Adventures in Ireland

Whether it’s to discover a landscape drenched in myth and folklore or to visit some fantastic festivals, museums and galleries, a trip to the island of Ireland means you’ll never be short of something to do – and all without spending a fortune! Miles of golden sands stretch around the country’s coastline offering opportunities for endless hours of fun.

Amusing Irish Facts

Ballygally Castle in County Antrim, currently a hotel owned by a major chain, is allegedly one of the most haunted places in the country. Lady Isobel Shaw, whose husband built the castle in 1625, is said to knock on doors at night and then disappear. While alive, Ms. Shaw was locked in her room by her husband and starved, until she leapt to her death from a window.

The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia, in County Galway.

The original Guinness Brewery in Dublin has a 9,000 year lease on it's property, at a perpetual rate of 45 Irish pounds per year.

Baileys Irish Cream which was launched in Ireland in the early seventies, is now the most popular liqueur in the world.

According to tradition, a wedding party should always take the longest road home from church.

"The Snug" is a small private room in older, traditional Irish pubs, often favored by ladies.

A jaunting car is a traditional Irish horse-drawn vehicle with two wheels, which can carry four passengers and is driven by a man called a "jarvey."

The Gaelic way of saying "Merry Christmas" is "Nollaig Shona Duit." The pronounciation is "null-ig hun-a dit." 

Irish Naming Patterns

In case you’re wondering which relative to name your kids after, here are the traditional naming patterns from old Ireland:

1st son: Named after father’s father / 1st daughter after mother’s mother

2nd son: named after mother’s father / 2nd daughter after father’s mother
3rd son: named after the father / 3rd daughter after the mother

4th son: named after father’s eldest brother / 4th daughter after mother’s eldest sister 

Ireland's Climate

Temperate maritime, modified by North Atlantic Current. Winters are mild, summers cool, and the country is consistently humid. Ireland is overcast about half the time. Rain is more frequent in the west, while the southest portion of the country generally gets more sunshine.