Posts filed under 'Kerry'
Planning permission has been granted for the first phase of the terminal expansion at Ireland West Airport Knock. The airport expansion is due to be completed by the end of the year.
Currently, Ireland West Airport Knock can carry 500,000 passengers a year. When the new developments are completed, this should rise to 800,000.
The terminal expansion will include a new security screening area, an expanded check-in hall, additional departures capacity and enhancements to the baggage sorting facility.
There is also a second extension planned for 2009-2010, which will provide additional arrivals capacity and further develop the departures areas.
April 9th, 2008
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world. However, for many it is simply a party, rather than a chance to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint. This is strange, because Saint Patrick had a dramatic life.
As a young lad of sixteen years he was captured by a band of raiders near Bologne in Gaul and taken with many others to slavery in Ireland. He was first brought to Mayo, but later sold to an Antrim farmer and he spent six years in captivity as a shepherd on Slemish Mountain.
One cold winter’s night, while Patrick slept, he heard a voice telling him “it is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country” and a short time later the voice said to him “Look, your ship is ready”.
The spirit guided Patrick to the south of Ireland near Wicklow where he boarded a ship with a cargo of dogs bound for Gaul.
At this time an invasion of Gaul had left much of it desolate. Patrick and the crew of the boat wandered for 28 days until all food had run out. Patrick said to the crew “turn to God and he will provide” and suddenly a herd of pigs appeared and they had food once more. Patrick had performed his first miracle.
For a number of years Patrick wandered through Gaul. Conscious of his lack of formal training in theology and law he spent his time talking to and learning from the wise deacons and Bishops and soon he was made a Bishop in Rome.
He was lonely in Gaul so he went to visit his relations in Britain. While he was there he had another vision in which a man arrived from Ireland with many letters, including one for himself. The letter said “We ask you boy to come and walk once more among us”. Patrick was delighted and went to Ireland immediately.
The people of Ireland at this time were pagans under the influence of the Druids. Patrick had first to rid the country of these “magicians”. This is symbolised by the banishing of the snakes forever from Ireland.
He now set about converting the people to Christianity. His deep faith and belief in the Blessed Trinity made this doctrine a centre piece of his instruction. To help explain the mystery he used the simple 3 leaf shamrock to illustrate 3 persons in one God.
St Patrick died in 461. By this time he had created an established structured church throughout the country. His converts were across the entire social classes from Princes to slaves and many of his priests and deacons were from the youth of Ireland. He is still to this day the most famous figure in Irish history and is one of the best known figures throughout the Christian world.
February 27th, 2008
UB40 get back to their reggae roots almost 30 years after they first got together to perform 3 live gigs in Ireland in November. Live music performances take place on and at:
Ali Campbell’s warm voice will melt Irish hearts as UB40 belt out old favourites like Red, Red, Wine and I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.
They will also perform newer music from the album Who You fighting For, a return of UB40’s political voice mixed in with meaningful lyrics and beautiful beats.
UB40 are amazingly talented and their unique reggae sound, with influences from Jamaican Ska to Elvis, is what has made their career so successful.
Here’s a live music clip of Kiss and Say Goodbye – from Who You Fighting For with Ali at his soulful best
Facts about UB40
- They formed in the summer of 1978.
- UB40 began as mates who knew each other from various colleges and schools across Birmingham.
- Birmingham is their home town.
- UB40 stands for Unemployment Benefit Form 40.
- Before they even picked up an instrument, Ali Campbell and Brian Travers travelled around Birmingham promoting the band, putting up UB40 posters to promote the band!
- £4,000 in compensation paid out to Ali Campbell after a bar brawl paid for the band’s instruments (even though few knew how to play!).
- Ali and Robin Campbell’s father is Ian Campbell, a popular folk musician.
- They made it big when Chrissie Hynde heard them play in a pub in Birmingham and asked them to be her support act.
- John Peel was so impressed with the group’s first demo tape that he invited them to perform on his Radio One show in 1980.
- Their injection of life into many old Jamaican hits resulted in many musicians’ and producers’ renewed popularity and income. (Source: Wikipedia)
- UB40 named their first album Signing Off because they were ‘signing off from the dole’ in other words, getting a job. The album even had a reproduction of the unemployment benefit card on the cover with the words, “Signing Off” stamped on it.
- In 1985, the group celebrated a hit single with I Got You Babe, recorded with Chrissie Hynde.
- UB40’s first single, a double coupling of King, a song for Martin Luther King and Food for Thought, a song about third-world poverty, was the first record to reach the UK top ten without the backing of a major record label.
- The band formed their own record company in 1980 called Dep International.
- In August 1983, UB40 achieved their first No.1 single in the UK.
Red Red Wine was released ahead of the album Labour of Love, which went straight to No.1 upon its release in September 1983.
- The Labour Of Love Album, produced and co-written by saxophonist Brian Travers, was made into a short movie and features most of the music from the album and some members of the band.
- UB40 were the first British band to tour Russia.
- (I can’t help) Falling In Love With You was the bands third No.1. It proved to be the second top selling single of 1993.
- (I can’t help) Falling In Love With You reached No.1 in 17 other countries around the world.
- (I can’t help) Falling In Love With You was initially featured in the Sharon Stone film Sliver and spent seven weeks at number one in the USA.
- Promises & Lies entered the UK charts at No.1 and stayed there
for 7 weeks which was the longest time for any album to have stayed at the
top in 1993.
- Swing Low was recorded with the multi-cultural choir United Colours of Sound and became the official anthem for the 2003 English Rugby Team.
- Promises And Lies was the inspiration for a musical performed by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company in 2006.
- Sparta Florida Music Group started legal action against heiress Paris Hilton and Warner Chappell Music in June 2007 for plagiarism due to similarities between the song Kingston Town, originally by Lord Creator and Paris’s Stars Are Blind song.
Visit UB40’s official website: http://www.ub40.co.uk/
August 20th, 2007
The white-tailed eagle has been reintroduced to Ireland, over a century since they were driven to extinction.
Twelve white-tailed eagles were released in the Killarney national park. This follows successful schemes to reintroduce the golden eagle and red kite. Both species had also been hunted to extinction in Ireland.
The Rural Environment Protection Scheme aims to reintroduction other species and encourage the development of cereal plots to provide food for wildlife.
The release of the white-tailed eagles should delight birdwatchers and anyone interested in the environment in Ireland.
Enthusiasts could even join this new online network for birdwatchers I’ve just found, called Geobirds, and post sightings of the eagle in Killarney!
August 17th, 2007
Neptune’s Town Hostel in Killarney is a nice place to stay that can serve as the perfect base to enjoy the tourist spots of the town. Individuals, groups and families are extended a warm welcome by the hostel’s diligent and friendly staff. The hostel features 130 comfortable beds for its esteemed guests. The rooms are centrally heated to provide a cosy environment. Hot showers are free and prove to be very relaxing. Guests can get together and play games or watch TV in the social or common room. All the family rooms are en-suite. International telephone facility is available to call loved ones back at home. A splendid continental breakfast is available that serves to start the day off perfectly. Free internet access fulfils the information needs of the guests. Linen is included in the price. Security lockers, key card access and luggage storage facility ensure that the belongings of the guests remain safe and sound.
March 19th, 2007
The Old Schoolhouse Restaurant in County Kerry is a splendid place to discover some unique Irish dishes that will not only satisfy your palate but also invigorate you with a sense of euphoria. The restaurant’s primary ingredients are simple cooking and a warm, friendly atmosphere. The staff here is quite willing to fulfil the custom wishes of groups, families and vegetarians. If you want something cooked a little differently, this is the place where your wish will be heard and given due consideration. This restaurant is quite popular on the Ring of Kerry. Some of the delicacies of this restaurant include fine wild salmon, fine chowder, plump mussels and irresistible desserts.
January 3rd, 2007
An Leith Phingin is a very successful restaurant in Kenmare, County Kerry that’s been in business for over a decade. This place is famous for authentic Northern Italian dishes. The braised beef with rosotto alla Milanese and bruschetta with Mileens cheese, tomatoes and basil oil available here are so good that they will spark hunger in your body every time you think about them. Italian wines like Lungarotti and Pio Cesare will transform an excellent meal into a truly unforgettable one.
You can reserve a table at An Leith Phingin Restaurant from our website.
November 23rd, 2006
