Best/Worst of Times: Dublin Bookstores Experiencing Difficult Period

by Neil Woodburn on

I once lived in Dublin for nearly a year and seemed to have spent a great deal of that time in the city’s grand bookstores. When I was bored, I’d swing by one of the many independent bookstores and spend time browsing the titles and reading little snippets of literary gems.

I was therefore disappointed to come across an article by Kevin Cullen lamenting the difficult period these very bookstores are currently experiencing due to Ireland’s booming economy. As the city becomes more affluent and rent continues to soar, more and more of these small, independent shops are having problems paying rent. Many have already shut their doors.

I find this simply tragic. There is perhaps no city on this planet with a richer literary heritage than Dublin. The bookstores are as much a part of the city’s character as its many pubs. As they shut down one by one, the collective screams of Yeats, Joyce, Wilde, Swift, and so many other Men of Letters will ring out loud and clear across this Dirty Old Town.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of November 12

by Adrienne Wilson on

Settle down and settle in as I take you on a spin of our five favorite’s from the week that was… You’ll love it – I promise!

5. MTV Launches Travel Guidebook Series:
My MTV days are just about over and done, but the memories will last forever. (Not that I did any of the crazy stuff you see on the network these days.) If you’re off to Ireland and looking for some place hip, spunky, spanky, no, no, spunky and cool with more pubs than humanly possible to crawl you may want to check out this blurb from Neil.

4. Travel Insurance for the Over-65:
There are two peak times in one’s life when the opportunity to travel should be seized; in youth and old-age. During each time frame there are many things to consider before taking off into the wilderness. One of the most important is travel insurance and while you may only need it in your young age to cover really silly and naive mishaps, it’s a little different in your golden years. See what Iva found about the situation for the over 65 and start planning ahead if you don’t think they’ll be giving you a break to take a break.

3. Procreation Vacations:
We’ve talked about ‘Babymooning’ and heading out on vaca to go half on a new baby boy or baby girl, but surely it is time to think about it again. Why? Because it’s getting colder. Because the holidays are coming. Because babies are just too darn cute not to have! You decide and if you think your clock is ticking maybe it’s time for a moonlit stroll on the sandy shores of Tonga.

2. Craig Duff Blogs from Egypt:
Gadling is a travel blog and we point to other travel blogs that we like from time to time. Erik points us to his pal who blogs from Egypt. Craig is his pal and all, I’m sure, but as an outsider and unbiased set of eyes reading I’d say it’s swell. Go check it out if you need info or fuel to get your own travels to Egypt going.

1. Surfing Alaska:
Can’t say that I’ve been to Alaska or that I’ve been surfing and I can’t say that I wouldn’t try it out, but this isn’t about me. This is about an article found in Outside mag on surfers who do brave the icy waters and their experiences. If you can’t take the cold get off the board. Yuk,yuk, yuk….

MTV Launches Travel Guidebook Series

by Neil Woodburn on

Here’s a slightly odd combination that just might work.

Youthful icon MTV is partnering with the guidebook king Frommer’s to bring the hip edgy world of music videos to the hip edgy world of international travel.

The two companies have teamed together to produce a series of guidebooks that will appeal to the MTV demographic. And no, the series will not be called Pimp my European Vacation.

The partnership kicked off in September with the publication of MTV Ireland. By next year the stables will also include Italy, England, Spain, France, Europe, Mexican beaches, and American road trips.

The guidebooks aim towards those traveling/backpacking internationally for the first time and promise to point neophytes towards the best sights, and of course, the best drinking holes, beaches, and clubs. I suggest they might also think about publishing Dude! Where’s my Passport?

I haven’t gotten my hands on a copy of MTV Ireland yet, but it will be interesting to see if MTV dethrones Let’s Go as the guidebook of choice for traveling American college students.

Dingle Changes Name: American Schoolchildren Disappointed

by Neil Woodburn on

When I read that the town of Dingle, Ireland was changing its name, I was pretty certain I knew the reason why. The town’s name was the first half of a slang term we used as kids to describe something particularly nasty.

When I learned many years ago there was an actual town named Dingle, I experienced that same adolescent snicker which burst out upon first hearing about Lake Titicaca and Sperm Whales.

Unfortunately, it appears that the youth of Ireland don’t share the same linguistic hilarity over the term. In fact, when I passed through the town a few years ago, they actually seemed quite proud of the name–which makes me think that schoolboy immaturity probably has nothing to do with the recent name change.

According to the BBC, the change was actually due to a grassroots movement to re-embrace Gaelic, the original Irish language. In a move to protect their linguistic roots, the city has reverted back to its original Gaelic name of An Daingean.

An Daingean?!?

I don’t know about you, but I think I actually prefer the more modern, albeit snicker-worthy name.

Now, about those famous berries…

Irish Dirt for Sale

by Neil Woodburn on

Dying to visit Ireland but lack the time or money to fly there? How about bringing a bit of Ireland to you instead?

Two industrious Irishmen have opened up a business that caters to the 70 million compatriots who have left the green isle and are living abroad. Those who miss home can order a 0.75 lb bag of authentic Irish soil for $15 and carry around a bit of the old country wherever they go.

What truly drives the business, however, is the desire to have a handful of Irish soil tossed on top of a casket when an Irishman dies abroad.

So far, the businessmen have shipped 528,000 pounds of their dirt to the United States for approximately $1 million. You too can get yourself a handful when their website, OfficialIrishDirt.com, goes live in the near future.