Battlefield Tours Bring All Sides of History to the Fore
By Martin Hintz
The adage that history is written by the victors, Ireland's new Military Heritage Tours Ltd. will make sure that a guest gets both sides of the conflict being studied. Launched in 2002 by Donal Buckley, a retired captain in the regular Irish Army, and reserve Capt. Tony Martin, the excursions deals with Irish military history and heritage. The firm is the only one in Ireland exclusively devoted to visiting military sites on the island. [More]
 

Albion Armorers Are Cut Above the Rest
By Martin Hintz
The gang at Albion Armorers in New Glarus, Wis., has a simple way of looking at these troubled days. Some of their promo material reads, “This economy sucks. During tough economic times, people need an escape. We want to help....let’s have a little fun while we wait for things to get better.” [More]
 

Things That Change...and Those That Don’t 
...on Strangford Lough
By Patrick Taylor
Turn the map of Ireland through 90 degrees and you will see the silhouette of a small, shaggy dog. The animal’s legs and body form the sovereign nation of the Republic of Ireland. Lying in the dog’s head are the six counties that owe allegiance to the British crown. Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital, is 10 miles as the crow flies from Newtownards, a busy market town set at the head of the largest salt-water inlet in the British Isles. It marks the little dog’s ear. Strangford Lough, 33 kilometers long by six kilometers wide, the largest sea inlet in the British Isles, is one of Ulster’s most popular tourist destinations. [More]
 

Flanagan's Wake
The Miramar Theatre presents this hilarious interactive Irish comedy. (advertisement) [More]
 

Milwaukee Pub Scene Flourishes
Milwaukee has always had a vibrant pub scene. Milwaukee¹s long-ago publicans are well noted. Big Bill Delaney ran a tough drinking house at 1110 Hill St. but his wife, Nellie O'Connell, kept a close watch on Himself. Killarney-born Jimmy Hogan had a place at 162 Menomonee, joined the Hibernian Benevolent Society and married Mary McGrath, which barely slowed him down. James Foley became a firefighter in 1868, was member of the Common Council from the Irish Third Ward and ran a saloon at 421 E. Water St., thereby ensuring that all his bases were covered. [More]
 

It Happened in September 
Wicklow; the Youngest County Is Born
By Mattie Lennon
When you think of the Co. Wicklow (“The garden of Ireland”) it conjures up images of Glendalough, the Sugar Loaf,Lacken and the Blessington Lakes. If you are old enough, pictures of “The Battle of Baltinglass” and referees locked in car-boots may spring to mind but do you ever think of the origins of the county? [More]