6 Unusual Things To Do In Dublin, Ireland

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Visit St. Michan’s Church: Rebuilt in 1686 but originally dating from the 11th century, St. Michan’s church hides an unusual secret – it’s vaults contain preserved bodies (guaranteed to keep the children awake at night!). Within the church are magnificent carvings and an organ which is said to have been played by Handel. From the 1st November to 16th March open Monday to Friday 12:30pm to3:30pm. From the 17th March to 31st October open Monday to Friday 10:00am to 12:45pm and 2:00pm to 4:30pm. Open Saturday all year from 10:00am to 12:45pm. There is a charge for the guided tour of the vaults.

Go Horse Racing in Leopardstown: just a 15 minute taxi ride from the centre of the city Leopardstown racecourse has year round racing and is a great day or evening out. The evening racing during the Summer ia a particularly suitable family excursion.

Visit the Francis Bacon Studio at the Hugh Lane Gallery: Francis Bacon’s heir, John Edwards, donated the contents of the figurative painter’s London studio to the Hugh Lane Gallery in 1998. His studio, at 7 Reece Mews, South Kensington, was mapped and removed piece by piece and meticulously reconstructed in the Hugh Lane Gallery. The reconstructed studio features the original door, walls, floors, ceiling and shelves. There are over 7,000 items, including 570 books, 1,500 photographs, 100 slashed canvases, 2,000 artist’s materials and 70 drawings. Bacon had said of his studio: “I feel at home here in this chaos, because chaos suggests images to me”.

Climb the sugar loaf – OK this is not quite Dublin as it is technically North Wicklow but if you fancy a bracing walk with magnificent views. The sugar loaf is about 30 minutes from the centre of Dublin.

Have an old-fashioned hot towel shave: White-coated barbers at the Waldorf barber shop on Westmoreland Street in Dublin 2 have been trimming and beautifying men at the premises since 1929. The barber shop also boasts one of the few female barbers in Dublin – Linda Finnegan.

Have a drink in the “highest pub in Ireland”: Johnny Fox’s in the Dublin mountains claims to be “undoubtedly” the highest pub in the country. There are a number of other pubs around Ireland with the same claim – the Ponderosa pub on the Glenshane Pass in Derry (where you can join the mysterious 1,000 feet high club) and Creedon’s pub on the top of Coom in KIlgarvan, Co. Kerry. Johnny Fox’s serves great food and great Craic year round.

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Source by James Cahill

Top 10 Attractions in Belfast Northern Ireland

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I hope that you are planning a trip to Belfast Northern Ireland and if you are you will be made very welcome. Belfast since the end of “The Troubles” has undergone a huge regeneration program and the city is now rather metropolitan in nature and there is a certain buzz about it.

Many people come to visit our capital city each year and I am sure they research quite a bit before their visit, but I thought I would include what I believe to be the top ten attractions to see. I have also ranked them by the priority that I would choose to visit them in. They are also close in proximity to each other and can be easily accessed by foot or by the local Metro bus. You can’t miss those as they are a striking pink and white colour and most of them start out their destination from Belfast City Hall, right in the centre of Belfast.

Here is the list I would personally recommend:

  1. The Ulster Museum
  2. Queen’s University
  3. Botanic Gardens
  4. Titanic Quarter
  5. Belfast Castle
  6. Crown Bar
  7. Belfast City Hall
  8. Linen Hall Library
  9. Odyssey Arena and W5
  10. Saint Anne’s Cathedral

Just to help you with your planned route, I would start with the Ulster Museum which I am sure you will be pleased to know is free to enter and enjoy. Then stroll through the Botanic Gardens and enjoy the beautiful gardens and the hothouse that has some very unusual plants and shrubs. Just a short walk away from that is the beautiful building that is one of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom, and most certainly worth a visit. Bring your camera as you can get some fantastic shots.

A 20 minute walk or a 5 minute bus journey will take you into Belfast city centre and then you should visit the City Hall which is a magnificent building to see and is also steeped in Irish history. Across the road from the main entrance to the City Hall is the very old Linen Hall library which has some of the most unusual and most interesting documents on Irish history.

A 5 minute walk from the Linen Hall library will take you to the best bar in Belfast, the Crown Bar. Enjoy a pint of the best Guinness you will ever taste as you take in the amazing interior, and if you are hungry, I strongly recommend the mussels. They are divine!

From there, it is well worth the 20 minute walk to see Saint Anne’s Cathedral. From outside there you can then hop on a bus and leave for North Belfast to see the Belfast Castle. From there you can see the old dungeons and get a perfect panoramic view of all of Belfast and Belfast Lough.

If you still have some energy left, then you need to get back into Belfast city centre and head to East Belfast and the shipyard where the Titanic was built. The Titanic walking tour is the one I would recommend most as you get a proper sense of the history of the Titanic. This is all within a fifteen minute walking distance from the City Hall.

Once you have finished that, then you are right beside the Odyssey complex, where you can watch Ice Hockey if in season, catch a film, have a meal or a drink and finally relax.

You can do all of the above in two days but I would suggest take three days and enjoy them. A camera is a must and I would also recommend a video recorder of some kind as you will want to relive the memories.

Just remember to enjoy Belfast.

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Source by Enda McLarnon

Francis McKamie, The Disturber of Governments

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He was known as a “Disturber of Governments” and credited with bringing Presbyterianism to America. Although his impact was significant, few people even recognize the name of Francis McKamie (At that time, spelling was often phonetic, so there are many variations of McKamie including Makemie, McCamy, and McKimmey. There was also a tendency among those fleeing from persecution in Scotland to change the spelling of their names).

Francis Makemie was born in Ramelton, County Donegal, Ireland in 1658. His parents, Robert and Ann had immigrated to Ireland from Scotland in order to escape the religious blood feuds raging in Scotland against non-Catholics at that time. He also had three siblings, Robert, John and Ann. Each of the brothers had sons which they named Francis in honor of the work done by their sibling. Even Ireland was only relatively safe. There had been a major massacre of the Protestants in Ulster less than 20 years prior to his birth.

At that time, this part of Ireland was home to many Scots who had fled their homeland due to persecution. It was seen as more of an extension of Scotland, than as a part of Ireland. The Scottish immigrants never assimilated into Irish society. These transplanted Scots were often termed Scots-Irish or “Ulster Scots”. His family came from the McKimmey Clan of Scotland. This clan hailed from the north of Scotland. They were Presbyterians, which carried with it the associated baggage. It was a liberty-loving clan and family. They learned from their struggles to not humble themselves before any human ruler or power. The recent troubles in Scotland went back to their refusal to submit to either political or religious tyranny.

This tendency toward freedom and standing for their beliefs was strong in the members that to the north of Ireland. They loved their freedoms. They sought an untrammeled, free and pure life. They knew that such a life required sacrifice of temporary comfort along with enduring hardships and dangers for its possession.

Francis returned to Scotland for his education, where he graduated from a University of Glascow and was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1682. His ordination was in 1682 by the Presbytery of Laggan in Ireland. Presbyterianism as a religion was still relatively new, with its rise to prominence occurring in 1637.

Some of the Scottish Presbyterians settled in America at sites of abandoned Indian villages, which had been ravaged by small pox. The early settlers saw a need for missionaries and pastors. There were also many Scots that had been sent as slaves to the colonies as part of the brutal actions undertaken in Scotland. Col. William Stevens from Rehobeth Maryland issued the call to the Presbyterian Church to send a missionary.

Francis answered that call and arrived in America in 1684 by way of Barbados with three other pastors (William Traile, Samuel Davis and Thomas Wilson). Barbados was another area where troublesome Scots and Irish were sent as part of the British solution in those areas (Scotland and Ireland). The British attempte purging those areas of those they considered undesirable. As part of the ethnic cleansing programs, many people deemed ‘undesirable’ by the British authorities were sent to Barbados, where they were often termed ‘red legs’. The term red legs was considered an offensive term at the time. Another term ‘barbadoed’ was used in referring to being sent to Barbados as punishment for offenses committed in England.Those sent to Barbados were the survivors of Royalist campaigns in Scotland, where the English government attempted purging the land of those opposed to their views along with the survivors of the Drogheda massacre in Ireland. Those sent for punishment were often treated worse than African slaves who were also imported to the island. Slaves were viewed as property that was to be cared for. The Scots and Irish were viewed as prisoners sent there as part of their punishment.

Mckamie’s initial journeys included North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and New England. In 1684, His early work in the colonies included establishing the first Presbyterian congregation in America, located in Snow Hill, Maryland. He continued preaching and establishing churches in the area. Congregations were established along the Manokin, Pocomoke and Wiccomico Rivers. English Congregationalists established a church at the mouth of the Annemessex.

Eventually, in 1687, Francis purchased land in Accomack County, Virginia where he settled for a period of time. He named the plantation/farm where he lived “Matachank”.He began a shipping and trade business in addition to the farm in order to make a living, since the small churches could not afford full-time pastor. A local successful businessman, William Anderson, helped McKamie establish himself. Francis eventually married Anderson’s daughter, Naomi. The Naomi Makemie Presbyterian Church in Onancock is named after her. From that marriage they had two daughters, Anne and Elizabeth (Comfort). Elizabeth died during his lifetime, while Anne outlived Francis.

In 1706, McKamie helped bring together Presbyterians from different backgrounds in establishing the Presbytery of Philadelphia. The formation of that presbytery was the birth of American Presbyterianism. His actions in bringing people together and clear, steadfast preaching led to his reputation spreading throughout the colonies. He often received requests to preach at congregations throughout the colonies and Barbados. He made several journeys to the Barbados Islands on missionary trips. His message was often one of the need for improving morals and lifestyle. He often spoke out against the drunkenness, cursing and general lawlessness that went on in the communities.

In January 1707 his preaching was interrupted. At that time, he was arrested by order of save Lord Cornbury (aka Edward Hyde), the first royal governor of New Jersey and New Jersey. The charge was for preaching without a license. Anglicanism (Church of England) was the official religion and the others were persecuted in that colony. Despite the threats, there were many dissenters in New York, who preached different doctrines, including Puritans, Quakers, and Presbyterians. McKamie had been invited into a private home where he began to preach.

Lord Cornbury assigned the sheriff to arrest Francis and another minister traveling with him as soon as they entered Queens County. Although Cornbury claimed that he was championing the cause of the Anglican Church, he had a reputation for moral profligacy.

He was originally sent to the colony in order to keep him away form his creditors in England, since he was a cousin to Queen Anne. While serving as royal governor, he developed a reputation for bribery and outlandishness. He opened the 1702 New York Assembly dressed in a hoop skirt. He was also known to have pounced on others while wearing the skirt and then shrieking loudly. When questioned about his unusual attire he replied with a disdainful tone, “You are all very stupid people not to see the propriety of it all. In this place and occasion, I represent a woman (the Queen), and in all respects I ought to represent her as faithfully as I can.”

Cornbury issued the warrant to arrest McKamie personally. Even though McKamie had been invited by some New York based congregations to preach before them in private, the governor was a relative of the royal house in England and reacted strongly to McKamie just being present in his colony. He referred to McKamie as a “Jack of all Trades: he is a preacher, a Doctor of Physick, a Merchant, an Attorney, or Counselor at law, and, which is worst of all, a Disturber of Governments“. It was as if the conflicts which had ripped Scotland apart were coming to America as well.

On his arrest, McKamie was brought to the Governor for a face to face meeting. Cornbury was outraged that McKamie would dare to preach in “his” government without a license. McKamie had preached in a home belonging to a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, which Cornbury wanted to punish him for.

Cornbury wanted everyone to address him as “His Mightiness”. The Governor demanded that McKamie post a bond in order to insure his compliance with the Governors decree. Besides being charged preaching to more than five people without a license, McKamie was thrown in jail.

McKamie was licensed to preach as one of those dissenters in Virginia and Maryland. Although allowed to preach in those colonies, his freedoms did not extend to New York. Some viewed the dissenters as ‘problematic’ since they viewed the Bible and God as their authority rather than the authority of kings or their appointed cronies. It was common to hear “No King but Jesus” in Presbyterian circles.

McKamie responded to his arrest by making an appeal to the Supreme Court of New York by means of the writ of habeas corpus. The court then released the minister on bail with the understanding that he would return to New York for the trial scheduled for 18 months later. While awaiting trial, Lord Cornbury’s wife died. He attended her funeral attired once again in a hooped skirt. Cornbury’s supporters attempted passing of his outlandish behavior as his being drunk, yet according to one account, he spent half of his time attired in women’s clothing.

McKamie returned to New York. During the course of the trial, three of the ablest lawyers in the colony defended him. When the defense finished their arguments, Makemie spoke in his own defense. As with his preaching, he spoke with force and clarity. He knew the Bible so well that he often quoted it from memory. His defense was based on the English Toleration Act. His position was that the Anglican message was not superior to the message that he brought as a Presbyterian. McKamie did not apologize for his views or his preaching. He also knew that preaching in a home was not grounds for such a lawsuit.

The court vindicated him from every charge. Even though the court vindicated him, the chief magistrate took a parting shot at the minister, by requiring him to pay the court costs of the trial which found him ‘not guilty’.

The decision roused the people of New York, who considered the action by Cornbury unreasonable. Their influence led to a law being passed in New York forbidding such an outrageous practice from happening in New York in the future. The court case where McKamie defended himself is considered a landmark case of religious freedom in America. Although the McKamie case ended with dismissal, the repression of religious thought continued in some of the colonies, with ministers at times being rounded up at bayonet point when preachers presented ideas that were not in keeping with established viewpoints. The heavy handed way in which the McKamie situation was handled led to Cornbury being recalled from office. Shortly after being recalled, Cornbury himself was thrown into prison for a period of time.

McKamie continued preaching and farming. Eventually he became one of the largest landholders in the area in which he lived. He is known as the father of American Presbyterianism. Francis died in the summer of 1708. He was buried on his farm on the Eastern shore. There is a monument erected in his memory in Only Virginia on the Eastern Shore in Accomack County. Francis died in the summer of 1708. He was buried on his farm on the Eastern shore. Nearly 200 years later a monument was erected in his memory in Temperanceville, Virginia on the Eastern Shore in Accomack County. The monument consists of a bronze statue atop a granite base. The base has an accompanying inscription. The statue, by Alexander Stirling Calder, marks the spot where McKamie is believed to be buried. It was erected in 1906, to celebrate the bicentennial of Presbyterianism in America.

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Source by Jeffrey Murrah

Dun Laoghaire and Killarney – Super Travel Destinations In Ireland

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Scenic and peaceful – these are just two of the many ways that you can describe Ireland. Being the twentieth largest island in the world and the third largest in Europe, Ireland has much to offer you especially when it comes to indulging the senses. When your primary objective is to either visit the isle for pleasure or business or a mixture of both, the best thing for you to do is to plan your visit. Many have said that Ireland is never easily forgotten and once you go there you surely will want to return as soon as you possibly can.

The isle has a lot to offer, as many know, and if you are one who is into the beach fronts, then Dun Laoghaire is for you. Taking its name from King Laoire, who built a stone fort in the center of the town around 480 A.D, Dun Laoghaire, is a town with a past that centered on caring for others. The stone fort, which later became a harbour to cater to the ships who sought refuge from the ferocious Irish Sea, is the center of the town’s happenings and activities. With the Harbor, various water sports and events are sure to come your way. The town does not just offers water sports, but also offers other recreational activities such as dances, strolling through the hills, camping, fishing, horse back riding, biking, or just plainly relaxing. Chances are you will need to come back soon so that you can experience all the activities available.

If you get off a plane in Dublin, which is around 16 miles from Dun Laoghaire, you can use a bus, or a coach, to the town. Another way is by boat. In this, there are two choices: Stena Line or by Irish ferries. If you go by train, get on the Dart, which runs every 5 or 20 minutes, from Dublin. Buses and private vehicles are other alternatives. Just use the N11 road since it is the closest National road from Dublin to the town. When you get to the town that is when the fun and adventure begins.

When you are done with the sights and sounds of the town, you can head southwest to Kerry County where you will find the picturesque town of Killarney. To get there, you can take a plane from Waterford, get off at Kerry Airport and within 15 minutes be in Killarney by road. Sea ferries and railways are other available transportation to the town.

Killarney gets its name from the Gaelic ‘Cill Aime’ which means ‘Church of the Sloes”. There is plenty to do in the town and this range from music and art festivals to cycling, sightseeing and spa treatments. You can find great accommodations here and they also have equally great dining and shopping facilities. There is always something for everyone. Killarney is another one of those Irish towns you will surely want to visit over and over again for its hospitality and sites.

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Source by Ylnreddi Narayana Reddy

Pike Fishing in Ireland

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You Can Do Some Of The Best Pike Fishing In Ireland

When pike fishing in Ireland you have the best of pike fishing Lakes to choose from. Ireland has fishing Lakes or Loughs in every County, which you will find pike in the majority of them. At every Irish Lake you will find beautiful scenery, whether its a big Lake or small, you will be sure to find a Lake to suit you. In most of the Lakes in Ireland you will find pike, perch, roach and hybrids, then the rest of them you will find rainbow and brown trout.

Great Lakes To Catch Big Pike In Ireland

Best Pike Lakes in galway: lough corrib, lough mask, lough coolin, lough cutra, lough inagh, loughrea lake, mountbellew lake, ballynakill lough, lough derg, lough na hinch.

Cork: The Inniscarra Dam on the River Lee in is full of big Pike.

Cavan: lough ramor, drumkeary lake, skeagh lake, castle lake, galloncurra lake.

Longford: from Rooskey to Lanesborough holds excellent stocks of pike in its weedy waters.

Dublin: Blessington Lake has some big pike in it, but you do need a permit.

Pike Eat Everything They Can Get There Teeth On

Pike eat everything in Lakes and Loughs, from trout, perch and roach, and smaller pike. Some times if you catch a pike, you might see another pike come up and grab the one you are reeling in on your line. If you still get your pike you had on your line, you will see a chunk gone out of its back or fins. This happened to me a good few times fishing in Ireland. Pike are the biggest predators in the Irish Lakes and Loughs, They grow huge in Ireland, they grow anywhere from 3lb to 35lb, with some 40lb being caught over the years. One of the best fishing places in Ireland is Lough Acalla in Galway, i have caught over 30lb pike there year after year spinning and dead bating.

Ways For You To Catch pike

There is a number of ways you can catch pike from wobbling to spinning, fly fishing to dead baiting. If you go spinning for trout all the time your sure to come across a pike. There is no season for pike fishing you can fish all year round for them. In the winter months i would prefer dead baiting, and spinning does work quite well once you have gloves on your hand your sorted. Pike move around Lakes and Loughs in the winter looking for food because all the smaller fish hibernate. Spinning is great all year round, there is nothing like a 30lb pike grabbing your rod when your not expecting it. You get the trill of your life, and a nice fight. Pike love to catch fish moving around the water, its what they do best.

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Source by Stephen A Reynolds

Hen Parties in Ireland

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In Ireland, a Bachelorette party is known as a Hen Party. This event usually takes place a few weeks before the wedding. The party is normally organized by the chief bridesmaid or maid of honour. While the format varies widely the event usually involves alcohol. Many Hen parties include some daytime event or activity like paint-balling, makeovers, bowling or other fun pursuits. There is nearly always a meal in a restaurant followed by a night of drinking and dancing.

The typical Irish Party includes the mother of the bride and the future mother-in-law. Irish parties vary in size but are usually made up of between 12 and 30 girls often wearing outlandish outfits. The peak time for Hen Parties in Ireland is between April and September. You will often see large Hen Party groups roaming the streets in the popular Hen Party towns of Kilkenny, Kenmare, Galway, Limerick and Carrick-on-Shannon.

An overnight stay in a Hotel is the norm although some Hens take place in the home town of the Bride to Be. Pink Hats and printed “T” shirts are a pretty common sight on any Irish street on a Saturday night. Most parties involve some form of fancy dress or wild costumes.

Strippograms and Kissograms are sometimes used to add extra entertainment to the evening where allowed. Most Irish pubs are easy going about girly Parties but some will not allow Large groups of women intent on having fun. All in all the Hen Party is part of the wedding tradition in Ireland and it is very unusual for a future bride not to have some form of Hen Party to celebrate her last bit of freedom. Most Hens Nights are planned by the girls themselves but there are Event planning companies that specialise in organizing the whole process.

Of course while a Hens Party is an important event in Ireland it is an event that takes place in some form in nearly all cultures.

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Source by John Lawless

Thinking of Visiting Northern Ireland?

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Holidaying in Northern Ireland – Hills, lakes and pretty much everything else!

The moment you set your foot on Ireland, you would be greeted by one word – Diversity! And Northern Ireland, is possibly the best testimonial to this. All the more reasons why holidaying in Northern Ireland can be a fun affair for sure.

Places you must visit during your holidaying in Northern Ireland

Belfast, Downpatrick (Known as Dun Padraig to the locals) and Armagh should ideally be your first stops in your trip to this lovely country.

Belfast, the capital city, resembles a very peaceful look today, which is quite the opposite of what has been happening in this city in the past. Being the political epicenter of Northern Ireland, Belfast has had its share of troubles, all of which seem non-existent today, and what you have in Belfast today is an assortment of restaurants, cafes, pubs and other places of interests.

23 miles down south of Belfast, you must visit Downpatrick during your holiday. This place is one of the most well preserved historical sites in this part of the world. In Downpatrick, don’t miss visiting the Hill of Down, a place famous for St. Patrick’s arrival.

Armagh, better known as Irish Rome to quite a few, is an absolute mix of cathedrals, museums and a planetarium. Armagh’s history is rich and importantly, it is still regarded to be the seat of the Protestant Church of Archbishop of Armagh of Ireland.

Booking your holiday in Northern Ireland – Time matters

If you to explore all what the country has to offer you, choosing the time to visit may count a lot! Though, the weather during July and August is considered to be most conducive for tourism, this is the time when hotel rates could be sky high. You could plan your holidaying in Northern Ireland in the months of June and September, as during these months, the weather is comfortable and the rates too are not that expensive.

The Giant’s Causeway, County Fermanagh and Cave Hill Country Park offer you the diversity that you so much came to Ireland for. While County Fermanagh is known for its lakes and rivers, the Cave Hill Country Park talks a lot of Cave Hill, the largest of hills surrounding Belfast.

If you wish your holiday here to be an absolute breeze, all you got to do is book a car that will take you around to different places of interest. All in all – holidaying in Northern Ireland is all about how much fun you can have in this part of the world.

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Source by Stephen McBride

Castlemacgarrett in Ireland

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Browne Field Development

Geoffrey Browne built a house on the site of Castlemacgarrett in 1694 to replace a house built by the Prendergast family. His wife Mary Prendergast was a descendent of Maurice de Prendergast who came to Ireland with Strongbow during the Norman invasion in 1169. Geoffrey’s house was burnt down in 1811. Dominick Browne, 1st Lord Oranmore and Browne, in turn built a Tudor Gothic house on the site.

The Brownes can trace their ancestry back to one of the tribes of Galway. The archway in Eyre Square, Galway, inscribed 1627 was the doorway of the Galway townhouse of the Brownes.

In the early 20th century the 3rd Lord Oranmore and Browne built extensive additions in an Edwardian baronial style faced in cement. The result is a large rambling house reaching around three sides of a forecourt. An elaborate pillared, pedimented and part balustraded porch was added at this time. The entrance hall is ostensibly Edwardian with a timber staircase and gallery. Plasterwork swags of the late 17th century manner adorn the walls. A large drawing room and dining room contain Adamesque ceilings by Dublin craftsmen.

The Brownes owned 13 country houses throughout Connaught including Ashford Castle at nearby Cong. Their estates totalled 54,000 acres. Dominick Browne was made a Privy Councillor for Ireland at 1834 and became one of 28 elected representative Irish peers. He spent vast sums of money on electioneering, allegedly £40,000 on one election alone. His lavishness combined with the onslaught of the Great Famine brought about his downfall. He sold off all the properties except Castlemacgarrett and 2,000 acres.

The 3rd Lord Oranmore and Browne however was more grounded than his grandfather and successfully managed the estate. At the turn of the 20th century Castlemacgarrett experienced its Indian summer. Agricultural enterprises and a saw mill funded shooting parties in November and January. The River Robe running through the estate ensured continual supply of fresh trout.

The 4th and last Lord Oranmore and Browne to live on the estate was married three times. Also named Dominick, his second wife was Lady Oonagh Guinness. They had two children, the Honourable Garrett and Tara. His son Tara was killed in a car accident. His third wife was Sally Gray, a film star. Dominick died in 2002 aged 100.

In the 1960s the estate ran into financial difficulties again and it was auctioned off to the Irish Land Commission. The castle and farm were bought by nursing sisters and it became Castlemacgarrett Nursing Home until it was sold once more for development in 2006. It now lies empty. A ghost estate in a country of ghost estates.

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Source by Stuart Blakley

Salt Cavern Storage in Northern Ireland

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Recently in the news, Northern Ireland has plans to build a wind energy project off the Antrim coast. Salt caverns beneath the sea will store the energy generated by the wind farms for times of peak energy demand. With any wind power project, it can’t be relied upon for powering whole cities or a grid, for the wind doesn’t always blow obviously. But with the use of air-tight salt caverns, the energy produced from the wind farms is stored underground and released only as needed. In addition, the salt caverns continue to compress and store the wind power even at night.

The $3 million dollar project is setting a great precedent for the region to seek, or at least be open to, new means of clean-tech energy production. With the dependence and environmental effects of fossil fuel energy, it is a smart move, for this is the way of the future. It’s also refreshing to know that the project might help offset any recession in the area by creating jobs and pumping a little more income into the economy there. The stored energy will balance the cost of electricity in the region as well, for energy cost wont jump up when everyone turns on their heater at the same time, instead the energy company can just release a little of the stored wind power energy to meet the demands.

Salt caverns have many other uses as well. Some of them are: carbon capture, oilfield waste, natural gas storage, and many many more!

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Source by Jason Fradley