IrishBeat.com

A new report suggests more North Americans are visting Northern Ireland than ever before. Statistics released by the NI Tourism Board shows a 14 percent jump in U.S. and Canadian tourists. That’s excellent news for the country, especially as the same data finds Britons — the NI’s main market – are starting to stay away.

To be honest, I don’t know much about Six Northern Counties — except that I’ve never contemplated going there. The Troubles, the religious intolerance and the British pound kept my interest at bay. I admit I also have a prejudice because my gram, like any good Irish grandmother from the lower 36, often invoked Northern Ireland when wanted to scare her grandchildren. Misbehave at dinner or act sassy during Mass and she would threaten to sell you to the “Tinkers in Northern Ireland.” Make a sour face and she would accuse you of having “the look of the North.”

She wanted us to believe that the North was a bag of rotten potatoes and so we did. Nevermind that she grew up in County Leitrim, where only small two-lane road separates her beloved Ireland from the North. Nevermind that her NI-produced Belleek teapot was the most prized piece in her china cabinet. (In regards to the latter, she insisted the delicate china had an Irish soul and an unfortunate UK address.)

But with relative peace in the country and enough Aadvantage miles in my account, I’m thinking about visiting Northern Ireland for the first time. Any travel suggestions, tips and advice are welcomed.

Dear Bono,

I have forgiven a lot over the years. The iPod commericial. The Rattle-n-Hum documentary. The perpetual soapbox. The entire Zooropa album. I even forgave you for marrying your childhood sweetheart, Ali, instead of waiting for a quirky, freckled-faced sixth grader from Chicago to come of age.

However, I’m not sure I can forgive the selection process behind the band’s latest album, U218. How does “Sweetest Thing” make it before “All I Want Is You” ? And, really,  “Mysterious Ways” before “Bad”? They boyish lads on the CD cover suggest it’ll contain music from the early years, yet there’s not much to be found. (Rememeber “Boy?” I do.)

You and the other three guys are still the coolest things to ever come out of north Dublin. I’m just not sure I need to plunk down $20 to remind you of that fact.

This time you’ll have to make it on your own.

Nellie

ps Seriously, “Mysterious Ways”?

Now that the Dems have taken over congress, what will this mean. Haven’t the Irish been historically Democratic? Or were we only democratic until we became “The Man” in power?
This Irishman thinks that as our Irish blood has integrated into the new American culture over the last 100 years, we’ve grown more Republican. My theory is that the accumulation of wealth and power makes a person more conservative and more likely to shift there opinions to the right. What do you think? Are you a Donkey or a Elephant and how do you think the Irish lean?