Forced to travel

Travelling is one of the greatest experiences in the world: the colours, smells, touch and sound of foreign lands is thrilling and invigorating, socialising with the locals is curious and exciting and the memories are unforgettable.

But for some people these things are scary, unnecessary and upsetting.

Last week I had to go through something that I suppose was inevitable in Ireland's current climate: I had to say goodbye to my best friend as she set off to find work abroad.

Many of my friends, old school/ college friends, neighbours and acquaintances have had to emigrate to find work, but up until this week my close circle of friends had stayed intact.

As she excitedly spoke about her travel plans, where she would live, who she knows living close by and the popular attractions in their new world, the rest of us that must stay behind could only smile through our tears.

She was made redundant from her job late last year, one of the hardest workers I know she threw herself into applying for jobs, going on interviews and doing everything she could to find a job, but it was not to be. After spending time in Australia a few years ago and knowing a lot of people over there it became the best option and really only option for her.

As the months wore on, she became more excited about leaving and more bitter about her own country,in the end she was only too happy to wave goodbye to this Emerald Isle.

Although it will never be the same again, we will not see her (aside from on skype, facebook photos ...) , know her feelings, opinions and hear her laughter regularly, we know she really wanted to go.

How difficult must it be to wave goodbye to someone who really doesn't want to go?

How heartbreaking to lose the grasp of a friend, a sibling, a cousin ... who would do anything to stay here but can't?

A lot of people can answer those questions because according to the news it is happening every week.

During the boom years many of us left to travel the world and experience different cultures, now that prospect is being forced upon us, like it or not.

We can only hope that these bright young sparks will live, learn and love their new homes and in a few years bring their enthusiasm and talent back to this recovering island.

Until that time we must calculate the time difference of 10 or 12 hours to try and talk and see the people we love in foreign lands all over the world.

Travel can be exciting, but it can also be very sad.

A little bit of Hollywood at home

The Stlye Icons Museum at Newbridge Silverware, Co Kildare was exactly the glamour I was looking for.

Upstairs in the Newbridge Jewelery showroom you can glare at the dresses, photos and memorabilia of Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly while also take interest in Michael Jackson's famous glove and clothes, Michael Flately's colourful and jewel encrusted dancing costumes and a wardrobe of Beatles stage suits amongst others.

Well designed, great info, headphones to listen to stories and sparkling glamour accompany your journey around the museum. Amusingly they have Tipi Hedren 's costume from the scary as hell Hitchcok's The Birds (you can even see drops of blood and tears on the unforgettable green two piece).

You could spend at least an hour upstairs (I would advise to leave your male companion at home) before you even wander downstairs to ogle at the beautiful jewelery, silverware and ornaments. I especially enjoyed the antiques collection when I visited last month.

What is the best thing about the museum and showroom at Newbridge? It is entirely free. Hollywood in Ireland for free – it is simply fabulous!

Downstairs I would recommend spending a few Euro in the cafe or indeed indulging in some pieces of silver to remember your visit. I am again delighted to mention that when I visited I felt no obligation to purchase anything, the sales people were friendly and delightful but never over achieving.

Newbridge itself is quite an up and coming town with shops and boutiques galore. With Mother's Day fast approaching this would make an ideal day away with mum, sister or the girls, but probably not the boys as are sure to ruin the fantasy Newbridge have worked so hard to achieve.

I stayed at the Westgrove Hotel, Clane when I visited Newbridge Jewelery. It is a wonderfully spacious hotel with large comfortable and modern rooms, a delightful spa and a nice pool.

I also dined here and really enjoyed the funky restaurant, while the food was certainly tasty and creative.

Celebrating 'Irishness' on March 17

St Patrick's Day for me is one of the most ironic days of the year.

The day of full on Irishness, where listening to Diddly Eye music becomes the cool, drinking Guinness a must and a full suit of green totally acceptable- is the best day of the year NOT to be in Ireland!

You actually have not truly celebrated this island's patron saint in style if you have not done so in a foreign country. Even leaving the country to celebrate the day (weekend/ week) is not quite enough I estimate that you need to be about three months out of this Emerald Isle to truly appreciate and therefore enjoy March 17 in full.

This year Paddy's Day falls on a Saturday (2012) so we have the next day off and the one after that too (we need it - recession and all) and because of the weekend date it means all around the world we can party together (aside from some time challenges!)

When in Ireland, being Irish is so ... well ... common, right now even a little sad, but on foreign soil being Irish is well the most darn important thing in the world (even if the natives are truly sick of you and your kind!)

I am sure emigration has touched about everyone at this stage, a brothers, a sister, a best friend, cousin and it is terrible, horrible to watch them have to leave, heart breaking not to know when they will return, if they get a job, settle down, like it there ... but on the major plus side they get to celebrate St Patrick's Day in real Irish abroad style.

While we sup our pints and watch the parade, they will be flying high, dancing a jig, singing a song, flying a flag and really meaning it.

GAA jerseys from every county will combine and chat and drink and be merry, it doesn't matter if they know each other, if they will never see each other again, because for just one day, March 17 Irish people all over the world will unite.

On St Patrick's Day Irishness isn't a stamp on the front of your passport, it isn't a green white and gold flag, it isn't even an accent or a story, it is a state of mind, a piece of your heart and large proportion of your soul.

I believe St Patrick's Day was invented for Irish emigrants, because no matter how much they despise this country that has made them leave their homes, on March 17 they will only recall fond memories, funny antidotes and hazy pictures.

We can only hope that those left behind can do the same.

To the Irish at home and abroad – Happy St Patrick's Day!

High cross at the Rock of Cashel, co Tipperary
(C) fifiheavey

When things don't go toasty

When reviewing a hotel it is of course important to analysis every aspect of it's facilities, location, the staff, service, atmosphere and value but sometimes just one aspect of your visit can sway your feelings and there is nothing you can do about it.

In pubs, bars and discos my radar goes straight to the bathroom – if I don't like the set up, cleanliness, or style of the ladies powder room, the venue goes down in my estimation. For fairness I always either take a sneak peek (just a look in the door) or ask a male counterpart to also comment on the gent's side of things. Mean or not that is the way I do things – I almost ALWAYS visit the toilets in any establishment I visit – it has been a tradition for me since I was a little child!

I would like to think that I have quite a bit of experience with accommodation providers hostels, B&Bs, hotels, airport lounges, a friend's couch ... and the one thing that stands out in my list of things to ticked is the breakfast service.

I have only ever missed breakfast once while staying on a hotel B&B package in my life – and I did it just to prove I could, but I certainly wasn't happy about it.

I don't like to miss out on something I have paid for, but more importantly I feel it is an integral experience of staying in a hotel.

You would think that the service you receive depends on the money you pay – the quality of the provider, but I have often found this not to be always the case.

My main gruff is the toast.

I don't mind whether my order is taken or if I have to serve myself, both have their merits BUT it is the toast situation that gets me riled up.

I cannot stand the bog standard toast grill which you must (as a paying customer) place the toast in and stand for two minutes before it pops out, barely warm. You then must proceed (and probably holding up a queue of toast hungry people) to place the luke warm slice back into the grill and wait another custom two minutes before it pops out: black.

Burned toast – the smell, the taste, the wasted time, the indecency. Breakfast is ruined, the most important meal of the day is ruined ... why do hotels let this happen??

At a B&B (and at a fraction of the price) you are asked what you would like for breakfast and you are served the breakfast, plus tea/ coffee and toast to your table and quite often asked if you want more.

Hotels often grumble about how they have been hit my the recession, but when you can't get breakfast right – when the hospitality is replaced by a grill 'do it your self' toaster – is it any wonder?

All I would like is some nice golden toast to enjoy with my breakfast, it isn't that difficult, it stops the ugly line of people trying to balance plates and bowls and juice while deciphering who owns what slice of toast at the end of the queue.

“Sir/ Madam would you like tea or coffee and some toast?” - what a perfect way to start the day!

Romantic, relaxing, hectic weekend planned

I spent Valentine's evening hovering the house, putting a washing on and sitting down to watch the Irish election leaders debate. But don't feel sorry for me because I am heading away this weekend for a romantic break with my boyfriend.

Well we are not so sure if it is going to be a romantic weekend, we haven't decided on the category of weekend it is yet.

He wants a “relaxing” weekend, you know lie in on Saturday and Sunday, hit the breakfast just before it stops, maybe head for a back massage, a lazy swim and just chill out in the room, making a time for a bit of … before dinner and few drinks.

As usual I want to go see and do. I really want to have a gawk at the Newbridge Museum of Icons (we are staying near by) maybe drop into Kildare Village for a quick look and maybe a spin around to Naas, stopping off for a bite to eat there.

But we are not only celebrating Valentine's Day but also our anniversary (we are not married) – so it has to be romantic.

Problem: the weekend cannot be relaxing, include sightseeing and shopping and also be romantic.
So you see predicament. It is actually a re-occurring situation we seem to find ourselves in.
I love going away for weekend breaks around the country, it is a fun way of discovering the island in small segments, it gets us away from the routine of weekends at home and we actually spend quality time together. But once we get there my lover and I often quarrel over how exactly we should spend the time away!

“Relax and unwind” he tells me as he lies on the massive bed in his boxers flicking through the channels. But I don't want to waste my time sitting around doing nothing, if we are going to relax let's do it at the spa, let's give it a time slot so then at least I know that come a certain time “relaxing” is over with and we can move onto something else … like romancing or eating or sightseeing!
I know loads of couples who go away for a weekend to a hotel and barely step outside the bedroom for the three days, and they come back glowing but I would see that as a wasted opportunity to get out and see what is around.

You may be able to tell but 'Spontaneous' doesn't work for me, I am an organised person I like to know what is going to happen, because leaving it to chance usually means sitting looking at each other doing nothing! The problem with this weekend is that I have way too much to jigsaw together, each of them are fine by themselves, I could even successfully manage two of the above categories – but three, three is a challenge.

Of course I have done out a rough draft of the weekend:
Friday – travel to hotel, have dinner, romance
Saturday – Breakfast, spa/ relaxing time, shopping, eating out, romancing
Sunday – Breakfast, romance, sightseeing, lunch, home

Keeping my boyfriend to my invisible schedule of events could prove difficult though, and if one category runs a lot over time I may have to sing out load to drown out the alarm bells in my head …

You know sometimes it is less stressful to just stay at home!!

Australia Day is not like Paddy's Day

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. It is a public holiday which is celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, the hoisting of the British flag here, and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland.

Before I visited this vast continent I had heard about the big party celebrations held in every territory across the state, and some had even described the event as "just like Paddy's Day to the Irish."

So you can imagine that after a very long drive up the West Coast as part of a tour on January 26, 2008 I was pretty excited about getting out and celebrating with the locals. Everyone on the bus (mostly from the UK) were also looking forward to some flag waving, drunken singing and general happy celebrations.

We were staying on a farm outside of Northampton, and our tour guide kindly offered to bring us to the town nearby and drop us off at the bar for our all night party.

We arrive outside a wooden exterior rural outback bar and about 15 of us offloaded and greeted the locals sitting outside (about 3 middle aged men) with a loud "Happy Australia Day!" To which the men looked up ... and sniggered – they didn't laugh, they sniggered.

I was taken aback but just thought they were the sad minority ... inside the bar there were about 20 people propping the counter. Again, they were startled with the groups' chorus. These ones didn't even snigger, they looked up, stared for longer than is polite and returned to their drinks. They were not talking to each other, there was no music and some were playing the pokies(annoying arcade games that are in every pub in OZ, even Irish ones).

So while there may be fireworks, open air events and general jolliness in the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane it is not quite celebrated as a national holiday all over the country. We felt as if we had insulted these people, came into their town and ruined their evening by reminding them about their national holiday.

The bar man told us "We don't really celebrate the day, its just like any other."

The date is seen as controversial by some Australians, particularly Indigenous Australians, who see commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet as celebrating the destruction of the native Aboriginal culture by British colonists. It has been locally termed as "Invasion Day" and even "Survival Day."

Let me just make this clear – Australia Day is no way like Paddy's Day.

And the outback is weird and scary – but that is what makes it unique and attractive.

Swallow your pride - book a B&B

You are in love and you want to show your other half how much they mean to you. 
Valentine's Day is coming up, you want it to be special but ... moths fly out of your wallet, the bank machine spits out your card and even the euro saver menu at McDonalds is a stretch. So what to do? 
Well before you resort to making your own card out of recycled newspaper and a red pen, how about swallow your pride and book a B&B somewhere romantic?
Okay, it is not a luxurious hotel with chandeliers and a valet service but a B&B will have something you never found in a hotel - genuine character.
 Oh and most B&Bs will look different, which is something hotels seem to forget when decorating - "How will we compete against our neighbouring hotel?" they ask. "Oh yes let's decorate the hotel to look exactly the same as theirs, then maybe vistors will mistake our hotel for theirs and choose us..." well that must be what happens!
So you are dreading the small talk over breakfast with the owners? Think they will have heard every creak in the bed, were counting every giggle and grunt?
Forget the movies, the reviews from the 1950s and your own silly notions. Irish B&Bs are in general modern, clean fresh and friendly, cost a hell of a lot less and usually give you some cosy memories of your break away with that important someone.


For an idea of where to break away for Valentines I suggest:
Glencar Waterfalls, Co Leitrim - If it was good enough for Yeats poetry it is more than perfect for a romantic walk and cuddle beside the powerful water cascades.


Aran Islands, Galway - Get away from the mainland and experience the authentic island treatment. Is tú mo ghrá ... try it where it counts.


Dingle, Co Kerry - Why do all those yankies love Dingle? Probably because it looks like Ireland 60 years ago in the movies with all the pretty scenery to go with it and good craic.


Drogheda, Co Louth - One of the oldest towns in Ireland, but one that has a mischief of youth about it, explore the Boyne Valley and your own adventure here.


Enniskerry, Co Wicklow - The Gateway to the Garden of Island - next door to Powerscourt Estate and the Sugarloaf mountains - escapism and romance!

For some ideas on nice B&Bs check out: http://www.bandbireland.com/