St Brendan’s Feast Day May 16th

Ancient Order of Hibernians St Brendan the Navigator Division Mecklenburg County

Division # 2 ISSUE #5 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER VOLUME #4

May 2012 Our next business meeting is on Thursday, May 10th at

7:30 PM

St Mark’s Catholic Church Room 200

2012 Officers

Chaplain Father David Miller President Ray FitzGerald Vice President Shane Lis Secretary Tom Vaccaro Treasurer Chris O’Keefe Financial Secretary Ron Haley Standing Committee Ted Leahy Marshall Brian Bourque

Sentinel Scott Stephan Chaplain Emeritus Father Pat Hoare Past President Joseph Dougherty

www.aohmeck2.org

Tis A Blessing to be Irish

During the Dark Ages, Irish monks kept the light of

learning alive. Recording oral tradition and copying the

written knowledge of the time, they produced illuminated

manuscripts that preserved the wisdom of Western

civilization. Be thankful for the painstaking labors of

these Irish scribes.

The Presidents Report for May Most people associate April 15th with filing our tax returns, however, for our Division it is a more memorable occasion.

On April 15, 2009 the Ancient Order of Hibernians of America granted a charter for the establishment of the St. Brendan

the Navigator Division in the Lake Norman area. We started with 17 members and over the past three years we have

doubled that number. I want to thank all our members for their time and efforts in making us a viable and growing

organization. We’ve been busy promoting the Irish culture in the Lake Norman area, but on a more personal note we

have forged some lasting friendship among our members. Our socials (held on the fourth Thursday of the month) often

have more members in attendance than our business meetings (maybe that’s because our spouses are pushing us to get out

of the house). Like any organization we need to grow and increase our membership. I’d be interested in hearing any

ideas you may have in this regard.

After our April business meeting the members went down to the kitchen area of St. Mark where we enjoyed some snacks,

refreshments and fellowship. It was well attended and we plan to do this after each of our meetings.

Ron Haley had successful knee replacement (déjà vu, all over again) on April 17th

. He is recuperating at home and is

undergoing some physical therapy (ouch!).

At our April Social we celebrated the Division’s third anniversary at the Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson. We had close

to 30 brothers, along with their families and guests, in attendance. After the dinner we named the recipient of the 2011-

2012 Hibernian of the Year Award. The award is presented to a Brother Hibernian who actions have demonstrated a

commitment to the principles of the Order, i.e., Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity. By a vote of our membership this

year’s recipient was brother, Chris O’Keefe. As our Treasurer, Chris keeps close watch and control over our funds. He

also manages our website, and continually promotes and supports activities of our Division. He recently planned the

Installation of Officers Dinner. Well deserved, Chris!

All members should be receiving the Hibernian Digest. I found the March-April edition very enlightening. There are

articles on the E3 Visas Bill (which specifically addresses the paltry number of visas issued to Irish immigrants), the

Eucharistic Congress to be held in Dublin, American’s Civil War Irish, the Barry Gate Project, various AOH Scholarships

as well as mention of our Officer Installation Dinner. I encourage all of you to take some time to read this newspaper.

We are in the midst of our annual raffle for a trip for two to Ireland. Frank Fay has volunteered to chair this year’s raffle.

He’ll be contacting you soon regarding the distribution and sale of these tickets. This is our Division’s major fundraiser

and we need your support in buying and selling the tickets.

At our last meeting we discussed having a family summer picnic, in conjunction with the LAOH. It would likely be held

in a local park (unless someone has a large backyard). I would be interested in hearing your views on this. We’ll also be

discussing this at future meetings.

If there is something appropriate that you would like to have discussed at a future meeting, let me know and we can add it

to the agenda.

St. Brendan the Navigator, Pray for us.

Ray FitzGerald

Chaplain’s Message

I would encourage all of you to reflect upon this point: that our Lord, in performing incredible miracles

from giving sight to those born blind to healing the lame or even raising the dead did not redeem one

human soul by such amazing and powerful works. Neither did he redeem a single person through any of

his great sermons and talks by which he taught the truth. The sole act by which Christ Jesus our Savior

and model of holiness won for us all the grace of redemption was his patient endurance of suffering and

death. In like manner the greatest act of love that we can do for anyone, whether for our spouses or

children or friends is to patiently endure the sufferings that come to us either from their own hands or

things outside of our control. None of our words or powerful actions can bring about more grace than

this. These “crosses” that our Lord permits us to share with him are opportunities of grace for ourselves

and for others, if we but patiently endure them and unite them with his Cross.

Fr. Miller

May Birthdays

Rose Murphy Daughter of Brother Bob May 1st

Kathleen Ann Haley Wife of Brother Ron May 2nd

Elle Gilmore Daughter of Brother Shawn May 4th

Bob O’Brian Division Brother May 7th

Charles Murphy Son of Brother Bob May 9th

Laurie Mann Daughter of Brother Gene May 14th

Nathan Killoren Son of Brother James May 18th

Ryan Swengros Son of Brother Charlie May 20th

Tom Battle Division Brother Mat 20th

May Anniversaries

Tom & Michele Battle May 12th

Martin and Laura Fisher May 26th

Brian & Naomi Bourque May 28th

Division Calendar of Events for

May

Thursday, May 10th - Next meeting at St. Mark, Room 200 at 7:30pm

Saturday, May 12th - Adopt a Stream Cleaning Torrence Creek 10am at St. Mark parking lot Sunday, May 13st - Bagel Sunday (recruiting drive) at St. Mark Parish Center after Sunday

morning Masses, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM. Thursday, May 24th - Social at Alton's Kitchen & Cocktails, 19918 North Cove Rd., Cornelius,

6:30pm

Every Day of the Month – Be Proud of your Irish Heritage!

IRISH PROVERB

"Meallan muilte dé go mall ach meallan siad go mion."

God's mill may grind slowly, but it grinds finely.

RAFFLE TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE

Ireland of Your Dreams Raffle

Sponsored by Mecklenburg County Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians

Winner to receive 7 day trip for two to Ireland, including airfare from

Charlotte, NC to Ireland, Car Rental & 6 nights in B & B’s *

All proceeds to benefit Hibernian charities A donation of $25 is requested

Drawing to be held on Sept. 22, 2012 at Killington’s Pub in Huntersville, NC

*Instead of Grand Prize, winner can accept $3,000.00 cash

See Brother Frank Fay for tickets, your help is needed

Irish Myths

Changelings

It appears that fairy women all over Ireland find birth a difficult experience. Many fairy children die before birth and those that do survive are often stunted or deformed creatures.

The adult fairies, who are aesthetic beings, are repelled by these infants and have no wish to keep them. They will

try to swap them with healthy children who they steal from the mortal world. The wizened, ill tempered creature

left in place of the human child is generally known as a changeling and possesses the power to work evil in a household. Any child who is not baptised or who is overly admired is especially at risk of being exchanged.

It is their temperament, however, which most marks the changeling. Babies are generally joyful and pleasant, but

the fairy substitute is never happy, except when some calamity befalls the household. For the most part, it howls

and screeches throughout the waking hours and the sound and frequency of its yells often transcend the bounds of mortal endurance.

A changeling can be one of three types: actual fairy children; senile fairies who are disguised as children or,

inanimate objects, such as pieces of wood which take on the appearance of a child through fairy magic. This latter type is known as a stock.

Puckered and wizened features coupled with yellow, parchment-like skin are all generic changeling attributes. This

fairy will also exhibit very dark eyes, which betray a wisdom far older than its apparent years. Changelings display

other characteristics, usually physical deformities, among which a crooked back or lame hand are common. About

two weeks after their arrival in the human household, changelings will also exhibit a full set of teeth, legs as thin as

chicken bones, and hands which are curved and crooked as birds' talons and covered with a light, downy hair.

No luck will come to a family in which there is a changeling because the creature drains away all the good fortune

which would normally attend the household. Thus, those who are cursed with it tend to be very poor and struggle desperately to maintain the ravenous monster in their midst.

One positive feature which this fairy may demonstrate is an aptitude for music. As it begins to grow, the changeling

may take up an instrument, often the fiddle or the Irish pipes, and plays with such skill that all who hear it will be

entranced. This report is from near Boho in County Fermanagh.

"I saw a changeling one time. He lived with two oul' brothers away beyond the Dog's Well and looked like a wee

wizened monkey. He was about ten or eleven but he couldn't really walk, just bobbed about. But he could play the

whistle the best that you ever heard. Old tunes that the people has long forgotten, that was all he played. Then one day, he was gone and I don't know what happened to him at all."

A Bit of Irish History

Patrick H Pearse

Patrick Pearse was born in Dublin, Ireland on November 10, 1879 to an English sculptor and an Irish

woman. The couple had three children: two sons and a daughter. Patrick became interested in Ireland

and its Irish history early in life. He joined the Gaelic League, a group founded to preserve the Irish

language, at age 21. In order to promote the League's cause, Patrick changed his anglicized name to the

Irish version, Pádraic. Pearse quickly became known as a leader and spokesman for the Gaelic League.

His beginnings in this small group would lead to his rise to power in more militant Irish republican

groups.

Pádraic Pearse entered the Gaelic League a young boy looking to explore his Irish history. Within three

years of joining, he was the editor of the League's weekly newspaper: An Claidheamh Soluis ("The

Sword of Light"). Pearse served as editor of the paper for six years (Britannica On Line). The title of the

paper seemed to symbolize Pearse as a man in his early years of battling the British. He tried numerous

ways to defeat the British intellectually. He used knowledge, not force, in attempts to liberate Ireland.

Some of Pearse's tactics included publishing old Irish tales from ancient manuscripts and also publishing

his own works in Irish rather than English. In 1908, Pearse founded St. Edna's College near Dublin. St

Edna's structured its curriculum around Irish traditions and culture. Moreover, the college taught both

the Irish and English languages.

Although Pearse started out as a literary warrior, he soon found that intellect alone would not rid Ireland

of the English. Pearse became involved in militant groups as both a poet and a warrior and benefited

Ireland immensely in both ways.

Pearse is known best for his part in planning and executing the Easter Rising of 1916. However, he also

played an important role in the advancement of Irish literature. In the late 19th century The Gaelic

Revival took place in Ireland. This was a literary movement that focused on the "rich vocabulary and

idiomatic expressions in the Irish language and folklore" (BOL). However, the members of this

movement were challenged by the diverse dialects of the language. Moreover, there were very few

modern works in the genre at the time. Most of the literature being published in Irish was the myths and

legends of historical Ireland. Nothing produced early in the revival could compete internationally. It was

not until the middle of the 20th century that the language was standardized. At this time, Patrick Pearse

was one of the pioneer Irish writers. His poems, essays, and articles were exactly what the Irish needed.

Although they were written for the sole purpose of freeing Ireland, his works gave inspiration to a

younger generation of poets. He and several of his contemporaries began to write with pure emotion and

passion. This was the stepping stone for Irish literature and its launch into the international realm. When

the name Patrick Pearse is mentioned, most do not think of his literary contribution to Ireland. This

contribution was significant, but it is not what Pearse died for. His name is not carved in history forever

because of his essays or articles. When his name is mentioned, almost all who hear it will think of the

Easter Rising of 1916. This is the battle which catapulted Ireland towards freedom. It is also the battle

that Pearse and the rebels lost. The battle that, shortly after it ended, Pearse and his friends were

executed by firing squad. To understand the rising and why it took place, one must look at the events

leading to the rising.

In 1912, thousands of protestant Ulstermen (those Irish residing in the Northeasern province of Ulster)

signed the Ulster Covenant of Resistance to Home Rule (BOL). Rather than submit to Home Rule, their

leaders decided that a provisional government would be established in Ulster. As tension and

controversy over the issue heightened, a paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was

formed. The UVF was backed by the British military. At one point, an entire cavalry brigade of the

Royal Army threatened to resign if ordered to move against the Ulster protestants (DeRosa p. 31) As the

Catholics in Ulster became more organized, the protestant paramilitary groups began to attack them.

Whenever Catholics would march for religious or economic equality, a riot would usually follow. These

were brought on by attacks from the Ulster Volunteer Force.

As a rival to this force, the Irish Volunteers were formed in November 1913, with Pearse a member of

their committee. Again, Pearse contributed poems, articles, and essays to the group's newspaper, The

Irish Volunteer. In July 1914, Pearse was made a member of the Supreme Council of the Irish

Republican Brotherhood (IRB), a separate militant group that believed in using force to throw the

British out of Ireland. The Irish Volunteers, Ulster Volunteer Force, and the IRB began to stockpile

weapons. Ireland was very near a civil war when World War I erupted in Europe. At this point, the Irish

Volunteers split. One group supported British efforts in the war with Germany. The other group, along

with the IRB, was totally against any support for British troops. It was with this group that Pearse

aligned himself.

John Redmond, a member of Parliament fighting for Home Rule, took a pro British stance during the

war. This alienated many Irish citizens and support for the Brotherhood grew. Shortly before 1915, the

Irish Republican Brotherhood had plans for a full military revolution in Ireland. Pearse was a believer in

a revolution while the British were occupied fighting a war in Europe. He felt that the only way to

liberate Ireland was for people to die. He expressed these feelings in his famous oration at the funeral of

Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa in August 1915. Rossa was a member of the Sinn Féin party, which

supported the use of force to free Ireland. In this oration, Pearse stated the following:

"We stand at Rossa's grave not in sadness, but in exultation of spirit... This is a place of peace sacred to

the dead, where men should speak with all charity and all restraint; but I hold it a Christian thing... to

hate evil, to hate untruth, to hate oppression, and hating them to strive to overthrow them... while Ireland

holds these graves, Ireland unfree, shall never be at peace."

The actual planning for the Easter Rising of 1916 began almost two years before the actual rebellion.

The planning was a very complicated process headed by Pearse and a select group of men on the

military council of the IRB. Sir Roger Casement, an Englishman who believed in the Irish cause, was

sent to Germany in an attempt to obtain arms. Casement convinced the Germans to send some rifles but

the ship arrived early and was sunk by the British Navy. One of the most difficult aspects in the planning

of the rising was its secrecy. Pearse and his comrades kept the rising secret from the highest leaders in

the IRB, including Eoin MacNeill, the Chief of Staff of the IRB. The leaders on the Supreme Council

opposed an insurrection while the military council was secretly planning one. Pearse noted that so many

Irish risings had been defeated due to informants and resistance within the Irish themselves. For this

reason, only about 30 people knew about the rising until a few days before it was to take place. As it

drew near, the Supreme Council and the English government found out about the planned action. The

British had sunk a German ship in Irish waters and arrested Sir Roger Casement upon his return to

Ireland. The Supreme Council issued a statement in the Irish papers that all manoeuvres scheduled for

Easter Sunday were cancelled. Upon this notification, the British officials were confident that there

would be no conflict. Down, but not defeated, Pearse and the military council met to figure out what

should be done.

It was decided that the rising would be put off one day, until Easter Monday. Pearse spread word to all

of the forces around the country that manoeuvres would go the next day. Although many of the

volunteers were happy, several were fed up with the inconsistency and opted not to participate in the

rising. It was also at this meeting that Pearse and six others signed the "Proclamation of the Republic of

Ireland" written mostly by Pearse. Shortly before the signing, the six members elected Pádraic H. Pearse

president of Ireland. It truly was an emotional moment for the seven men for they knew that what they

were signing was also their death warrant

On Monday, April 24, 1916, the revolution began. Pearse and his army took control of the General Post

Office in Dublin along with several other buildings in Dublin. Above the Post Office, the Union Jack of

England was hauled down, and the tricolor of Ireland raised. Shortly afterwards, Pearse accompanied by

his brother, Willie, read the proclamation on the front steps of the Post Office. Ireland was free.

Although the British were caught completely off guard, it did not take long for them to raise a force

equal to that of the ill-equipped volunteers. The rebels surprised many by holding out for an entire week.

However, under heavy artillery and out of ammunition, Pearse surrendered to the British on April 30.

The battle was over, but Pearse had carved his name in history forever. Moreover, the Easter Rising is

seen by many as the beginning of the end of English rule in Ireland.

On May 3, 1916 Pádraic H. Pearse and fourteen others are executed by firing squad without trial for

leading the insurrection in Dublin. Eamon de Valera was the only leader spared because he was half

American; the English government did not want sympathy for the Irish to grow in the United States

(Foster p.198) The executions created a feeling of revulsion against the British and turned the leaders,

especially Pearse, into martyrs. De Valera re-established the provisional government of Ireland in 1917

(Foster pp.200-202). This government was elected by Irish members of Parliament at a meeting in

Dublin called the Dáil Éireann, meaning the "Irish Assembly." Michael Collins formed the Irish

Republican Army to carry out guerilla tactics against the British army and officials (BOL). Pearse's

poetic oration at Rossa's funeral and the reading of the proclamation became symbols for Ireland's new

government. Attempts by Britain to rule Ireland with any authority were futile until the establishment of

the Irish Free State in December 1921.

Although Patrick Pearse was executed and the rising was an immediate failure, it was an overall victory.

Pearse accomplished what no other Irishmen in history had done. He led a rising that was a total surprise

to the British military. He permanently unnerved the British presence in most of Ireland. His actions and

subsequent execution was the turning point in Irish history. Patrick Pearse did exactly what he set out to

do, he gave his life for the freedom of Ireland. Pearse's words at Rossa's funeral still ring true to this

very day, "Ireland unfree, will never be at peace" (DeRosa p. 74). The fighting and bombings continue

in Northern Ireland and there is no doubt that Patrick Pearse is still in the Irish Republican Army in

spirit and soul.

Patrick Pearse (1879 - 1916) RIP - Gravesite

I Hear an Army Charging Upon the Land

by James Joyce I hear an army charging upon the land,

And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees: Arrogant, in black armour, behind them stand,

Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers.

They cry unto the night their battle-name: I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.

They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame, Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.

They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:

They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore. My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?

My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?

The Grave Of Shelley

by Oscar Wilde Like burnt-out torches by a sick man's bed

Gaunt cypress-trees stand round the sun-bleached stone; Here doth the little night-owl make her throne, And the slight lizard show his jewelled head.

And, where the chaliced poppies flame to red, In the still chamber of yon pyramid

Surely some Old-World Sphinx lurks darkly hid, Grim warder of this pleasaunce of the dead.

Ah! sweet indeed to rest within the womb Of Earth, great mother of eternal sleep, But sweeter far for thee a restless tomb In the blue cavern of an echoing deep,

Or where the tall ships founder in the gloom Against the rocks of some wave-shattered steep.

Planned Hibernian Ireland Trip June 2013

Contact Joe Dougherty or Chris O’Keefe if interested

12 Day Irish Classic Tour Itinerary Day 1: Dublin Sightseeing

Start in Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later,

transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm tour Dublin to see elegant Georgian townhouses, pass St.

Stephen's Green and cross the River Liffey to view the Famine N4emorial and drive along O'Connell Street. Tour Dublin

Castle's State Apartments where major events from Irish history and modern politics take place in the gracious chambers. In the evening meet your tour director over a welcome drink to discuss your trip and he will help you choose

a restaurant to dine independently.

Day 2: St. Patrick's Grave & Castle Ward

Drive north to visit Down Cathedral to see St. Patrick's reputed burial site, marked by a huge boulder. Learn about his life and times in the nearby St. Patrick Centre. Visit the stately mansion of Castle Ward. This mid-Georgian mansion is

an architectural curiosity of jts time, built in two distinct architectural styles: Classical and Gothic. The house together

with Victorian laundry, playroom and saw-mill show you how the estate worked. Drive to Belfast and relax before

dinner. (B, D)

Day 3: Titanic Belfast & Tour

This morning a Belfast guide will show you Victorian buildings, the imposing City Hall in Donegal Square, the Shankill

and Falls Road areas and the shipyards where RN4S Titanic was built in 1912. Visit the newly-opened Titanic Belfast to

learn about this ill fated famous liner through state-of-the-art displays. Then the rest of the day is free. City Hall is

centrally located and is near your hotel while the ornate Victorian pub, Crown Liquor Saloon, is just across the street. (B, D)

Day 4: Giant's Causeway & Derry

Drive north along the scenic route of the "Nine Glens of Antrim," for lovely views of mountains/ valleys and coastljne. Stop at the Giant's Causeway/ enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity 60 milljon years ago which

have spawned legends about the mythical giant, Finn Mccool. Continue to Derry and join a local guide for a short

walking tour around the defensive walls that encircle the compact old city. (B, D)

Day 5: Atlantic Donegal & Westpoft

Travel through the rugged countryside of Donegal, renowned for heathery hills, sheep and the many tweeds produced

from their wool. In Ardara visit Triona Design to sample freshly-baked scones with tea and see demonstrations of

spinning and weaving. Stop in Donegal town to browse around and pause at W. B. Yeats' Grave in Sligo, a region that

he loved to write about. Drive to Westport and enjoy free time before dinner. (B, D)

Day 6: Achill Island & Westport House

Travel around Clew Bay to Achill Island, joined to the mainland by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture

wonderful views of steeply-sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. See the Deserted Village,

ruins of cottages abandoned during the 1840's Famine. Visit the stately Westport House, designed by Richard Cassels

in 1731. The mansion overlooks Clew Bay and contains a wealth of interesting portraits, furniture, silver and porcelain. (B, D)

Day 7: Cliffs Of Moher & Bunratty Banquet

Travel through Maam Cross in the heart of Connemara and visit the Connemara marble Factory. Stop in Galway and drive through the Barren to view the huge boulders of the Poulnabrone Dolmen. Walk along the majestic Cliffs of

Moher, which rise 700 feet above the foaming Atlantic Ocean. At Bunratty check in to your hotel, right beside 15th

century Bunratty Castle, the Bunratty Folk Park and Durty Nelly's Pub. Head to Bunratty Castle for a jolly medieval-

style dinner where the lords and ladies serenade you. (B, D)

Day 8: Flying Boat Museum & Dingle Peninsula

Drive through the outskirts of Limerick and alongside the River Shannon to visit Foynes Flying Boat Museum. During the 1930's and early 1940's, aircraft landed on the River Shannon and the museum's memorabilia recreates this era.

journey into County Kerry and along the Dingle Peninsula for glorious scenic views, Stop in the town of Dingle before

going up the Connor Pass for more panoramas. Then head to your hotel in Killarney. (B, D)

Day 9: Killarney & Jaunting Car Ride

Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Ross Castle for views of Lough Leane. Killarney's largest lake. Drive

to the delightful town of Kenmare where brightly-painted buildings are enhanced with flowers. Enjoy spectacular

mountain scenery at Moll's Gap and continue along part of the Ring of Kerry, pausing at Ladies' View. Return to

Killarney and relax or go shopping before dinner. (B, D)

Day 1O: Cobh Heritage Centre

Travel through the mountains of Kerry and make a brief stop at the Blarney Woolen Mills. Next visit Cobh Heritage

Centre, located in the old train station through which all emigrants passed. Displays show the many hardships that

people endured in the search for a better Iife. Drive to Dungarvan to the Marine Bar for a creamy Irish coffee and an

informal traditional music session. Continue to Waterford, check in to your hotel and join a local guide for a stroll around the historic city. (B, D)

Day 11: Waterford Crystal & Taylor's Three Rock Pub

Visit the House of Waterford Crystal to see how molten glass is blown into shapes before being cut by hand by experts and view priceless trophies. Stop in Kilkenny for a look around the prosperous medieval trading city and visit the Irish

National Stud to learn about the valuable horse breeding industry. In Dublin, this evening's destination is Taylor's

Three Rock Pub for dinner with traditional Irish songs and intricate step-dancing. (B, D)

Day 12: Tour Ends Dublin Airport

Take a group transfer to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM or 12:00 Noon. ( B )

B= Breakfast

D= Dinner

Congratulations to Brother Chris O’Keefe the 2011-2012 Hibernian of the Year

Places to see in Ireland

Painted houses and a cathedral, Cobh, County Cork Bridge by Ross Castle, Killarney, Ireland

A view of Giant's Causeway, County Antrim The town of Adare, County Limerick

Doolin Village, County Clare Ross Castle in Killarney National Park, Killarney, County Kerry