Hostels have come a long way in recent years, and many hostels offer a boutique, yet budget, experience for travelers. In this episode, we talk about Irish hostels and reveal a list of the best hostels.

#138 Finding Value and Comfort in Ireland's Unique Hostel Stays

The Podcast on Irish Travel, Irish Customs and All Things Irish. We take you to some of the best Irish towns and villages. As we explore Ireland's most popular destinations, we offer our suggestions to get you off the tourist trail and in to the "real" Ireland. Sit back, relax and make yourself comfortable at the Irish Fireside, and feel free to use our Episode Guides for maps, destination recaps and links to the sites and topics we discuss.

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In an era of religious oppression, one Irish priest found a way to circumvent the laws and inspire his congregation on the Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare. Music composed by Hicham Chahidi Library “Shine” & “Tendresse” royalty free music http://musicscreen.org/

#161 Ireland's Little Ark

Holycross didn't always have that name... until the arrival of a relic of the True Cross arrived it was known as the Church of the Eight Hands -- for rather gruesome reasons. There's a lot more to this church than you might notice on first glance, and I'm happy to tell you some highlights. Music composed by Hicham Chahidi Library Genval Style & Gregorian Song Style royalty free music http://musicscreen.org/

#160 The Glory of Holycross

In the tiny village of Kilcormac, there's a holy statue that has been safeguarded by the locals for hundreds of years. It has survived religious suppression, Cromwell's armies, and a parish priest who thought it belonged with him.

#159 The Pietà in the Bog

In this episode I introduce you to a bit of the history and charms of Timahoe, County Laois, and sites nearby. If you go off the beaten path to visit Timahoe, you might consider some stops nearby, like climbing the impressive ruins of the Rock of Dunamase, touring the grand home and gardens at Emo Court, exploring the Slieve Bloom Mountiains, trekking along the Abbeyleix Bog Walk, and wandering the paths at Heywood Gardens.

#158 The Secrets of Timahoe

Whether it's because you don't have an international plan for your smartphone or you simply hit a deadzone, it's a good idea to download local maps to your phone before you get lost in Ireland. In this episode, I walk you through the "hidden" feature in Google Maps that lets you get directions even when you phone is in Airplane Mode. A video version is available at https://youtu.be/2pQZmdIqWfc Google Maps is available for free in both the Apple and Google Play Stores.

#138 Finding Value and Comfort in Ireland's Unique Hostel Stays

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