You get the real thing, and you get a great opportunity to learn English as well. You’ll take part in farm activities, eat with the family, and find yourself totally immersed in the English language. You’ll get full [...]]]> I’ve written about Language Travel Ireland before, but their farm stay programme deserves a special mention.

You get the real thing, and you get a great opportunity to learn English as well. You’ll take part in farm activities, eat with the family, and find yourself totally immersed in the English language. You’ll get full board accomodation with your own room, and have English lessons from a private teacher ensuring you get the best from your stay.

 
Here’s what Johanna, a young German student, had to say…

“It was first journey without my parents to another country and I’ve enjoyed it very much. The house of my family had a very nice garden. In the evening, we had a barbeque in their garden and a few friends came. They were really nice and they told me a lot of their lives. The English lessons with my teacher were good and we had a lot of fun. One day, we went to Fota Wildlife Park and I saw giraffes, monkeys and a lot more animals. Another day, we drove to Galway and went to visit their relatives. While we were driving through the beautiful scenery, my teacher and her two daughters sang Irish songs. I enjoyed my trip to Ireland and definitely I will come back.”

LTI offer a unique and authentic experience, and if you’re looking for a farm stay holiday you should really check them out. Here’s their farm stay programme. Enjoy!

This has optimistic and positives [...]]]> The Irish Global Economic Forum starts in Farmleigh on September 18 and draws together, amongst others, some of the most influential members of the Irish diaspora. The idea was inspired by David McWilliams and is being organised and managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, headed up by Michael Martin.

This has optimistic and positives vibes, and maybe the best way to reflect what it’s about is to quote some words from the people at the heart of it…

‘A national effort to reach out to the most successful and influential members of Ireland’s diaspora…’

‘to explore how the Irish, at home and abroad, and those with a strong interest in Ireland, can work together’

‘to harness the talents ‘of people who are conscious of worldwide trends in business and technology’’ and “find ways to network this global diaspora more effectively…’

‘it’s time to re-imagine the country so that we become the guardian of the exiled Irish. This is why the Global Irish Economic Conference in Farmleigh on September 18 is a great start to what could be the next phase of our country’s development, whereby Ireland reaches out to the diaspora’

‘we should try to imagine a greater Ireland that transcends geography’

‘to maximise the sharing of ideas and engagement between participants, while facilitating concrete outcomes’

‘a step towards addressing our current economic challenges and a platform for the development of a long term strategy which will channel the enormous potential of this global community. The positive reaction with which invitees have greeted the initiative augurs well for its success’

‘over the past 6 years alone, the Government has provided some €60million in funding to Irish Diaspora organisations and projects and in 2007 organised a successful Diaspora conference in Dublin Castle. The Forum builds on this work’

Thoughts here…?

Tourism, review of citizenship rights, art and heritage, and a Global Irish Network?

Great initiative, and definitely looking forward to seeing the results.

Here’s the official forum website.

Post Forum Update: here’s the subsequent forum report published by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Global Irish Economic Forum – Part II

Want to learn it really well?

Want to learn quickly?

Want to enjoy the experience and have a great time?

Simple – learn English in Ireland!

Language Travel Ireland give you the best chance of improving your English – ‘By Living It’. They provide intensive, one-to-one English courses in your teacher’s [...]]]> Want to learn English?

Want to learn it really well?

Want to learn quickly?

Want to enjoy the experience and have a great time?

Simple – learn English in Ireland!

Language Travel Ireland give you the best chance of improving your English – ‘By Living It’. They provide intensive, one-to-one English courses in your teacher’s home, and their aim is to help you improve your English in the shortest possible time.

Plus there’s an additional opportunity – you get to enjoy Ireland and an authentic cultural experience at the same time. You can choose 10, 15, 20 or 25 hours English lessons per week and stay as many weeks as you like. You can learn in Galway, Dublin, Cork or Limerick, and get out and about and enjoy the local scene whilst here.

Everything will be in English so you’ve got no choice but to soak it up – and it works. Each year 130,000 foreign students come to Ireland to learn English, and Ireland is now one of the top destinations in Europe.

If you’re looking for something extra, LTI also provide English for business, farm stay, and sports and cultural programmes, so there’s plenty of options to choose from.

Hopefully we’ve got you thinking, and you can get all the info at the LTI website.

Enjoy, come to Ireland, learn English, and have a great time!

If you’re calling from outside of Ireland prefix the local number with the Irish international code (00353) – for example to call Abbeyleix you would dial 00353 57 xxxxxxx.

Abbeyleix - 57 An Daingean - 66 Aran Islands - 99 Ardee - 41 [...]]]> A list of Irish telephone codes covering the major areas of Ireland:

If you’re calling from outside of Ireland prefix the local number with the Irish international code (00353) – for example to call Abbeyleix you would dial 00353 57 xxxxxxx.

Abbeyleix - 57
An Daingean - 66
Aran Islands - 99
Ardee - 41
Arklow - 402
Athlone - 90
Athy - 59
Ballina - 96
Ballinasloe - 90
Ballinrobe - 94
Ballydehob! – 28
Baltinglass - 59
Bandon - 23
Bantry - 27
Belmullet - 97
Belturbet - 49
Birr - 57
Buncrana - 74
Cahir - 52
Cahirciveen - 66
Carlow - 59
Carrickmacross - 42
Carrick-on- Shannon - 71
Carrick-on-Suir - 51
Cashel - 62
Castlebar - 94
Castleblayney - 42
Castlecomer - 56
Castlepollard - 44
Castlerea - 94
Cavan - 49
Charleville - 63
Claremorris - 94
Clifden - 95
Clones - 47
Clonmel - 52
Coachford - 21
Cootehill - 49
Cork - 21
Curragh - 45
Donegal - 74
Drogheda - 41
Dublin Central - 1
Dublin North - 1
Dublin South - 1
Dundalk - 42
Dungarvan - 58
Dungloe - 74
Edenderry - 46
Enfield - 46
Ennis - 65
Enniscorthy - 55
Ennistymon - 65
Fermoy - 25
Ferns - 55
Freshford - 56
Galway - 91
Gorey - 55
Gort - 91
Granard - 43
Kanturk - 29
Kells - 46
Kildare - 45
Kilkenny - 56
Killarney - 64
Killenaule - 52
Killorglin - 66
Kilmacthomas - 51
Kilrush - 65
Kinsale - 21
Letterkenny - 74
Limerick - 61
Listowel - 68
Longford - 43
Loughrea - 91
Macroom - 26
Mallow - 22
Manorhamilton - 71
Monaghan - 47
Muine Bheag - 59
Mullingar - 44
Naas - 45
Navan - 46
Nenagh - 67
New Ross - 51
Newcastle West - 69
Northern Ireland - 48
Oldcastle - 49
Portlaoise - 57
Portumna - 90
Rathmore - 64
Roscommon - 90
Roscrea - 505
Scariff - 61
Skibbereen - 28
Sligo - 71
Thurles - 504
Tipperary - 62
Tralee - 66
Trim - 46
Tuam - 93
Tullamore - 57
Tyrellspass - 44
Waterford - 51
Westport - 98
Wexford - 53
Wicklow - 404
Youghal - 24

If you need a more detailed list check out Eircom’s directory here