Take a moment to enjoy some poetic beauty. A little inspiration from afar is what we all need during these times. So sit back, relax, and #FillYourHeartWithIreland. #DreamNowTravelLater
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My own personal handsfree Audio Guide System provides me as your group Tourist Guide the opportunity to draw in the tour group from the noisy environment and gently explain the sites we are exploring.
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The humble famine pots sole purpose was to feed the starving population of Ireland in the packed workhouses and in temporary soup kitchens that had been set up across the country.
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Well it is 20.30 pm Monday evening 8 th June 2020 and I'm still in Covid 19 lockdown. I have just returned from my usual evening walk. A walk that takes me up an old lane that runs to the back fields on our farm here – a lane that once lead to someone's home.
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Your Travel Tips for Northern Ireland 2021
Hello Barbara here from Guided Tours Ireland and Armagh Guided Tours. - Hope your all keeping well.
As a Local Northern Ireland Guide I have been planning and guiding visitors around for a over 15 years. I was excited to see Northern Ireland vibrant with tourists in 2019 and enquiries for 2020 rolling in fast. Then “bang” Corvid 19 hit and lockdown came along in early March 2020.
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Internationally celebrated Irish Folk musician, artist, poet and storyteller
“In That Land”
“Come with me and I’ll take you to the land of my fathers,
Where wild heather mountains look out at the sea.
You will find hearts as kind as the soft winds of summer,
And a warm welcome waiting for you and for me”.
Tommy Makem
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It’s May Day holiday week 2020 and the weather is fantastic. Certainly, the weather for blossom and beauty. As a local Tour Guide my career started right here on my doorstep in the middle of rural North Armagh in the orchards around the pretty plantation village of Loughgall.
Growing up on a small mixed family farm in this area with orchards right outside my bedroom window this was my local scenery. Family day trips to the mountains and the seaside in the summer months were an introduction to the beauty of the coast and the tranquillity of our sweeping mountain ranges.
Through the eyes of the tourist I rapidly became aware of how our tender caring lifestyle and our soft rolling landscape was something soon to be adored by all the world!
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Mayday marks the beginning of Summer.
Folk believed tradition of driving herds of cows between two bonfires to purify the herd and also bring luck.
May flowers such as primroses, gorse or hawthorn blossom were gathered before dawn and placed in bundles on door posts to ward of evil.
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Hopefully see everybody in 2021
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These are all my own snaps when out and about around my homeland of Northern Ireland in 2019. Sorry 2020 cancelled BUT 2021 will be a blast!
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All over the countryside of Ireland today the hedgerows are colouring up with that beautiful yellow flower. In the North we call it WHIN, in County Cork they call it FURZE and city folk call it GORSE.
Like a lot of the hedgerow of Ireland WHIN has its links with the ancient Celtic folklore. It is said to be the symbol of the sun god Lugh, as it carries a spark of sun all year. It symbolises Joy.
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Dear All
“To a Mouse” is a well loved poem by Scotland’s favourite son Robert Burns 1785. Burns was ploughing in the fields and accidentally destroyed a mouse’s nest, which it needed to survive the winter. In fact, Burns’s brother claimed that the poet composed the poem while still holding his plough.
The lengthy poem describes Burn’s affection and sadness for the mouse at the destruction of her nest however in verse seven we read the above quote:
But Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The Best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often askew
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For a promised joy!
Above is just me Barbara, Tourist Guide for Guided Tours Ireland and Armagh Guided Tours working through the present day situation regarding coronavirus.
Plans and bookings for your 2020 trip to Northern Ireland will probably not now take place however with a little bit of tweaking here and there there is no reason why your trip cannot be enjoyed in 2021………..maybe bigger and better!
For me it is eerily quiet here with no email enquiries only email cancellations. I have accepted it now and occupy my time on the farm with the new lambs. Glad to have this distraction and to enjoy nature at work.
I would however encourage you all to look on around the corner or over the horizon and plan for 2021. Don’t be shy about asking for help with a specific route through Ireland, hotels/Bed & Breakfast or indeed some extra interests you may wish to enjoy. Like me you will certainly have plenty of time to brain storm and interact with your travel friends over the internet.
Researching and planning with you for that 2020 trip to Ireland has been rewarding however the meeting up is the icing on the cake so keep on planning with 2021 in mind.
In the meantime keep safe, be strong and keep dreaming of Ireland!
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"Keeping my distance" at the Cloughmore Stone (The Big Stone) on the sloops of Slieve Martin, Rostrevor this am.
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Did you know that Patrick chose Armagh to be the centre of the Christian church in Ireland? Today Armagh City boast two proud cathedrals both called St Patrick’s Cathedrals. The oldest being St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral from where the Primate of All Ireland has his seat. The second Cathedral St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral built after Catholic Emancipation for which the foundation stone was laid on St Patrick’s day 1840. Here also is the seat of the Primate of All Ireland of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland.
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OK so you really want to see, eat, drink and share our true culture? Step away from the big cities of industry and commerce and out into the heartland of Northern Ireland.
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How many visitors to Ireland make Powerscourt Gardens and Hotel County Wicklow one of their top must see attractions?
Dig deep into the history of this amazing Manor House at Powerscourt and discover The Wingfield Family holders of the title Viscount Powerscourt. They were one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Ireland. Their estates in Dublin, TYRONE, Wexford and Wicklow totalled over 60,000 acres.
While I too visit the Powerscourt Gardens and enjoy the grandeur of the historical Manor House - Powerscourt Hotel it’s that link with the quiet village of Benburb, County Tyrone that interests me.
Of course I am interested, not only am I a Tourist Guide for Northern Ireland, I live just 30 minutes away from Benburb!
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The first supreme champion in the sport of coursing was Lord Lurgan’s (Charles Brownlow) greyhound.
Master McGrath who won the Waterloo Cup on three occasions 1868, 1869 and 1871.
The dog became a household name in Britain and such was his fame that Queen Victoria commanded his appearance at Windsor Castle.
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Stories of people being waylaid by the faery folk to places where time passes differently are common in Celtic mythology, and the hawthorn was one of, if not the most likely tree to be inhabited or protected by the Wee Folk!
Contact Us
Barbara Ferguson
Accredited Blue Badge Tourist Guide
Northern Ireland Guided Tours
41 Coolmillish Road
Markethill
Co. Armagh
BT60 1SH
Northern Ireland
For your answer to an experienced & fun guided tour of Northern Ireland - Barbara is here to help
+44 (0) 28 3755 1119
+44 (0) 7740 511 442
Email: info@guidedtoursireland.com
