Moore Tours

Merry Christmas everyone, its a soggy day but great to be with family.

Wish everyone a safe and prosperous new year.

Do you have an Irish name ? It's amazing how far the Irish have gotten. It is still possible to trace your history back to a place in Ireland. Have you been to visit ?

The Kilbeggan Distillery in Co Westmeath was licensed in 1757. It is producing Irish Pot Still whiskey today. What is your favorite Irish whiskey ?

Trying this again as the map got cut off.

The Irish Clans ruled the country until the Norman invasion and here you can see the lands associated with each clan in 1485. The O'Moores were originally the princes of county Laois but like the rest of the clans would have their lands taken away in the following years.

The Irish Clans ruled the country until the Norman invasion and here you can see the lands associated with each clan in 1485. The O'Moores were originally the princes of county Laois but like the rest of the clans would have their lands taken away in the following years.

This map gives a good idea of the size of Ireland compared to Washington State. For such a small place Ireland is packed with amazing history and scenery.

The Hill of Allen is a volcanic hill located on the edge of the vast Bog of Allen. According to legend, Fionn mac Cumhaill had a fortress on the hill and the Fianna warriors trained in the land around it.
The tower was built as a folly in 1863 by a local landowner, the Baronet of Donadea, during the construction a large coffin with human remains were discovered, said to be Fionn himself and re-interred under the site

https://vimeo.com/143605383?fbclid=IwAR3OEL77eq_uPe3scIR3sv5xIlm6la4PRoKKeHpBoYHza_JINPvfm2HyVZM

The Hill of Allen I've walked to the top of the hill over the years, this time I viewed it from a different angle.

In 2020 GAA legend Mícheál O'Muircheartaigh has turned 90. For nearly 70 years he commentated on hurling and Gaelic football. He was the voice of Gaelic Games. I remember hearing him on the radio when we went on a family drive down the country on a Sunday. My father would be glued to the radio to hear how the match was going, wherever the big match of the day was playing.
Mícheál was legendary for keeping us informed and entertained.
Here are some of his witty live commentary ‘quotes’
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín: his father’s from Fermanagh, his mother’s from Fiji. Neither a hurling stronghold.
…and Brian Dooher is down injured. And while he is, I’ll tell ye a little story: I was in Times Square in New York last week, and I was missing the Championship back home. So I approached a newsstand and I said, “I suppose ye wouldn’t have The Kerryman, would ye?” To which, the Egyptian behind the counter turned to me and he said, “Do you want the North Kerry edition, or the South Kerry edition?” He had both – so I bought both. And Dooher is back on his feet…
Anthony Lynch, the Cork corner-back, will be the last person to let you down – his people are undertakers.
Colin Corkery on the 45 lets go with the right boot. It's over the bar. This man shouldn’t be playing football. He’s made an almost Lazarus-like recovery from a heart condition. Lazarus was a great man but he couldn’t kick points like Colin Corkery.
The stopwatch has stopped. It’s up to God and the referee now. The referee is Pat Horan. God is God.
Teddy McCarthy to Mick McCarthy, no relation, Mick McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation.
I saw a few Sligo people at Mass in Gardiner Street this morning and the omens seem to be good for them. The priest was wearing the same colours as the Sligo jersey! 40 yards out on the Hogan Stand side of the field, Ciarán Whelan goes on a rampage… it’s a goal! So much for religion.
He grabs the sliothar, he’s on the 50! He’s on the 40! He’s on the 30… he’s on the ground!
Pat Fox out to the forty and grabs the sliothar. I bought a dog from his father last week. Fox turns and sprints for goal… the dog ran a great race last Tuesday in Limerick… Fox, to the 21, fires a shot – it goes to the left and wide… and the dog lost as well.
In the first half, they played with the wind. In the second half, they played with the ball.
1-5 to 0-8… well, from Lapland to the Antarctic, that’s level scores in any man’s language.
Pat Fox has it on his hurl and is motoring well now, but here comes Joe Rabbitte hot on his tail… I’ve seen it all now, a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke Park!
Teddy looks at the ball, the ball looks at Teddy…
Mike Houlihan for Limerick. He had his jaw broken by a kick from a bullock two months ago. He’s back now. ‘Twas some bullock that broke Mike Houlihan’s jaw!

Mícheál is still doing well and living in Kildare

Boxty - Potato pancakes are a great breakfast food.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/161679/irish-boxty/?clickId=right%20rail0&internalSource=rr_feed_recipe_sb&referringId=220519%20referringContentType%3Drecipe

Irish Boxty Recipe Boxty is a traditional Irish dish made of potatoes. 'Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan; if you can't make boxty, you'll never get a man'.

Traditionally made with minced lamb, we normally make this with ground beef. A great family favorite.. how do you make yours ?
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/220519/irish-shepherds-pie/?clickId=right%20rail0&internalSource=rr_feed_recipe_sb&referringId=161679%20referringContentType%3Drecipe

Irish Shepherd's Pie Recipe Seasoned ground lamb and vegetables are baked under Irish Cheddar-mashed potatoes in Chef John's version of this comfort food classic.

Doesn't this look like a good use for some leftovers ? the same crust is good for veggie pies too...

https://www.bordbia.ie/lifestyle/all-recipes/sunday-roast-beef-pies-using-leftovers/

Sunday Roast Beef Pies using Leftovers – Bord Bia Delicious, hearty beef pies made with leftovers from a Sunday roast.

We finished up with a few days in Dublin to put some history in perspective and to check out the pubs and music :-)

Always a great way to eat potatoes and cabbage. This creamy concoction feels decadent and it's very easy.

https://www.food.com/recipe/irish-colcannon-creamy-potatoes-and-cabbage-230332

Irish Colcannon (Creamy Potatoes and Cabbage) Recipe - Food.com This dish is a favorite to be served on All Saints Day in Ireland. It is also said that it was a favorite of Jonathan Swift.

Wicklow is called the garden of Ireland and it's mountains have called people for centuries. St. Kevin founded the 'monastic city' of Glendalough. The name means the valley of two lakes and it's a beautiful spot. Afterwards we took one of my favorite drives over the Sally Gap. What's your favorite drive in Ireland ?

This was our day from Kinsale to Kilkenny ! Kilkenny Castle is amazing, owned by the Butler family for generations until they sold it to Ireland for a mere 50 punts it's now run by OPW ! Sadly it was a super wet day so not much wandering about but quality time in Matt the Millers pub !

Blarney Castle. Have you kissed the Blarney Stone ?

Touring the Di**le Peninsula in some wild weather.

Bunratty castle and folk park, time to feast like lords and ladies, guests of the Lord of Thomond.

Kylemore Abbey, the Bendictine nuns have maintained the house and.gardens since 1920. Beautiful spot.

Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands. An incredible landscape of rock and cliffs, this is the edge of Europe. The islands of Ireland reveal it's soul.

Stopped off to have a wee dram at Tullamore Dew :-)
Decided the 12 year old needed to be added to the cabinet

Started exploring today with this great bunch of people.
Has anyone been anywhere older than this ? 3000 BC and still watertight inside.

Liz and Michael will be running this tour together in NYC for Thanksgiving 2020. We always walk up to the parade to get up close to the balloons. Come join us ..

https://www.alkitours.com/tourdetails/240647.html

Irish Brown Bread is a staple for any Irish Family. If you want a reminder of Ireland, try baking this at home.

Soda Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
• Cooking spray
Method:
Preheat oven to 450F.
Combine the flours, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
Mix thoroughly.
Make a well in the center of mixture.
Add buttermilk to flour mixture; stir until blended (dough will be sticky).
Turn dough out onto a generously floured surface. Knead lightly 4 to 5 times.
Shape dough into an 8-inch round loaf; place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 450 for 15 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 400 and continue to bake for another 15 minutes, or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped underneath.

Enjoy !!!

The Tuatha Dé Danann or "the folk of the goddess Danu", are a supernatural race in Irish mythology. They are thought to represent the main deities of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland. The Tuatha Dé Danann constitute a pantheon whose attributes appeared in a number of forms throughout the Celtic world.
The Tuatha Dé Danann dwell in the Otherworld but interact with humans and the human world. They are associated with ancient passage tombs, such as Brú na Bóinne, which were seen as portals to the Otherworld. Their traditional rivals are the Fomorians, who seem to represent the harmful or destructive powers of nature, and who the Tuatha Dé Danann defeat in the Battle of Mag Tuired. near Lough Arrow in Sligo .
Each member of the Tuatha Dé Danann has associations with a feature of life or nature, but many appear to have more than one association.
Much of Irish mythology was recorded by Christian monks, who modified it to an extent. They often depicted the Tuatha Dé Danann as kings, queens and heroes of the distant past who had supernatural powers, some medieval writers acknowledged that they were gods. They also appear in tales set centuries apart, showing them to be immortal. Eventually they become the “faeries” or Sidhe of later folklore.