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Why You Should Plan Trip To The Emerald Isle Of Ireland
by Gregg Hall Ireland is one of the most diverse and beautiful places in the world. With rolling hills and unique architecture, the landscape of the country is truly distinctive and memorable. The Irish people are renowned for their hospitality and traditions and you will totally enjoy immersing yourself in their culture.
Ireland has no shortage of beautiful scenery such as the Cliffs of Moher that rise nearly 600 feet from the Atlantic Ocean affording expansive views. People don't think about Ireland having pretty beaches but they do. All of the nicer ones are in the Southwest of the country. If you like beaches, try Barleycove in West Cork, it's a big beach with dunes and pretty water.
Of course the Emerald Isle is famous for the pubs that are all over the place as well and after hanging out at a few of them you will have a hard time finding any that can match them. Do your research before you go and have a list that you want to visit, it doesn't matter what part of the country you stay in there will be plenty to choose from.
The music of the country is another reason people love to visit, you will hear plenty of traditional Irish music at the pubs with many of them having live music nightly. The town of Cork hosts the Cork Jazz Festival which is always a fun time filled with food and music.
Of course the things that many people think about when thinking of Ireland are the castles, which there are many of. If you like, you can even arrange to stay at some of the castles as they have been renovated for such use. The Blarney Castle is the home of the world famous Blarney Stone and is always a favorite with tourists as is the Dublin Castle, which you will definitely want to see while you are there. One of the favorite castles to stay at is the Ashford Castle in Mayo on the west coast of the country. It has been renovated to include a resort with many dining rooms, unique activities and even a health spa. By the way, if you are into spas, try out the Samas Spa at the Park Hotel in Kenmare.
Don't be a stick in the mud while you are visiting the beautiful country, get out and enjoy the area and take advantage of activities like horseback riding or golf. The golf courses in Ireland are some of the most beautiful in the entire world. If you are a golfer you must golf while in Ireland, your friends would never let you live it down if you didn't. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Ireland and Irish Gifts at http://www.uniqueirishgifts.com
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What You Never Knew About Traditional Irish Weddings
by Gregg Hall The distinctive traditions like Claddagh rings, superstitions, a special toast, as well as kilts and bagpipes make it really easy to distinguish an Irish wedding from the wedding celebrations of other countries. Let's take a close look at some of these unique components in the Irish wedding.
One of the most unique of all is the Claddagh ring, a traditional Irish ring made to resemble a pair of hands holding a heart with a crown. According to tradition, these rings must be passed down from mother to daughter and since they are intended to be passed down through many generations it is considered improper to purchase one of these rings on your own. There is also a tradition that states how the ring is supposed to be worn. If someone is engaged, the ring is to be worn with the tips of the crown facing outward towards the fingertips. Someone who is not romantically involved would wear the ring in the outward position, meaning that the tips of the crown are pointing to the wrist.
Some of the other unique aspects of traditional Irish weddings are the strange superstitions that surround them. Although a rainy or overcast day is really unwanted at any wedding, it is even less desirable at an Irish celebration because according to tradition the sun must shine down on the bride so that the couple will be blessed with good luck. The Irish are very superstitious people; another sign of good luck for a new couple is the sound of a cuckoo or the sight of three magpies. When it comes to wishing the couple well and congratulating them it is bad luck for a female to be the first one to offer congratulations to the bride. This is why a relative or close friend of the Groom will always be sure that he is first.
No celebration in Ireland would be the same without the sound of bagpipes and the presence of kilts. By tradition it is customary for the pipes to be played by family and friends of the couple as they walk into the church and also to the reception. In addition, these people who have brought their own bagpipes may also continue to play the pipes for dancing. It is a great opportunity for these individuals to dress in traditional kilts creating a truly distinctive occasion.
Superstitions a play a large role in a traditional Irish wedding and many of the traditional superstitions relate to objects or occurrences that are thought to bring the couple good luck. These events are festive celebrations that involve family, friends, lots of food and great music. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Ireland and Irish Gifts Online at http://www.uniqueirishgifts.com
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