In this Issue:

Tourism News Travel News Recipe Final Thought

Tourism News

Eir scraps EU roaming charges
Eir has become the first mobile operator in Ireland to get rid of EU roaming charges, which is timely news for anyone planning their holidays.
more>>

1916 Centenary
Ireland 2016 is an ambitious and wide-ranging national commemorative initiative, embracing seven distinct programme strands each with an extensive programme of events.
more>>

Spring Events 2016

16th - 20th March 2016
Kilkenny Trad Festival
The 4th Kilkenny TradFest returns from the 16th to 20th March 2016. The festival showcases the best of Irish traditional music, in a variety of unique venues across Kilkenny city. Held across St.Patrick’s Day weekend, the festival is accessible to everyone, with both free and ticketed events.
more>>

17th - 20th March 2016
Dublin St Patrick's Day Festival
Celebrate Now, the theme for the 2016 Festival Parade, will be brought to life by leading pageant companies on March 17th - their fantastical creations and thrilling performances, inspired by the present, will enthral and excite the crowds.
more>>

24th - 28th March
Galway Food Festival

Join us from March 24th - 28th 2016 for five festive days of open-air markets, food trails and family fun. Last year, over 70,000 people attended Galway Food Festival events including the festival food village at Spanish Arch; the Galway, Moycullen and Woodquay Country Markets and a packed programme of talks, tours, tastings, demonstrations and workshops involving over 100 restaurants, food outlets and food producers located across the city and County.
more>>

29th March - 3rd April 2016
Pan Celtic Festival 2016
The festival takes place from 29th March 2016 - 3rd April 2016. All events, times and locations of the various activities are detailed in the programme
more>>

Travel and Tourism Statistics
In the period November 2015 - January 2016, the total number of trips to Ireland increased by 18.4% to 1,745,400 - an overall increase of 271,400 compared to the same period twelve months earlier. The following table shows trips made to Ireland between November 2015- January 2016, compared with the same period the previous year and indicates where the visitors came from.
more>>

Travel News

Iarnód Éireann Easter Arrangements
Iarnód Éireann will be providing additional capacity on all DART and Commuter services on both Easter Sunday & Easter Monday. Customers travelling over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend are advised to check times before travelling.
more>>

Bus Éireann announce County Mayo service improvements
Bus Éireann introduces Route 458 enhancing services between Ballina – Enniscrone – Sligo – Manorhamilton – Enniskillen. During 2014 the National Transport Authority carried out a public consultation exercise regarding public transport in County Mayo.
Following consideration of the feedback received, Bus Éireann will be implementing the following bus service improvements in County Mayo and adjoining counties. The revised services, which have been approved by the National Transport Authority will be introduced on the 13th March 2016.
more>>

Recipe

St Patrick’s Potatoes

Serves 6-8
1kg medium-sized potatoes
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
100g well-flavoured farmhouse cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
300ml milk
300ml double cream

Method
Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 1, 140°c (275°f). Peel the potatoes and cut them into thin slices. Overlap one-third of the slices over the base of a buttered 2¼ litre shallow ovenproof dish and sprinkle with half the chopped garlic, one-third of the grated cheese and some salt and pepper. Repeat the layers once more, then finish with a final layer of neatly overlapped potatoes.
Warm the milk and cream together in a pan with a little more seasoning to taste. Pour over the potatoes and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Bake for approximately 1½ hours until the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Cover very loosely with a sheet of foil part-way through cooking after the top has become nicely golden.
For more recipe ideas click here more>>

Final Thought

May the blessing of light be on you light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you and warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire.
Old Celtic Blessing

Happy St Patricks Day

Travel Directories Ireland
Web: www.eirtravel.info
e-mail: info@eirtravel.info
Wap: www.eirtravel.info/wap/
Phone: +353 (0)52 7442810