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Heaps of Irish Charm

By Susan | Published January 16, 2012

Letterkenny in County Donegal was voted “Best Kept Urban Centre” in 2007 and in 2011 was voted tidiest town in the country. It continues to maintain its reputation as a clean, tidy and friendly destination for travellers to Ireland. Letterkenny sits atop a hill and runs down to the banks of the River Swilly and here developed a fishing village that was the first major crossing point of the river.

The town is an excellent base from where visitors can travel around the surrounding countryside travelling to the likes of Derry or taking time to wander the beautiful Glenveagh National Park, only 30 minutes away, the wildlife around Letterkenny also provides many a perfect photo opportunity.

St Eunan's Cathedral

Attractions in Letterkenny

St Eunan’s Cathedral the tallest building in Letterkenny is a relatively modern cathedral being completed in 1901 in a Victorian Neo-Gothic style with the ceilings the work of Amici of Rome and the stained glass coming from Munich. Remodelling of the cathedral in 1989 took great care to retain the carvings based on Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.”

Opposite the cathedral is the Conwal Parish Church, a fine 17th century structure where a number of prominent townsfolk are buried.

Donegal Museum based in the Warden’s house of the Letterkenny Workhouse has been preserving the history of the county since 1845 and contains original archaeological and historical artefacts surrounding the social and everyday life of the people from prehistoric periods through to the modern era.

Public artworks

The Polestar at the Port Bridge Roundabout has become one of Letterkenny’s main sculptural attractions. Made from sturdy wooden poles in the form of a ships hull and railway track, it tells the tale of the towns history of trade by rail and sea.

100 blacksmiths created the Blacksmith’s Ball, outside the Courthouse in 1991. The yellow, wooden sculpture, “The Chair” has been in Market Square since 2005, since that time it has also mysteriously been joined by a green and blue version.

The Rabble Children is a poignant sculpture from 1994 which tells the sad tale of youngsters sold into the service of farmers at Hirling Fairs in days past during May and November. The Workers Monument erected in 2001, the “Fireman’s helmet,” a part of the travellers project and the Celtic Cross of 2006 are all further examples of artistic endeavour on show around the town.

Letterkenny hotel

Staying in Letterkenny

The four-star, award winning Radisson Blu Hotel at Letterkenny provides excellent accommodation for tourists wishing to stay in the town whilst exploring the delights of Ireland’s dramatic north western landscape. This is a modern hotel with 114 sumptuously decorated rooms and an equally as delicious menu in the Rosetta awarded, TriBeCa Brasserie. There is also the Oakk Bar and Grill or the Palm Lounge where guests can relax and enjoy a friendly drink before dining.

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Working in Ireland For the Non-EU Resident

By Susan | Published December 20, 2011

If you dream of working in Ireland but you are not a citizen of a European Union country, is there any hope for you?

It is possible to live and work in Ireland if you are not an EU citizen, but it will be more difficult because you will need to apply for a work permit first. Anyone who is not an EU national is required to have a work permit before working in Ireland.

Working Holiday Visa

If you are between the ages of 18 and 30 and from one of the accepting countries including Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Korea, you can live and work in Ireland for one year on a working holiday visa. This permit is relatively easy to apply for and requires that you have sufficient funds to support yourself when you arrive and that you fill out a few forms.

However, it is important to note that the Working Holiday Visa scheme is only intended for a maximum of one year and is designed for young people on a gap year who want to pick up casual work to fund their travels around Ireland. It is not a permanent solution for someone who wants to relocate to Ireland for the long term.

Longer Term Work Permits

There are four different types of employment permits in Ireland. The first is general work permits, the second are green card permits, and then followed by spousal or dependant work permits, and last but not least, intra-company transfer permits.

Green Card Permits

These types of permits are designed for people in occupations which have annual salaries of over 60,000 Euro or who are employed in certain industries where still shortages have been identified. These industries include technology, health care, industry, finance and research. To receive the card, you need to have a job offer from an employer which is officially registered with the Revenue Commissioners for two years or more. The Green Card Permit will be issued for two years and a renewal is not required. If you are eligible to acquire a Green Card, your spouse or children will be able to join you in Ireland immediately.

Spousal and Dependent Work Permits

If you already have a work permit in Ireland, your spouse, civil partner, or dependent under the age of 18 can also apply for a work permit. Spousal work permits only apply to partners who are legally resident in Ireland, and if you and your partner are not married or civil partners you will not be able to apply for a spousal work permit.

Intra-Company Transfer Permits

This type of permit would apply if you were working for a company overseas and then were transferred to a branch of the organization operating in Ireland. This particular scheme allows foreign nationals from outside of the EU to be transferred over to the Irish branch of their company. It is strictly limited to senior management, key personnel or employees who are undertaking a training programme.

Before applying for a work permit in Ireland, determine which of these four different types of permits apply to you. Good luck on your application to live and work in beautiful Ireland!

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The Animal Magnetism of Sydney

By Susan | Published December 7, 2011

Australia is a travel destination that people are willing to quite literally travel to the other side of the world to see – and a big part of that is the animals. Here are a few of the zoological treats that Sydney has to offer.

Beasts

Perhaps the thing that Australia is most famous for are its animals. There are all kinds of weird and wonderful creatures in Australia, many of which are totally unique to the country, and the likes of which are not seen anywhere else on Earth. Snakes , spiders and kangaroos are just some of the iconic beasties that make the land down under their home. Sydney is home to some great attractions if this is what interests you.

Many of Australia’s creatures have a fearsome and deadly reputation, none more so than the shark. The Bondi Shark museum celebrates these fascinating creatures. With exhibits that range from marine conservation to the artistic there is plenty to see.

Another attraction with a strong conservation message is the Sydney Aquarium. The creatures of the deep are here in all their glory. This is ideal if the Bondi Shark museum has put you off the idea of going diving! The Sydney Aquarium is massively popular, and is perhaps the premier tourist attraction in the city. Admittance is not cheap, but is certainly worth it. There are fish of all shapes and sizes, sharks, manatees, turtles and even penguins. It is a day out that you are unlikely to ever forget.

What the aquarium is to the creatures of the sea, Taronga Zoo is to the beasts of the land. This zoo has a rich history dating back 95 years. Despite its age the zoo has kept up with the times and has the animals housed in the kind of standards we now know are needed and is also involved in cutting edge conservation work. It really is a veritable Noah’s Ark – with as you might expect Australasian animals especially well represented.

Speaking of distinctly Australian animals, you certainly don’t get more Aussie than a cuddly Koala. If you want to get up close to these marvellous marsupials then a trip to the Koala Park Sanctuary will be for you. It’s not all Koalas here however, and you can also see and learn about emu’s, peacocks, kangaroos, wombats and dingos.

Of course it is more than possible to go out and see some of Australia’s animals that are free, wild, and in their native habitat. Sydney boast a variety of guided tours that will take you out of the city into the wide open spaces to see the furred feathered and scaled inhabitants. Examples of excursions that you can take include going to Kakadu Gorge and seeing a five metre crocodile. Struth!

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