09 September 2010

Guided Tours of Ireland

Guided tours of Ireland are very important for traveling buffs for cherishing the beauties of the serene land of Ireland in a tension-free manner. There are many places in Ireland to visit and chill out from the stressful life. Ireland is regarded as a land of legends, beauty and myths. Thus, it is a mystical place of folklore and fairytale stories. Traveling to such a place is really unique. Thus, it needs professional help and a guided tour of Ireland to make the trip worthwhile and memorable.

The most unique part of Ireland is the presence of numerous holy places. That's why the spiritual vacations to Ireland are a unique ingredient of guided tour of Ireland. There are many mystical and spiritual places and the names of some of these places include Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage, Knock Shrine, Saint Brigid's Shrine & Well Faughart, Mount Melleray Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Dzogchen Beara Retreat, Duiske Abbey, Ard Nahoo, Doon Well and many more.

There are many places in the world where you will find lots and lots of temples and historical places. But in most of these places you will not find the essence of spirituality. The oneness with the nature is the unique selling proposition of Ireland. That's why vacations in Ireland are not restricted to visiting shrines and historical places only. You will feel the beauty of nature in every nook and corner of the country and consequently you will come to feel the spiritual pleasure of the place.


08 September 2010

Some Irish Folklore

The legends and lore of Ireland form its rich cultural history. They are full of stories and faeries, leprechauns and historical tales including that of Saint Patrick ridding the famous Emerald Isle of snakes. These tales about the religious and the ancient pagan reflect the culture of this tiny island nation.

The shamrock, the plant with three leaves, is considered a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick equated the three leaves with the symbolism of the holy Christian trinity-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This symbol was said to have mystic powers of healing and protection. No wonder, it is often carved into graves.

The color green represents Emerald Isle, the famous nickname of Ireland, because of its lush green plants, thanks to the wet weather. It also stands for the color of life and spring, and is used to display the national pride of the Irish people.

Perhaps the most famous legend that stems from Ireland is that of the leprechaun. These tiny enchanted people are often associated with rainbows and pots of gold, as they guard the treasures from people who are so lucky to find the end of the rainbow. Usually, leprechauns are troublemakers and rogues, who mean no harm but only perform pranks to delight children and adults alike. Next time you see a rainbow, try to catch the leprechaun!

The Blarney stone is a legendary rock that rests in the famous Blarney Castle. During the reign of England's Queen Elizabeth I, the reagent tried to influence the Lord of Blarney to English rule. The poor Lord did not have the gift of eloquence, and was worried about going before the ruler. A wise woman instructed the Lord to kiss the Blarney stone for the gift of gab. He kissed the stone, traveled to London, and successfully made his plea before the Queen.

07 September 2010

The Killarney Golf and Fishing Club

Situated in the Southwest of Ireland, the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club is blessed with one of the most beautiful golf landscapes in the world. It is comprised of wonderful golf courses with a natural lakeside to add to the beauty and is also considered as the "Nearest Golf Club to Heaven".

Killarney Golf and Fishing Club has a magnificent backdrop of the MacGillycuddy Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland, and lies three unique lakeside courses that can accommodate beginners in golf as well as professionals.

Golf has been played in Killarney since the 19th century. Since then, they still provide and in fact, improved the course to share it with golf aficionados from all over the world. The wonderful game of golf can never really be truly enjoyed if you haven't played in Killarney Golf and Fishing Club before.

Killeen is one of the courses in Killarney and is considered as the jewel in the crown. It has been reopened in 2006 and offers spectacular lakeside scenery and will also provide a challenge to long hitters. It offers water features on nearly every hole and fast greens. Nick Faldo is only one of the three players to finish the Killeen course under par. But then again, that was before the changes in 2006. Today, the Killeen course offer a more challenging course that will definitely test your skills as a golfer.

Killeen has a difficulty level that is recommended for advanced golfers. With tight tree lined fairways, and water features on nearly every hole, it will test your golfing skills to the limit. Adding to the challenge are large, fast undulating greens. This course proves to be an equal balance between beauty and challenge.

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