Irish Fireside

#161 Ireland's Little Ark

In an era of religious oppression, one Irish priest found a way to circumvent the laws and inspire his congregation on the Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare. Music composed by Hicham Chahidi Library “Shine” & “Tendresse” royalty free music http://musicscreen.org/

#160 The Glory of Holycross

Holycross didn't always have that name... until the arrival of a relic of the True Cross arrived it was known as the Church of the Eight Hands -- for rather gruesome reasons. There's a lot more to this church than you might notice on first glance, and I'm happy to tell you some highlights. Music composed by Hicham Chahidi Library Genval Style & Gregorian Song Style royalty free music http://musicscreen.org/

#159 The Pietà in the Bog

In the tiny village of Kilcormac, there's a holy statue that has been safeguarded by the locals for hundreds of years. It has survived religious suppression, Cromwell's armies, and a parish priest who thought it belonged with him.

#158 The Secrets of Timahoe

In this episode I introduce you to a bit of the history and charms of Timahoe, County Laois, and sites nearby. If you go off the beaten path to visit Timahoe, you might consider some stops nearby, like climbing the impressive ruins of the Rock of Dunamase, touring the grand home and gardens at Emo Court, exploring the Slieve Bloom Mountiains, trekking along the Abbeyleix Bog Walk, and wandering the paths at Heywood Gardens.

#157 Downloading Offline Google Maps for Navigation in Ireland - AUDIO VERSION

Whether it's because you don't have an international plan for your smartphone or you simply hit a deadzone, it's a good idea to download local maps to your phone before you get lost in Ireland. In this episode, I walk you through the "hidden" feature in Google Maps that lets you get directions even when you phone is in Airplane Mode. A video version is available at https://youtu.be/2pQZmdIqWfc Google Maps is available for free in both the Apple and Google Play Stores.