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From: "Jean R." <>
Subject: More Recent Trips to Ireland
Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2005 21:20:09 -0700


SNIPPET: In the March-April 2001 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine, readers shared their stories regarding recent and past trips to the Emerald Isle:

Susan MOCSNY BAKER, Westborough, MA wrote: "We just arrived home from our first trip to Ireland. I must say that I am now scheming when I can go back! Your country was as beautiful as I had ever thought it would be, even though I'd always had the impression that the photographs I'd seen must surely have been enhanced to achieve those gorgeous greens. Well, now I can testify that Ireland really is as green as the pictures show. A friend, John HAGART, took us on a private plane tour of Co. Cork and part of Co. Kerry . It was spectacular and we have many pictures to show for it. However, the gretest gift I carry home is that of the people of Ireland: their warmth, hospitality, and genuine enthusiasm for a couple of American tourists is my most pleasant memory. I can't count how many times people offered us kindness, although we were total strangers. In short, I am trying to convince my mother, (who is a DUFFY), that we need to take a trip to the country of her roots.!
We may do just that!"

Rene DEWAELE, Wondelgem, Belgium, shared: "This year we visited Ireland for the third time. After visiting Co. Clare and the Ring of Kerry, Killarney and Co . Donegal beckoned. During our stay in July, we had one day of rain. The following fortnight it remained dry and the temperature rose. It has to rain in Ireland, otherwise, it wouldn't have been so green. the landscape in Donegal is beautiful and silence is all around. When we drove through the lands and mountains, people put their hand up to greet us. A habit that we, in Belgium, hardly know. For people who want to visit Co. Donegal, we can recommend Glenveagh National Park and Castle, Beltaine Stone Circle and its magnificent coastline. Don't forget 'Leo's Tavern' in Crolly to drink one or more pints of Guinness and listen to the music of Clannad and Enya. In Ardara we went into a shop to buy some things and the owner asked us where we were from. Hearing that we were from Belgium, he began to speak in Frenc!
h. Strange - does everything think that we speak only French in Belgium? The majority of the Belgians live in Flanders and speak Flemish/Dutch. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our stay very much and a visit for the fourth time is sure to come!"

Patrick GRIFFIN, St. Louis, MO shared that his grandfather, upon retiring in July 1977, packed up his family and armed with an old photo went looking for descendants of the writer's great-great-grandmother who left to come to America. (Apparently they found family in Co. Donegal). .... "Sadly, my grandfather passed away in Shannon Airport before boarding the plane. Yet, sad as it was, if he could have chosen his way of passing, it would have been just as it was, on the Irish soil he loved so much, and after glorious holiday with the family he adored. I have subscribed to your magazine for several years, and I am writing this letter in order to extend an extremely heartfelt thank you and your staff for evoking dear memories for me every time I open the pages. You continue to bring me back, in spirit and mind."

Finally -- An unidentified subscriber wrote IOTW to say that he had traveled to Ireland extensively and that he still had not seen everything!. A collector of Irish stamps and Irish postal history, he had recently purchased an open envelope with original contents and found such a nice well-written letter that he wanted to share it with IOTW readers to show what a difference 41 years could make in Ireland. The letter was written on Gresham Hotel Dublin stationery and dated Thursday, July 16, 1959). It read -- "Dear Grant and Sally, We had a perfectly wonderful trip over on the 'Mauretania' - mostly good weather - very congenial shipmates, good food and by and large a good rest, despite losing an hour each day. Docking by tender at Cobh, Co. Cork was quite an experience. It was early morning on a clear day, with a sunrise I'll never forget. I'm hopeful the movie camera was in proper working condition, so that we can share the experience with you later. Blarney Castl!
e lived up to its reputation, as did the counties of Cork and Kerry. Perfectly beautiful vistas everywhere one looks -- narrow roads, and as many horse and donkey-carts as autos. Our trip to see Catherine at her brother's farm near Castlemaine was another great experience. I told him (brother John) that it must be a thrill to be able to look at such a view (the upper end of Dingle Bay) every day. He said quite sadly that he had to work so hard to make a living on his 24 acres that he was ashamed to admit that he didn't even stop to consider the view. No plumbing in the house and all the cooking is done in the fireplace even as it was done in U. S. in Colonial days. Peat of course is the one and only fuel in this area we went through and a not unpleasant odour from its smoke is noticeable as you drive through settlements. Galway was very old, grey and drenched with rain that was pelting down all the time we were there. The trip across Ireland was pleasant, but we were!
happy to arrive here at late noon to commence a little relaxing. Due to being bumped off the overnight ferry from Belfast (or due to some snags) we are spending tomorrow night here and will fly to Glasgow via Irish Air Lines (Viscount Services) early Saturday to commence our Trossachs Tour into Edinburgh ..." (Note - The name of the writer of the 1959 letter was not given, either, perhaps because of a printing error.)

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