lovely churches steeped in history too. Of course, any old building will offer something of interest to the historically minded tourist, and Ireland has plenty to offer. Belfast City Hall, built in 1898, is a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture.

Megalithic passage tombs at Fourknocks and Newgrange, dating back some 5000 years, are just some of the ancient sites worth seeing while in Ireland. If you are looking for Irish museums and historical places, you probably need only take a step outside your room. This beautiful country has a wealth of interesting places to visit, no matter where in Ireland you go.

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Between world class venues, various 2 and 3-day festivals attended by visitors from around the globe, to the local and Irish-born international talent, there is no shortage of famous bands and singers performing in Ireland. Welcomed by diverse music tastes and audiences that appreciate good music of all genres, international artists make Ireland a regular feature on tour calendars.

The big cities boast several venues suitable for international artists, whether big or small. Besides Ireland’s own international stars, venues like the O2 and Vicar Street in Dublin regularly host stars like Leona Lewis, Elvis Costello and others. Catch the up-and-coming local talent at music venues around Belfast and Dublin too – you may catch the first concert of the next big international star!

Oxegen is an annual event that takes place over 3 days at the Punchestown Racecourse, about 40km outside of Dublin. Music lovers from Dublin and elsewhere gather to take in the likes of Jay Z, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, Echo and the Bunnymen, Earth Wind and Fire as well as the best of Irish talent such as Cathy Davey. This event draws festival-goers from around the world because of the famous bands and singers it attracts, rivalling Glastonbury for the crowds it draws and the famous stars that play here each year.

The Dublin City Soul Festival is another must-see event, catering for a variety of music tastes, not just soul. Artists lined up for the 2010 event include The Three Tenors, Carlos Santana, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, The Cranberries and more. Diverse music genres cater for a diverse audience making this a popular event each year. The famous bands and singers this event attracts are a testament to its success and popularity with Irish music-lovers.

The Music Show, held on the first weekend of October In Dublin each year is becoming increasingly popular with up-and-coming musicians. This event not only features live performances by the likes of Imelda May and The Coronas, it includes music workshops and talks by professionals from the music industry. Anyone interested in breaking into the music business should attend this event. Irish and international artists are featured, giving audiences the opportunity to enjoy the music while learning about the industry.

Ireland’s music festivals cater to a variety of tastes, featuring ‘old’ and new artists playing rock, rap, R&B and other genres. The cross-section of music genres featured attracts a wide audience of young and old, making Ireland a super destination for music lovers worldwide. Of course, Ireland’s famous homegrown talent is recognized worldwide, with bands like U2, The Cranberries and The Corrs featuring in their music calendar. If you are looking for famous bands and singers, then Ireland’s recent performances would indicate that this is the place to be.

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It’s a radical idea but perhaps one whose time has finally come. Recently, the United States Supreme Court held that, as a legal entity with legal person-hood, corporations also have the right to contribute campaign funds in amounts commensurate with those allowed for real people.

As if Big Business doesn’t already have enough influence, it would seem that now the floodgates are opened and no restrictions apply any longer. Elections are already heavily supported by corporate interests. With greatly increased levels of cash, they’re practically guaranteed to drown out anyone else. Since it will all be corporate propaganda anyway, why not just sit it out?

It goes so contrary to the ideals and the very ideology of our modern democratic system – but what if it works? What if by having zero or nearly zero turnout, the media and their political favorites are forced awake rather than carrying on with business as usual?

The connection is frequently made between democracy and capitalism. One is told to vote with one’s feet when it comes to choosing schools or residences, and vote with one’s pocketbooks when it comes to goods and services. Well, how about voting with one’s silence, one’s absence, one’s disregard? The worst thing for human psychology is to be ignored. In the Bible, God’s punishment for Cain’s act of murder was not the death penalty but exile, and for all to shun him wherever he went.

What if the American electorate should just ignore the politicians for a change and sit out an election? That would send a truly unique message – that as opposed to holding one’s nose and voting for the perceived lesser of two evils, American voters insist on policies that reflect their wishes, rather than making do with those that go against them less.

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Since the 7th or 8th century, Ireland has been distilling whiskey. The first recorded drop of whiskey was produced by Irish monks in the Middle Ages. It is perhaps this history that makes world famous Irish whiskey and beer sought after drink around the world.

Perhaps the Irish take their famous whiskey and beer production more seriously. Taken from the ancient Gaelic ‘uisce beatha’, the word whiskey means ‘water of life’. Distinct from Scotch whiskey in that no peat is used in the distillation process, and it is distilled three times, not just two, Irish whiskey is smoother and preferred by many for this reason. Irish whiskeys can be single malt, single grain, blended or pure pot still whiskeys.

The oldest whiskey distillery is the Old Bushmills distillery. Their licence to distill spirits is dated April 1608, hence one of their brands being named 1608. They also produce Old Bushmills and Black Bush whiskey, both of which are well known internationally. One of the famous Irish whiskeys most people will recognise is Jamesons. Produced by New Midleton Distillery, Jamesons is one of several brands of whiskey such as Midleton, Redbreast and Powers that are produced at this distillery, which dates back to 1825. New Midleton also produce the oldest continuously-made pot still Irish whiskey, considered a valuable rarity, Green Spot. Kilbeggan distillery has recently been re-opened as well. Cooley Distillery is the only wholly Irish-owned distillery, producing brands like Connemara and Michael Collins whiskeys.

Probably the most famous beer in and outside of Ireland is Guinness. Although called ’stout’, Guinness is a dark ale brewed using black malt. The history of Guinness starts in 1759, when Arthur Guinness first signed the lease for a disused brewery. Within a short time Guinness beer was gaining popularity around the world. Guinness original has been brewed the same way for more than 200 years. Other so-called black beers, like Beamish and Murphy’s, are brewed in Cork. Smithwick’s Irish ale is produced by the Smithwick Brewery in Kilkenny, and Kilkenny draft is also well known in Ireland and beyond. Other brands such as Caffreys, McArdles and Harp have gained a reputation in export markets as well, but Guinness is by far the most famous Irish beer.

Visitors to Ireland will be delighted to hear that they can tour the whiskey distilleries and sample the wares. The Guinness Centre in Dublin takes you back in time to the early days of Guinness stout, providing an insight into the history of brewing, as well as a tour of modern brewing facilities. And yes, you will be able to finish off with a Guinness.

If you are looking for famous Irish whiskey and beer, Ireland would be the logical place to start. Steeped in history, surrounded by glorious countryside, you’ll find they taste even better on home soil.

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Ireland is fast becoming one of Europe’s eco-friendly cities as it introduces incentives for eco-friendly transportation. Already well know for the scenic cycling tours offered for tourists and residents, Ireland is becoming eco-friendly as more people use bicycles for every day transportation.

Cycling is popular in Ireland, but has, as in most of the world, either been used as a means of exercise or for relaxation, not as a means of transportation. The recently introduced ‘Bike to Work’ scheme offers employees tax exemption benefits for the purchase of a new bike or associated safety equipment, to the value of 1000 Euros. Intended to convince more people living in Ireland to use bicycles as their primary mode of transport to and from work, the tax incentive, added to fuel savings, time saved sitting in traffic and the health benefits are expected to be the primary motivators.

An increase of 8% from 2007 to 2009 has seen the number of people who cycled every day in Ireland grow to 35 000. While this only equates to 3% of the total number of trips made, the Bike to Work scheme is expected to increase these figures within the next few years. With 209km of cycling lanes in Dublin, it is no surprise that cycling is growing at the rate of 4% there. Obstacles that cyclists feel need to be addressed before cycling will really take off include the fact that many cycling lanes are shared with buses and the inadequate parking facilities at public places such as shops and restaurants. Government is addressing these problems, and is expecting cycling as a means of transport to and from work to become more popular with each passing year.

Ireland is becoming more eco-friendly as the use of bicycles increases, comparing well to other European countries, although Asia is at the forefront of the move to cycling, mainly due to their population density. Ireland offers many eco-friendly holiday options, including cycling tours and holidays. If you don’t fancy cycling for days on end, consider hiring a bicycle for a few days. Use it to pop down to the local shops, or to take a slow ride out to nearby sights. The view from a bicycle is unfettered, providing a closer view of the surrounding country than you will get from a car. One advantage of a cycling holiday that, rather than returning home having picked up a few pounds due to overindulgence, you will get back home in better than shape than when you left.

A cycling holiday through Ireland takes you to the scenic attractions with the advantage of a far better view of the countryside than you would get from a car. If you think about it, you’ll be out in the fresh air, contributing to saving the environment while taking in the beauty of Ireland – there really isn’t a better way to see the world. If you take a mountain bike, you may be able to reach some spots that cars can’t – and it is easier to cycle than walk too.

Another initiative that is gaining in popularity is a bike scrapping scheme, launched in Mayo County. Trade in your old bicycle for a discount on a new one, and ride away on a safer, newer bicycle. Launched by local entrepreneurs, this scheme helps Ireland become eco-friendly, adding another reason to stop making excuses and get on your bike!

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There are many different charity organizations in Ireland in need of support from members of the public. You may choose to support a cause that you can relate to through personal experience, or one that tugs at your heart strings. Whichever charity you choose to support, you can rest assured that it is appreciated by the people and animals these organizations care for.

National charity organizations in Ireland include the Irish Cancer Society, the Carers’ Association, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Irish Heart Foundation, the Hospice Foundation, the ISPCA and the Irish Red Cross. These organizations rely on donations and support from individuals and businesses to continue their excellent work with people and animals in need throughout Ireland.

You may choose to support charity organizations in Ireland that help to alleviate poverty and hardship in the rest of the world. Oxfam Ireland and the Irish Red Cross assist countries who have experienced civil war or natural disasters, providing aid and relief to those whose lives are destroyed. Besides international and national charity organizations, there are many regional or local charities in need of help to continue their vital work. Children’s homes, shelters for abused women and children, addiction centres, animal shelters and support centres for patients of various illnesses can be found in smaller towns and villages throughout Ireland.

Many of the disease and illness-related charity organizations are involved in raising awareness of the illness, providing support for the patient as well as their family, and funding research into the illness or disease. These charity organizations provide vital support to many people in their community, and are well worth lending support to. Other then cancer charities, there are charities supporting sufferers of leukaemia, the blind, the deaf, muscular dystrophy victims, those suffering from multiple sclerosis, as well as support for those with mental health problems.

Caring for the needs of the elderly is vital in any community, and many charities in Ireland provide care this sector. Age Action Ireland is a national charity organization caring for the elderly. The largest children’s charity in Ireland is Barnatos, whose patron is President Mary McAleese. The ISPCC and CARI care for children, as does the Bubblegum Club, which provides relief to children with life-threatening diseases.

Once you have decided which charity organization in Ireland you wish to support, you can visit their website or local branch to find out how to help them. It may only be a matter of a few dollars or pounds donated each month, but small amounts quickly add up to large amounts of assistance. If you do not want to give money, consider volunteering your time instead. A couple of hours a week can help entertain the elderly, reading or playing music for them. Children in hospital or hospice will appreciate visitors, or you can take dogs for a walk for your local animal shelter. Your reward, should you need one, is the small difference you make in someone’s life, bringing happiness and help to those most in need of it.

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Talented newcomers and well established Irish artists are well represented in the many artistic and cultural exhibits that Ireland offers visitors. From art centres and galleries in smaller towns to the Irish Museum of Modern Art, you will find a wonderful variety of artwork and artists here.

The Irish Museum of Modern Art showcases the work of well-established as well as fresh, new talent, most of it homegrown. They of course have international artistic and cultural exhibits as well, but if you are visiting Ireland, you may prefer to take in the local talent in paintings, sculpture, photography, installation and performance art on show here.

You will find interesting artistic exhibits in local arts centres and theatres around Ireland, most often featuring homegrown talent. Some galleries well worth visiting include The Inishaven Art Gallery in Donegal, the Signal Arts Centre in County Wicklow, The Old Market House Arts Centre in Waterford, and the Haydn Shaunessy Gallery in Cork. Many of these galleries are housed in historic buildings, often as fascinating as the artistic exhibits themselves.

A number of late night galleries have opened in Belfast to add to its night life attractions and broaden the offerings for visitors to the city. Some of the galleries open into the night are the Golden Thread Gallery, the Engine Room Gallery, the Gerard Dillon Gallery and the Belfast Print Workshop Gallery. If you are a theatre lover, Ireland offers a variety of productions in theatres across the country. Art centres, theatres and entertainment complexes provide shows to suit all tastes, some combining artistic and cultural exhibits with theatrical offerings.

If you are looking for some cultural activities for the children, Imaginosity, Dublin’s 8000 square foot interactive museum will introduce them to worlds they have not yet imagined, and keep them entertained for hours. This museum includes artistic exhibits as well as historical and cultural displays.

Local crafts are featured in many of the artistic exhibits around Ireland, particularly in smaller towns. If you are looking for some genuine Irish artefacts, these are the places to visit. Soaked in Irish culture and history, a wander through most towns will provide the visitor with many cultural places to visit. Many of the smaller art centres and galleries are housed in historical buildings dating back centuries. Visiting these artistic exhibits provides an opportunity to appreciate not only the artistic talent of Ireland, but the history and beautiful countryside as well. The smaller galleries often showcase local talent living in the town or village, giving visitors an opportunity to experience art at its birthplace.

Venture further than the big cities and you will find picturesque towns, steeped in history, with artistic and cultural exhibits that give you a glimpse into the traditions and culture of this beautiful country. Often these trips provide a rare opportunity to meet the artists, many of whom run the galleries showcasing their and other local artists’ work. There is no shortage of talent in Ireland, each town and village having something to offer the art loving tourist.

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Although small in number, the various ethnic communities that have immigrated to Ireland provide native Irish and tourists with an opportunity to learn about their culture and their way of life. Their move to Ireland may not always have been easy, but the introduction of various government and community initiatives has given everyone the opportunity to experience ethnic minorities and their cultural celebrations throughout the country.

One such festival is the Mela, a multi-cultural festival organized by Aristka who promote ethnic arts. Held in Northern Ireland as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, this festival showcases Indian and other arts, foods and culture. Aristka is involved in various other celebrations throughout the year, including the Hindu Festival of Lights. These festivals educate the community and invite participation and enjoyment. They also organize art exhibitions, theatrical performances as well as music and dance showcases.

Another festival that is growing in popularity throughout Ireland is Africa Day. In various towns and cities throughout Ireland, Africa Day is celebrated with displays of African food, clothing, art, crafts, music and costumes, providing an opportunity for local communities to share in the African culture that their neighbors grew up with. At the African Bazaar in Limerick 20 African countries were represented, including Mali, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon and DR Congo.

Often racism is merely an expression of fear of the unknown. By introducing the culture and traditions of ethnic minorities to the local community in a festival, organizations hope to introduce the different cultures to each other, promoting recognition and acceptance. The government initiative to form the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism has helped to promote the culture, art and literature of ethnic minorities in Ireland. Sport Against Racism Ireland organizes sporting events to encourage the various groups to intermingle and get to know each other using sport as the medium of communication.

Chinese culture in Ireland maintains its traditional festivals and celebrations such as the Chinese Lunar New Year, Lantern and Moon Festivals, held in towns throughout Ireland. The Indian community celebrates their holy days and festivals as well, embracing the local community regardless of their cultural beliefs. Art exhibitions, musical concerts and theatrical performances are used to showcase not only the culture but also the talent of many immigrants to Ireland, providing entertainment and education to the larger community.

Visitors to Ireland are sure to find some entertaining and enlightening cultural celebrations going on at various times of the year. To experience the diverse ethnic minorities in Ireland and their cultural celebrations, time your visit to coincide with Mela or Africa Day. There are some 65 nationalities represented in Ireland today, each with a rich and fascinating cultural heritage to share with you.

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Although you won’t find any big game or large predators in Ireland, except in a zoo, there are many interesting animals to be seen in Ireland’s five national parks. Only 30 species of land animals are native to Ireland, but there is a wealth of birdlife to more than make up for this.

The biggest naturally occurring mammal you will find in Ireland is the Red Deer. Unique to Ireland, these magnificent animals can be seen in Killarney National Park, Glenveagh, Ballycroy and the Wicklow Mountains parks. Other mammals seen regularly include hare, badgers, the red fox, pine martens, the Irish stoat, mink, otter and fallow deer. Connemara National Park features the Connemara Ponies. Although considered a domestic animal, they wander the countryside in herds in Connemara, making a distinct impression on visitors to the park.

With over 100 bird species native to Ireland, birdwatchers will enjoy the national parks’ offerings. Raptors include owls, peregrine and falcon, with the Golden Eagle having been successfully reintroduced into Glenveagh National Park after it’s disappearance from Ireland in 1912. Golden plover, ravens and many other species can be found throughout the Irish countryside.

There are of course zoos and aquariums that offer visitors and residents the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife. Dublin Zoo is home to Siberian tigers, rhinoceros, wolves, gorillas, orang-utans, chimpanzees, snow leopards, hippo and lion. Belfast Zoo showcases a similar variety of animals, including Asian elephants, white tigers and spectacled bears and more.

Belfast also has the Exploris Aquarium with interactive discovery pools and a deep water open sea tank featuring the interesting creatures of the deep. Many of the sea creatures seen here can be found off Ireland’s coast, where whale and dolphin are spotted at various times of the year. The Seal Sanctuary, also in Belfast, offers a fascinating insight into these clever creatures as well.

Fota Wildlife Park is a 70 acre park on Fota Island in Cork Harbour where visitors can wander amongst free roaming animals for an exciting and educational experience. Fota Wildlife Park specifically features endangered or threatened species, making a trip to this park even more meaningful, as many of the animals they have are no longer found in the wild such as the Rothschild Giraffe and European Bison. Other animals found in the park (not all of them free-roaming) include cheetah, lemur, emu, monkeys, kangaroos, penguin, red panda and many more.

Although the native wildlife may not be as exciting as African big game, the lack of natural large predators gives visitors to the national parks an opportunity to explore the beautiful countryside in safety, even outside their cars. The well-equipped and beautifully laid out zoos more than compensate for the lack of naturally-occurring wildlife, allowing interaction, exploration and education about animals from around the world.

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There is far more to Ireland’s countryside than hills and mist. The spectacular beauty of the mountains, lakes and forest should not be missed, but there are many unexplained natural tourist attractions with fascinating legends that will amaze and delight tourists of all ages.

One strange landscape that you may initially think is not worth a trip is The Burren. A huge area covered in limestone, you will change your mind after rock climbing and crawling through caves to explore this vast natural anomaly. Home to almost every species of butterfly found in Ireland, this area is also home to plant species that are found nowhere else on earth.

For the most spectacular views in Ireland, visit the Cliffs of Moher. These are the highest cliffs in Europe, and offer breathtaking views as far as the Connemara and Kerry mountains. Explore the ruins of ancient watchtowers, where approaching Vikings could be seen and warnings sent to keep them at bay.

The Giant’s Causeway may have a scientific explanation, but the legend seems far more reasonable. Huge basalt rocks are uniformly laid out, vertically, to create a walkway into the sea. Legend has it that Fionn MacCumhaill, a giant, threw the rocks into the sea to reach his wife in Scotland. Although science says the causeway was created by an eruption, the uniformity and almost paved nature of this natural attraction certainly lends more credence to the legend.

Visit the mountain range containing Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrantushill. The range is named MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and is on the Inveragh Peninsula in County Kerry.

A group of red sandstone rocks form the Blasket Islands off the Dingle Peninsula. With a fascinating cultural and literary heritage, Great Blasket Island is now a National Historic Park, although its last inhabitants abandoned the island in 1953.

The Connemara countryside is one of Ireland’s beautiful national parks. Covering 2000 hectares, the park is made up of bogs, lakes and forests, with the Twelve Bens crowning this landscape. Two nature trails provide spectacular views of Ballinakill Harbour, Inishbofin and Inishark. Within Killarney National Park you will find the three Lakes of Killarney, surrounded by mountains and amazing countryside.

Mystery surrounds the Celtic spirals on the surface of New Grange, one of three megalithic passage tombs found in Ireland. Fourknocks and Hill of Tara are the other two, believed to date back 5000 years. Hill of Slane is the site of the ruins of a Franciscan monastery built in 1512.

Awe-inspiring, logic-confounding and most definitely beautiful, the natural attractions in Ireland will provide scenes and landscapes that you will remember forever, and want to visit again and again. Whether you want to climb a mountain, drive through a national park, or take one of the myriad nature trails to see the views, you will love the natural attractions in Ireland.

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