For the first time since figures have been recorded, more than one million North Americans visited Ireland in 2016. The numbers were released in June by Fáilte Ireland. “While we have known for some time that 2016 was a record year for tourism, this week’s report adds more layers to our understanding of that performance,” Caeman Wall, head of research at the National Tourism … [Read more...] about Record-Breaking Year for Irish Tourism
Travel
Salmon, Mead, and Sunsets at Ireland’s Oldest Working Lighthouse
Hook Lighthouse, located on the Hook Head peninsula in County Waterford, has expanded its tourism offerings this year by introducing sunset tours to capitalize on the vast seascapes and glorious colors of the Irish Sea. “Watching the sun go down at the tip of the Hook Peninsula is a memorable experience. The lighthouse watch-room offers spectacular panoramic views underneath … [Read more...] about Salmon, Mead, and Sunsets at Ireland’s Oldest Working Lighthouse
Reading West Cork
A trip to the West Cork Literary Festival turns into an unexpected and inspiring look at Bantry Bay and the people who call it home. In the words of Man Booker Prize-winner Anne Enright, “Ireland is a series of stories that have been told to us.” For me, Enright’s words couldn’t have rung truer. My father’s stories of growing up in Country Cork, told to me as a child, had the … [Read more...] about Reading West Cork
Bus Éireann Dispute Sparks Suspicion
The daily routines of many Irish commuters were thrown into disarray when employees of Bus Éireann, an intercity and regional bus service that connects areas in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, and Galway, went on strike for 21 days in April. Protesting poor company conditions and unfair pay, the workers lifted the pickets following a Labor Court reform proposal to improve work … [Read more...] about Bus Éireann Dispute Sparks Suspicion
Ireland Announces Online Passport Applications
In March the Irish government rolled out a major change to its passport issuing office, allowing Irish citizens to renew their passports online, from anywhere in the world. The service, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan said, “is one of the most significant innovations in customer service that this department has delivered over the past 15 years.” The new … [Read more...] about Ireland Announces Online Passport Applications