Happy St. Patrick's Day! Kissing the Blarney Stone, walking down Dublin's Parnell Street, standing at the Cliffs of Mohr, and savoring the Guinness in Bono's Kitchen will remain in my heart forever. Ireland is truly a magical destination, easy to navigate and affordable on any budget. Each village has its own history, its own façade, and newly-discovered strengths...

In the 1990s, Ireland experienced an economic boom unlike any it had ever seen in its modern history. It seems as if every village in the Republic has its own DIY (Do-It-Yourself) store – these are like Home Depot stores in the States. The Irish are redecorating and renovating old homes like crazy! And they are building onto their once-small villages. More and more young couples are now able to purchase homes, and rental cottages have become B&Bs.

More on Ireland next time…

By guest writer Kathleen A.