Aer Lingus new direct service from Seattle to Dublin will fly four times a week, year around, and it marks the start of Are Lingus’ new interline agreement with Alaska Airlines. This is the second new transatlantic route to be launched by Are Lingus for this summer in 2018. The other being Philadelphia-Dublin service commenced…
Category: Ireland
Serious doctor shortage in Ireland Ministry of Health
The Irish Health Services admit to 350 vacant hospital consultant (medical doctors) posts across the public health service in Ireland. The largest hospital in the south, Cork University Hospital with 130 consultants, has 33 vacant positions, according to HSE. Galway has 18 posts vacant abd Dublin-Midlands Hospital has 43 vacant posts. Overall there is an…
Ireland will send observers to U.S. for midterm elections
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has written to its team of Irish election observers, who volunteer for deployment across the world to ensure elections are fair and transparent, seeking volunteers to serve on the U.S. mission in October and November. The department maintains a roster of Irish observers who participate in election missions…
Lahinch to host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2019
An announcement that the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is to be held in Lahinch in 2019 is a massive statement of confidence in the West of Ireland region as both a golfer’s paradise and tourism hub. Lahinch is one of a number of internationally celebrated courses that people travel from across the globe to…
Limerick man traveled on first United Airlines 20 years ago at Shannon
Shane Clifford from Annacotty, County Limerick, was on the first United Airlines flight that departed from Shannon 20 years ago to the U.S. As a huge coincidence he was on the a flight recently from Newark that marked the anniversary of the first to go to Newark. He didn’t realize it until his pilot announced…
Ryan Air to increase service to Spain to year around
Ryan Air has announced year round service to Alicante, Spain, which is a very popular vacation spot for the Irish. Many Irish have vacation homes in the popular tourism area located on the Costa Blanca. Shannon Airport announced that the passenger numbers were up by 5% in the first quarter of the year and they…
Blackwater Distillery – shortlisted as International Gin Producer of the Year
Blackwater Distillery, based in West Waterford, was one of just five companies worldwide short-listed for the International Gin Producer of the Year Award at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), held in London recently. The annual IWSC awards are judged by industry professionals and Blackwater is the first Irish distillery to rate so highly…
Tones that are tender
Could I find again the woodland Where I loved to lie and dream, While Dragon flies were dancing To the rippling of the stream. (“Retrospection” by Percy French) In the 1960s when my contemporaries were listening to Radio Luxemburg and singing (and talking about) “a Whiter Shade of Pale,” “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” and…
Inheritance Tax has forced straight Irishman to marry
Two straight Irishmen have announced their intention to marry in an effort to avoid Ireland’s large inheritance tax. Eighty-five-year-old Matt Murphy and his best friend and care giver, Michael O’- Sullivan, have gotten married even though they are not gay. The reason is because of the high inheritance tax on a single person. They have…
Exploring the mysteries of Ireland
I am a great believer in invitations, particularly ones that take us out of our ordinary and habitual way of perceiving the world and our connection to it. Ireland — its landscape, history, people, culture, and flora and fauna — extends a particularly strong invitation that has called to me so thoroughly and repeatedly through…