Here's everything you didn't know about the Emerald isle

As St. Patrick’s Day fast approaches, here’s are some interesting and, we hope, entertaining facts about that land of beauty and, sometimes, tears. The information has been gleaned from assorted books and websites, so here we go:

* The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia, in County Galway.

* Couples  could marry legally on St. Brigid's Day (Feb. 1) in Teltown, County Meath, as recently as the 1920s by simply walking toward each other. If the marriage failed, they could "divorce'" by walking away from each other at the same spot, on St. Brigid’s day the following year.

* An  estimated  80 million people of Irish descent live elsewhere than Ireland

* The original Guinness Brewery in Dublin has a 9,000-year lease on its property.

* A traditional Irish cure for a hangover was to be buried up to the neck in moist river sand.

* According to a 2007 census, the most popular boy’s name in Ireland is Jack, followed by Sean; and the most popular girls’ names are Sarah and Emma.

* The last woman accused of witchcraft in Ireland was Dame Alice Kyteler, born in Kilkenny in 1280. All four of her husbands died, and she was accused of poisioning them. Today you can dine at Kyteler's Inn in Kilkenny (www.kytelersinn.ie), which operates in her old home.

* Some historians maintain that over 40 percent of America's presidents, Barack Obama among them, have had some Irish ancestry.

* Dublin was originally called "Dubh Linn," which means "Black Pool." The name refers to an ancient treacle lake in the city, which became  part of a penguin enclosure at the Dublin City Zoo.

* It’s not the custom in Ireland to wear green ties, hats or other green clothes on St. Patrick's Day. A sprig of shamrock in the coat lapel is considered plenty.

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Trivial question

In Ireland, what is a banshee’s wail believed to foretell? (Answer somewhere below.)

Four nights at Dublin’s Four Seasons for $699

Sceptre Tours has a  package that includes four nights at the Four Seasons Hotel Dublin and round-trip airfare to Dublin starting from $699 per person.  If you put the package together yourself, Sceptre says you’d pay over $1,099. The $699 price, which excludes fees of course, is from JFK Airport in New York. The price is $719 from Boston, $789 from Chicago, and $769  from Orlando. The price is based on two people traveling, on select Wednesday and Thursday departures from March 20 to May 16.  call 1-800-221-0924 or click here.

Worth quoting

“Definition of an 'Irish fact': That which tells you not what is the case but what you want to hear.’’  -- Hugh Kenner

$100 discount for exploring all of Ireland

CIE Tours is offering the Irish Classic vacation, a 13-day/11-night comprehensive escorted tour of all Ireland with more than 50 departures,, operating on Wednesdays and Fridays from March 11 through Nov. 18.  Land tour prices start at $1,758, but in honor of St. Patrick, CIE is extending a $100 per couple discount on any departure if you book and pay a deposit before March 31. Use code 033111CLA50. Call 800-CIE-TOUR or visit www.cietours.com.

Who’s confused?

There is a village in Kerry called Inch, and a road sign outside the village reads,  "Inch 1 Mile."

An eight-day walking tour of Ireland

Walking is a wonderful way to tour Ireland, and Boundless Journeys has an eight-day walking trip called Gems of the Emerald Isle. Participants will walk and hike the  forested valleys of the Ring of Kerry, the  hills of the Dingle Peninsula, and the  limestone paths of the Burren. Walking the quaint streets of villages dotting the south and west of Ireland will be complemented by evenings in a traditional pub. Dates are May 22-29, July 22-29 and Aug. 14-21, and the land cost is $4,095 per person, which includes guides, accommodations, all meals but one, transportation in Ireland, park fees and activities. Call 800-941-8010 or click here.

A chance to see Scotland as well as Eire

A 15-day Brendan Vacations tour begins in Glasgow, witnessing the rugged beauty of Scotland's glens, locks, and isles. Participants then visit Cawdor Castle, famous for its associations with Shakespeare's Macbeth. The trip moves on to Edinburgh, visiting places from Edinburgh Castle to the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace. Next up is Ireland. with time to explore the cities of Letterkenny, Connemara, Killarney, and Dublin and, of course, have a pint of Guinness. Prices begin at $2599 land only, double occupancy. Visit www.brendanvacations.com or call 800-428-6000.

Trivial answer

A banshee’s cry is said to foretell a death in the family.

Ten ways to battle those rising gas prices

As turmoil in the Mideast sends gas prices ricing, travelers worry about the costs of their road trips going up. You certainly don't want to cancel your plans, so here from Freeshipping.org are 10 tips to help you

 cut back on costs:

Use Your Smart Phone  The GasBuddy app will coordinate your location with the best gas prices in your area. Another app worth trying is CheapGas, which provides precise directions to the nearest and least-expensive gas station.

Shop Online According to a recent study by Carnegie Melon's Green Institute, shopping online saves an average of 35 percent in gas consumption -- fuel that you could put toward your next trip. You can find free shipping coupons at sites like FreeShipping.org or CouponSherpa.com.

Lay-off the Lead Foot Speeds exceeding 40 mph force your vehicle to overcome forceful wind resistance, thus consuming fuel faster. Keep an eye on your odometer for maximum fuel efficiency.

Skip those speedy starts You're wasting a lot of gas just to reach the next stop light a second faster.

 Coordinate Carpools  Try the Carpicipate app to locate like-minded neighbors or community members interested in sharing rides.

Be Loyal to Your Reward Card Depending upon where you live, some stores offer up to 10-cents off per gallon for buying groceries and filling up at their tanks. Sometimes stores and stations offer an additional savings if you pay cash. Myself, I save a nickel a gallon using my Shell rewards debit card.

Buy Discount Gas Gift Cards  Sites like GiftCardGranny.com offer discount gas gift cards from various card vendors. 

Fuel Up at Warehouse Pumps  Filling up at your local warehouse club can save you anywhere from five to 10 cents on fuel compared to surrounding gas stations.

Give Generic a Go Buying "off-brand" gas gets your car from place to place in the same shape as fuel from name-brand stations. In fact, it's often the same gas, yet the price can differ by several  cents a gallon.

Use Low Octane According to NPR's Car Talk, using a higher octane gas when your car doesn't need it is worthless. Check your vehicle's manual to determine how low you can go. 

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If you're 53, you may well have taken a tour

 A recent informal survey of members of the United States Tour Operators Association showed that the average age of a tour passenger is 53.  The survey also found that 16 is the average passenger age for student tours.

 

Trivial question

What is the only capital city named after a city mentioned in the Old Testament? (Answer somewhere below.)

Give me some savings and Cracker Jacks

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa in Palm Beach, Fla. has a package revolving around the state's only stadium that hosts two spring training teams: the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. The package offers a 10 percent discount on the resort's best available rates, a $10 credit at Roger Dean Stadium, breakfast for two each morning, and a welcome gift of a baseball, a Sharpie and Cracker Jacks. Guests also get complimentary valet parking, high-speed Internet, no resort fee, and rates starting at  $269 per night. For more information, visit www.jupiterbeachresort.com/florida-spring-training-getaway.html. For reservations, call 800-228-8810 and mention promo code SPRING.

Worth quoting

“The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist.” -- Russell Baker

Tuscany and Venice for $899 a person 

Sceptre Tours is offering a six-night Upscale Tuscany - Venice Vacation package starting at $899 per person, a savings of up to $1,200 per package versus if they had booked the individual components on their own. The  vacation includes two nights at the four-star Hotel Bolognese in Venice (two separate guest rooms); two nights at the four-star La Fattoria degli Usignoli in Tuscany in a two-bedroom villa; round-trip economy class airfare to Venice; a one-week manual car rental with unlimited mileage and collision damage waiver; and breakfast daily while in Venice

This package is priced from $899 from New York or Newark; $949 from Boston, and $999 from Chicago for travel from March 10 through May 31 on select dates. The offer is available through June at slightly higher rates. Travelers can also opt to fly into Florence and out of Venice for the same price. There are, of course, taxes and fees. Call 800-221-0924 or visit: www.sceptretours.com.

Trivial answer 

Salem, Ore., is the city with the Old Testament name.