Erin's Isle Podcast

Dingle is a magical place. And there are some passionate artists who live there.  Abi Dillon followed her passion for beach combing and crafts all the way to opening a shop featuring Sea Glass and other artists in the Dingle Area.  Harris Moore settled in Dingle and built a Celtic and Prehistoric Museum after traveling the world playing music.  And they are the tip of the iceberg for magic in Dingle.  Check out their stories plus A Broad Abroad in Episode 29 of Erin's Isle.

Imagine rustic coastal courses with incredible greens, golfing around a castle, or a lakeland course that is also home to a historic Abbey and carriages from the Orient Express. Golfing in Ireland offers all that and more.  You just need to know where to go to find it.  Episode 28 of Erin's Isle shows you were to go, what you'll find and what you just might want to ask about.  

Meet the Galway Hookers. They are a tradition, and there is a movement to bring them back as a working force in the West of Ireland.  The effort to restore the traditional fishing boats of the Claddagh, known as the Galway Hookers, is an international effort and a growing project that involves people from all walks of life all focused on seeing the shiny black beauties with their bright red sails working again on Galway Bay. And...they are so iconic that The Galway Hooker is also a winning brand in Ireland for everything from GAA teams to beer. Hear the story of the Galway Hookers from boats to beer in this episode of Erin's Isle.   

Irish crystal is known for it's strength, sparkle and elegance.And it's still made by hand. In fact, at Waterford Crystal every piece is hand blown, hand cut and hand finished. And you can watch them making timeless art, and admire the results in every shape you can image. You know what else shines bright for the future? The Blackrock Castle Observatory. From a colorful history to a starry eyed future, the people of Cork have retained it's history and given it a new lease on life. All that plus A Broad Abroad in Episode 26 of Erin's Isle.  

The village of Adare looks like it's from a storybook about Ireland, with thatched cottages, a lovely park and a magnificent Manor House. Find out why Abbeyglen Castle is the friendliest castle  in Connemara, hear what sets if apart. And learn all about how wool gets from the sheep to the famous sweaters of the Aran Islands, at Ireland's National Wool Center.  All that plus A Broad Abroad, in episode 23 of Erin's Isle.

When it comes to tractors in Ireland, no one knows more about them than Austin O'Sullivan. He's has studied what they mean to Ireland and he collects them. He started the Agriculture Museum of Ireland and if you're lucky he'll take you on a tour. It's housed in the historic outbuildings of Johnstown Castle near Wexford. Those tractors put a lot of donkeys out of work. But there is a sanctuary here that looks for those donkeys and takes them in. Hear how thankful they are, and how you can offer a few welcomed hugs to them if you like.  All that plus A Broad Abroad, in Episode 23 of Erin's Isle.

Award-winning food! In this Episode of Erin's Isle we visit Ballymaloe, Ireland's premiere cookery school. Located in rural Ireland between Waterford and Cork it is an amazing international operation training chefs for work around the world.  And then we take The Galway Food Tour through the best the west has to offer in cooking and in fresh locally-grown products. From seafood to whiskey the key is to learn what's available and where to find it.  All that plus A Broad Abroad, in this episode of Erin's Isle.

What draws people to Clare Island? Ciara McCalla moved there for what it offered her in natural beauty. She celebrates that energy through yoga and organic food. Beth Moran was drawn to the beauty as well, she celebrates nature with her weavings. And see how a flock on the dock of Clew Bay marks each passing year. All that plus A Broad Abroad in Episode 22 of Erin's Isle  

History is valued and protected in Ireland, and that keeps the country's heritage alive and well. Such is the case with the Heritage Park in Wexford where you can see six thousand years of Ireland's history as it was back then.  In Kinsale, the Irish Veterans Museum commemorates the Irish born who were lost fighting in wars around the world.  And at the Tap Tavern, which is also in Kinsale you are surrounded on all sides by history reaching back to the 11th century. Hear about them all in Episode 20 of Erin's Isle.  

Visit the Matchmaker Bar in the village of Lisdoonvarna and see how third-generation Willie Daly works his craft. Tour Terra Nova Gardens where Debra Begley has created a fairyland so wonderful that real fairies have moved in. Hear how it all came to be. And learn all about chocolate at the Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory in Connemara. All that and A Broad Abroad in Episode 19 of Erin's Isle.  

Scotland is so much more than plaid kilts and haggis. It's a country of museums and highlands and of castles and bustling cities. And the people there are not only friendly, they have very cool accent. As usual for me, my adventures were better because of the things I stumbled upon, than to what you find in a guide book. From the Grand Central Hotel that blew me away, to the museums chocked full of the country's colorful history it was a place `i plan to go back to someday. 

The Dingle Peninsula is known for a few things, including the beautiful landscape, Fungi the Dolphin who lives in the bay, and Murphy's ice cream which is made there. But don't miss the pubs.They have some original including one that doubles as a hardware store, one that sells leather goods including shoes, and one that sells all kinds of things and keeps ledgers on what others have sold in the past.   Take a tour of some enduring pubs run by charming people, in Episode 17 of Erin's Isle. 

When it comes to finding hidden jewels, The West of Ireland is a great place to hunt.  From the buskers  in the streets of Galway to the technicians behind the ancient harps of long ago, to the up and coming artists of the future, the west is rich in culture, heritage and art.  Learn about how the ancient Irish harps are made, the ideas behind award-winning jewelry designer Linsey DeBurca, and what sets Galway buskers apart, in this episode of Erin's Isle.     

Clare Island is off the coast of Westport on the west coast of Ireland. It's just a 20 minute ferry ride to get there. But it does feel like you are a million miles away once you land there. Life is just a lot simpler there. People are friendlier and there is a feeling of community everywhere you go.  You can meet those who make it so special, learn the history of Granuaile, the fabled Pirate Queen who lived there and walk to the Clare Island Lighthouse that now hosts guests as a manor house hotel. 

The town of Drogheda turned out in force to celebrate Irish Culture with the largest annual Celtic Music Festival in the world! Hear the musicians in competition and just performing...on stage and on the streets. Eco-artists took part creating a mural that celebrates culture from an environmentally friendly stance. Declan and Els will walk you through the process. Hear what inspires a textile designer dedicated to quality and old school beauty with a bit of a futuristic flair.  And meet the faces of future Fleadh Cheoils. It's all in Ep 14 of Erin's Isle.

When you think of ageless arts you probably think music, sculpture and theater. In Ireland, I think stone masonry, bell ringers and falconry. So that's what this is about. Learn about the art of the bell ringers at Christ Church Cathedral and the inside story on the competitive nature of the Steeple Keepers. And how you can ring the bells yourself.  Hear the story of the Claddagh Ring, how it came to be and why it's such an iconic souvenir in Galway. And fly the birds of prey. You can do that at a lot of the castles in Ireland. I'll take you to Dromoland Castle where a hawk named Bomber is anxious to meet you.  All that and A Broad Abroad in Episode 13!  

Ireland has tons of beaches and a lot of them have colorful history.  From Curracloe Beach near Wexford, which has a history in film, to Lady's Beach on Galway Bay in the west, Ireland is perfect for beach combing, strolling, and just sitting and thinking as you take in the view.  From the Wild Atlantic to the Irish Sea, you never have to go far to find the beach. All that plus a bit of insight into family vacations...at the beach in this week's Broad Abroad.  

Storytelling is an art in Ireland. From friends and family members to professionals to fabled authors.  This episode of Erin's Isle takes a look at the different levels of storytelling and at what makes it so popular all across this country. See where you can learn about Frank McCourt, where to look for stories as you travel the country and what goes into the art, from someone who does this professionally.

Butter is more important to Ireland's economy than you may realize. In fact it's so important that they have a museum dedicated to it's rich history.  In Limerick, King John's Castle stands as an historic fortress and landmark, and it's playing a substantial role in Ireland's future as well. Plus, you'll meet someone with definite opinions of King John, and someone you may recognize from the Game of Thrones. All that plus A Broad Abroad...in Episode 9 or Erin's Isle.      

Galway is home to Ireland's national Communications Museum. In this episode learn all about Ireland's involvement in global communications from a man who knows it all.  Also, find out why Americans love Ireland enough to pick up and move here. And where you can find fairies without having to look very hard.  And A Broad Abroad explains why more things seem possible as we age.