Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Do you know the story of the Easter Bunny?!


When it comes to the actual character that we know as the “Easter Bunny” and the idea of him bringing us chocolate eggs on Easter, there is a very interesting pagan story behind the legend. The legend claims that the Germanic Goddess “Eastre” felt very bad for arriving late one spring and in order to help make amends for this she decided to save the life of a poor bird whose wings had frozen in the snow. Eastre made this bird her pet. Feeling compassion for this bird of hers because he no longer had the ability to fly Eastre decided to turn him into a snow hare named “Lepus”. She also gave him the ability to run very fast so he could avoid hunters and she also gave him one more special gift. In remembrance of his life as a bird Eastre gave Lepus the ability to lay “eggs”. Not only could Lepus lay eggs but these eggs would also come out in all the different colours of the rainbow. There was only one downfall to this great ability Lepus had, he could only lay these eggs on one day each year, on the day that the festival of Eastre was celebrated. From this simple and earliest known pagan legend we get the first stories of the birth of the idea of the “Easter Bunny” and also Easter Eggs and where they get their multiple bright colours from.
The first actually documented use of the “Bunny” as a symbol of “Easter” occurs in the late 1500’s in Germany of all places. Although pagan traditions and legends point the hare or rabbit as often being strongly associated with the time of “Eastre” or “Easter”. Following along with their firsts in terms of the “Easter Bunny” it was the Germans in the 1800’s who were the first ones to also create edible “Easter Bunnies”. Every spring their children would be spinning with excitement in their wait for the arrival of “Oschter Haws” (their Easter Bunny character) and the gifts that accompanied him.

The character of the rabbit or bunny is revered around the world in different cultures. Many Asian cultures hail the rabbit as a sacred messenger to the divine & for Buddhists and Egyptians the rabbit has special meaning. And of course Western Europe has their strong beliefs in the rabbit as a symbol of fertility and new life. Over time these many different legends about rabbits/bunnies has moulded this animal into the “Easter Bunny” a symbol of the Holiday which celebrates resurrection.

When it comes to the modern day tradition of the Easter Bunny, in Ireland, we follow the idea that on Easter Sunday children wake up to discover either that the “Easter Bunny” has left them a basket full of candy or that he has hidden eggs for them to find. There are only a few other countries who follow this same tradition. For example, in Austria, the “Easter Bunny” who is known to them as “Osterhase” hides decorated eggs, for children to find the next day, on the night before Easter Sunday. In New Zealand the stores all carry Hot Cross Buns and chocolate eggs that the Easter Bunny fills his basket with and delivers to all the children during his delivery rounds on Easter Sunday morning; usually hiding these treats just like the Irish “Easter Bunny” so that children have to search for them.

Happy Easter to all and we hope that the Easter Bunny is good to you this year!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Free Rail Travel Scheme for Visitors to Ireland over 66


Developed by Fáilte Ireland in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, the free rail scheme is now available for all visitors to Ireland aged 66 or over.

The scheme launched for St Patrick’s Day, is designed to increase overseas visitor numbers to Ireland. Overseas visitors aged 66 or over can reserve free rail travel by booking their free Golden Trekker Tickets when in Ireland.

The Golden Trekker Tickets will take the form of a four-day Trekker ticket, or a sequence of four-day tracker tickets depending on the length of stay, providing visitors with unrestricted rail travel for a set period. Each four-day Trekker ticket is worth €100. The scheme provides for free travel to all tourists to Ireland aged 66 and over and there is no restriction on nationality or country of residence.

To avail of your Golden Trekker, send an email to goldentrekker@tourismireland.com at least 72 hours prior to your arrival in Ireland, and provide the following information:
o First and last name
o Date of birth
o Passport Number or National Identity Card Number
o Date you wish your Golden Trekker Pass to commence (each pass is valid for four days. If you intend to travel for longer periods, you have to apply for more than one pass.)
o Country of residence
o Email address and/or Postal address
o Origin of first rail journey

Once you have provided this information, your Tourism Ireland agent will process your application for a Golden Trekker, and a confirmation will be delivered to you in time for your trip to Ireland.

To get your the Golden Trekker when you arrive in Ireland, present your Golden Trekker Confirmation at the Irish Rail ticket office in any train station, along with the Passport or National Identity Card used when requesting the Golden Trekker.

For more information on the Golden Trekker visit the Discover Ireland Website by Clicking Here

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Where will you be this St Patricks Day?


Join in the fun at the Official St. Patrick’s Day Parade
With the Parade theme in 2010 being ‘Extraordinary World’, the much anticipated annual favorite, the festival Parade features newly commissioned, highly original and inventive street theatre troupes, artists, giant puppetry, dancers and marching bands from Ireland and across the globe. Thousands are anticipated to be cheering on the city streets and many millions more tuning in to the RTE 1 broadcast on TV and live streaming on-line.
Also, don’t miss the World Record Breaking 80 Metre Stiletto Heel Dash kicking off the parade tomorrow in aid of the Marie Keating foundation. The Woman with the most outrageous shoes in the dash will win a voucher for Marks and Spencer!!
Events Details:
Date: Wednesday 17th March
Event: St. Patrick’s Festival Parade
Locations: City Centre, Starting at Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Time: 12 noon

Take a trip to the St Patrick’s Festival Funfair
Make Dublin yours this St. Patrick’s Festival and enjoy the City at Play with Chills, Thrills and Near-Spills. A firm Festival favorite, the spine-tingling Festival Funfair will light up with top-notch carnival fairgrounds, gripping high-flying attractions as well as the much-tamer kiddie rides. And don’t miss the breath-taking views of our Fair City from the 150-foot high Jubilee Wheel.
Event Details:
Venue: Merrion Square
Times: Friday 6.00pm-11.00pm / Saturday-Tuesday 11.00am-11.00pm / Wednesday 11.00am-9.00pm

Click here to visit the official St Patricks Festival Website for more information

Tell us where you will be this St Patrick’s Day!!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Support “Seachtain na Gaeilge” agus Labhair as Gaeilge!!


Seachtain na Gaeilge (2nd – 17th March 2010) is the annual international festival organised by Conradh na Gaeilge to promote the Irish Language. The festival is used as a means to celebrate the Irish language with activities and events organised throughout the country in the weeks leading up to St Patrick's Day in order to facilitate the promotion and use of the Irish language.

With this in mind, here are some useful Irish words & phrases to help along the way!

Failte - Welcome
Dia Dhuit - Hello (pronounced “dia gwuit”)
Conas atá tú? - How are you?
Tá mé go maith. - I am good
Cad is ainm duit? - What is your name?
Claire is ainm dom - My Name is Claire
Slán leat - Goodbye
Is ea – Yes (pronounced “sha”)
Níl – No (pronounced “neil”)
Go raibh maith agat - Thank you
Tá fáilte romhat - You're welcome.
Ba mhaith liom dul go dtí Sráid Grafton - I would like to go to Grafton Street. (pronounced “ba why lum dull guh d srawd Grafton”)
Ní thuigim - I don't understand.
Más é do thoil é - Please.
Ba mhaith liom pinta Guinness le do thoil - I would like a pint of Guinness please

Some of the best and most culturally rich Irish is to be found in the old Irish proverbs. (Seanfhocal – literally meaning “Old Words”)

Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile - One beetle recognizes another. (Meaning: It takes one to know one; Like sees like.)
Níl aon tintéan mar do thintéan féin - There’s no place like home
Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi... - A woman told me that a woman told her... (Meaning: Don't believe everything you are told. It may be just gossip.)
Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte - Health is better than wealth.
Molann an obair an fear - The work praises the man (Meaning: Good work is its own reward.)

Whether fluent or not, Seachtain na Gaeilge is an opportunity to experience, practice, learn and enjoy the Irish language. So go on… speak as Gaeilge!

Click here to watch the YouTube video for Seachtain na Gaeilge

Slan go foill! (Bye for now!)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Employee of the Year at the Talbot Hotel Wexford

Employee of the Year at the Talbot Hotel Wexford

Congratulations  to Colm Bennett who has been awarded the employee of the year 2009 in recognition of his outstanding customer service, loyalty and valuable contribution to the Talbot Hotel Wexford.


Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Stillorgan Park Hotel Awarded Optimus Service Excellence

The Stillorgan Park Hotel has recently been awarded of the Optimus Service Excellence Award. Developed by Fáilte Ireland, Optimus is a multi-tiered programme to support tourism businesses in becoming more efficient and more competitive. The industry is challenged by rising costs and consumers are comparing what Ireland can offer with increasing international alternatives. For many in the industry, Optimus is welcomed as a lever to regain competitive ground. “The hotel has been rigorously tested and judged to exceed the expectations of its guests and to make the best use of its resources,” said Tony Lenehan, Head of Industry Standards and Quality, Fáilte Ireland. “Increasingly consumers will choose Irish hotels that have the Optimus standard and that must be good news for hotels like this.”

The hotel achieved the Optimus award following a deep-rooted review of service and guest satisfaction. “It’s probably one of the most rewarding journeys a business can make,” says Daragh O’Neill, General Manager of the Stillorgan Park Hotel. “For nearly a year we questioned everything we did and tested it against what is known to be excellent service in other countries, quite systematically and always with the customer as the starting point. Standard of Procedures were put in place for all sectors of the business and constant training and re-training of our team has been implemented to accurately measure how we were performing against the best in the field. The effect on guests and staff has been considerable and the Optimus award will flag this achievement to the market.”

For global travellers, hotels displaying the Optimus symbol will offer an assurance that superior service and value for money expectations can be met. For individual hotels, like the Stillorgan Park Hotel, achieving the new standard will have significant marketing and profit advantages. At the heart of Optimus is the customer - and an ongoing tracking system which measures customer satisfaction and identifies areas of improvement. A similar system monitors the commitment of employees to the company’s goals and identifies ways in which to increase morale.

Pictured (Left to Right): Aidan Pender, Fáilte Ireland; Magda Fras, Optimus Coordinator Stillorgan Park Hotel; Redmond O’Donoghue, Chairman Fáilte Ireland; and Daragh O’Neill, General Manager Stillorgan Park Hotel.