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Ewe do it best Ronan on the Wild Atlantic Way

5th April 20265th April 2026 funtime65

And see what we’ve done there… to mark Boyzone’s finest’s celebration of Ireland’s most famous trek, we say ewe do it best Ronan on the Wild Atlantic Way.

The one-time boy band warbler has been retracing his boyhood holidays up the west and north-west coasts of Ireland.

And the great ambassador that he is he has been sharing it with his British audience for Tourism Ireland.

Ronan and the fragrant Storm whom he took for his wife in our Archerfield estate, near North Berwick, being adopted Brits now.

Donegal homecoming

Now Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic goes out in Britain on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from tomorrow, April 6.

And it will conjure up Easter memories for this Hiberno-Scot from childhood holidays in my Dear Old Mum’s Donegal homestead.

Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal and Derry-Londonderry will all feature in the programme.

Ronan, of course, isn’t alone on his trek (the whole route is 1,553 miles from Malin Head in Co. Donegal to the Old Head of Kinsale in Co. Cork).

Getting your hands dirty

Leading the way: Teaching an old dog new tricks

He’ll be joined by a cast of unique fellow travellers.

He’ll try his hand at everything from fishing and hurling to seaweed baths and sheep herding.

Whether Ro’s travels take him to Mum’s townland of Brockagh I’ll just have to watch to find out.

But he did get a big kick out of his walk, saying: ‘I was 16 when I left Ireland, and there was so much of the west coast I hadn’t seen.

‘Now, I’m coming home, and I can’t wait for viewers to share all the laughter and tears along the way.’

A family business

Now if he does we’d advise he visit the Isaac Butt Heritage Centre.

The old schoolhouse which boasts pictures of Mum’s family, the McNultys who filled much of the first class roll.

Before heading down a few yards to the Ramblers, the one-time home and hotel business of Edward and Bridie McNulty.

And say we sent you

HAPPY EASTER

Countries, Culture

How Ireland is taking over Greeningland

16th March 202616th March 2026 funtime65

And this is how to do it without upsetting anyone, or how Ireland is taking over Greeningland.

It’s the Irish way, just to smile politely and win over the world through charm and then put your own cultural imprint on it.

Which is exactly how the Irish have been doing it for hundreds of years.

And since 2010 how they’ve been marking St Patrick’s Day through Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening initiative.

With sites lighting up in green for 2026 including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Empire State Building in New York, Niagara Falls, the CN Tower in Canada.

And The National Wallace Monument in Scotland, Heidecksburg Castle in Germany, the Cibeles Fountain in Madrid, La Croisette in Cannes, the Grand Place in Brussels and the Sky Tower in Auckland.

Green for go

Of course, each new year Tourism Ireland persuades more countries to bring new landmarks to the party.

Last year it was the polar bear sculpture in Longyearbyen in Norway.

And one of our favourites The Kelpies, the largest equine statue in the world, in Falkirk.

And this year the Jelling Stones in Denmark and the Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck, Austria.

A bit more about the newbies.

A high old time

The Jelling Stones being two Viking Age rune stones from the 10^th-century,

And the Bergisel Ski Jump, well, it does what it says on the tin and has been for 100 years.

So wherever you live have a word and see if the powers that be can add a touch of emerald to their sites.

Which is what they did in the Chicago River to get the party and the water flowing.

And remember that there’s nothing stopping you limin’ and wearing green.

In your own household and with your own party and you don’t have to be Irish or part of the diaspora.

MEET YOU ON THE PADDY’S DAY PARADE

America, Countries, Deals, Flying, Ireland

Eiretale of New York

14th December 202514th December 2025 funtime65

And it’s an Eiretale of New York which is enough to get the boys of the NYPD choir singing Galway Bay.

With the Tourism Ireland team getting an early Christmas gift in the form of a Best Destination in Europe award for the 12^th year in a row.

Beating off heavyweight France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia at the New York bash.

Prize guys: Tourism Ireland’s Alison Metcalfe and Paul McDonagh

Subscribers to Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice who held their 23rd Awards in New York may not be aware or little care.

But the NYPD do not actually boast a choir.

Although they do have a Pipes and Drums band who played on the video.

And who mimed the words to the Mickey Mouse March because they didn’t know the lyrics to Galway Bay.

An Epic revision

You can only imagine Shane MacGowan took some artistic licence because boys of the NYPD Pipes and Drums band didn’t scan as well.

Of course, it’s a birthright of the Irish to lay claim to any number of truisms we now take for granted.

With St Patrick, actually a Welshman, the daddy of them all.

And it is in that rich tradition that Shane and Epic the Irish Emigration Museum have followed.

With the award-winning tourist attraction marking the Great Man’s passing two years ago by assembling their very own NYPD choir.

To sing Galway Bay, just before the bells on Christmas Day.

All on video as part of the They Gave the Walls a Talking exhibition to showcase the diaspora.

Which Shane of course did more to champion than most.

Singing Galway Bay

It was one-such Irish emigrant Dr Arthur Colahan, native of Fermanagh but reared in County Galway who wrote the much-loved song about the City of Tribes while living in Leicester.

While it was another Irish-American, Bing Crosby, whose mother Catherine Harrigan’s family hailed from County Cork who popularised the song.

Making Galway Bay at one point the biggest selling record of all time.

And you can’t get better Christmas cred than Bing and Shane a double act we’d have loved to have seen.

And we’ve even come up with the perfect collab… Eiretale of New York.

While Aer Lingus will fly you to the Big Apple with pre-clearance out of the Oul Country and we found a sample return flight from €566.76 for next month.

Countries, Food, Ireland

Waterford blaa, blaa, blaa

3rd October 20253rd October 2025 funtime65

Someone tell First Dates maitre d’hotel Fred Sirieix but Waterford blaa, blaa, blaa is not an Irish person droning on.

But a specialised bread that would raise his fellow Channel Four TV host Paul Hollywood’s interest.

All of which the French gastronome will discover when he takes his Tour de Fred series on the road for its second series in Ireland.

After sampling all that the north has to offer first time around, including the Mournes and Strangford Lough, Belfast, the Causeway Coast and the walled city of Derry, this time he’s heading south.

Fred will be exploring Wexford, Waterford and Cork for the new series.

Which he bills Tour de Fred – Part Deux.

All supported by Tourism Ireland’s International Programming Ireland Fund and Irish Ferries.

Filming for the five-part series, due to air on ITV1 and ITVX next year, has been taking place over the past few weeks.

Cycle of history

Viewers will see Fred explore and meet passionate locals in Wexford, Waterford and Cork.

And, of course, take part in a cycle challenge or two along the way.

Ah, mais oui, that’ll be the Tour de Fred bit them.

From beautiful coastlines and historic sites to artisan producers and vibrant towns.

Fred will introduce British viewers on a fun and exciting journey.

That’s crystal clear then

And just because we’re being helpful and Fred may be more Franglais despite his years in Britain.

We’re glad to clue him on Ireland’s sunny south-east.

And Waterford Blaa and how renowned Irish chef Kevin Dundon makes them.

Although being the foodie that he is and because blaa has a French connection then he might already know.

That it was introduced by French Huguenots in the late 17th century.

And such is its inextricable link with Waterford, on a par with its crystal, it has been recognised with Protected Geographical Indication status.

So that only blaas made in County Waterford can carry the name.

The word blaa is thought to come from the French word blanc, or white.

And blaas are enjoyed with various fillings, butter and jam and our favourites bacon.

Right said Fred

Fred, naturellement, fell in love with Ireland following his trip up north which was watched by two million Brits.

He said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to be back in the saddle for a second series of Tour de Fred.

‘The first series was a real joy and now I get to explore a different region of the beautiful island of Ireland.

‘I’m excited to embrace all the rich history, incredible food and breathtaking landscapes of south east Ireland along the Copper Coast.

‘And, of course, meet the charismatic locals.

‘Joining me on the last leg will be my daughter Andrea.

‘And I can’t wait to bring viewers on this next adventure with us!’

Countries, UK

Old tossers and stone skimming cheats

15th September 202519th September 2025 funtime65

The tiny island of Easdale has been propelled into world consciousness by a bunch of old tossers and stone skimming cheats.

Who have been disqualified for flattening out their slates so that they are more circular.

Tossers have been playing with their slates at the World Stone Skimming Championships for 42 years now.

With the regulations smoothed down over the years.

With the now 400 tossers expected to use only Inner Hebridean Easdale slates.

And less than three inches in diameter.

Only opportunistic competitors have been caught out using machines.

To smooth down their stones and been thrown out.

Watch out for the stones

Now, of course, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

And I stand guilty too of stone throwing shenanigans.

When skimming with Son and Heir at the Meeting of the Waters in Avoca.

In my old stomping ground of County Wicklow in Ireland.

And in my competitiveness put some welly into one throw, a doubler, or double figures.

Show us your stone: Keeping everyone right

My pride at my pebble reaching the other side of the bank 39ft away was alas dulled.

By the fact that it jumped at the last minute.

And luckily enough the lad who was about to get said stone in the eye.

Well, he ducked at just the right time, to save me Wicklow Gaol time.

A lifetime of tossing

Child’s play: It brings out the competitor in you

Now living on big islands, in Britain and Ireland, I have grown up skimming stones.

When cousins would come visiting from Ireland and America.

And my New Yorker peer Eddie who would compete over anything would claim dozens of skims.m

And delight in beating my efforts, all off the iconic Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond, near Glasgow.

It is little surprise then that Scotland’s shorelines have become home to the World Skimming Championships.

With the event the brainchild of Bertie Baker following a conversation in the island pub.

The Stone Age

Our friends at the Scottish tourism board Visit Scotland naturally are happy.

To share what a dividend the championships are to Easdale, all showcased here by photographer Kirsty Mclellan.

The Argyll and Bute island, populated by just 60 outside of the skimming worlds, boasts a museum.

Where visitors can stock up on souvenir stones.

While, of course, island boozer The Puffer does a roaring trade.

And the Oyster Bar and Restaurant also sees a big spike in business.

An islands stay

Last year’s survey showed most visitors stayed for two-three nights.

With more than 50 per cent staying in hotels or B&Bs.

Some 40 per cent stayed in Oban on the mainland.

And another 40 per cent bedded down on the Isle of Easdale, Luing and Seil.

So pencil in Easdale to your Scottish trip in September particularly if, like me. you’re an old tosser.

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.

Countries, Flying, Ireland

Ryanair’s plane jokes for Dad’s Day

15th June 202415th June 2024 funtime65

Now we all like to give them a dig but they’ve turned it into a positive with Ryanair’s plane jokes for Dad’s Day.

Now Ryanair have been a game-changer in air travel since emerging on the scene 40 years ago.

And making it affordable for millions to travel to foreign destinations.

Some even within the same national postal code to the city you were heading!

Ryanair and their ubiquitous showboating CEO Michael O’Leary have heard them all before.

But Michael, the thick-skinned Irishman that he is has taken them all on the chin.

And come back with his own unforgettable stunts, pranks and wind-ups.

Taking the Michael

Who can forget Michael’s earnest announcement that his airline would start selling vertical seats or standing-room only.

Or charging a pound for spending a penny to go to the loo.

Michael has been front and centre of everything that Ryanair has done.

The face of the airline in many hilarious guises and always ready with a unique quip.

Such as: ‘If drink sales are falling off, we get the pilots to engineer a bit of turbulence. That usually spikes sales.’

Or on their sales pitches: ‘Anyone who looks like sleeping, we wake them up to sell them things.’

While he has never been backward in poking fun at his main Irish rival.

Laugh on our travels

So that when his bride arrived 35 minutes late for their wedding, he shot back: ‘She’s coming here with Aer Lingus.’

Don’t, of course, get Michael on ‘flyskam’ or flying shame.

‘If preserving the environment means stopping poor people flying so the rich can fly, then screw it.’

Of course, Michael, remains for ever a proud Irishman and he just gets it.

‘The airline industry is full of bullshitters, liars and drunks. We excel at all three in Ireland.’

All of which Michael O’Leary gems is to mark the four decades of Ireland’s low-budget airline.

And the gags competition and offer the airline pitched for Dads Day for the funniest people on the planet, the Irish.

You’re a card

The three winners bagged themselves a €100 Ryanair Gift Card just in time for Father’s Day tomorrow.

And the comedians are Sharon Bell, Dino Salkić and Noëlie Charlot whose gags are now on Ryanair’s Facebook page.

#1 What kind of bagel can travel? A plane bagel.

#2 My dad Can’t stop telling Airport jokes… his doctor says it’s terminal.

#3 Why do French people eat snails? Because they don’t like fast food.

Of course, with everything Ryanair they have a pitch for us.

And those Ryanair Gift Cards are still available for tomorrow to one of Ryanair’s 250+ destinations.

Now as a bit of an exponent of Dad Jokes myself I will shamelessly try to pass these off as my own.

Ryanair’s plane jokes for Dad’s Day.

America, Countries, Ireland, Music, UK

Farewell Shane MacGowan, the last of the Irish Rovers

30th November 202330th November 2023 funtime65

Farewell Shane MacGowan, the last of the Irish Rovers… it was an honour to pick up your empties.

Shane probably wouldn’t remember it, he wouldn’t remember much after a slake of beer or whiskey.

But I was the glass collector the night he played the Ritzy nightclub in Aberdeen.

When he was at his most energetic and would rattle into Sally MacLennane, The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn or the Old Main Drag.

Swigging a bottle of lager before launching into his song and banging it down at the end before gargling a word of acknowledgement to me as I kept them lined up.

The Pogues’ oul rogue

Shane MacGowan was for so many of us Fiftysomething the soundtrack of our youth, the go-to artist and band to pogo to on the Union dancefloor.

And, of course, like all of the most treasured of artists, he is transgenerational.

He will be remembered most for his anthemic Christmas song Fairytale of New York with Kirsty MacColl which broke the mould of cheesy tinsel songs.

And many will see it as poignant that he should pass over to the other side as Christmas festivities get into full swing.

But it was as the lead singer of the band which fused the most unlikely bedfellows of Irish trad music and punk for which he will go down in music history as a pioneer.

Son of the oul’ sod

Of course, Shane was like me and millions, and this is where the link ends part of the great Diaspora, a son of a son (or daughter) of the sod.

Of those who had, like my Dear Old Mum and my Dad, whose own mum and his ancestors had taken the boat across to Britain.

Few because of the poor state of the economy back in the homeland could make a permanent move back to Ireland.

But they held the Irish culture, the politics, their nationalism, the song, the dance and the craic close to their hearts.

And pass it on to the new land they found themselves in which is why The Pogues became celebrated in London and across Britain.

From New York to the world

Of course, it is poignant that Fairytale of New York should be the ultimate Pogues standard as the bond formed between Ireland and America grows stronger year by year.

And underlined by American President Joe Biden who made an emotional return to the land of his fathers last year.

The unruffled ruffian with the broken glass teeth and the gravelly voice has gone and a million jukeboxes will blast out his hits across Irish bars around the world.

Farewell Shane MacGowan, the last of the Irish Rovers.

As he joins Jimmy from Sally Maclennane ‘who took the road for heaven in the morning.’

Countries, Ireland

Once upon a time in fairytale Wicklow

6th December 2022 funtime65

I’d always tell everyone of its magical qualities and it seems the message has got back to the good people at Disney+ so without further ado… once upon a time in fairytale Wicklow.

The Garden county of Ireland where I flourished for 13 years and my children bloomed into adults is the backdrop.

Every Irishman’s home: The oul’ castle in Co. Wicklow

For the musical comedy Disenchanted, starring Amy Adams, the sequel to the box office hit Enchanted.

Bobby Ewing, no less (or his alter ego Patrick Dempsey at least), and Maya Rudolph, James Marsden, Jayma Mays and Idina Menzel all talk up the county.

In a Tourism Ireland short video which is going around the world.

A corner of New York State

Forty fields of green: Greystones in County Wicklow

In Disenchanted, Enniskerry represents ‘Monroeville’, a fictional suburban town in upstate New York.

Monrroeville is then magically transformed into ‘Monrolasia’, a fantasy and magic-filled version of the town.

And what’s even better is that an 1850s period house in Greystones was the location for Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and Giselle’s (Amy Adams) ‘Monroeville’ home.

With timing being everything we must have just missed out then in offering the homestead we lived in.

In our days in the beautiful town of Greystones.

You might have seen Adrian Dunbar extol about in his most recent travelogue.

The Power of Ireland

Filming also took place at the Powerscourt Waterfall and Powerscourt Estate.

And, of course, that is a favourite romantic getaway for the great and the good, and obviously ourselves.

A word from the sponsors

Speaking about Ireland, Patrick, who plays Robert, said: ‘It’s just breathtakingly beautiful.

‘You see the woods and the fields.

‘and the architecture of all of that is very magical. It really lends itself to a fairy-tale life.’

While Maya Rudolph, who plays Malvina, added: ‘I feel like I got in on a little secret of such an incredible place and I’ve just fallen in love.

‘It feels like a fairy-tale.’

And my old pal Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, naturally was delighted to bring the Hollywood cast to Wicklow.

He said: ‘The fact that ‘Disenchanted’ was filmed here is a fantastic coup for Irish tourism.

‘Following the success of ‘Enchanted’, this highly anticipated film is a great way to bring Ireland.

‘And, in particular Wicklow, to the attention of viewers around the world.

‘We are delighted to share this behind-the-scenes video with our fans and followers on social media, celebrating the film’s connections with Ireland.’

Countries, Ireland

Adrian Dunbar in Greystones

23rd November 2022 funtime65

Jesus, Mary and Joseph and his little donkey… is that Adrian Dunbar in Greystones, my old stomping ground?

Adrian has long been a national treasure in Ireland, and much loved too now in the UK on the back of his award-winning performance as Hastings in cop series Line of Duty.

All of which Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland naturally know and have got behind him as he promotes the island in his latest venture.

Harbour delights: Greystones and Da Boss

Adrian Dunbar: My Ireland is the Fermanagh actor’s new series which goes to air on Channel 5 this evening, 23 November (8pm).

The two-part series will follow Adrian, who introduced the wider world to some choice Irish phrases such as the above, as he returns to his hometown of Enniskillen.

We’ll join the ever-likeable Adrian as he visits places that hold fond memories for him.

And he will also check out some places he has always wanted to visit but has never before found the time.

Garden of Ireland

And I guess that is where the word went up of Adrian Dunbar in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland.

Mind you there have been one or two celebs there over the years, Ronnie Drew out of the Dubliners, Damian Rice and ahem, yours truly.

Of course, we didn’t need any steer that Adrian was visiting the jewel of Wicklow.

As we recognised straight away the train, its destination and the platform.

From almost 14 years of standing on it… and that’s not far off as the DART (the Dublin Rapid Transport) is notorious for its poor efficiency.

But friendly staff, and I got to know the guards there well.

Dart and craft

So much so that they shared their idiosyncratic Irish wisdom with me on my first Christmas works do.

When I turned up at the DART station at 6pm one evening and booked a return ticket to Dublin, 15kms away.

The guard was insistent that I should get a taxi home or stay the night in Dublin as the last train back was 11.30pm.

Back to Adrian and he will kick off by visiting the towering cliffs of Slieve League, Glenveagh National Park in my mum’s own Donegal and Devenish Island in Lough Earne.

While the world will be his, well… he’s off to the Carlingford Oyster Company in County Louth and visit MacNean House & Restaurant in Co. Cavan in the midlands.

And meet celebrity chef Neven Maguire.

Train of thought

In episode two, which will air on 30 November, he will meet artist Jim FitzPatrick in Howth and another well-known chef, Richard Corrigan – who will give Adrian a tour of his Virginia Park Lodge.

Viewers will see Adrian visit prehistoric Newgrange, verdant Powerscourt Estate and the remote Hook Lighthouse.

They’ll also see him taking that trip on the DART in Wicklow… and remember Isambard Kingdom Brunel (and Michael Portillo) were all over the Bray-Greystones tunnel along the Irish Sea.

And he will cycle across the Kilmacthomas Viaduct on the Waterford Greenway.