Whiskey in the jar

The years spent on this side of the pond have meant my tastes lean more towards bourbon whiskey than Irish or Scotch whiskey these days, but the video below is a gem of an Irish advert to be sure to be sure. Enjoy..
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Tags: ..Whiskey in the jar..

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Trip Home to Dublin

I went back to the ol' sod for a week recently and was fortunate to have great weather (a rare occurrence in Ireland). The missus snapped plenty of photos as we were walking around my local area (Raheny) and we ventured into the city center quite often to meet up with folks for a pint or three! So much has changed since I left 25 years ago, it's like exploring a whole new city.  Enjoy the pics below.

Tags: ..Trip Home to Dublin, Ireland..

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United Airlines Flights to Ireland - Deal Alert

Late November / early December tends to be a bargain to fly from NYC to Dublin, Ireland.  I remember, when I was a lad - (all of 10 years ago!) the fare was ~$300 but those days are long gone. These days, $600 is a great deal and that just happens to be what's on offer for Thanksgiving (November 28th, 2013). On Wednesday night, I booked a direct flight EWR- DUB for the missus, wee man and I, for $750 per adult (traveling Thanksgiving weekend). On Thursday I just happened to re-check the prices and the fare had dropped to $600 so I was able to cancel the previous reservation using United's less than 24 hour rule and re-book for the cheaper fare. Don't you just love bargains..

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Tags: ..United Airlines Flights to Ireland - Deal Alert..

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Babies in Airport Lounges

What do you think about bringing babies into airport lounges? Today we took the wee man into the United Airlines lounge in Boston as we had a 3 hour layover and I have a bunch of free passes which get you free beer and wine and a measly selection of snacks. The reception staff were very welcoming but it's a small lounge and our son was making some typical baby gurgles and grunts which soon cleared the area of passengers but with the extra room we setup baby camp and he was a happy camper . Curious to know your thoughts?

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Baby on Board

We flew Boston to Dublin last week on Aer Lingus using Avios points which is a points bargain and avoids fuel surcharges. We had our 9 month old son with us so were very happy when we got the bassinet seat where the wee man was able to sleep in this cardboard box / bed. Anyone know if this is standard for an airline?

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Is it just me or is Award Booking getting more difficult

I was checking the availability of flights for NYC to Dublin in late May using Googles ITA search engine and the cheapest I could find per person for non-stop was $930

Price for 2 adults
Ticket cost per passenger	$929.97
Price for 1 infant in lap
Ticket cost per passenger	$123.20
Total cost for 3 passengers	$1,983.14

and $730 with a connection

Price for 2 adults
Ticket cost per passenger	$729.00
Price for 1 infant in lap
Ticket cost per passenger	$105.20
Total cost for 3 passengers	$1,563.20

Add a lap infant and it all adds up to be not exactly a bargain. I needed to find another way as cash is a little tight right now and I refuse to rack up debt on a credit card.   

Even after using miles to splurge on first class to Argentina back in December, I still have almost a million miles spread among the various airline accounts of the missus and I.

I checked pointhub (which can hit or miss) for award availability but it was giving me outlandish 120K+ award availability for coach? 

I doubled checked on several airline sites directly and sure enough it was 100K+ for Delta and US Airways.

American wanted 90K although I could have got it for 40K if I was flexible on the dates but alas I am not and I don't have enough miles anyway.

United was 60K but I didn't have enough miles although I could swap in some Ultimate Reward points but I'd rather hold onto them for a rainy day.

I have 400K Avios (British Airways) points but they are notorious for exorbitant fuel surcharges of $500+. Searching the BA site is also a frustratingly slow waste of time.

It's been widely publicized on the forums and travel blogs that you can book Boston to Dublin return for only 25K Avios points flying with Aer Lingus who remarkably charge minimal fuel surcharges. You can search for availability using the United or Qantas websites (partner award availability). Once you find the flights you want you need to call BA to make the booking. So I gave it a shot and it worked like a luck Irish Charm!

I got Boston to Dublin direct for 2 adults & 1 lap child for 52,500 points + $274 in taxes/fees. I still needed to get a return from NYC to Boston which I found for $156 x 2 on United.  Total outlay for the trip is $586 + 52,500 Avios points.  

That is still more than I'd ideally like to pay because of the connecting flight and I could possibly have used those Avios for multiple short hop US flights but I still have a nice little nest egg for that. Sure ain't easy getting from A to B for a reasonable amount of points & taxes these days.

Tags: ..Avios British Airways Aer Lingus Avoid Fuel Surcharge..

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Baby on Board

Last week the missus and I and 3 month old junior headed to Dublin to introduce the wee man to his grand parents. This was our second flight with a baby and worked out very well.  I typically squirm when I see a baby on a flight as do most people.  The plane seat configuration in coach was 3 and 3 and I booked the aisle and window in the hopes it wouldn't be a full flight. That hope was fulfilled and we were able to put a car seat in the free seat which makes a huge difference to having an infant on your lap the whole time.  Flight time to Dublin is approx 7 hours and he slept (like a baby!) for the majority of the trip there and back. 

Tags: ..Flying with a baby, weekend in Dublin..

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Driving in Dublin in 1974

Nice blast from the past of my roots aka Dublin back before the rise and demise of the Celtic Tiger.  Some interesting Irish 70's fashion for good measure. Enjoy! Hat Tip Bobby Mckane
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Tags: ..Driving in Dublin in 1974..

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What the 'F' is Murmuration?

I had no idea what it was until today but now thanks to Paddy in BA - here's the official laymans explanation. Murmuration = Loads of birds (starlings) flying in formation like a swarm of very fast bees - Catch the amazing video after the break.

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Tags: .What the 'F' is Murmuration?..

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Paddy in Ireland

.......continued from here

So I'm back home to the ol' sod for the first time in seventeen months. I'll be spending some time visiting family. I've lived away so long that I don't know many people from school or college anymore but a few high school Facebook people have surfaced recently so that's a possibility. I might even bump into a blogger or two so if yer up for it let me know.

I left Ireland in the eighties when it was at rock bottom economically. To be honest I have felt detached and removed from the Ireland of the Celtic Tiger while re-visiting here over the years. For me it seemed as if many of the people changed, the attitude changed and I felt like a bit of an outsider.

Humility was replaced with arrogance and a new super upper middle class was born overnight. Weekend beers were now supplemented or replaced with mid week wine and champagne bars and designer labels were almost mandatory. Yesterdays average next door neighbour became tomorrows millionaire property tycoon.

I may provoke some negative feedback here but I can say without any doubt I have no interest in living here in the foreseeable future. I'm very proud to be Irish, I love the landscapes and the craic, wit and the humour but I'm very hesitant to adapt and change to 'fit in' to the new Irish lifestyle. I think a lot of people got drunk on the success and forgot where they had come from.

I'm not happy at the recent and rapid nosedive in the Irish economy (currently among the most drastic in Europe) and I certainly don't want things to return to the god awful days of the eighties but a little slap on the wrist may help rid us as a nation of the annoying pretentious extravagance that until recently seemed the 'norm'.

Unfortunately it looks like much more than a slap on the wrist is coming to Ireland and it's a tad bit depressing listening to the news about job losses here. I will enjoy my time with family and friends and then bid them farewell before I head off on the last leg of this quest for a new job and new life.

Update: Very topical article from the Irish Times here

Tags: .Paddy in Dublin Ireland Wicklow..

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Raheny Village, Dublin 5, Ireland

I was born n' bred here and it has some great ol' memories. I went to St Assams then St Pauls, Sybil Hill. My sister went to Manor House just down the road. I went to the Grove Social Club at weekends which was the same hall as I went to gym in school on a Monday morning - yeuch! Also went to the Cricket club in Clontarf

I drank in the Cedars Lounge for the most part but also went to the Green Dolphin now the Watermill. I frequented The Inn and The Station House which used to be called The Manhattan. Then there was Foxhounds and The Old Sheiling Hotel.

Macari's chipper was the regular stop off (a Godsend!) on the way home for a snack box - yummy! The chips were bleedin' deadly! ah the memories!

Want to find some Raheny people you lost contact with? - then join the Raheny Facebook group (click the icon)

...or drop us a comment here!

Click the icon to see descriptions as the slideshow plays

Tags: Raheny Village, Dublin 5,Raheny Village, Dublin 5, eighties 80's 1980's Ireland Raheny photos

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St Pauls College, Sybil Hill, Raheny, Dublin - Class of 1985

I have to admit, for the most part, I did enjoy the experience of attending St Paul's secondary school back in 1979 - 1985.
There was also the strange experience of the weekend social activities being tied to the school, as a lot of us went to 'The Grove' on Saturdays and many a flaggin' was imbibed just before passing the bouncers on the door. (look straight ahead - don't make eye contact!) If you there at the time and have any memories to share why not post them here or upload a old photo or 2?

Contact info:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17406965251

Tags: St Pauls College, Sybil Hill, Raheny, Dublin - Class of 1985, the Grove

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College of Commerce, Rathmines, Dublin, AAT 1988

Basic Info Type: Student Groups - Alumni Groups

Description: College of Commerce, Rathmines, Dublin, AAT 1988

So there were a good ol' bunch o' peeps in the EU sponspored course way back then. I still can't believe we got paid per class to go to college, not that that helped my attendance record much. I thinked I learned more about drinking and pool/snooker/cards than I did accountancy. The binges in 'The Lancer' were great (although the place was a dive) and I'm still recovering from 'rag week'. Share the good ol' times here and post an ol' message or upload a photo here. This was a holiday camp if ever there was one.  I suppose you enjoyed your Late Holidays too?

Contact Info
http://www.new.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=5540733444

Location: Rathmines Road, Dublin, Ireland

Tags: Certified Accountanting Technincian, College of Commerce, Rathmines, Dublin, AAT 1988
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