Posts filed under 'Louth'
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
Boyne Valley Hotel is a splendid country house in County Louth. The hotel is spread over an area of 16 acres. The hotel provides seventy two en-suite bedrooms designed for comfort and relaxation. The rooms provide useful facilities such as TV, telephone, trouser press and everything needed to make your own tea or coffee in your own room. Conference and banqueting facilities at the hotel are designed to accommodate about 450 people. A leisure centre is present to prevent the guests from getting bored. An indoor swimming pool is quite popular with the patrons. Sauna and Jacuzzi available here can be a nice way to spend the time in a relaxing fashion. A beauty salon is available with all the latest tricks and tips to look good among your peers. An all weather tennis court appeases the guests looking for a little exertion. Guests can also have a go at practicing pitch and putt at the 18-hole course on the grounds. Some nice relaxing walks can be taken in the garden. Pets are allowed through arrangement. Delicious meals with unforgettable wines can be ordered at the Celler Bistro.
March 15th, 2007
Triple House Restaurant is a quiet little restaurant in County Louth that is quite popular among the locals. The restaurant is located in a converted farmhouse that is almost two hundred years old. The farmhouse is situated in beautiful gardens, giving the whole place a serene atmosphere. On winter nights, the log fires keep you warm and cosy while you study the menu, having a hard time deciding what to choose from among the excellent dishes. Seafood that is bound to make you salivate with hunger includes fresh prawns, crabs, and Port Oriel Pot-Pourri, a uniquely conceived dish. Smoked loin of pork with a nectarine & Calvados sauce is quite popular among the customers of this restaurant. It is especially hard to get tired of eating Boyne salmon with orange and dill. Spinach-filled crêpes will simply win over the hearts and minds of vegetarians. The quality of the various types of cheese available at this restaurant is much sought after by those who delight in stimulating their taste buds with new and fascinating tastes. The wine list is quite extensive and reflects a preference for top quality wines.
March 2nd, 2007
If you want to spend some peaceful and quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of Dublin, you really need to check out the Green Door Hostel in County Louth in the city Drogheda. The burial chamber of Newgrange, monastery of Mellifont and fine beaches are some of the places you can visit if you take the bus at the bus station located just two minutes away from this hostel. If you have a passion for angling, you can also check out the many small fishing ports nearby. The staff at this hostel is very friendly and will always help the tourists with any questions they might have. The rooms available here range from private rooms and family rooms to dormitories either large or small and with or without en-suite facilities. The hostel has enough beds to accommodate fifty people. The beds are all handcrafted and equipped with accessories to give a unique sense of decoration. A fully equipped self catering kitchen is available where the guests can cook the food to their liking. Linen is included in the price. Laundry facilities are available. Continental breakfast is provided free to the guests. A restaurant and dining area is also available. The common room or lounge room has a TV with an open fire to keep the place warm and cosy.
February 22nd, 2007
Tired of walking through mostly flat terrain and looking for a seemingly insurmountable challenge? Slieve Foye in County Louth might just be what you need to get your legs aching. Slieve Foye stands 588 metres high above Carlingford Village. You need to be pretty healthy and active to have a chance of climbing up this steep mountain without giving up. The summit of the mountain is so high that it is easily visible from anywhere in Carlingford Village. If climbing the mountain is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of other easier walking routes for you to choose from. Of these, Tain Way is one worth mentioning. If you happen to be there in August, you can also get to enjoy the various delightful events at the Oysters, Jazz & Blues Festival.
December 19th, 2006
Jordan’s Restaurant in County Louth is regarded as one of the best restaurants in Ireland. It has consistently received rave reviews from many famous food guide magazines and food critics. The restaurant proudly holds many national awards under its belt for its excellent cuisine and impeccable service. The owners and chefs of the restaurant, Harry and Marian, are committed to using only fresh local produce to bring their magical dishes to life. A few of the reasons you might want to check this restaurant out are:
- The vegetables are all locally grown
- The herbs are home-grown
- Fish, lobsters and oysters are all brought fresh from Kilkeel
- The deliciously succulent lamb dishes owe their tender meat to the lambs of Slieve Foy Mountain
- A stone water mill in Dunleer is responsible for the flour used to make the soft crispy breads every day
- The irresistible chocolate truffles and the breakfast marmalade use malt whiskey in their secret recipe. This whiskey is distilled in Cooley at Ireland’s only independently owned distillery
With such amazing ingredients, it is no wonder that the excellent food cooked here has spread the fame of this restaurant far and wide. This is, without a doubt, a must visit restaurant. You can reserve a table at Jordan’s Restaurant online.
December 4th, 2006
