Ireland Archives - Page 6 of 47 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Party on Italian dudes

4th September 20244th September 2024 funtime65

Keanu Reeves’ ears were ringing at the love bombing he got at his exclusive concert for us in LA… party on Italian dudes.

Classy Keanu, unlike his alter ego Wyld Stallyns‘ William S Preston Esq., prefers to blend in at the back of his band DOGSTAR, as the bass guitarist.

But the giddy senorinas at the front at the lunchtime entertainment between meetings at our American Travel Fair, IPW, wanted a shout-out.

And hollered Keanu to come to Italy with them which he acknowledged with a soft ‘grazie’.

La Musica

Now we all know from growing up with Italian-Scots their passion for music, food, football, life.

But we’ll keep our eyes peeled now for Italians at gigs.

And we’ve been fortunate enough to take them all over Britain and Ireland, and in America, the Caribbean and the High Seas.

Particularly as we’re told that they’re continental Europe’s biggest concert travellers.

Of course, gigs are on all our minds with the circus around Oasis’s reunion.

With the chat among our circle on first and last gigs with mine The Wombles and The Stranglers certainly not as cool as others.

Have tickets, will travel

EDreams and online travel agent, Opodo have done the heavy lifting for us in tracking concertgoers’ travel trends.

Between July and August this year and the same months next year.

And there has been a significant uptick in tourism to tour destinations.

So that on the day of the Oasis announcement, August 27, global searches to Oasistown, or Manchester as it’s also known, rose by 700%.

While for Dublin they increased 635%, with Edinburgh 557% and London 212%.

Searches to Cardiff increased by 12,186% from a low search base in 2024.

The Italian Batallion

Thanks for that: And easy with prices doubling

Now while British fans are spoiled with the range of bands on our doorstep our European friends often have to travel here.

With Italians leading the pack in searches for all tour destinations in 2025.

Cardiff: Italy – 24%, France – 17%, Germany – 16%.

Manchester: Italy – 25%, Spain – 13%, Germany – 13%.

London: Italy – 23%, Spain – 11%, Germany – 10%.

Edinburgh: Italy – 29%, Germany – 14%, Spain – 13%.

Dublin: Italy – 24%, UK – 14%, Germany – 12%.

America, Countries, Ireland, Music

Garth Brooks got friends in Las Vegas

16th August 2024 funtime65

If you missed him way back then when his no-show brought Ireland to a standstill, fear not, Garth Brooks got friends in Las Vegas.

Garth’s cancelled shows in 2014 consumed the nation and even got then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny to try to play peacemaker.

The Country & Western star had hoped to play five consecutive concerts at Croke Park.

Only for Dublin Council to pull the gigs because of a petition of complaints from local residents, many with recognisable names from history.

It ain’t Garth hot

A full ten years have passed since Garthgate as it was inevitably called.

With the saga even turned into a stage play.

And the Great Man did get to play a fab five concerts two years ago at the home of Gaelic Sports.

All of which piqued Garth fans’ appetite to see him again whether in Dublin or in his own patch of America.

And where better than the home of superstar residencies, Sin City now that Aer Lingus are flying directly?

Particularly as Garth Brooks got friends in Las Vegas… see what we’ve done there with I got friends in low places.

Garthmania

Cassidy Travel have got on board the Garthmania with their Las Vegas Concert Packages.

You’ll get a Garth Brooks/Plus ONE – The Vegas Residency at the Colosseum Theatre at Caesars Palace.

With concert dates of September 23-October 13.

The package includes return flights, four night’s accommodation, concert ticket – Section 300s, upgraded seating available. Prices from €1189pps.

Elvis and the Eagles

The King and I: My Elvis in Graceland Wedding Chapel

Now this being Vegas there are more Elvises than you could shake a stick at.

And this being Elvis week in Graceland it’s timely to flag up the tribute singer Cassidy will take you out to see in Vegas next year.

While fans of supergroup The Eagles will want to sign up for a Vegas spectacular next year.

And we guess you’d not complain if your hotel is one where you could check out any time you want but you could never leave.

Countries, Ireland, Sport

Hole lot of fun in Portrush and around the world

6th August 20246th August 2024 funtime65

My Dear Old Dad was as straight as they come apart from on the course, but I’d have opened him up to a hole lot of fun in Portrush and around the world.

The truth is we enjoyed playfully sending him up.

So one Christmas we bought him a joke book The World’s Most Difficult Holes.

Which included tees on the peak of one mountain and greens on another.

And, of course, Mum had to get us to stifle our laughter as he scratched his head about how to play the hole.

Ireland back on course

Champion golfer: At Portrush with The Opem

Would that Dad had hung around and I could have taken him to Royal Portrush when the Open returned to Ireland after nearly 60 years in 2019.

An experiment that proved so successful that the R&A are revisiting the Antrim course next year.

In preparation for Portrush 2024 TV’s Golf’s Greatest Holes visits Ulster’s famous links.

This special six-part series will be devoted entirely to the challenging 18 holes of the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush.

Tee for two

The series, supported by Tourism Ireland, will be fronted once again by golfer Paul McGinley and BBC presenter Chris Hollins.

And feature former Open champion and son of the Ulster sod Darren Clarke.

It will be seen by millions across Britain when it premieres on Sky Sports later this year.

And will then be screened around the world, including the US.

The series is set to feature a number of well-known local golf stars and golf-loving personalities.

Siobhan McManamy, Tourism Ireland’s Director of Markets, said: ‘It’s a great way to shine a spotlight on Royal Portrush and the island of Ireland.

‘Showcasing our world-class golf and inspiring golfers everywhere to put Ireland on their ‘wish-list’ for their next

Millions of reasons

The first series of Golf’s Greatest Holes reached a global TV audience of millions, thanks to repeated screenings by more than 40 broadcasters.

As well as on the inflight services of many airlines around the world.

The series also reached more than 50 million digital viewers.

Now should Irish great Paul McGinley need a teaching assistant for his show then let me proffer that yours truly is a star student.

From his academy in Quinta da Lago in the Algarve.

Then be sure we’d have a hole lot of fun in Portrush and around the world.

Culture, Ireland, Sustainable Tourism, UK

Heady World Heritage days for County Antrim

27th July 202427th July 2024 funtime65

These are heady World Heritage days for County Antrim with its Game of Thrones iconography, the return of the Open Golf to Royal Portrush and a WH site in Gracehill.

All bested, of course, by the Giant’s Causeway which should always be accompanied by a wobbly walk over the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge.

It is, of course, refreshing to see sectarian Northern Ireland celebrated by UNESCO for religion.

And that is just what’s happened with the extension of the Moravian Church Settlements to include Gracehill, near Portrush.

Raving about the Moravians

All of which was lauded to the high heavens along with The Flow Land peat grounds of north Scotland, and more of which later.

Moravians have, of course, gone under the radar in a Northern Ireland defined by Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.

And we’re reminded of the Billy Connolly joke here when a Jew in Belfast explains he is neither religion.

To which his interrogator asked: ‘But are you a Catholic Jew or a Protestant Jew?’

Well, the Moravian Church Settlement you’ll find in sleepy Gracehill is Protestant.

And emanates from modern-day Southern Czechia around that country’s second city Brno.

That Protestantism is used as a catch-all term is misleading as there were myriad breakaways from the Catholic Church.

Check out the Czech churches

And in Prague, the wonderfully cultural capital of Czechia, I fell in one such church,

And despite the organist on the altar having his back to the congregation I wasn’t deterred.

Where I learned that this was the original Protestant parish in these parts.

The Moravian emigrees who washed up on this northern coast of Europe’s outpost in 1758 were we are told a tolerant people.

And that they even supported pan-Irish nationalism.

And as far back as 1798 Gracehill ‘a place of refuge’ for all sides during the United Irishmen’s Rebellion.

Hail Moravia full of Gracehill

Gracehill and its schoolhouse and church are marked out as an example of a socio-religious system of its time.

And it has been the Irish village’s good fortune here to be able to piggyback on the Danish Christiansfeld Initiative.

Gracehill’s newly elevated status will it is hoped attract visitors.

Which, of course, sparked the conversation in our household around potential overtourism.

And were it to happen it would more likely rear its head in Antrim than the open areas of The Flow Land in Caithness and Sutherland.

And preserve the locals’ lifestyle

Of course, we’ll inevitably return to the challenges of overtourism and it might seem oversimplistic.

But to any community that boasts a special heritage site or achieves one then a word of advice.

Preserve first the ability of local people to afford and have the homes around them to live in.

Rather than sell them off for AirBnBs and in the same time deprive the hotel and hospitality sector of a living.

And ensure that yes, it’s heady World Heritage Days for County Antrim and The Flow Land of North Scotland.

And all sites for sore eyes.

America, Countries, Flying, Ireland, Sport

Aer Lingus and Clayton Hotels Gridiron How?

25th July 202425th July 2024 funtime65

Aer Lingus and Clayton Hotels Gridiron How?

Well, it’s that special relationship between Ireland and America that manifests itself in so many shared cultural displays.

With, of course, St Patrick’s Day, the biggest, but at this time of the year it’s all about the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin.

College football is pure Americana with its followers more missionaries with a religious fervour for their sport.

And that is why 25,000 fans are expected to fly across the Atlantic to watch the latest iteration of the contest.

Which this year sees Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from Atlanta tackle Florida State Seminoles from Talahassee on August 24 at the Aviva.

Up the Creek Indians

Seminoles, you say, well they’re Creek Indians from Georgia and Alabama who migrated to Florida in the 1700s.

And are celebrated to this day in the name they attach to their College Football heroes.

The States, of course, has gone on its own journey regarding its First Nation.

And rebranding the Washington Redskins NFL franchise to the Washington Commanders.

While championing Native American tribes such as the Creek Seminoles.

College day out

Will It seems kismet then for that reason that college teams from Florida and Georgia should come together for this fixture on the calendar.

Now, of course, the exodus of 25,000 Gridiron-daft Americans to Dublin provides a great opportunity for Irish hoteliers and hospitality industry.

With an expected €100million boost to the Irish economy.

And our old friends and game sponsors Clayton have stepped up big style.

To welcome their American friends, fans and the Georgia Tech team.

American Football newbies

Hogging the limelight: At Clayton Hotels

There is a special hoo-ha over this year’s event with the game being broadcast with ESPN and Sky Sports broadcasting the event.

So that for American Football newbies there is the chance to mug up on the game.

And for my own little cheerleader too who got
to the third quarter when we were invited to the game by Aer Lingus.

Before asking ‘so, are they able to throw the ball forward?’

Now we hope we have answered another question for you… Aer Lingus and Clayton Hotels Gridiron How?

And are happy to repeat that Ireland’s national airline carrier flies to 18 routes in North America with pre-clearance.

While Clayton,whose hospitality we have enjoyed across the world, have eight hotels across Dublin’s Fair City.

America, Countries, Deals, Europe, Ireland, Sport, UK

Hilton Head of the pack at the golf in Troon

20th July 202420th July 2024 funtime65

Somewhere on a heavenly practice green my Dear Old Dad is bestowing unasked for advice on a major champion.. me, I’m Hilton Head of the pack at the golf in Troon.

The famous golfer was Aussie David Graham, the ‘expert coach’Glasgow Hilton Park’s very own James G Murty and the year 1982.

Tiger on the prowl: Channeling his inner Woods

When club hacker Jimmy G tut-tutted at the US Open and USPGA champ’s missed putt and opined: ‘Never up, never in.’

The good doctor had decamped from Glasgow to Ayrshire with his youngest son for practice day at the Open Golf Championship.

And a sit-down meal in a hospitality tent courtesy of a drug company,

For a 16-year-old sports mad lad this was luxury and my Dad was the most important man in the world, which, of course, he was.

Troon with the cool kids

But, in truth, the hospitality was nothing like what we have today in Troon… we didn’t have to put up the tentpoles or anything!

We are at The Engravers suite (£1,175pp) today by the 15th fairway of the famous old course.

Where we are perusing the tee-off times while imbibing of something a little stronger than tea at the complimentary bar.

And as a 16-year-old back in 1982 my Dad insured that I got nothing stronger than a Coca-Cola.

Written in stars at Engravers

Rock on Tommy: Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood

You can, of course, salve your thirst at the Engravers with the leaf and fill your bellies with a hearty breakfast.

Because you’ll be needing a full tank to negotiate those undulating bumps and gorges of this coastal course.

As you follow the game’s best players around the Championship course.

And see them tackle and, in the cases of superstars like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, fail at the iconic Postage Stamp and Railway Holes.

Back here at base at the Engravers you can hear too from a selected golfer first-hand.

How to play the course, in an exclusive Q&A slot… in this case six-time major winner and a Hilton Head Island winner too, Nick Faldo.

S0uth Carolina on my mind

Of course, all of us who sit (did I say we also have reserved seats in the 18th greenside grandstand?) are masters of the game.

Only we’re not, but the men draining the 40ft putts are.

Days like today and past evenings in Dublin are the closest I have come to visiting this corner of America in South Carolina.

But, of course, they merely heighten my longing to visit.

When I do I know I will be in the best of hands with my friends at Hilton Head.

All through the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport which itself is in Georgia.

Home and dry

I feel the hand of my Dear Old Dad beckoning me that it is time to leave ‘to beat the traffic’ his constant fear.

I feel though that he has extra super powers where he is now.

And he has sent dry weather down for our day at the Open, after the rainstorms that taunted the players the previous day.

An Open invitation

We will be back, both here, and another old stomping ground and family connection, Ireland.

Where the Open returns next year to Royal Portrush.

Where we are guaranteed a party at least on par with the Antrim course’s reunion with the Open after nearly 60 years.

When not even the legendary Ulster rain could dampen the spirits of the raucous golf fans cheering Irishman Shane Lowry to victory.

Even if for many that was from the apron of the Guinness Bar.

Me? I’ll figure out the waterproofs then.

For today, I’m with the cool crowd at The Engravers.

Dry, well catered for, and in the best company… Hilton Head of the pack at the golf in Troon.

America, Countries, Ireland, UK

John Bull’s Other Island and the Irish Teasock

11th July 202411th July 2024 funtime65

They’re just not playing ball… John Bull’s Other Island and the Irish Teasock.

How else to explain Irish ‘prime minister’ Simon Harris not being swept up in England’s march to Euro soccer glory?

Eminent Sky TV political interviewer Trevor Phillips dropped the ball (yes, it’s all footballspeak at the moment).

When he tried to chivy Ireland’s leader along in his discussion about the new British government.

By asking him what he thought of England’s progress in the Euros.

Taoiseach’s low block

Of course my old neighbour from my time in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, let Trev’s volley bounce back at him off his wall.

Now politicians and politicos trying to ingratiate themselves with sporting fans rarely works well,

Who can forget Rishi Sunak asking the Welsh public if they were excited about the Euros?

A Euros where Wales would not be playing but fierce rivals England were.

Political football own goals

God love them, they try.

But unfortunately our politicians still don’t see that the world no longer wants the sun never to set on their empire.

Or that they ever did.

To be fair, some Brits do take a stab at learning the lingo.

To try to blag that they know, and care, about what Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw called John Bull’s Other Island.

Like former British prime minister Liz Truss’s mangled attempt at pronouncing Taoiseach, the Irish name for their leader?

To be fair, it’s not Lettuce Liz’s fault that she’s not of the diaspora.

A Brit of Oirish

You can, of course, tell the true Brits in any airport heading to Ireland by their stag and hen Oirish merch.

And thankfully avoid them too by steering clear of their meeting place, the overpriced Temple Bar on the banks of the River Liffey.

Which, of course, I’m doing as I board my Ryanair red eye and head over for a catch-up with travel friends at the Shelbourne Hotel on Stephen’s Green.

It’s certainly one way to block out the hysteria greeting England’s arrival in the Euros final by our neighbours.

Biden his time in Ireland

Our talk with our American guests in the Shelbourne at the annual US Soiree in Dublin will doubtless be about their elections.

And being the wide-eyed liberals we will. Of course, be wildly sympathetic to Joe Biden’s travails.

And not mention his loose pass when he visited his ancestral home a couple of years ago.

And mistook the New Zealand All Blacks for the hated British regiment from the Irish War of Independence, the Black and Tans.

Of course, the Irish have such a love-in with America that they instantly forgave him.

Particularly as he was playing hard ball with Britain over a trade deal at the time.

And knowing that whatever his frailties he would always know about John Bull’s Other Island and the Irish Teasock.

Countries, Ireland, UK

In Dublin’s Fairy City

6th July 20246th July 2024 funtime65

In Dublin’s Fairy City where the gays are so pretty… they’ve been celebrating Fifty Years of Pride this summer.

Today’s Ireland rightly feels proud about being at the vanguard of gay rights.

And being the first country in the world to vote in gay marriage in a referendum.

But for anyone who grew up in Ireland, or who was a regular visitor there to see family, will tell you it wasn’t always so.

When the Catholic Church and a conservative society discriminated against gay people.

Pride in Dublin

Over the Rainbow: The Pride March in Dublin

Now there are many factors that played into the seismic shift in Irish society to become more accepting of gay culture…

Not least EU freedom of movement and Ireland’s seminal part in the Punk, New Wave and Eighties rock movements.

But enough to say that the Pride march in Dublin and the succession of events that follow are now firm fixtures on the calendar.

While Dublin is home to a great gay scene around the Gay Village.

With iconic bars The George and The Panti Bar a lively hang-out for Gay and Straight.

And where once hotels were unwelcoming to same-sex couples then that no longer thankfully is the case.

With the pink punt (now the Euro) as valued as the green one.

Queens Belfast

Say it loud, say it proud: Belfast Queens

Pride regulars are still taking down the bunting and glitter from their hair from the very special June 29 50th anniversary celebration.

And for locals, homocomers and tourists who just want to get in on the fun it’s on to the next party.

And the northern part of the island, as is often the way, follows on.

Northern Ireland too has had its journey, an even longer one, post-Troubles, Good Friday Agreement and post-Brexit.

With same-sex marriage only legal since 2020.

But its people, most of them, are now embracing the gays in their villages, towns and cities.

So if you want to be the Belle of Belfast City or Derry Queer (oh, Dandy Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling) then read on.

Belfast times

Belfast Pride Festival will run from 19-28 July and host over 150 events across ten days.

With running, planting, workshopping, quizzing and the culmination the Pride Parade and afterparty on July 27.

It wouldn’t, of course, be a Parade without some Abba.

And the North’s biggest Abba tribute band The Bjorn Identity will keep all the Dancing Queens moving.

While Julian Simmons will keep the party going with his Ibiza Dance Show.

Now, our friends in Northern Ireland have helped us with a guide to the best gay bars in Belfast… and the Cathedral sector is the hub.

Back in the days when I worked in Belfast during the Troubles, Donegall Street, home to the Belfast Telegraph was a very different place.

Although we have fond memories of its journos pub The Front Page.

Donegall Street is home too to the city’s most famous club, Kremli n.

And yes, it has a Soviet-style industrial opulence… what would Putin think?

We’re also recommended The Reporter, home of Ru Paul’s UK vs The World winner Blu Hydrange.

Van and cabaret nights

It has a press theme which us press people will enjoy.

If you’re staying in Belfast then it will be considerably less expensive than its big brother, Dublin, down the road.

With the funky Bullitt Hotel, AC Hotel by Marriott overlooking the river, and the centrally located Malmaison Hotel.

While the 4-star Europa Hote l is renowned for its ballroom and cabaret nights where we saw Belfast Boy Van Morrison, who remember brought us Madame George, in concert.

It has also put on the shows of Ru Paul’s drag queen’s Gigi Goode and Gottmik hosted by local queen, Misty Falls.

Pride of Ulster

Derry flair: Getting ready for Derry Pride

Further afield the Foyle Pride Festival (23-25 August) in Derry City has a full programme of events,

Including the Parade on 24^th August at 2pm.

It follows a historical route through the city and retraces the steps of the first-ever Civil Rights March in 1968.

And for something a little bit different then the Royal Residence at Hillsborough Cast le (County Down) is inviting people to attend LGBTQIA+ tours.

Led by an expert guide on 19^th, 21^st, 26^th July & 2^nd, 4^thAugust.

The tours will shed light on everything from royal relationships and scandals to activism and shifting societal attitudes.

With the tour also providing a look at the Castle’s beautiful collection of artefacts and paintings.

Every day is a burst of July

Tour de force: Hillsborough Castle & Gardens.

So while my old stomping ground of the Republic of Ireland’s capital will be dearest to my heart.

When at this time of the year it becomes Dublin’s Fairy City.

The party must go on and that means heading North.

Where in the parlance of the song every day is the (insert number) of July.

America, Asia, Europe, Ireland, UK

Every day’s a poll day around the world

3rd July 20243rd July 2024 funtime65

Every day’s a poll day around the world and while the UK’s political poster boys and girls will go to the recycling centre tomorrow, others will pop up elsewhere.

If you’ve got election ennui, are sick of candidates smiling down on you.

And will be glad when it’s all over then spare a thought for our neighbours across the water in Ireland.

Tomorrow, July 4, will be my first British general election in nearly 20 years and one of the very few areas where the Brits score is in how clean their elections are.

No, the parties sling more dirt than an incontinent dog at a lamp post, it’s that they curtail the amount of posters they allow on them.

In my old stomping ground of Ireland very definitive rules surrounded the erection of posters at election times.

Only that was countered by the fact that with numerous candidates returned around constituencies.

As part of the proportional representation system the lamp posts creak with the number of posters.

Poster your sell-by date

Poster boys: Irish election in Greystones

So everybody breathes a sigh of relief when it is all over and they come down and you get your vistas in your cities, towns and villages back.

Posters and ties used to erect them need to come down within 7 days of the polling date.

Local councils will remove posters left up, and they can seek the costs of doing so back from the party or individual who put them up.

And after that, individuals or parties can be fined €150 for each poster that remains on display under the littering law.

Now you don’t have to be a political geek (guilty) to feel that you’re getting something a little bit extra.

If you visit a country when an election is going on.

And this year more people are voting in elections than at any time in history.

Votes through the years

He’s not going away: Donald Trump in 2020

Of course the ones closest to our hearts here are in the UK and the US.

I remember well becoming engaged in the process IN 1982 when our sleepy suburb of Glasgow Hillhead was invaded.

By the British media when SDP political heavyweight Roy Jenkins carpetbagged his way into town.

In your face: Elections Northern Ireland style

And saw off the challenge of a young Labour hopeful George Galloway (wonder what happened to him?)

I’ve picked up the vibe of numerous US Presidential elections from being in Boston.

When their darling Mike Dukakis was running against George HW Bush.

Through Barack Obama‘s procession to the White House.

And then being in Washington DC to see the nodding Hillary Clinton dolls in the shops.

And in North Virginia where Trump/Pence hoardings stood in every garden.

Trump, of course, is the great survivor of modern politics but it took me by surprise to see postering for Saddam Hussain in Jordan.

While I stood in the Voting Line in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape in South Africa at the time of their election.

Pick-up at the polls

Saddam fool: Hussain is still being trumpeted in Middle East

Yes, every day’s a poll day around the world.

And so I’ll trot off to the polls tomorrow and if you’re a visitor to our country take it all in.

Because that poster that you see on the floor might not be the end for that candidate.

With the gentleman you see at the top here only going on to become Ireland’s leader, the Taoiseach.

Our old Greystones TD Simon Harris.

Countries, Ireland, UK

Eight years in the Brexit tourist wilderness

24th June 202424th June 2024 funtime65

Everyone may remember where they were when they heard… but nobody knows where we’re going after eight years in the Brexit tourist wilderness.

At 4.39am on June 24, veteran broadcaster David Dimblebay declared on the BBC that the British people had voted to leave the European Union.

Only he would wait to distinguish that England and Wales had decided to leave while Scotland wanted to stay.

And while Dimblers had said Britain had opted to leave he neglected to mention that it was for the UK to decide.

The Irish Question

So that meant Northern Ireland as a member of the UK, but not in Britain, got to choose and they wanted to stay.

And this, of course, was almost totally ignored in the rush to scare Britons unreasonably about an invasion of Turks.

And the fact that Brexit would compromise the Good Friday peace agreement.

For there to be a soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Forward fast eight years of chaos where Northern Ireland’s people had to go without a government while their leaders squabbled.

In the Republic, meanwhile, where I was living it seemed a bit of a sideshow.

And the talk was, as it was for the centuries when the whole of Ireland was under British rule that its peril was Ireland’s opportunity.

Britain’s peril

Today in 2024 Dublin is the biggest English-speaking city in the European Union.

And subsequently the gateway for those who want to invest in the biggest single market in the world.

While there was, and continues to be, a stream of people with Irish background, and none, applying for an Irish passport.

Including, Daddy’s Little Girl, reared and educated through the Irish education system before relocating to Scotland.

And Where she immediately found herself denied freedom of movement in Europe.

And so she has compiled a small pile of documents including her Donegal granny’s birth and marriage certs.

She now expects to wait six months to receive her golden ticket… or in this case, the green passport with the harp on it.

Irish passport to redress

Where to go: Irish in Britain will help you out

Now your Irish passport will grant you automatic rights to live, work and travel… and applies to the Northern Irish.

In the 31 countries of the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

While Scottish, English, Wales natives cannot.

With all of us needing to leave ourselves at times a couple of hours spare to stand in the naughty line at customs, say in Berlin.

While EU citizens walk right through.