Traveling to Ireland as a Group in 2011?  Let myguideIreland assist you.

Now, more than ever, Group rates in Ireland are better and cheaper than any other time and the perfect time to plan for your  2011 Group Travel is NOW!

At myguideIreland, our Groups department caters for all types of groups and assists with everything from Flights, Accommodation, Coach hire and Attractions -all inclusive.  See what previous groups have said about our service by clicking here

Do you have a group who wish to travel for early, middle or Late 2011?.  Send us your dates, your numbers and any other specific requirements you have and we we can send you a free costing/quotation. Then, all you have to do is gather your friends/family to make a group. We even give a free place for the organizer of groups of 20 or more!!

We are based in Ireland (West Cork) as well as USA (Boston). We meet all groups (20 or more) when you arrive to Ireland. We are on hand  every step of the way from the time you enquire to the time you arrive and right through until you depart for home.   We pride ourselves on our Customer Service care to our Guests. See some of the Group Testimonials below.

Contact our Groups Manager, Suzanne Byrne for your Free Quotation we hope to welcome you and your Group to Ireland in 2011.

You probably already know that there are some great reasons to come to Ireland on vacation that never change. You will find thousands of reasons throughout literature, news and on the web as to why Ireland should be  chosen as a destination.
However, right now, there is one new big reason why you should choose Ireland and why you should choose it now!. That reason is value;

Ireland is a member of the European single currency, the euro, which has seen its value fall by up to 30% from its peak in recent years. That means that, for example, the US dollar buys almost 30% more Euro’s now than it did in 2009. But there’s more: The prices of vacation products such as accommodation, car rental, restaurant meals etc have fallen dramatically over the last year. When these savings are added to the greater value of the US$, the savings can be up to 50% in total.

This is an opportunity not to be missed! By booking now you can lock in this great value even if the Euro strengthens again before you travel.

Come and experience for yourself the reasons why Ireland is one of the world’s favorite vacations destinations and benefit from amazing value by booking in 2010.

So…. back to the “other” and permanent reasons to book a vacation in Ireland:
We have surveyed many of our Guests over the years about what they liked about Ireland. Here are the top 10 reasons given by people who said they would return to Ireland on another vacation:

1. Warmth and Friendliness of the People

2. Stunning Irish Scenery

3. Ireland’s History and Strong Heritage

4. Culture – Irish Music and Dance

5. Irish Food and Drink

6. The clean, fresh air and countryside of Ireland

7. Festivals in Ireland

8. A variety of activities

9. Pubs are about atmosphere not just alcohol

10. Irish Sports – Especially Hurling

Do a quick survey yourself of the web and look at various travel publications such as The Lonely Planet, Shermans Travel magazine, even Conde Naste Traveler: You will find that the above themes are repeated again and again. There are very few destinations that can offer such a broad range of reasons to be chosen for vacation, but Ireland has them all.
Combine these great reasons with the exceptional value available when booking right now and we honestly believe that Ireland is the world’s best Vacation destination for 2010.
We look forward to welcoming you!

Here are just some of the great deals we have right now:

7 day B&B vacation with 100% flexible route: from $49.99 per day

A week in Ireland with B&Bs and a Stay in an Authentic Castle: from $399

Our post in april on the Sheehan coat of arms proved a great success with lots of feedback and questions so here we go again with another excellent piece on the Irish Surnames kindly provided by Eddie from Araltas again.

O Callaghan

OCallaghan coat of arms

Genealogists believe the name Ceallachan is derived from the word strife. This is certainly appropriate for King Ceallachan who, in the heat of his youth led his warriors to ravage counties Meath, Kilkenny and Waterford, not even hesitating before plundering the monastic settlement at Clonmacnoise. He it was who defeated Cinneide, father of the great Brian Boru, who was to drive the Norsemen from Ireland and give his name to the O Briens.

From the seventeenth century when the family dispersed, two distinct lines emerge. One fled to Spain and have long since become Spanish citizens, while the other lived for centuries at Lismehane, their mansion near the village of O Callaghan’s Mills in County Clare. It was through intermarriage with related Westropps that they consolidated their properties and acquired the additional surname.

Don Juan O Callaghan (b. 1934), the O Callaghan Chief of the Name, is a lawyer in Barcelona, Spain. Don Juan is in the direct line from Ceallachan who was the 42nd Christian King of Munster.

In 1641, just before Cromwell’s army forced many of the Gaelic landowners to flee abroad, Colonel Donogh O Callaghan was a member of the Supreme Council of the Irish Confederation of Kilkenny. Following the rebellion of that year, he lost his property, and was outlawed. Another member of his family had preceded him abroad, this was the Abbe John O Callaghan (1605 – 54), a notorious Jansenist.

Cornelius O Callaghan (1742 – 97) of Shanbally Castle, Clogheen, County Tipperary, was created Baron Lismore in 1785. His son was known as the 1st Viscount Lismore and his daughter was the mother of one of the Dukes of Devonshire, whose family owns Lismore Castle.

Father Jeremiah O Callaghan (1780 – 1861) blazed a trail through Paris and Rome, preaching vehemently against usury, rack-renting and capitalism. When he went to London he was actively supported by William Cobbett, a reformer and journalist. Eventually Jeremiah was found a congenial clerical post in North America, where he earned the name “Apostle of Vermont”, befriending both the French Canadians and the immigrant Irish.

Edmund Bailey O Callaghan (1797 – 1880) of Mallow, County Cork, studied medicine in Dublin, Paris and Quebec. He dabbled in politics in Canada, which led to his having to escape to Albany, New York, where he settled and practised medicine. He studied the records of the Dutch founders of New York and wrote the first published history of the city. There was no financial profit from this huge labour, yet with his own money he published a second volume. He produced eleven quarto volumes of State Records or Documentary History of the State of New York, 1849 – 51, plus an astonishing variety of other publications.

One of the first Roman Catholics to be admitted to the legal profession in Ireland since the penal laws were repealed was John Cornelius O Callaghan (1805 – 83). He was a Young Irelander and was on the staff of the Nation newspaper. His great work of 25 years, History of the Irish Brigades in the Service of France from the Revolution in Great Britain under James II, to the Revolution in France under Louis XVI was published in Glasgow in 1869 in eight volumes. He declaimed, “I love, not the entremets of literature, but the strong meat and drink of sedition – I make a daily meal on the smoked carcass of Irish history”.

Sir George Astley O Callaghan (1852 – 1920), a London-born O Callaghan who was the son of an army captain, was the admiral who commanded the frigate that entered Peking in 1900 during the rising of the “Harmonious Fists”, commonly known as the Boxer rebellion.

The O Callaghan name is recorded extensively in the archives of Spain. In Germany, James O Callaghan and his brother, Louis, filled the post of Baron and Grand Veneur (agent) to the Margrave of Baden-Baden. Their elder brother, John, was a captain in O Brien’s Regiment in the French army. Their youngest brother, Cornelius (d. 1741), was a captain in the Ultonian Regiment in Spain where he died at Oran, leaving an O Callaghan son.

There were Callahans who fought at Bunker Hill in the American Revolution.

Genealogists give scant recognition to women. To be recorded they have to be an heiress, or have some special talent (or notoriety). In America there was Trixie Friganza Delia O Callaghan (1870 – 1955) who was an actress and singer.

Rose Mary O Callaghan Westropp of the Lismehane branch is mentioned in Burke’s Irish Family Records as having painted the great jockey Pat Taafe on that most loved of Irish racehorses, Arkle.

Learn more on how you can visit the places of your ancestors on one of our many excellent ireland vacation packages or read more on the Irish surname O Callaghan at Araltas

In our last newsletter we were amazed by the feedback we got on our suggestions for the top 10 places to visit in Ireland. Plenty agreed with some but no one agreed with all and we got many suggestions on special places to visit all across or wonderful little Island.

That got us thinking….instead of publishing all the feedback we received why not get you our Guests to write about the places you think all visitors to Ireland should make that extra little effort to fit into their vacation.

Whether you have a list of 3 or 23 why not talk about it either on your own blog or website? Alternatively comment on our facebook page, send them to us via twitter or simply email them in and we will publish the very best of them here on our website.
To mark this we are also offering an amazing FREE vacation to Ireland to the person we deem writes the best blog post/s about the reasons that make Ireland such a special place to visit.

How does it work?

• Our starting prize will be a basic vacation to Ireland for 2 people staying in a cottage vacation rental with rental car for a week
  - great if you can get it but how about some more? …

• Once we reach 25 entries the bar rises and the vacation includes a mix of B&B’s & Hotels

• At 50 entries, the vacation includes all luxury hotels

• Get us to 75 entries and half the stays will be in genuine Irish Castles

• When we have 100 or more entries, all entrants will have the chance to win a luxury castle vacation in Ireland.

Rules:

There are no rules for entry as such but here are some things we won’t say no to:

• Nice mentions of myguideIreland
• Becoming our friend on facebook … www.facebook.com/myguideireland
• Links to our website
• Constructive comments of our website
• We love lists – top 3, top 5, top 10 etc.

Looking forward to hearing from all you Ireland enthusuiasts soon.

Once you have written about Ireland – email: seamus.omurchu@myguideireland.com
with details of where the article is posted,
Entering is as simple as that!

The eagerly anticipated staging of Cork Week 2010, Ireland’s premier biannual sailing regatta is just weeks away and is shaping up to be a spectacular event.  The organisers have confirmed boat entries from throughout Ireland & the United Kingdom and also from France, Holland, Australia the USA and Canada.

Cork Week is the largest international sailing regatta in Ireland and is held in July every two years but it’s not just about sailing……..There is a huge lineup of entertainment provided within the grounds of the Royal Cork Yacht Club during the week-long event in Crosshaven.

The competitions on the water are complimented by a party atmosphere back on dry land making Cork Week a favorite destination for sailors and non-sailors alike every 2 years.

Read more about Cork Week:

http://www.myguideireland.com/cork-week

http://www.accbankcorkweek.ie/

I just came across an article from USA-Today from May 21st where they name Ireland in the Top 5 Bargain Destinations for Summer 2010.

Ireland is the only European destination to make the list and is included in the Top 5 along with California & Myrtle Beach in the USA, Quebec City in Canada and the Bahamas.

There is exceptional value available for Ireland Vacations this year, with hotel prices at the lowest they have been for many years. This combined with the 20% fall in the cost of a Euro in US$ since its peak earlier this year makes Ireland especially good value for visitors from the USA. For example, our basic, go-as-you-please package now starts at $349 compared to an average $499 last year.

We can testify to the resonance this is having with US tourists here at myguideIreland. With the volcanic eruptions in Iceland now in the past, enquiries for 2010 vacations and the exceptional value available, enquiries are growing strongly. Our advice? Book as soon as possble before the most popular areas get booked out!!

To further enhance our ever popular profiling of Irish surnames we’ve decided to move the fearure to our blog and allow for better and improved user interaction and feedback.

Taking the spotlight today is the name Sheehan or Sheahan.

Sheehan coat of arms

The popular name Sheehan or Sheahan, often referred to as  Sheen or Shean, is the anglicisation of the Irish Ó Siodhacháin, from a diminutive of siodhach, meaning ‘peaceful’.
The eponymous ancestor of the family is disputed, but must have been unique among the Irish of the day to have deserved the description “peace maker”. Not every scholar accepts this origin of the name, but given the fact that the sept’s traditional coat of arms features a dove of peace, there will be few of the name who will want to consider any alternative. One ancient genealogy places the sept’s ancestor as a brother of Brian Boru while another has him as a member of the Scanlan sept. The Book of Leinster refers to “Muintir Sidechain” from a distant relative of Brian Boru.

Cormac Cas was King of Thomond (Tuathmhumhan, modern county Clare with adjacent parts of Limerick and Tipperary) around the fifth century and he spawned a tribal grouping known as the Dál gCais or Dalcassians which dominated Munster until the final suppression of the old Gaelic order in the seventeenth century. Their most famous family is that of O’Brien, but the group includes other well known families such as McNamara, O’Grady, Heffernan, McMahon, Hickey, Clancy, etc. Regardless of the precise identity of their ancestor, the sept of Ó Siodhacháin is believed by most authorities to be part of the Dál gCais, having a chief residence in Lower Connello, Co. Limerick. O’Sheehan, O’Meehan and O’Cullane all served as chiefs in that barony. Over the centuries, however, the members of the sept migrated southwards and in modern times the name is most common in County Cork, though also found in Kerry(profiled in our top 10 places to visit in Ireland) and Limerick. The name starts to appear regularly in the records of Cork from the fourteenth century mentioned in connection with Kilcredan parish in the diocese of Cloyne on several occasions. We find John Shyghan of Youghal who was a tailor there in 1617. In the same town we find William Sheehan as town clerk in 1688. We also find one Thadeus O’Sheaghan as a Church of Ireland Vicar of Inchigeelagh in 1639. In 1689 we find one Capt. William Sheehan in King James army list.

It is one of Ireland’s very numerous surnames: combining the alternative spellings it holds the seventy-fifth place in the list thereof, with an estimated total population in Ireland today of about eight thousand five hundred persons of the name. Of these the great majority were born in Co. Cork or, on its borders, in the adjacent counties of Kerry and Limerick. Read further about this name Sheehan

Content kindly provided by Eddie Geoghegan of Araltas

Add your suggestions for next month through our comments below.

In a major boost to Irish Tourism, Delta Airlines have announced that they will reinstate their winter schedule between JFK  and Shannon Airport for the 2010-2011 winter season.

Delta withdrew the route for winter 2009/10 opting only for a summer service, however the resumption of the winter link is a huge boost for Shannon Airport, Ireland’s midwest and Irish tourism in general delivering greater cometition for North American tourists looking to fly to Ireland

What is it about Ireland and the world renowned Irish sense of humour?
Maybe it is a nationwide sense of mirth to laugh at everything about ourselves, coined by the Irish phrase of “taking the mick”, meaning having a laugh.
It is an ingrained trait that has seen the Irish through the centuries, when things don’t go to plan instead of collapsing in despair we have learned to look at the funny side and laugh at the irony and stupidity of everything. Irish humour can be thought of as the ultimate in sarcasm where nothing or no one, not priests nor politicians, is too sacred to mock or to “take the mick out of”.

Welcome to a land where nothing runs on time, where the transport minister heads away on a sun holiday in the middle of a 3 week freezefest, where a prominent airline considered charging people for the “privilege” of using the airline facilities during the recession, and where a former finance minister and taoiseach quotes from “Father Ted” when asked about the “serious matter” of his private finances. All in all a land where no-one takes anything seriously and a land that has spawned some of the best comedy shows, writers and comedians of all time. Comedians such as Dave Allen, Brendon Grace, Sean Hughes, Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran, Dara O’Briain, Ardal O’Hanlon, David O’Doherty, Meave Higgins, Deirdre O’ Kane, Jason Byrne, Neil Delamare to name just a few.

For a chance to relax and lay back and witness some of this Irish sense of humour you can watch the news and the political and sporting commentary (and that’s the serious stuff) or better yet why not sit down with a pint and checkout great comedy in action at the many comedy venues and pubs around the country.

However if you have the chance why not see some of the best of national and international stars in action in some of our world renowned Comedy festivals.  Here’s a sample

Carlsberg Cat Laughs Festival

3rd June to 7th June 2010

The Mother of all Irish Comedy festivals and one of the top five comedy festivals in the world, Ireland’s favourite festival, The Carlsberg Cat Laughs Comedy Festival runs in Kilkenny for the June Bank Holiday.  Since it’s inception in 1994 this festival has rapidly established itself as one of the best comedy festivals in the world.

Attracting a host of the best national and international stand-up comedians and comedy improvisers, the comedy festival provides for simple fun and exhilaration. Five days of fun and laughter are guaranteed with over 85 live performances in the relaxing surrounds of 14 of Kilkenny’s best loved venues.

Bulmers Comedy Festival Dublin

3rd – 23rd September 2007

An upcoming rival to the more established Cat’s Laugh Comedy Festival the four year old Bulmers Comedy Festival in Dublin is hot on the heels of its’ predecessor in the terms of quality and growing international standing.

The Bulmers International Comedy Festival takes over the city of Dublin for an amazing three weeks from September 3rd where venues across Dublin will play host to the very best of Irish and International comedians.

Already confirmed for this years event are Jimmy Carr, Ross Noble, Lenny Henry, Paul Merton, The Panel Live, Rich Hall, Jeremy Hardy, Punt and Denis, Circus of horrors, Puppetry of the penis, Barabbas 40 songs of green and Shady Okes. Over the course of the coming weeks further acts will be added to the bill for this years line up so keep your eye out for new arrivals!

This Comedy Festival Having played host to the crème de la crème of comedic talent from the undeniable genius of Denis Leary to Multi Award winning British writer/comedian Ricky Gervais, this Comedy Festival can call itself a truly international festival.

Hallowe’en Howls Comedy Festival in Portlaoise

22 -29 October

Also in October and not to be missed the Hallowe’en Howls Comedy Festival in Portlaoise in association with Carlsberg brings over 30 top Irish and Overseas Comedians for a weekend to remember. Along with 20 top stand up shows, you’ll find other attractions such as the Charity Pig Race, the Comedians Golfer of the year Awards, Festival Club. This year also sees the introduction of the Hallowe’en Howls Bus Tour of Portlaoise with top Irish Comedians acting as Tour Guides showing you their own favourite spots in Portlaoise (Not too be missed!!) Also on the Sunday of the Festival, while Liverpool play Man UTD in the Premier League the Howls have, as a treat, drafted in a few special guest commentators for this game. This weekend also offers a music trail in participating pubs in the town centre. All venues are just minutes apart with lots of accommodation within minutes of the town centre.

Tedfest 4

25th February to 7th March

Inis Mór – Thursday, 25th February to Sunday, 28th February

Galway City – Monday, 1st March to Wednesday, 3rd March

Inis Oirr – Thursday, 4th March to Sunday, 7th March

While at it’s heart a fan convention for the admirers of hit Irish show “Father Ted” and not considered in the same international league as traditional Comedy Festivals, Tedfest however is a uniquely Irish comedy convention, a celebration of all things related to Father Ted one of the greatest comedy shows to come out of Ireland, and includes highlights such as The Craggy Cup, The Lovely Girls Contest (a sendup of, you guessed it The Rose of Tralee), A Priests’ versus Nuns’ Beach volleyball tournament, and new for 2010 – The Loveliest Horse Competition. Also look out for festival favourites Ted’s Got Talent, the Gospel Brunch, Beer Garden’s Hawaiin BBQ, Breakfast without Dermot Morgan and lots more..

The full festival includes events in Galway City (at the Róisin Dubh) and on two of the Aran Islands, Inis Mór and Inis Oirr (between them the real “Craggy Island” where the series was filmed). Discounted ferry tickets available to guests of Sleepzone Galway City.

Kells Comedy Festival

Friday 25th – Sunday 27th of February

Headfort Hotel in Kells hosts the Kells Comedy Festival, a full weekend of action-packed eclectic comedy, showcasing the very best in Irish comedy all under one roof. There will be acts to suit every taste. From Friday 25th – Sunday 27th of February prepare yourself for a barrel or so of laughs in a couple of venues around the town. The Headfort Arms and The Kelltic Bar will host comedy events with appearances from Apres Match and stars David McSavage, John Clerley & Pat McDonald from the newest Irish hit “The Savage Eye”. Other acts include a comical trip through World Cup 1988 (I know) entitled “In High Germany” and the weekend rounds off with The Open Mike Comedy Showdown.

Irish Comedy Venues

And all around the country stand-up comedy is regularly played at the main comedy venues such as the following below as well as other local venues (hotels, theatres and pubs) up and down the country.

Battle of the Axe is on Tuesday nights 9.30 pm, consisting of Comedy, Music & Open Mic.

Ha’Penny Bridge Inn
42 Wellington Quay, Dublin City Centre,

Vicar Street
58-59 Thomas Street, Dublin 8, County Dublin,

The Laughter Lounge
Basement 4 – 8 Eden Quay, O’Connell Bridge, Dublin 1

The Laughter Lounge,
6 Odyssey Pavilion, 2 Queens Quay , Belfast BT3 9QQ

The Laughter Lounge
Downstairs at The Forum, The Glen, Waterford

City Limits,
Coburg Street, Cork

The Last Laugh Comedy Club,
Trinity Rooms Limerick , The Granary, Micheal St, Limerick

myguideIreland have just compiled a list based on our Guest’s feedback as to the top 10 places to visit in Ireland for 2010.

We’d love to hear what you think…