The festival includes a few marquee events.  The Kilfenora Ceili Band is celebrating their 100th birthday, and will have a special jam session for all those in attendance.  Gaelic Storm will be celebrating their 10th anniversary, an absolute must-see for any festival goer.  What would Irish Fest be without the wonderful pints and flavorful Irish liquor?  The Jameson Lounge will feature participatory tasting, an overview of the whiskey’s history by the Jameson Ambassador, and an all-day pub to feature the best of all brews from Ireland.

This year’s Sunday mass is scheduled for 9:30am at the Marcus Amphitheater.  Irish Fest’s Sunday mass is one of the largest outdoor masses in the United States.  This year’s special guest who will offer a unique spiritual touch to the mass, is The Most Reverend Anthony Farquhar, Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor in Northern Ireland.  Donations of a non-perishable food before the mass, will allow you to enter free of charge.

Lastly, before you bid the festival farewell, take a gander at the many trinkets and specialty items offered in the Cultural Village and the Moore Street Market.  Books, sheet music, CD’s, crystal, and much more; will make sure you don’t leave Milwaukee Irish Fest empty handed.

After arriving to Glenculloo Cottage, I was surprised to see all of the growth of the many bushes and flowers I had planted the previous season.  I am very pleased with the results!

As I was heading out on a hike, I waved to my neighbor Kathleen as she departed for the Hurling Match between Tipperary and Cork, long-time arch rivals.  Tipperary won, YEAH!

Newest flowers are in full bloom.

When I travel to any destination, and particularly when I plan and arrange my accommodation, there is one criterion that always tops my list as a Gay Traveler – I want to be comfortable in my surroundings, relax, and be myself.  After all, I am on holiday!

In its March 2009 publication, Out Magazine featured “Road Trip Ireland,” an article highlighting a comprehensive 3-day trip through Cork and Southwest Ireland.  I’ve personally traveled this route many times and can attest to its beauty.  Living in Ireland for a portion of each year, I understand why it tops many “must see” travel itineraries… it certainly has been enchanting me for two decades.  When it comes to Gay acceptance, Out Magazine suggests, “Ireland has grown up, but kept its charms.”…and charming it is.

Unfortunately, while Ireland has made great strides to be an inclusive and non-discriminatory society during its recent years of unprecedented economic growth and prosperity, it continues to lack accommodations that truly cater to the LGBTQ traveler, offering them something “special” during their Ireland Experience.  Those listed as gay friendly are located in but a few Metropolitan areas, and nearly non-existent in “rural” Ireland.  Even popular and credible gay travel sites like Purple Roofs, offer very few accommodation options for Ireland, while nearly every other surrounding country seems to offer numerous options for the GLBTQ traveler.

I can assure you that the Irish are an amazing bunch, and plenty of Irish hosts will make you and your party feel wonderfully comfortable and right at home.  But, as an avid traveler, I relish the opportunities when I am able to explore a dream destination AND stay in a unique accommodation that is GLBTQ friendly, especially when it provides that “extra something special”.

Glenculloo Cottage is a Gay Owned and Operated Irish Bed and Breakfast in the heart of County Tipperary, that offers just such an experience.  In fact, it is not just unique to Irish Gay Accommodation, it is unique period!  We provide our guests a unique and exclusive Irish country cottage vacation experience, away from mass tourist crowds but central to many desirable ‘must-see’ destinations, in the heart of County Tipperary. We offer a Full-Service B&B Experience, catering to only one group of guests at a time which means you are free to utilize the accommodation as if it were your own, be yourself, and feel completely at ease.  Take advantage of our Personalized Tour Service during your stay and relax as we chauffer you around Ireland, fulfilling an itinerary you personally create.  Whether it is a group holiday, anniversary celebration or honeymoon – let us make your Ireland Experience unforgettable.  Check-out our new web site at www.glenculloocottage.com .  Contact us today so we can start planning your trip of a lifetime!

Welcome to the first installment of our Travelers Journal!  With the recent completion of our new website, www.glenculloocottage.com, we are excited to implement this new format, allowing past and prospective guests, family, and friends a glimpse into all the happenings at Glenculloo Cottage, our Ireland vacation home.  We hope that these entries will be not only be informational and enjoyable, but ultimately tempt you to visit Glenculloo Cottage and experience the ‘real’ Ireland for yourself.  We are thrilled with our new website, and are grateful to InsideOut Solutions, our web design firm, for all their work and very personalized service.  We highly recommend them without reservation, and we hope that Jeff and Beth (two of our ‘design team’) enjoy their planned stay at Glenculloo Cottage in August 2009.

April 25, 2009 was a remarkable day!  We hosted a very successful web site launch party for 60 guests at County Clare in Milwaukee, WI.  The new website was unveiled as we munched great food and threw back a few pints.  Guests who had visited Glenculloo Cottage as B&B guests, exchanged stories and reminisced.  Others had the opportunity to ask questions, meet their hosts, and start planning their Ireland dream vacation.  It was great craic’ all around…and, as the Irish would say, “drink was taken”…

Tony leaves for Ireland on May 29, 2009 to begin welcoming his guests.  Our Irish neighbors report that ‘spring has sprung’ in the Glenculloo Valley.  The daffodils are up and the lambing season is well underway, nearly drawing to a close now.  The valley is being transformed from its typical winter colors of creamy-browns and sage-greens to the intense and verdant green that Ireland is famous for…all the better for grazing those new lambs.  The Mulkear River, which fronts Glenculloo Cottage, ‘roars’ in the Spring as the snow melts off the Silvermines Mountains…this contrasted with its normal, laid-back background ‘babble,’ the rest of the year.  Spring in Ireland is my favorite time of year!  The new foals hover nervously around their protective mothers.  The lambs hop about the fields – yes, they hop!  The calves endlessly suckle their mothers, only to be dissuaded by the occasional firm rebuff when ‘momma needs a break’.  When you live in the rural Irish countryside, life revolves around the seasons, and indeed the ‘farming life’.  There is something very comforting about the inherent predictability of the daily goings-on.  I can set my watch by the rumble of Pat’s tractor as he descends into the valley to ‘fodder’ his cattle.  On any given day I can expect a visit from him when the work is done.  I invariably inquire “how you keeping” and he will reply “grand, not a bother” – and we will retire to the smoldering hearth and chat over a glass of whiskey.  County Tipperary boasts some of the best agricultural land in Ireland, and we live on the Golden Mile, which is not only lush, but spectacularly beautiful. We are well into booking guests for our B&B and Self-Catering options for summer 2010, and look foward to seeing you soon!

Slainte!

We will start blogging and keeping you up-to-date here on our “Traveler’s Journal” soon!