World on my postcards

  With less than 1500 left on the whole island, these  traditional thatched cottage  gems are more precious than ever.

The Connemara pony is a pony breed originating in Ireland. They are known for their athleticism, versatility and good disposition. The breed makes excellent show ponies.

Kilkenny Castle is one of the most recognisable - and most visited - buildings in Ireland. Kilkenny Castle was founded in Medieval times, but its most significant moments have been played out during more recent history. The castle was featured in Oliver Cromwell's re-conquest of Ireland in 1650; and was besieged during the Irish Civil War in 1922.

 About 300 years ago, "Molly" was a common nickname for women called "Mary". Over the years there were probably many Molly Malones, but one fishmonger from Dublin was to make the name known throughout the world because of her sad fate.   If Molly Malone truly existed as an historical person, is still being disputed by experts. She supposedly lived in 17th century Dublin and is said to have been  a real beauty. Because of the immense poverty of those days the young woman was forced to sell her beauty to strangers in order to survive.Fate came up with yet another stroke: One of her clients infected Molly Malone with cholera. In 1699, still of young age, she died in a Dublin street. Although Irish stories like the one about Molly Malone – usually end sadly, the Irish aren't known for being wistful people. Nevertheless they chose Molly Malone to be one of the symbols for their capital Dublin.    The Irish traditional song "Cockles and Mussels...

The most kids know of St. Patrick 's Day is that you must wear green or you'll get a pinch from your friends. Interesting facts:  March 17th is when Patrick died.  St. Patrick wasn't Irish.   Patrick's color is blue.  The original color associated with St. Patrick is blue, not green as commonly believed. In several artworks depicting the saint, he is shown wearing blue vestments. King Henry VIII used the Irish harp in gold on a blue flag to represent the country. Since that time, and possibly before, blue has been a popular color to represent the country on flags, coats-of-arms, and even sports jerseys. Green was associated with the country later, presumably because of the greenness of the countryside, which is so because Ireland receives plentiful rainfall. Today, the country is also referred to as the "Emerald Isle."  St. Patrick's was a dry holiday in Ireland until 1970.  Aside from the color green, the activity most associated w...

 The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast is a spectacular area of global geological importance on the sea coast at the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland. The most characteristic and unique feature of the site is the exposure of some 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal columns of basalt in perfect horizontal sections, forming a pavement. This dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland. Celebrated in the arts and in science, it has been a visitor attraction for at least 300 years and has come to be regarded as a symbol for Northern Ireland.

  Roscrea   is a historical market town in County Tipperary, Ireland. In 2011 the town had a population of 5,403.Roscrea is a designated Irish Heritage Town due to the extent of important historical buildings that are preserved in the town. Amongst the most notable buildings of interest are the 13th Century Castle and Damer House on Castle Street .

 Eyeries Village is a place of magic. This small, enchanting village offers the visitor so much.Eyeries is remarkable: one of the most south-westerly villages in Ireland, it is situated on a bluff that overlooks Coulagh Bay and beyond that, the Atlantic Ocean. Those who live or visit here can spend hours listening to the surf, taking in the gentle smell of the ocean, walking to the sandy and rocky beaches only minutes away, or just simply relaxing in the tranquillity and joy that is to be found here.

  Nenagh is the county town and second largest town in County Tipperary in Ireland.Nenagh was originally a market town, and its name in Irish means "The Fair of Ormond" – a reference to the Ormond (East Munster) Fair, of which it was the site. Nenagh is today a busy commercial town and is governed by Nenagh Town council.

 From the top of a large limestone outcrop in county Laois, the imposing fortress at the Rock of Dunamase  dominates the surrounding landscape.  It is strategically located, overlooking an important route between counties Carlow and Laois, and as result the castle played an important role in the early Anglo-Norman expansion in Leinster. Today most of the surviving ruins at the site date from the late 12th and early 13th centuries AD, but evidence for earlier activity also exists.The Irish name for the castle ( Dún Másc ) translates as Masc’s fort and the rock appears to have been defended since at least the 9th century AD.