Tag: https://www.kildare.ie/tourism/attractions.asp

Countries

Everyone’s for tennis

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It’s the hottest ticket in town at the start of the English summer when it’s everyone for tennis.

And although you might not associate the Irish with the All-England Club the same might have been said for the Scots before Andy and Jamie Murray started sweeping up and Judy extended her sideboard.

But back in the Ninenties (OK the 1990s) the Irish ruled the hallowed turf of London SW19.

Green, set and match

Still going strong: Andy Murray

With Willoughby Hamilton from Kildare winning the men’s singles in 1890, Bray’s Joshua Pim from my old stomping ground of Wicklow winning in 1893 and 1894  and Kerry‘s Harold Mahony taking the title in 1896.

While Tipperary‘s Lena Rice was Ladies’ champion in 1890 and Pim and the Dubliner Frank Stoker picking up the men’s doubles title taht year too.

Now we can’t promise Irish tennis fans will see the shamrock around. either the pot with the pineapple or the plate.

But we can vouch for a smashing offer flagged up by our friends at the Irish Travel Agents Association.

Prowse about that

Ya dancer: Novak Djokovic

Travel agent Keith Prowse is offering a hospitality with hotel and hospitality packages available throughout the Wimbledon fortnight.

With a choice of Centre Court or No.1 Court tickets.

Just the ticket and you’ll be seated just yards from your tennis heroes.

Packages available throughout the tournament include accommodation and a day at The Championships on Centre Court or Court No.1.

With Hospitality in The Treehouse Hospitality area or The Lawn.

The tennis tour

Serene: Serena Williams, queen of the Centre Court

The Wimbledon Tour packages includes:

  • Return flight from Belfast, Cork, Dublin or Shannon to London
  • One-night in 4*hotel Wellington Hotel or 5* Tower Suites with breakfast
  • London underground travelcard for the day you attend Wimbledon
  • Shuttle bus transfers from Southfields Underground Station to your hospitality area, traffic depending
  • An official reserved seat at the Championships on Centre Court or No.1 Court
  • Hospitality in The Lawn or Rosewater Pavilion

Yes, everyone’s for tennis and Keith Prowse will ensure there are plenty of Irish Oles…

And Guinness alongside the Pimms on Murray Mound and Henman Hill.

 

Countries, Ireland

The EPIC Irish

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We’ve all suffered the stereotypes, ‘the mean Scottish Jock’, the ‘mining Taff’ and well, the less said about Irish tropes… let’s hear it for the Epic Irish.

The award-winning EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin are fighting the good fight in redressing those prejudices.

And they’re starting with the myth of the ‘fighting Irish’.

Like this guy who jumped out at me from the side of a bus.

No, This Is Not Us, the slogan for their redress of the Irish stereotype.

Paddywhackery

Spell it out: An EPIC experience

You’ll have noticed too that this caricature professes his love for potatoes and looks a little worse for wear for the drink.

Now in truth I have met the CGI Paddy McFlaherty but more in the past.

Today’s Irishman, and woman, is as likely to be black, Asian or Eastern European than the farmer or Ginger Comely Maiden of De Valera’s day.

Just as your country is populated now and over the centuries by those who have the Celtic gene.

And although you’d expect me to say it you’re better for it.

But don’t just take my word for it (well, do).

But EPIC have given us a pantheon of great emigrees who have enriched foreign shores..

Pantheon of Irish

Plastic Paddys: EPIC redresses the balance

Patrick Greene, CEO and Museum Director of EPIC said of the campaign, ‘This is not us’ is a challenge for the world to assess their assumptions about the Irish.

‘And to evolve their perceptions beyond stereotypes.’

Voted Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction for the past three years, EPIC offers a fully interactive experience.

It brings Irish history to life and allows visitors to discover what it really means to be Irish.

Bygone age: Paddy

‘This is not us’ is not the first time that EPIC has campaigned against stereotypical and clichéd depictions of the Irish.

In 2019, the museum offered free tickets to visitors who handed in their plastic St Patrick’s Day merchandise at the door.

Aileesh Carew, Director of Sales and Marketing, said: ‘We would like to invite people to come to EPIC for themselves and help us to set the record straight.

‘Come and learn more about Ireland’s history, the Irish people who left this island and the true impact that they had, and continue to have, on the world.’

The architects of Ireland

The 47th President of America: In Washington DC

Long before ‘King’ Henry Shefflin the hurler, James Hoban was, or should have been, King of Kilkenny.

As the architect for the White House in Washington DC.

Ireland is well-known as the land of saints and scholars and poets and pip stars, artists and architects.

Like Peter Rice, of Dublin and Dundalk, who helped design and build Sydney Opera House and the Pompidou in Paris.

And who was known in the trade as ‘The James Joyce of structural engineering.’

Or Dame Katherine Lonsdale, of Newbridge, Co. Kildare who elucidated the structure of the diamond and after whom the lonsdaleite is named.

All deserve their place in the roll of honour of the Irish and global hall of fame.

When still some associate Ireland with Paddy McFlaherty.

The best way is to visit the Irish Emigration Museum and learn more about the EPIC Irish.