Until 1830 this island was called Lamlash, which is now the name of the town on the Island of Arran which it faces. Before that it was Eilean Molaise, after St Mo Las, the 17th century Columban monk who lived here, supposedly until he reached...
Irelands best known beer is without doubt is GUINNESS It’s a smooth black beer with a creamy off-white head. It has its origins in the 18th century bittersweet beer known as Porter. Its distinctive colour and flavour are imparted by the addition of roasted barley. The Irish began brewing their...
Today the historic harbour of Kinsale is a yachting and fishing centre of great character. Originally it was a fishing town with a well sheltered harbour of strategic importance. Kinsale received its first royal charter from King Edward the third in 1333. At the Battle of Kinsale in...
Loch Moidart runs into the sea via two channels, north and south, and in the latter a rocky mound projects from a sand spit into the loch, becoming and island at high tide. It supports Castle Tioram, or Tirrim, (‘the dry castle’) but those who...
This is a promontory to the West of Kinsale. It’s a beautiful place with stunning views. It was here, in sight of land, that the ocean liner “Lusitania”, en route to Liverpool from New York, was torpedoed by a German submarine in 1915. 1198 people were killed...
Castle Island is not the largest on Loch Leven (St Serf’s is) but it is certainly the most famous, a distinction arising out of the island’s connection with Mary Queen of Scots. During the years 1567-8, she was imprisoned here, the unwilling guest of Lady...
Usually on the first day of your tour with Ireland and Scotland Luxury Tours we visit the “Rock of Cashel”. Crowning the plain of Tipperary, St Patricks rock marks one of the most important historical sites in Ireland. Legend has it that during Patricks ten year stay...
These distinctive tall slim towers are found at many of Irelands early monastic sites. They are almost entirely an Irish phenomenon. Thought there are a few in Scotland, specifically at Brechin. You will see them on your tours of Ireland and it is good to understand their purpose. Their...
Dublin’s Patrick O’Shea called his lawyer and asked, “Is it true they’s suin’ dem der cigarette companies fer causin’ people to git cancer?” “Yes, Patrick, sure is true,” responded the lawyer. “And now someone is suin’ dem fast food restaurants fer makin’ dem fat an’ cloggin’ their...
Ullapool is a large village with pretensions to the status of a small town. Certainly, although having a resident population of just over a thousand, it can claim to be the capital of a very extensive area of the north, there being no larger town...