I hope you are having a great weekend. I am just back from another great family get together in Dublin! This time my parents were visiting from Belgium, and we decided to meet up in Dublin. As our previous visit to Dublin was such a hit, we thought it was a perfect formula to repeat!
The BonBells in St-Stephen’s Green The Bon referring to Bonjeaan
We went for dinner in Toscana on Dame street, we just can’t get enough of that place, and I am pretty sure we’ll be back again, later in the year. I didn’t get a chance to ring them to book our party ( there was 10 of us, including a few very good friends of ours) and booked our table via a little widget on their site. I received an email to remind me of my reservation, which I thought was awesome.
Hailo or Uber?
As there was the 6 of us travelling together, and the walk from the B&B to Toscana was just that little bit too far, I had to order a taxi. You may be familiar with Uber, which is the app I usually use, however on this occasion I wanted to order the taxi ahead, rather than order the taxi when I needed it. And this is something that Uber doesn’t offer, so I needed an alternative. A friend of mine had mentioned Hailo, so I thought I’d download that app. Once downloaded, I was able to enter my debit card details, and order a taxi in advance, and specify the amount of seats I needed, where I wanted to taxi and where I was going. The taxi arrived well in advance and dropped us off at the restaurant in no time. As my debit card details were entered in the app, there was no need to reach for my purse. And to finish it off, I was sent a receipt by email.
Dinner at Toscana – Priceless
After dinner, we went for one last nightcap in O’Donoghue’s, which is a short stroll from Staunton’s on the Green. I am a Cider fan and David loves Guinness,so I called this picture “His and Hers”.
His and Hers
It was a long day, so fell asleep in no time!
Hope you enjoyed reading this!
Katleen
PS.. Come back soon, I will start to publish my Small business interviews shortly!
We waved 2015 farewell and welcomed 2016! My best wishes to you and yours for 2016! Congrats to those that are still sticking with their new year’s resolutions, commiseration to those that have already lapsed, oh well, you are still a good person:). I am back to work, and during breakfast my eldest son asked me if I knew the slogan of the Ardrahan hurlers, and I said I didn’t. He was very quick to remind me that it is: We are blue , we are white, we are dynamite! I choose the above title, as I thought it symbolizes the spirit of the people in this area. We tend to have storms in the winter, and this year we have been “treated” to a few too many ! I wrote about #Stormdesmond in a previous post and since #stormdesmond we have had #stormeve and the most recent one was #stormfrank, and unfortunately #stormfrank was the drop that made the bucket overflow, quite literally, as many were forced to leave their houses and farms due to flooding. We are no strangers to flooding, as some areas (traditionally) get flooded, and you’ll see lakes that aren’t there during the summer.
The floods of 2009
The area of Labane/Peterswell/Kiltartan was badly affected by floods in 2009, and I will never forget the community spirit I saw in 2009. People were marooned in, kids couldn’t go to schools, animals were separated from their owners, and couldn’t be fed. I saw people get together, assist each other to bring food and supplies to those marooned in, offer tractor rides, and get together to pump water out of houses.
Local vet being towed in a boat to see to some sick cattle in ’09
It was one of the most frightening experiences I ever went through, especially when the road that connects us with the main road was flooded and we were effectively marooned in. The road at Kiltartan was flooded and Gort was not passable. My husband wasn’t able to get to work, as all the main roads were flooded. Fast forward to 2016, and unfortunately the same is happening.
South Galway Flooding 2015
I took below video at the same place
A local aerial photographer Sean Brady took following footage, to give you an idea of the extend of the flooding. Click on the next link by Sean Brady Aerial Photography. on Monday, 28 December 2015 that shows the extensive flooding at Kiltartan.
A number of dignitaries visited Labane/Ardrahan today, including the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins. Our youngest son was all set to meet him and get his signature, and his wish got fulfilled, and my husband was interviewed for the radio. Glad to see that some local politicians Ciaran Cannon and Joe Byrne got together to dig a channel to ease some of the flooding in the Kiltartan area , so water can flow into the sea at Kinvara.
It’s not over yet, and hopefully the rain will stay away, the water can flow back to the sea or evaporate and a strategy can be developed to deal with such disasters. If you are affected by the floods, you can apply for emergency funds here ( no longer valid). If you would like to support those affected by the floods, you can donate to the Irish Red Cross here ( no longer valid)
For my part, small business is always on my mind, and is the backbone of many communities in Ireland. Getting your business featured to a greater public or talked about in local media/TV/Radio is difficult, is hard to measure and is very costly. I have decided to start talking to small business in the West of Ireland, listen to their stories , challenges and successes ,and hope that this will contribute to creating more awareness of what small business has to offer in the West of Ireland. if you are a small business in the West of Ireland, get in touch by emailing me katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com. It will be the best email you have sent in 2016:)
In all the years I have been living in Ireland, I never really saw the widget in a Guinness can…. until today… I was tidying up earlier today and was about to crush a can of Guinness when I thought to myself, I really want to see what this thing looks like( and also find out why it’s in a can and what it does!).
Just in case you have never seen a can of Guinness, it looks like this.
I recorded a very short video of a can that I was shaking, so you can hear the rattle.
I then cut the can open.
And this is what this “widget” looks like:
Now the reason there is a widget in a can of Guinness gets quite technical, so I did some research in Wikepedia. ( And whilst I was there, I donated 2 Euros to keep this service free, maybe if you are feeling generous:) you can do the same.
Some background:
Draught Guinness, as it is known today, was first produced in 1964. With Guinness keen to produce draught beer packaged for consumers to drink at home, Bottled Draught Guinness was formulated in 1978 and launched into the Irish market in 1979. It was never actively marketed internationally as it required an “initiator” device, which looked rather like a syringe, to make it work.
Some canned beers are pressurized by adding liquid nitrogen, which vaporises and expands in volume after the can is sealed, forcing gas and beer into the widget’s hollow interior through a tiny hole—the less beer the better for subsequent head quality. In addition, some nitrogen dissolves in the beer which also contains dissolved carbon dioxide. It is important that oxygen be eliminated from any process developed as this can cause flavour deterioration when present.
The presence of dissolved nitrogen allows smaller bubbles to be formed thereby increasing the creaminess of the head. This is because the smaller bubbles need a higher internal pressure to balance the greater surface tension, which is inversely proportional to the radius of the bubbles. Achieving this higher pressure would not be possible with just dissolved carbon dioxide, as the greater solubility of this gas compared to nitrogen would create an unacceptably large head.
When the can is opened, the pressure in the can quickly drops, causing the pressurised gas and beer inside the widget to jet out from the hole. This agitation on the surrounding beer causes a chain reaction of bubble formation throughout the beer. The result, when the can is then poured out, is a surging mixture in the glass of very small gas bubbles and liquid.
This is the case with certain types of draught beer such as draught stouts. In the case of these draught beers, which before dispensing also contain a mixture of dissolved nitrogen and carbon dioxide, the agitation is caused by forcing the beer under pressure through small holes in a restrictor in the tap. The surging mixture gradually settles to produce a very creamy head.
Here is what a pint of Guinness looks like when poured out in a glass!
I hope you found this interesting, at least I am glad I have finally seen the rattle in a can of Guinness.
My last post was about the floods in and around Galway, and although the water has receded in many places, unfortunately many places are still flooded, and more rain is expected. Galway County Council has come up with a map that shows where there is flooding.
Switching on of the lights
I was very excited to be part of Ardrahan’s first Christmas carol event , organized by Ardrahan Camogie, and really brought the Ardrahan/Labane community together on a dark evening.
It all started with the lightning of the Christmas tree, decorated with memorial cards.Beneath the tree were lit up red candles.
Christmas Carols
Followed by a beautiful rendition of Hallelujah. It may have been cold and dark, but to hear that magical voice accompanied with the thin whistles, we all fell silent, a few tears were shed, but above all we all enjoyed the moment of being together, and thinking about those people that have gone before us. May they rest in peace.
Just over 2,000 Euros was raised selling ribbons and candles. The proceeds of the sales of ribbons and candles will be split between the local Camogie Club And Galway Hospice. The Camogie club rallied around and spent quite a few evenings practising the songs with the kids, rehearsing the thin whistle songs, together with the guitarists. The kids ( all from Labane National school) really delivered a great performance and got lots of well deserved treats, which they really enjoyed. I think a tradition has started!
It’s been a busy time in Ireland storm wise, as we have had storm Abigail, Barney, Clodagh and then the latest one is just gone, storm Desmond! There was terrible flooding in South Galway in 2015, resulting in nearby Thoor Ballylee getting badly flooded.
The storm was fierce, with very strong gale force and the rain was relentless. As the storm developed, the footage was being shared via Social Media.
The first video I can across was this one, of two guys going for a swim in Salthill. Absolutely scary, so please never ever repeat this, it’s just too dangerous!!!
Theresa Mannion reporting from Salthill
The weather only got worse, and that’s when Theresa Manion was reporting, also from Salthill.
Below is the “original” version!
I think the “rap” version is quite funny!
Closer to home in South Galway, I have blogged a few times about Thoor Ballylee, unfortunately got flooded again. I say again, as it got flooded in 2009. Go check out a more recent blog article I wrote about a loop cycled – you can see the area then when it isn’t flooded:)
Another video highlights the floodings both in Gort, Thoor Ballylee and Craughwell.
Severe flooding in Craughwell and at Yeats Tower (Thoor Ballylee) in Gort today (Video: Joe O’Shaughnessy, Connacht Tribune)
Let’s hope the water recedes soon, and the next storm will be kinder to us..
Katleen
PS. Check out this link to find out what other storm names are planned for the rest of this winter. Let’s hope we don’t get to the end of the list.
I thought this might be of interest to those who are looking for a job in Ireland, and want to find out more where the new jobs are being created. The majority of job announcements are covered in the press, but it may then be challenging to find out where those new companies are located and where you can apply for the jobs.
As so many Irish people are returning home for Christmas, I am sure it will be topic of conversation topic over the Christmas table. For those who are thinking of moving back, or wanting to move to Ireland, the below list gives you an idea of the job creation efforts around Ireland. I have just pasted in December and November. To find out prior to October 2015, click here. It’s great to see all the announcements in once place!
Click on any of the links, and you’ll find out where the company is located, the type of jobs available and where to apply.
Hope to have inspired someone to have a look, and if you did apply for one of the above jobs, and got the job, let me know, I’d love to hear your story!
I had started to write this post early November but never got to finish it.. so I thought I’d finish it today, as just booked the same property in Dublin again for a our next visit in January!
Check out Hotels, B&B’s in Dublin Booking.com IE Just to be clear, this is an affiliate link. If you click on this link and decide to book a property, I get a small referral fee.
So here you go.. this is what I had written …
It’s back to school today, the autumn break has come to an end. But what an end…. We had the most beautiful weather, I would nearly say we had better/warmer weather on the 1st of November than on the 1st of July or the 1st of August. Even today is a fabulous day, and it’s just over 20 degrees Celsius.
We are just back from a weekend in Dublin as we were celebrating the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents in law, and my husband David also had his 49th birthday.
Where to book your stay in Dublin
Finding a place to stay in Dublin is not that hard, and like everybody else we went to Booking.com IE to reserve our hotel. There are also other places I’d recommend you check out, such as AirBnB, Homestay and Lidl-Breaks (particularly the last one has some great offers if you are looking for a hotel near the airport. The golden rule really is to book as far ahead as possible, as prices go up very quickly!
We were a group of 10 adults, so we needed a few rooms. Location was very important so we could easily get to the Grafton Street( Dublin’s South side shopping street). I say south side, as there is also a shopping streets on the North side called Mary Street & Henry Street.
Staying at Staunton’s on the Green on St Stephen’s Green
We choose to stay in Staunton’s on the Green, and really had a great stay.
The Boys testing out their beds!
It’s located on St. Stephen’s Green( it’s a big Square, with Stephen’s Green Park in the middle). I found the below aerial video on the website of St-Stephen’s green, I thought it was quiet good!
The entrance to the park is pretty much across from the entrance of the hotel. Walk through the park and you are at the bottom of Grafton Street and of course the St- Stephen’s Green Shopping center. We spent some time in the park and met a retired German banker, who looked after wounded pigeons.
Feeding Pigeons on St-Stephen’s Green
I would highly recommend this Guest House! Very friendly staff, clean rooms, coffee and tea facilities. Our room was in the front of the hotel, so we did have some city noises such as ambulances/Police sirens( it was also Halloween night, so lot’s of call-outs from the emergency services), but they also have plenty of bedrooms at the back of the hotel. There is also a garden/yard at the back of the property if you wanted to sit down and enjoy the view ( okay or go for a smoke). We actually spotted a few squirrels!
[booking_pluginbox id=”1074″]
Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8-10. The hotel was completely booked out, and the dining room was jam-packed with people, so the noise levels were quite high! Nevertheless, the staff were all very friendly and helpful and tried to serve the guests as fast as they could.
Our driver/guide was Damien D ( please remember his name!) and he provided us with the most interesting commentary, anecdotes and laughter, we really didn’t want to get off the bus at the end of the ride. We did get off and hopped onto another bus on our way back. The return trip was also interesting, but we got the recorded commentary, which was also very educational, but give me Damien D anytime!
Dinner at Captain America’s on Grafton Street
We had booked our first dinner at Captain America’s on Grafton Street and the meal was perfect.
Dinner At Captain Americas
After a filling breakfast the next morning, we set off for a walk on Grafton Street and walked into Davy Burns, just off Grafton Street. Also check out Power’s Court Center, there are some really interesting eateries , such as Counter Culture.
Counter Culture in Powerscourt Centre , Dubliln City
As I am writing this the sun has just set, and it has been one of those days you didn’t quite expect in October, but grateful to make the best use of the time! I hear there is a heatwave in LA, I guess we are have a “temporary- weekend” heatwave in the West of Ireland, though maybe it can still be classed as our Indian Summer, all by it a little late in the year! ( I reckon we were owed some nice weather after the below apar July and August)
Very late Indian Summer in the West of Ireland, 11th of October
We headed to Coole Park, which is a nature reserve a short drive from the house. We are no strangers to Coole Park, and have written about Coole Park before here and here . I added the below maps to give you an idea where Coole Park is located, so you know how to get there by car.
How to get to Coole Park from Galway:
How to get from Shannon to Coole Park:
The walks are fabulous at Coole Park, and a great way to stretch your legs and clear your mind! Dogs are welcome, but need to be kept onto a lead.
Check out the Sun Dial in the walled garden, which is a fun way to find out the time.
Can you guess the time we were in the park? Answers on my Facebook page please:)
I am currently working to add details of recruiting companies in the technology and medical sector in Galway. There are two maps you can consult, here is the technology one, and this is the Medical one. If you are thinking of moving to Galway and want to have a heads up who is recruiting, follow my blog and you’ll find out!
Check out my visit to Scattery Island, which is located off the Clare Coast, just a few miles from Kilrush. For other trips in Clare and Galway, check click here.
Island living for non-native islanders
Living in Ireland, which is already an Island, it’s interesting to note that there are quite a few smaller islands of the West Coast. If island living can be challenging, it becomes much more challenging when you live off the coast of an already island.
I guess as a non-islander I am still fascinated by how people used to live on these smaller islands and learn more about how they lived, traded with other islanders, and how they made things work in often very difficult situations. ( Scattery was last inhabited in 1978)
How to get to Scattery Island from Gort
The below map shows you the quickest route from Gort, Co. Galway. to visit Scattery Island
You can also take the scenic route via Spanish point, but this will add half an hour to your journey.
What is a River Pilot?
As our guide explained, Scattery used to be the base for River Pilots, which would help boats a safe crossing through the Shannon River and Estuary.
The Windsor Castle of Liverpool
Our guide mentioned a story that really made a difference to Scattery Island, I found the detail here. In March 1843, pilots from Kilbaha boarded a deserted ghost ship, The Windsor Castle of Liverpool, which had left Bombay in June 1842. The pilots succeeded in bringing the vessel to Kilbaha using their canoes and a pilot hooker. They brought the boat to Scattery Roads and guarded her around the clock to prevent plunder. The pilots were offered compensation for their efforts, which they refused. After many months the High Court of Admiralty in Ireland awarded the pilots £5,000 plus their costs and expenses, the award being divided amongst 18 pilots and 16 assistants. In the 1840s Scattery was part of the estate of the Marquis of Conyngham whose son-in-law, Marcus Keane, acted as a land agent. Keane approached the compensated families and offered to sell them land on Scattery, an offer which many families took up, increasing the population of the island considerably.
Scattery Island escaped the famine and emigration
The inhabitants of Scattery Island appear to have escaped the deaths and emigration, associated with nearby Kilrush, during the famine period. The total population of the island, including the soldiers, actually increased from 65 in 1841 to 99 in 1851 and to 139 in 1861, the numbers of houses in this period increased from 9 in 1841 to 24 in 1861. The memorial inscriptions on the gravestones do not show any deaths of islanders during the period 1845 to 1850. Perhaps a combination of fishing and additional shipping, due to famine imports and emigration, provided good employment for the pilots at this time and helped them to survive.[11]
To find out more detail about the island and its history, check out this Wikepedia Article.
Monastic Settlement on Scattery Island
Scattery Island, or “Inish Cathaigh” is located approximately one mile off Kilrush, Scattery Island is home to a monastic settlement founded in the early 6th century by St. Senan who was born locally.
There are the ruins of six churches ( or possibly even 7) and one of the highest Round Towers in Ireland, 120 feet high, with is unusual feature of its door at ground level.
OPW Guide, Scattery IslandRound Tower Scattery Island, 120 feet high
Scattery has had many invasions down through the centuries; the Vikings invaded during the early 9th century but Brian Boru later recaptured the island. It is believed that Scattery is a derivation of the Norse word for treasure, which is Scatty. So maybe we really should call it Island of Treasures or Treasure Island?
The main church on the island is Teampall Naomh Mhuire (Cathedral of Saint Mary), situated next to the round tower. Scattery for a time in the 12th century administered to a diocese.
Boys at the foot of the roundtower, Scattery IslandTeampall Naomh Mhuire (Cathedral of Saint Mary)
There is an effigy of a bishop’s head on the outside of the east window of the Cathedral believed to be that of St. Senan.
The holy well, called Tobar Sinean, beside the round tower was of great reverence and respect by the islanders. It was also associated with a pattern held on St. Senan’s Feast Day on 8th March.
St Senan’s Well, Scattery IslandImage of St Senan’s well
St. Senan is believed to have died in the year 544 and is reputed to be buried in St. Senan’s Bed beside Temple Senan a small 12th Century Romanesque church.
An exhibition of the history of the island is housed in the visitor reception building, which is situated near the pier.
I particularly enjoyed the church situated at the highest point of the Island, I loved the structure/colour of the remainder of the church, and of course, the beautiful view, overlooking the lighthouse.
We left Kilrush harbour at around 15:00 with the OPW guides on board, and left the Island at around 17:30.
