The Engaging Ireland Podcast
Travis and Kathy Nelson
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Engaging Ireland - Episode 20 - Top 10 Monastic and Spiritual Sites in Ireland
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
07/25/10 • 33 min
Our Choices for Top 10 Monastic Sites in Ireland
In the next few episodes, we will be taking a look at our Top 10 lists for Ireland. Seems like everyone is putting together a “Top 10” list these days, so we thought we would share some of our top choices for Ireland. We have chosen our favorites from several categories; for example, we’ll list our top ten favorite towns/cities, our top ten. Why didn’t we limit ourselves to just one list of Top 10 Favorites? It’s too hard! And, while we admit we haven’t seen everything there is to see yet, these are our favorites thus far.
We begin the podcast series with our Top 10 Monastic/Spiritual Sites. Ireland is virtually littered with sites dating back thousands of years. These are the sites we are most drawn to again and again. For more information on any of the sites we mention, please click on the links below. NOTE: Many of the sites are part of Heritage Ireland (www.heritageireland.ie). If you purchase an OPW Heritage Card, you can enter these sites for no cost or reduced cost.
Skellig Michael
http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=757
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-West/SkelligMichael/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skellig_Michael
Interesting web book entitled “The Forgotten Hermitage of Skellig Michael” by Walter Horn, Jenny White Marshall, and Grellan D. Rourke:
http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft1d5nb0gb;brand=ucpress
Boat operators to Skellig Michael:
http://iguide.travel/Skellig_Michael/Overview/Boat_Operators
Loughcrew
http://www.knowth.com/loughcrew.htm
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/Loughcrew/
http://www.sacredsites.com/europe/ireland/loughcrew.html (Great Photos)
Loughcrew House, Gardens, and Adventure Course
Rock of Cashel/Hore Abbey
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-East/RockofCashel/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hore_Abbey
Clonmacnoise
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/Clonmacnoise/
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/clonmacnoise
Kells (Co. Kilkenny)
Site with comprehensive information about Kells Priory
http://kells.frantzen.de/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kells_Priory
Kilree Round Tower and High Cross (just up the road from Kells)
http://www.roundtowers.org/kilree/index.htm
Glendalough
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/GlendaloughVisitorCentre/
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/glendalough
Dublin
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/index.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Patrick%27s_Cathedral,_Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral
http://cccdub.ie/
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/dublin-christ-church-cathedral.htm
Hill of Tara/Hill of Slane
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/HillofTara/
http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/tara/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tara
http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/slane/index.html
http://www.slane.com/hillofslane.htm
Quin Abbey
http://www.nd.edu/~ikuijt/Ireland/Sites/mdonnel2/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quin_Abbey
Engaging Ireland - Episode 12 - All Ireland Travel Interview (Part 1)
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
06/09/09 • 44 min
All Ireland Travel website (Kemberlee and Peter’s website)
http://www.allirelandtravel.com/
Peruse the site and check out the information related to travel to and within Ireland, as well as information about car rental and accommodation. As Kemberlee notes in our interview, the information/descriptions for many of the attractions and accommodations listed on the website were recently updated and expanded.
While you’re there, be sure to check out their blog. The link to it is found under “More Information” (select “blogspot”). You can also link to the Ireland Yahoo group from the website and sign up to join the discussions!
Dublin Pass and Ireland-at-a-Glimpse guides
Please visit the All Ireland Travel website for links to purchase these. They are also a great deal, if you are going to visit several of the places covered under each pass. Check the website to see if the places you are planning to visit are covered!
Lee Valley Clothing: http://www.leevalley.ie/
We had lunch and conducted our interview with Peter and Kemberlee at the Lee Valley Retail Outlet in Inchigeela (west of Cork City just off the N22 on the R584), which just happens to have a lovely cafeteria upstairs.
Other things to do in the Inchigeela (or Inchigeelagh)/Lee Valley area
http://www.inchigeelagh.com/Activities.htm
This is (yet another) lovely part of Ireland with a lot to offer the outdoors enthusiast.
OPW Heritage Card
http://www.heritageireland.ie/
The Heritage Card is a pass for entry to sites maintained and operated by the Office of Public Works in Ireland. You can purchase passes before you go to Ireland by downloading and completing the form (available at the website) and mailing it in with payment. Or you can just purchase the pass at the first OPW site you visit while in Ireland. (You may also pay per site if you don’t care to purchase the Heritage Card. You don’t have to have a card to get into the sites.)
Check the online site while you’re planning your vacation to see how many of the Heritage Sites you might visit and the cost per each entry. Some sites cost as little as €2, while other sites cost as much as €11 (for Newgrange/Knowth/Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre).
Engaging Ireland - Episode 18 - St. Patrick: Separating the Life from the Legend
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
03/10/10 • 7 min
In anticipation of Saint Patrick's Day, we briefly explore the life and legend of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland.
Ep. 29 - In the footsteps of Patrick
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
03/17/12 • 10 min
In this episode, we follow in the footsteps of Saint Patrick, paying a visit to a few of the key sights connected with Ireland’s patron saint.
Ep. 23 - Interview With Joe O'Flynn and Brian Bourke
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
10/11/10 • 27 min
We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Joe O’Flynn, owner of Rathsallagh Country House Hotel, and Brian Bourke, owner of Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Both establishments are family-owned and operated, and Joe and Brian shared with us a bit of what it has been like to operate in these difficult economic times. Not only has there been a drop in the number of visitors to Ireland, but there has also been the issue of the “zombie hotels” to contend with.
Even in these trying times, however, Joe and Brian remain optimistic about the future for their own establishments, as well as for other well-run accommodations that provide good service and a personal touch for their guests.
We also talk a bit about what separates a superior accommodation from a lackluster one and why travelers should look at more than just the cost of their board when considering where they will stay. A hint: When someone tells you that you get what you pay for, they are generally telling you the truth! The price of your accommodation should not be your only consideration or motivation when making your travel plans.
A few links of use from this episode:
Rathsallagh Country House Hotel, Dunlavin, County Wicklow - http://www.rathsallagh.com/
Their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RathsallaghHouse
And Twitter Account: @RathsallaghHous
Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Bushypark, County Galway - http://www.glenlo.com/
Their Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Galway/Glenlo-Abbey-Hotel/282220584728?ref=search&v=wall
There is much more to experience at these properties than just the hotels. Check out their websites to see all of the amenities and special activities that are on offer.
We also ran across this clever cooperative marketing scheme on the part of three family-owned Irish hotels: Glenlo Abbey, Rathsallagh House, and Sandhouse Hotel (Rossnowlagh, County Donegal). The three hotels are currently operating a partnership they call The Emerald Triangle (http://www.emerald3.com/), where you purchase one package and receive six nights’ B&B accommodation (split among the three hotels). By booking this way, you can be assured of quality lodging as you travel across the country, and you get the great level of service that comes from a combined 100 years of experience assisting travelers in Ireland. We think this is a brilliant idea and a way to ‘think out of the box,’ as it were, in trying to find new and innovative means to attract clients!
Celebrated Experiences, Jonathan Epstein, President http://www.celebratedexperiences.com/
“Our clients are the most elite travel agents in the world, seeking the very best for their demanding clientele. “ (A little bit of information about the company from their website.)
You can also find Celebrated Experiences on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/CelebratedExperiences where you can follow Jonathan’s worldwide travel adventures.
As mentioned during the interview, you should research any of the accommodations you are thinking about booking. One place where you can find information about quality Irish accommodations is at Ireland’s Blue Book (http://www.irelands-blue-book.ie/). Of course, there are other places you go to perform your research. Another good place to start your research is to simply look at the establishment’s website and review its history and amenities. This should tell you a lot about the quality of the accommodation.
Days 5 & 6
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
05/16/08 • 0 min
Hello again! Just a quick update to let you know what we've been doing.
Day 5 (Killarney) Thursday morning we checked out of our accommodation near Dungarvan/Helvick Head and travelled west to Killarney. There's a national park near the town of Killarney, and the highest mountain peaks in Ireland are located near the park (MacGillycuddy's Reeks). We arrived in Killarney around mid-day, and, even though it was a little early, we decided to check and see if we could get into our B&B, so we'd have less in the car. They were very kind and did let us check in before 2 p.m., as our rooms were already cleaned from the previous night's guests. We got back in the car and decided to drive out to Killarney National Park, mainly to see Torc Waterfall. It was very beautiful (see the photo).
We then headed further up the road to Ladies' View, said to be named by the ladies-in-waiting of Queen Victoria as the most beautiful view they experienced on their visit to Ireland in 1861. It is a very spectacular view, and a very scenic drive to get to. (I almost said it was a "lovely" drive; however, because the road is quite narrow and busy with bus traffic, I can't really claim that it was a lovely drive. The drive was quite frightening, actually, but we made it without actually scraping off either of the side-view mirrors!) On our way back to the town of Killarney, we stopped at a couple of spots to take photos of the lakes. At one stop, there was a gentleman named Michael who asked us if we wanted to take a boat ride for 15 Euro each. We respectfully declined his offer as it was getting late, we were hungry, and 15 Eur. seemed a lot for a boat ride.
Upon returning to town, we parked back at the B&B and walked to the town center to find something for dinner. We passed a lot of restaurants on High Street, but most of the prices were well out of our range (in the $30-50 equivalent range). We settled on the bar service at a place called O'Meara's. Travis and Lisa had a lovely chicken curry with rice for 10.75 Eur, and Mom and I had the salmon salad for 11 Eur. I got to have my first Guinness of the trip, Lisa got her Smithwick's, and Mom finally got to taste her Irish coffee (she wasn't all that impressed, but now she can say she did it). The food was actually very good, and we were all quite hungry from all the walking we did at the park.
Day 6 (Dingle) After a tasty breakfast at the B&B, we headed out to take the tour of Ross Castle on Lough Leane. Ross Castle has been very well restored, and the tour is very informative. We enjoyed the 1/2 hour tour of the tower portion of the castle (you can't go into the rest of it). We were a little sad that we were not allowed to take any photographs inside the castle, but we liked the tour and our guide, Maureen, anyway!
At the conclusion of the castle tour, we made our way to the Dingle Peninsula. We stopped at Inch Strand (beach) to have our picnic lunch - we have a picnic lunch every day to save money. Inch is a very long, beautiful stretch of beach. If you've ever seen the film "Ryan's Daughter," part of that movie was filmed on the beach there. It's a beach where many people ride horses (I've heard there are actually races there...), and there were a few there when we first arrived, but they left shortly after our arrival. We walked up to the sea edge for a bit and then headed on to Dingle Town and our B&B for the evening. After a brief chat with our hostess, Angela, and checking in to our comfy rooms, we went back into town (the B&B is about 1 km past the town center) to check out the shops. Lisa was able to cross several hard-to-find items off her shopping list and was a very happy girl!
We were going to drive up Connor Pass - since the last time Travis and I visited Dingle Peninsula, it was totally foggy and rainy and we couldn't see a thing - but we decided we would take a chance that the weather would hold, and we'll go over it tomorrow on our way to Tipperary. Today, we went to visit Gallarus Oratory - a very small stone church that was built in the 7th or 8th century (they're not exactly sure). The church was built using a corbelling technique that still keeps the church bone dry on the inside, even in the heaviest of rainstorms! Upon leaving that site, we went to Kilmalkedar, where there's an old church, an ogham stone, an ancient sun dial, and a cemetery.
The weather was very cloudy for a good part of the day, but the clouds broke and the sun came out and the day was another beautiful, sunny day! What a blessing! We're ready for some rain about now, though, oddly enough...
Again, the restaurants were really quite expensive, so we decided to have a picnic supper as well. We bought a few items at the local grocery store and returned to our B&B to sit on the balcony that overlooks Dingle Harbor. After we finished our cheese and brown bread and an interesting little dessert we found that...
Ep. 34 - Samhain stories of the supernatural: the Pooka and the Banshee
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
10/30/14 • 5 min
Our Halloween-week episodes are nearly done. In this episode, we talk about two supernatural creatures of Ireland: the Pooka and the Banshee.
Engaging Ireland - Episode 004
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
05/18/08 • 20 min
Engaging Ireland - Episode 13 - All Ireland Travel Interview (Part 2)
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
06/19/09 • 49 min
We present the second half of our conversation with Peter and Kemberlee from All Ireland Travel (see show notes from Episode 12).
B&B Vouchers
Vouchers for accommodation at B&Bs (and sometimes hotels) are often part of vacation packages for travel in Ireland, or they may be sometimes be purchased separately.
We have never used vouchers on any of our trips to Ireland. We neither condone nor condemn their use. You really have to decide for yourself if you think they would work well for your travel plans. How do you make that decision? Take a look at some of the following sites for more information.
On this site, Michele Erdvig (an Ireland Expert from IrelandYes.com) gives readers an interesting take on when she thinks B&B vouchers may or may not be a good value for travel in Ireland.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ireland-144/2009/2/B-B-Vouchers-Ireland.htm
Read this article for a good look at the pros and cons of the vouchers.
http://www.dochara.com/save/save-on-accommodation/bed-breakfast-vouchers/
Peter and Kemberlee’s favorite places to visit in Ireland:
Killarney Countryside
Killarney National Park
http://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/
The Gap of Dunloe
Here, we will make appropriate use of the wonderful descriptions Kemberlee and Peter have placed on their website of places of interest in Ireland.
http://www.all-ireland.com/attractions/munster/kerry/gapofdunloe.htm#brandon
Here is a general description of the Gap of Dunloe.
http://www.irishtourism.com/attractions-ireland/gap-of-dunloe_155224-attraction.htm
And the following description of the Gap comes from the Planet Ware website (www.planetware.com).
“The western part of the Killarney National Park extends from the Upper Lake to the southwest shore of the Lower Lake by way of Purple Mount (2,698ft/822m) and its northern foothills. This range of hills is separated from Macgillicuddy's Reeks to the west by the rocky defile known as the Gap of Dunloe, best reached from the R562, which follows the north side of the Lower Lake. From the road to the Gap, which goes off on the left just after the golf courses, can be seen Dunloe Castle, set amid trees, and a group of ogham stones (National Monument).
It is customary to drive as far as Kate Kearney's Cottage, but from there the climb to the pass (some 2.5mi/4km) is usually continued in a jaunting car, on a pony or on foot. There are five little lakes, fed by a rapid mountain stream. The highest of these is Serpent Lake, into which St Patrick is said to have consigned all the snakes he expelled form Ireland. The mighty rocks bearing the marks of glacial action which flank the gorge give an excellent echo. From the top of the pass (784ft/239m) there are superb views of hills, valleys and lakes in the varied shades of green, yellow and brown presented by the vegetation and the red sandstone rocks.”
This little gem is one visitor’s description of the walk through the Gap. It’s a very wonderful description of most of the walk. We say “most of the walk” because the family in the story didn’t walk all the way through the Gap to the Black Valley side. It’s a shame that many people don’t get all the way through, too, because we really thought that last mile and a half were probably the most beautiful and serene of the whole walk. (Unless you pay them extra, the jaunting cars don’t go further than the third lake in the gap, and there’s still a couple of miles of gorgeous valley to be experienced from there!)
http://www.irelandforvisitors.com/articles/the_gap.htm
A thorough description (with photos) of how many tourists make the trek through the Gap of Dunloe and back to Killarney Town each day:
http://www.lakehotel.com/Gap_of_dunloe.htm
The Black Valley
On our visit to Killarney National Park this year, we were determined to walk the Gap of Dunloe, and (thanks to confirmation from Peter and Kemberlee) we decided to start our walk at the Gap Head on the Black Valley end of the Gap. We did this because we had heard stories about how crowded it can get at the other end of the gap where most people begin their journey. We parked next to a little church in the Black Valley and made our way up the switchbacks in the road leading up into the gap. When we arrived at t...
Engaging Ireland - Episode 11 - A Whirlwind Tour of Ireland
The Engaging Ireland Podcast
04/01/09 • 38 min
In response to a listener's questions and comments, we produced this show in order to illustrate what a two-week vacation in Ireland could look like. This is only one of an infinite number of options available to travellers, but it will give you an idea of what you *can* do.
Fasten your seatbelts for a whirlwind tour of the Republic and Northern Ireland!
Ferries from Rossaveel (Bus available from Galway City)
Aran Island Ferries
Aran Direct
Ferries from Doolin
Doolin 2 Aran Ferries
http://www.aran-island-ferry.com/
Aran Doolin Ferries
Doolin Ferry
Moher Cruises
http://www.cliffs-of-moher-cruises.com/
(This carrier provides service to Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher cruises, as do some of the other Doolin operators.)
Flights to the Aran Islands
Aer Arann
http://www.aerarannislands.ie/
Shuttle buses for ferries and flights leave from Galway (and Kilronan) daily, but you can drive yourself out to the airport or ferry docks if you prefer.
Other Links
Kylemore Abbey
Connemara Region
http://www.connemaraireland.com/
County Mayo Home Page
(with links to towns and attractions in County Mayo, including the village of Murrisk and the town of Westport)
County Sligo Home Page
Sligo Heritage Page
Enniskillen Home Page
Ulster American Folk Park
Dungiven Castle
http://www.dungivencastle.com/welcome.html
North Antrim Information
Giant’s Causeway
http://www.northantrim.com/giantscauseway.htm
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
http://www.northantrim.com/carrick_a_rede.htm
Dunluce Castle/Carrickfergus Castle
http://www.geographia.com/northern-ireland/ukiant03.htm
Monasterboice
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/monasterboice.htm
Mellifont Abbey
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/mellifont-abbey.htm
Bru na Boinne
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/BrunaBoinneVisitorCentreNewgrangeandKnowth/
Loughcrew
http://www.loughcrew.com/cairns.htm
(When you return the key to the cairn, be sure to take a trip through the Loughcrew Gardens or buy a cup of tea or coffee and a snack at the Coffee Shop.)
National Museum of Ireland
http://www.museum.ie/en/homepage.aspx
Dublin Bus Tours (we’re not making a recommendation of one over another...)
http://www.dublintours.net/tours/tourDetail.cfm?tour_id=7192
http://194.106.151.179/sightseeing/index.aspx
Kilkenny Self-Guided Walking Tour
http://www.knockahopple.com/Kilkenny.pdf
Kells Augustinian Priory
http://www.kellsvillage.bravepages.com/priory.htm
Cashel town and the Rock of Cashel
Mallow Information
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Engaging Ireland Podcast have?
The Engaging Ireland Podcast currently has 43 episodes available.
What topics does The Engaging Ireland Podcast cover?
The podcast is about Irish, Culture, Places & Travel, Society & Culture, Ireland, History, Podcasts, Hiking, Travel, Tips and Network.
What is the most popular episode on The Engaging Ireland Podcast?
The episode title 'Ep. 36 - In The Footsteps of Patrick - Continued' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Engaging Ireland Podcast?
The average episode length on The Engaging Ireland Podcast is 21 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Engaging Ireland Podcast released?
Episodes of The Engaging Ireland Podcast are typically released every 30 days, 16 hours.
When was the first episode of The Engaging Ireland Podcast?
The first episode of The Engaging Ireland Podcast was released on Apr 6, 2008.
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