Posts filed under 'Laois'
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
Leinster are preparing for their Heineken Cup clash at Leicester on Saturday 19th of January.
While the Leicester side is strong, Leinster coach Michael Cheika is confident they will be able to get a result.
He said: “What we’ve got to do is go up there and make sure we keep sowing a bit of doubt in
their minds in their home base, where they don’t lose very often.
“We’ve got to make sure we continue to play well…and try to sneak a win up there.”
Leinster’s preparations were given a boost with the news that both injury worries Shane Horgan and Ollie le Roux have recovered enough to be included in the squad. They will face fitness tests oon Thursday, but are expected to be at near 100%.
The full squad to face Leicester is:
Forwards (15): Cian Healy, Ollie le Roux, Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Malcolm O’Kelly, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip
Backs (12): Guy Easterby, Chris Keane, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Gordon D’Arcy, Christian Warner, Brian O’Driscoll, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan,
Girvan Dempsey
Ireland duo Gordon D’Arcy and Malcolm O’Kelly, need only three more appearances for Leinster to equal who both joined Reggie Corrigan’s record for the province.
Over 1,000 Leinster supporters are expected to travel to Leicester for the Heineken Cup match, which kicks off at 3.30PM at Welford Road.
January 16th, 2008
There’s a lot going on at Donnybrook, as Leinster prepare for the new season.
First, a new Rugby Development Officer has been named. Everyone at Leinster Rugby is delighted at the appointment of David McAllister.
The former Leinster and Ireland Under-21 out-half will be responsible for the North Midlands area. Hopes are high that his experience will help him unearth some exciting new talent.
But that’s not all. You can now sport the colours of your favourite team, as the new home jersey for the 2007/08 season is now available at the Leinster Rugby Store. Short sleeved jerseys are only €77, with long sleeved shirts costing €80.
The 2007/08 season looks to be a very exciting one for Leinster. Season ticket applications have almost doubled since last year. Priced at just €199, a new batch of Bronze season tickets has been released after the initial tickets were snapped up within weeks. Make sure you get yours quickly to avoid disappointment.
For devoted Leinster fans who can’t make it to all the home games, Leinster Supporters Memberships are available for next season.
Exile packages (€50) are designed for those Leinster fans all across the globe. The kids can join the Leinster Cubs for just €30.
Look out for more rugby news as the 2007/08 season approaches.
July 24th, 2007
The idyllic grounds of Stradbally Hall may not seem like the most obvious place for a music festival, but since 2004 the Electric Picnic has brought some of rock’s biggest names to these rolling fields.
Since it began as a one-day event, the Electric Picnic has always been unique among music festivals. And not just because of the mix of music.
At the Electric Picnic, you can enjoy the 24-hour cinema, watch some great plays, get a makeover in the Pamper Palace and even fire off a few rounds at paintball.
If you’ve ever thought festival food consisted of dodgy kebabs and burgers, the Electric Picnic will change your mind. There is plenty of high quality, organic food, including mouth-watering barbequed steaks.
All the traders at the Electric Picnic will be using Fair Trade ingredients where possible and the festival is doing all it can to become carbon neutral.
This year the Electric Picnic has teamed up with Act for Climate. Their ‘Adopt a TD’ scheme will help ensure Ireland’s politicians get the message about global warming.
The Electric Picnic could well be the world’s most ethical music festival. Looking at the line-up, it will also be one of the most entertaining.
The 32,500 fans who were lucky enough to get tickets for the Electric Picnic’s three-day weekend will get to see an unbelievable range of acts.
Other festivals may say they have a diverse line-up, but few can compare to the Electric Picnic. It’s not often you get to see Iggy Pop play on the same bill as the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.
The festival has always made a point of including many up-and-coming acts, making it a great stepping stone for younger bands. It also features classic acts such as Sonic Youth, ensuring there is an older audience compared to other festivals.
The Electric Picnic runs from the 31st of August to the 2nd of September.
July 11th, 2007
The fourth section of the Barrow Way involves trekking on the route located between Vicarstown and Athy. This section of the walking path is located in County Laois in the eastern region of the province of Leinster. The route is quite easy to complete and extends over a distance of eleven kilometres. Steep climbing is pretty much non existent on this track. Walkers should expect to spend three and a half hours walking on this route to finish it. Majority of the walking terrain on this section of the Barrow Way consists of grassy track. Once walkers leave Vicarstown behind, they will be greeted with nice views of Kilteale Hill, Hewson Hill and Bawn Hill. The countryside in this area is fairly flat. The majestically magnificent Bert House can be seen after the walkers are beyond Bert Bridge. This huge Georgian mansion is divided into seven bays.
March 12th, 2007
Kingfisher is a traditional Indian restaurant in Portlaoise that is worthy of a visit. The scents and spices of the Indian food are pretty exotic and act as great appetizers, forcing even people who are not hungry to take a bite and savour the heavenly taste. People enjoy the samosas here immensely. The tomato based lamb dish is described as lovely, warming and gorgeous by many satisfied customers. It’s not too spicy and tastes just right to stimulate the taste buds into believing that they are in contact with something truly heavenly. The delicious chicken korma is highly appreciated for its satisfying appeal. Mushroom rice is also a treasured delicacy here. The wine list is carefully chosen for quality and the coffee is very soothing. Service is impressive to say the least. A perfect restaurant if you ever wish to eat a perfect meal.
March 1st, 2007
The seventh and final section of the Slieve Bloom Way is located between The Cut and Glenbarrow. This part of the walking trail is easy and won’t present many difficulties to the walkers. It is located in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster in County Laois. This part stretches to a distance of about nine kilometres. There is very little climbing involved on this route. Most walkers are normally going to take three hours to finish walking on this route. The road on this walking route can be quite busy with traffic so the walkers will need to be careful to avoid any unfortunate mishaps. The road from The Cut to Glenbarrow consists of forest and tar road that goes downhill so minimum effort will be required in walking on this part of the trail. One remarkable thing about The Cut road that walkers will find intriguing is the fact that it is hand cut. They can even find markings left by those who were involved in the cutting. Walkers can also visit the blanket bog in Glendine or enjoy the waterfall at Glenbarrow.
February 14th, 2007
The sixth part of the Slieve Bloom Way starts from Glenkeen and allows walkers to enjoy the sights and sounds of the surrounding area in a relaxed manner all the way to The Cut. County Laois is home to this part of the walking trail in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster. This part of the walking trail is pretty easy to traverse and extends to a relatively short distance of about six and a half kilometres. This trail is 175 metres high at its highest point. Since the distance to be covered is relatively short, it will take most walkers only about two and half hours of steady paced walking to complete this walking route. Walkers will encounter forest road throughout this part of the walking trail. There are wet patches on the General’s Road so care should be exercised while walking there. The whole route is characterized by forested area all the way to the end of this section. Walkers will appreciate the panoramic views available over Glendine O Regan.
February 13th, 2007
The fifth section of the Slieve Bloom Way takes walkers on a splendid walking experience that starts at Coolcreen and ends at Glenkeen. This route is easy to traverse so walkers won’t face much difficulty here. This part of the walking trail is in County Laois in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster. Walkers can enjoy a relaxing walk of almost ten kilometres on this trail. 150 metres is the highest point walkers will have to climb on this route. About three and a half hours will be required to complete this trail. A small part of this route includes walking by the riverside. The climbs on this route are not too steep. Walkers will marvel at the sheer beauty of the path through Coolcreen. Hazel woodland along the Silver River is particularly stunning. This part of the Slieve Bloom Way is probably the most pleasant on the entire walking trail. There are great views to be enjoyed from Spink Mountain. Giants Grave in Glenkeen is a popular tourist attraction that definitely warrants a visit.
February 12th, 2007
The second part of the Slieve Bloom Way starts at Monicknew and ends at Glendine Gap. This section is also located in County Laois in the eastern region of the province of Leinster. This walking route is moderately difficult to complete. Walkers can expect to traverse a distance of about thirteen and a half kilometres on this walking path. The highest point on this trail rises as much as four hundred metres. This route is a bit long and difficult so walkers will need to spend almost six hours walking in order to get to the end of this route. Most parts of this walking route are rough and wet so care is needed while walking here. Baunreagh House located on this route is worth visiting to get a sense of the heritage and culture of this area. A beautiful shimmering lake on open moorland to the west of the route near Gorteenameale invites walkers and tourists to enjoy the sight of its sparkling expanse.
February 7th, 2007
The Slieve Bloom Way is a circular walking trail that extends over a long distance of almost seventy seven kilometres. This walking path has been divided into seven sections for the convenience of the walkers. Each section takes about half a day to complete. Since this path is circular, the trail starts at Glenbarrow and ends back at the starting place. The first path of this walking trail begins at Glenbarrow and ends at Monicknew. This section of the walking path is located in County Laois in the eastern region of the province of Leinster. This walking route is moderately difficult so walkers, especially the beginners and amateurs, can expect to face some difficulties during their trek on this route. This part of the walking route stretches over a distance of about eleven kilometres. The highest point on this route is about 225 metres high. Walkers should be able to complete this route in about four and a half hours. Breathtaking views of the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains can be witnessed from the ridge of Capard and Stoney Man. The River Barrow arising in the Slieve Blooms happens to rank second on the basis of its length among rivers in Ireland. A magnificent high stone arch bridge awaits walkers over the Glen River at Monicknew.
February 6th, 2007
Traditional Farm Hostel in Portlaoise is the perfect way to spend a cost effective vacation in County Laois. The hostel accommodations meet the Official Irish Tourist Board standards. The hostel provides ten comfortable en-suite bedrooms with the capacity to accommodate a total of thirty five guests. Double, twin and family rooms are available. Approved camping and parking facilities are available. Rooms for people with disabilities or wheelchair can be arranged. Full Irish breakfast, continental breakfast and evening meals can be ordered. The evening meal is a full four course dinner and must be booked in advance to ensure availability.
January 31st, 2007
Jim’s Country Kitchen is a restaurant located in Portlaoise where you can sample some of the finest dishes available in this part of Ireland. To get some idea of the popularity of this excellent restaurant, just pay a visit on a winter’s day at lunchtime. The large number of customers inside the restaurant will prove to be a great source of astonishment at first sight but once you have tried the food, you will come to understand why those customers are there. The atmosphere at this restaurant during wintertime is truly heart warming. The restaurant is kept warm through bright fires blazing away while a central table serves salads and various dishes for the appeasement of the valued customers. Goat’s cheese with parsley pesto and tomato sauce will make you swear the taste is divine. Even minor things like sun dried tomatoes and fresh olives will make you want to soak up every last bit of oil with bread. In short, it’s almost a blasphemy coming to Portlaoise and failing to visit Jim’s Country Kitchen.
January 18th, 2007
The mountain range of Slieve Blooms is located in the counties of Offaly and Laois. The highest peak here is about 529 metres high and goes by the name of Arderin which means the height of Ireland in the Irish language. History buffs will particularly appreciate this place a lot due to the presence of loads of monuments that are as old as 4500 years. This place is also famous in Ireland for its mythology. It is said that the Irish Giant Finn MacCool grew up here. Slieve Blooms features many exciting walking paths. It is most well known for the Slieve Bloom Walking Festival in April. However, the walks don’t have to be too long. There are many shorter tracks through the wooded glens. One of the most beautiful of these walks is the Capard Loop that invites you to enjoy the beauty of the valley here. On this walk, you get to enjoy the sights and sounds of the River Barrow, the impressive Clamphole Falls and the mountain track of the Ridge of Capard. The historically significant monastic site of Clonmacnoise found here is also a must visit place.
December 20th, 2006
