Irish Fireside November 2006 Newsletter


	A sea of Celtic crosses in a cemetery at Glendalough Abbey in County. Photo by www.greendragonartist.com

Halloween Finds Its Roots In Irish Folklore

The idea of souls returning on October the 31st, costumed neighbors asking for treats and carving Jack-O-Lanterns can all be traced to Ireland. This Halloween, or Hallowe'en, we trace the holiday's traditions and give a few suggestions to appease the faeries, test your fortune and enjoy some old-fashioned Celtic-inspired fun.

Find Out More About Halloween's Irish Roots

Featured Photo by Liam Hughes - Charleville Castle near Tullamore, County Offaly, has its share of supernatural guests.


	The dramatic front door of Charleville Forrest Castle

Ireland's Haunted Castles

For those heading to Ireland hoping to bump into a ghost or two, Charleville Forrest Castle has a few ghastly stories to tell. Corey Taratuta shares the mysterious details of his first visit to Charleville and offers a few other eerie stops travelers should consider.

Discover Charleville Castle AND
Ireland's Most Haunted Destinations

Fly "Open-Jaw"
We flew into Shannon and out of Dublin for no extra charge when we visited Ireland. This allowed us to cover more ground without having to backtrack across the country. Anita and Patrick - Rockford, IL

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	Irish Barmbrack

A Traditional Treat Served Warm For Halloween

The tradition of Barmbrack Cake (or "Bairin Breac") includes a fruitcake baked with a piece of rag, a gold ring and a silver coin that is shared by the family after dinner. Great interest is taken in the hidden trinkets and their ability to foretell the future.

Find Out How The Meaning Of Brambrack's Trinkets And Get Our Recipe For Irish Brambrack

Can't Handle Your Guinness?
Guinness is a little heavy for my taste, so I tried Irish hard cider and loved it. Meanwhile, my husband preferred Smithwicks (pronounced "smit-icks"), which is a lighter ale. Val H. - Boulder,CO

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	Mazz O'Flaherty (right) meets with Irish President Mary McAleese (left).

Fireside Chat With Mazz O'Flaherty

This month, we sit down with artist, songwriter and musician, Mazz O'Flaherty from Dingle, County Kerry, where she shares with us her insight into life, family and the wonders of the Dingle Peninsula.

Read Our Interview With Mazz O'Flaherty

Bring A Ziploc
We brought Ziploc bags on our trip to Ireland. They came in handy when our nature hike was met with a downpour. We simply "zipped up" the digital camera to keep it safe from the rain. After the hike, our wet socks were dropped in the bag until we got back to the B&B. Pat H. - Ispeming, MI

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