Longing for Ireland

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Single pot, blended, peated, malted - single, double, or triple distilled - what does it all mean and what makes Irish Whiskey different from other whiskies?

Today we are joined by James Kilgannon, whiskey expert and Distillery & Brand Coordinator at Teeling Distillery to talk about Teeling Whiskey and how to experience whiskey in Ireland.

For more information on the trips on offer visit: Teelingdistillery.com for the distillery and tours and Teelingwhiskey.com for the global brand and information on the whiskeys.

This episode’s Irish words:

A couple of words

Cheers! (To your health)

Sláinte - Pronounced:  S + lawn + Ch(urch)

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Water of life (whiskey)

Uisce beatha - ISH-ka bah-ha

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Rooted in ancient myths and the fastest sport on grass; Gaelic games give a glimpse into ancient Irish heritage that still thrives to this day – But what are Gaelic games?

Today we are joined by Cormac Ó Donnchú, co-founder of Experience Gaelic Games to talk about the sports and their connection to Irish culture.

For more information on the trips on offer visit: experiencegaelicgames.com 

This episode’s Irish words:

Hurling (Sport) – Pronounced: Huer-ling

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Camogie (woman’s hurling) – Pronounced: Ka-maw-gi

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sliotar (ball for hurling) – Pronounced: Schli-tar

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Camán (hurling stick) – Pronounced: Com-oon 

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Caid (ancient mob football) – Pronounced: Ka-id

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Cú Chulainn (mythic character - "Hound (cú) of Culann") – Pronounced: Koo-kul-in

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Fite fuaite (something that is intertwined – something that can’t be unpicked) – Pronounced: fi-tcha Foo-cha

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City breaks – a great way to do a quick trip to another country and culture. Come, explore, enjoy, and return another day. But which city should you choose and what should you do?

Today we are joined by Veera Bianca, a travel writer and travel photographer to talk about Dublin and Belfast as weekend getaways and what to do in each city.

To read and follow Veera’s Finish blog visit: veerabianca.com or find Veera on Instagram @Veerabianca.

Dublin:

Stores:

• Siopaella - siopaella.com
• Sheridans Cheesemongers - sheridanscheesemongers.com

Experiences, drinks and food:

• Fanshion and food tour - fabfoodtrails.ie
• Ro & Co Whiskey Distillery - roeandcowhiskey.com
• Guinness Storehouse - guinness-storehouse.com
• Jameson Whiskey Distillery - jamesonwhiskey.com
• Trinity college and Book of Kells- tour - tcd.ie/visitors/book-of-kells
• The Seafood Café by Niall Sabongi - klaw.ie
• Rustic Stone Restaurant -rusticstone.ie
• Saint Stephen’s Green Park
• Three Twenty Ice-Cream Lab - threetwenty.ie
• Murphy's Ice-Cream - murphysicecream.ie

Hotels:

• Wren Urban Nest - wrenhotel.ie
• Iveagh Garden Hotel - iveaghgardenhotel.ie

• Titanic Belfast - titanicbelfast.com
• Titanic hotel Belfast - titanichotelbelfast.com
• Bushmills Whiskey Distillery - bushmills.eu
• Giant tours - gianttoursireland.com
• Belfast gin tour - tasteandtour.co.uk

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Cosy cottages, town houses, country homes, farmhouses, and historic houses – They are all very different, but one thing thy have in common is the sense of Irish homeliness.

Today we are joined by Helena Healy, CEO at B & B Ireland to talk about Irish homeliness and how to experience Ireland from a B&B.

For more information on the trips on offer visit: bandbireland.com

This episode’s Irish words:

A couple of words

Cúpla focal - Pronounced: Coop-la Fuc-ull

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Cheers! (To your health)

Sláinte - Pronounced:  S + lawn + Ch(urch)

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Three giant mounds stand on top of 3 hills overlooking a bend in the Boyne River. But these three mounds are no ordinary mounds, they have been named as UNESCO World Heritage and figure throughout Irish history, myth, and folklore. So, what makes them so special and why should you visit? 

Today we are joined by Clare Tuffy, from the Office of Public Works at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre to talk about Ireland’s ancient heritage.

For more information on the trips on offer visit: Heritageireland.ie

For more in-depth info visit worldheritageireland.ie

This episode’s Irish words:

The Palace of the Boyne

Brú na Bóinne - Pronounced: Bry na Boiñe

Other attractions mentioned:

Louchcrew Cairns

heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/loughcrew-cairns

Hill of Tara

heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/hill-of-tara

Carrowmore and Carrowkeel, Co. Sligo

heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/carrowmore-megalithic-cemetery

Boyne Valley

ireland.com/en-se/destinations/county/meath/boyne-valley

Hill of Tara

ireland.com/en-se/things-to-do/attractions/hill-of-tara

High cross of Monasterboice

discoverboynevalley.ie/boyne-valley-drive/heritage-sites/monasterboice-finest-high-cross-ireland 

1st Cistercian Abbey

discoverboynevalley.ie/boyne-valley-drive/heritage-sites/old-mellifont-abbey 

2nd Cistercian Abbey

discoverboynevalley.ie/boyne-valley-drive/heritage-sites/bective-abbey 

Largest Anglo-Norman castle: Trim Castle

 heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/trim-castle 

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Guinness – Synonymous with Ireland and a must try when on the island - but what makes it so special? How is it made and what is the story behind it the famous beer?

Today we are joined by Colm O’Connor, Beer Specialist at the Guinness Storehouse to talk about what makes Guinness so special as well as what you can expect when visiting the Home of Guinness in the heart of Dublin.

For more information on the tours on offer visit: guinness-storehouse.com

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U2, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, and many more have recorded songs or albums at Dublin’s first recording studio, since its founding 40 years ago – but, what makes it so special and why should you visit?

Today we are joined by Aidan Alcock, Director at Windmill Lane Recording Studio to talk about the studio, its history, process, and famous recording artists as well as what you will experience when you visit the studio.

For more information on the tours on offer visit: windmilllanerecording.com

This episode’s Irish words and saying:

Music and Fun

Ceol agus Criac – Pronounced: qu-eol agus krak

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RMS Titanic – the world’s largest ship at its launch has not only left its mark in film culture but also in its birthplace – the city of Belfast – where you now find the world-leading Titanic Experience visitor attraction in the very shipyard where Titanic was built. But what legacy has Titanic left and how can you find its traces and experience this famous ship?

Today we are joined by Scott Shaw, from the Visitor Experience Crew at Titanic Belfast to talk about the Titanic Experience, Harland and Wolff, Titanic Hotel Belfast, SS Nomadic and the impact it made on the city of Belfast.

For more information on the tours on offer visit: tianicbelfast.com

This episode’s Irish words and saying:

Keep going (encouragement)

Keep her lit – Pronounced: Keep ‘eer lit

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Beautiful seafood, warming chowder, lamb and beef from the greenest pastures and absolutely delicious derry products… so much to try, yet so little time – so where should you start?

Today we are joined by Suzanne Burns, owner and guide at Kinsale Food Tours, to talk about Irish food; tips on what to try, Irish raw ingredients, and what to bring back when returning from Ireland.

Kinsale Food Tours offer guided food tours of Kinsale and surrounds. Ranging all the way from multi-stop walking town and food tours, wild food tours, foraging and picnic tours and all the way up to a luxury yacht tour & picnic.

For more information on the trips on offer visit: kinsalefoodtours.com

This episode’s Irish words and sayings:

(reply) Cheers/good health back to you

Sláinte mhaith - Pronounced:  S + lawn + Ch(urch) wha

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Take it easy/chill out

Tóg go bog é - Pronounced: tóg-go bog-é

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I’m amazing / terrible – context dependent

I’m grand

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Are you enjoying yourself?

Are you having the craic? – Pronounced: Krak

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Poetical, political & provocative – Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, W.B. Yeats and many more playwrights come from Ireland, but why are there so many playwrights and what makes Irish theatre so special?

Today we are joined by James Hickson, from the National Theatre of Ireland, the Abbey Theatre, to talk about theatre culture in Ireland and how theatre has influenced Irish culture.

The Abbey Theatre offers plays, classes as well as tours of both the theatre and Dublin city.

For more information on the trips on offer visit: abbeytheatre.ie

This episode’s Irish words:

A traditional Gaelic storyteller:

Seanchaí - pronounced: Shan – á- key

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spoon (literally: young spoon):

Spúnóg - pronounced: Spuon- ooeg

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the stain left by tears:

Súghóg – pronounced: Sue-hoe-g

The plays/performances mentioned:

Faith Healer by Brian Friel

Translations by Brian Friel

Gaeilge Tamagotchi by Manchán Magan