You probably are wondering why you see so many Irish people, especially men, wearing the football jerseys of English football teams.  The fact is that many Irish people are fans of English Premier League teams and this will never change. Sometimes you would think you're in London or Manchester on a Saturday or Sunday!So, what is the reason for this? Well, back i ...

Many visitors to this country are either surprised, or think I am joking when I mention surfing in Ireland. The fact is that surfing is the fastest growing sport in the country and the European Championships are regularly held here. And the west coast of Ireland is home to some of the biggest waves on the planet.Naturally, the west coast of Ireland has the best s ...

The streets of Dublin are filled with musicians. Yet when the word 'busking' is mentioned, people seem to draw a blank. Buskers are musicians who play in the street. Busking is a huge part of Irish culture and Dublin culture.Although, technically you need a permit to busk on the streets of Dublin, everyone and anyone is entitled to busk, no matter how good or bad ...

Ireland has four national TV stations and if your interested in comedy, then it has plenty to offer. Ireland has produced many fine comedians and those comedians have been gracing TV screens in Ireland and abroad. One of my favourite comedies on RTE at the moment is The Savage Eye. It is a satirical look at Ireland, Irish people and Irish Culture. Names of the ep ...

Okay, this week's festival promotion is for Life Festival. Life Festival is a three-day electronic and world music festival in the stunning Belvedere House in County Westmeath. What started as a small festival with 500 people (I know, I was there...BRILLIANT!) has turned into one of the most popular summer festivals in Ireland.Held on the 26th-28th May, Life Fest ...

If you are a food lover then Dublin is the place to be this week. Dine in Dublin is restaurant week in the city. This event happens twice every year in an attempt to promote dining in the fair city. It offers restaurants a chance to promote themselves and for diners to sample places they might not have tried before.Rustic Stone is a new restaurant, well known for ...

I always ask students on a Friday if they are visiting anywhere nice over the weekend. Dublin is a great city, but while you're in Ireland it's a good idea to see some of the rest of the country. So, one student is heading to Cashel town in County Tipperary, the largest inland county, to visit the mighty Rock of Cashel.Situated in the heart of the country, the Ro ...

Students regularly ask me what is the significance of the Spire, why it was built and when. The Spire is officially called the Monument of Light. The monument was originally meant to celebrate the year 2000, or Millennium, but was delayed due to planning permission and design problems. Presently it is the world's tallest monument. It is supposed to mix technology ...

Tomorrow Ulearn's cultural excursion is to The National Museum of Ireland. The museum is located on the grounds of Collins Barracks in Dublin 7. The museum, which is an old military barracks, is home to a collection of Decorative Arts and History.You can expect to see a wide range of weapons, silver, currency and glassware from down through Irish history. Some ob ...

Okay, so as summer is approaching fast, each week I will be featuring a music festival happening in Ireland over the next few weeks. This week is Electric Picnic, currently Ireland's largest music festival. Now in it's 8th year, the festival has grown to be one of the top Boutique Festivals in Europe.The festival is famous for it's relaxed atmosphere, excellent l ...