One for the Road: Ireland’s Literary Revival

by Kelly Amabile on

I’ve already mentioned how much I love the Roaring Forties ArtPlace series, but I won’t apologize for saying it again. The latest creative guide in this fantastic alternative series is A Journey into Ireland’s Literary Revival by R. Todd Felton. Instead of focusing on the life of one artist in a particular city, this unique guide takes a look at an entire group of writers and their individual relationships with various nooks and crannies of the entire Emerald Isle.

Felton takes the authentically Irish literature of writers such as W. B. Yeats, Lady Augusta Gregory and Sean O’Casey and uses it as a tool for exploration. This historic literary travelogue takes readers to places like Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Dublin. And along the way makes visits to the cottages, castles, theaters and pubs where some of the country’s finest writers shaped a vision of Ireland. This is a nice series for armchair travelers looking to bypass logistical details, and a perfect fit for literary fans who wish to see the country from a cultural perspective.

Where to Get Your Drink On

by Jonathon Morgan on

For those of you looking to get roaring drunk on your next holiday abroad, you’re probably in the market for a really good pub crawl. I spent my college days in Liverpool — formerly rated the UK’s number 1 party city — so, rest assured, I know what I’m talking about.

But beyond the unchecked inebriation, and poorly-harmonized group renditions of “Lean On Me” that often accompany these sorts of excursions, in some cities, pub crawls are the best way to get to know the local population.

Thanks to Vincent Crump and Chris Haslam at the Times Online, you can review a handpicked list of the best pub crawls in the best pub crawl cities — Sydney, Dublin, Boston and Edinburgh. Not only do they give you a run down on the cultural significance of all their chosen watering holes, but the pair are even so thoughtful as to offer culinary suggestions for the morning after — pleasant ways to ease out of that hangover (or beat it to death with fried eggs and bacon).

Bottoms up.

Ireland Best at Binge-Drinking

by Iva Skoch on

Ouch! Just a few days before celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day, the EU has announced the results of a survey exploring attitudes to alcohol in the EU.

Here are the top six binge-drinking (drinks five or more drinks in one session) countries:

  • Ireland 34%
  • Finland 27%
  • UK 24%
  • Denmark 23%
  • Portugal 4%
  • Italy & Greece 2%

Surprisingly, no Eastern European countries scored high. Probably because binge-drinking is different from keeping oneself moderately drunk at all times?

Wistful Wishes of Whiskey-filled Weekends

by Iva Skoch on

UK’s The Independent had a good bunch of suggestions for folks who love the sweet, hot, aromatic burning sensation of the world’s greatest whiskeys. Now, distilled spirits may have originated in the Middle East, but the British Isles are the home of fine scotch. And what better for a connoisseur than to stay at or near a fine distillery?

The article lists examples of five lodges where you can stay, close to some of the world’s best distilleries. For example, you can rent small cottages at Scotland’s the Glenmorangie House for as little as 160 pounds ($313 USD) per night, full board.

“Within easy staggering distance” of the Bushmills distillery in Northern Ireland is the Drum Lodge, a 200+ year old drum-shaped, gothic-styled lodge. (Yes, yes, it’s Irish whiskey, but it sounds cool anyway.)

Or try the island distillery of Bowmore, on Islay, where you can bring up to 11 of your friends to rent a cottage for as little as 440 pounds ($860 USD) per week. And there are seven more distilleries on the 25-mile-long Scottish island. It’s a mere four-hour, car-plus-ferry trip west of Glasgow.

Scotch fanatics may recognize the names here, but I can tell you, from the pictures I’ve seen of these places, they look beautiful and worth the trip…even if whiskey’s not your bag, baby.

To Dingle or Not to Dingle?

by Iva Skoch on

One of western Ireland’s favorite tourist destinations (as well as surfing destinations?) is in a battle for its very name. This small coastal town, formerly called Dingle, has been officially renamed An Daingean (pronounced “on dang-un”). No more are the “Dingle” signs.

It just so happens that the town is in a “Gaeltacht,” a designated Irish-speaking area, so the cultural affairs minister renamed the town, shelving its English name.

However, the townsfolk, who understand that tourism is the town’s number one industry, are upset and are voting in a referendum to change the name back to a bilingual name: Dingle An Daingean Ui Chuis. Although they’re without power to force the change, they hope to win a moral victory over the minister.

But in this conflict of the traditional versus popular, only the sign-makers–and favorite local son Fungie the Dingle Dolphin–will be happy.