Story Reader brings children’s favorite stories to life. Insert the cartridge and place the book into the Story Reader console (sold separately), and turn the pages to read along. A narrator reads the book as each page is turned, while Story Reader adds sound effects and music. Story Reader helps your child effortlessly build reading skills.

The Story Reader 3-Book Kathy Ireland Library: An Angel Called Hope; Mona’s Favorite Words; What Do Mommies Do?, designed for children ages 3 and older, includes three storybooks and a cartridge for your Story Reader. Children can read and listen to inspirational tales that bring home the joy of reading, all narrated by Kathy Ireland. Each storybook has colorful illustrations and focuses on values like friendship, family, and respecting others. These positive stories will help your child learn to love reading:

• An Angel Called Hope is the story of an angel who helps children who have lost their faith. Find out how Hope the Angel brings friendship and happiness to two special little girls.
• In Mona’s Favorite Words, children are introduced to Mona’s favorite words: “no” and “mine.” Her parents try to teach her how to be polite, but it doesn’t work. After an exciting trip to a bright, purple planet with pink polka dots, though, Mona has new favorite words and a new outlook.
• What Do Mommies Do? answers that important question for inquiring youngsters. Children can read about the many roles mommies have, including the most important one of all.

The Story Reader 3-Book Kathy Ireland Library: An Angel Called Hope; Mona’s Favorite Words; What Do Mommies Do? conforms to the safety requirements of ASTM F963-07.

Story Reader 3-Book Kathy Ireland Library: An Angel Called Hope; Mona’s Favorite Words; What Do Mommies Do? ]]> http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/09/04/story-reader-3-book-kathy-ireland-library-an-angel-called-hope-monas-favorite-words-what-do-mommies-do.html/feed 0 http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/09/04/ferry-travel-equals-smart-travel.html http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/09/04/ferry-travel-equals-smart-travel.html#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:01:59 +0000 Ireland Map http://www.irelandmap.info/?page_id=80

A bit of free time is hard to come by these days. In fact, with work, kids and countless other life pursuits to contend with, there’s seemingly no time to relax and do “nothing”; let alone take time off for a holiday. Yet the need for such free time is always there and continues to grow with the stresses of everyday life. So what can you do to remedy this seemingly endless cycle?

If you feel the need for a holiday but don’t have much time to spare, then why not consider taking a short break? This inevitably means that you won’t have the time to travel very far; but then again, you don’t really need to visit faraway lands in order to relax and enjoy a change of scenery.

If you live in the UK, a visit to Ireland is more than manageable in terms of both distance and cost. Many people are turning to ferry travel when it comes to travelling between the UK and Ireland – and why not? Ferries offer a comfortable and fast way to travel; in fact, with no hidden charges added to the fare, ferry travel often costs less than travelling by air. Another attraction of ferry travel is the fact that there are no restrictions on the amount of baggage that passengers travelling by car are allowed to bring on-board. Moreover, travellers can easily take their cars on holiday with them, enabling the simple transport of any special holiday equipment such as surf boards or golf-clubs.

Holidaymakers can discover the treasures of Dublin, the thrills of Belfast or the charms of Wexford by travelling to Ireland via ferry. With onboard shopping, dining and entertainment, you and the kids will never have a dull moment on your ferry crossing from the UK to Ireland. Moreover, travel takes only a few hours, so you won’t lose any valuable time getting to your destination.

Pick from a number of exciting locales to travel to in Ireland: dozens of daily crossings within an extensive network of routes ensures that you’ll find an itinerary and a destination which suits your travel plans. You can also be sure that there are many great value fares available on ferry transport; so it simply makes sense as an ideal mode of travel. Furthermore, the earlier you book, the lower your fare will be – it’s that simple.

If you’re considering travelling by ferry to Ireland from the UK, there are various ferry companies which can offer you a spectacular deal on your trip. Moreover, the start of a new year means that there are many promotional fares on offer. Stena Line, for example, offer deals on combined ferry & hotel trips and day excursions; so whether you plan to travel to Ireland from Fleetwood, Fishguard, Holyhead or Stranraer, rest assured that there’s a remarkable deal in store for you.

So take advantage of ferry travel to Ireland today – with so many benefits, you’ll see just why millions of people choose this fantastic mode of travel each year.

Originally published here.

Martin McAllister is an online freelance journalist. He lives in Scotland.

Published Sep 1, 2010.
Read more: 4NI ]]> http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/09/02/northern-ireland-news.html/feed 0 http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/09/02/want-a-great-gift-for-an-irish-friend-or-relative-why-not-buy-them-a-piece-of-ireland.html http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/09/02/want-a-great-gift-for-an-irish-friend-or-relative-why-not-buy-them-a-piece-of-ireland.html#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:27:59 +0000 Ireland Map http://www.irelandmap.info/?page_id=77

Do you know someone who has always felt a historical connection to the island of Ireland? Looking for a Christmas gift for someone special, say a Christmas gift?

BuyIreland.com has made it possible for people anywhere in the world to own a little piece of rural Ireland for the very reasonable price of just US$49.99. With almost everyone feeling the economic pinch, BuyIreland.com provides a gift that lasts beyond a lifetime, and is the perfect option for people who want to give a truly original and thoughtful gift.

When an order is placed on the website www.BuyIreland.com, a plot of land is assigned to the purchaser from the BuyIreland.com land bank. Each plot is 1 square foot in size, and if more than one plot is ordered BuyIreland.com can assign the plots beside each other if desired.

BuyIreland.com usually ships every order the next working day, and shipping is free to anywhere in the world. Land owners  will receive a certificate of ownership, and both this certificate and the deeds for the land are printed on high quality parchment paper with gold foil detailing, suitable for framing. Buyers also receive maps and directions to the property, as well as two photographs of the spectacular surrounding area.

BuyIreland.com very much welcomes land owners to visit their property and are always at the end of the phone should there be any questions about any aspect of the ordering or land ownership process.

Discounts are available for orders of more than 5 plots.

We have land owners from every corner of the world, and plots of land have been used to celebrate Christmas and other special occasions for over 5 years now. The many testimonials we have received from land owners and the people who have given land as a Christmas gift just go to show how interesting and unique a gift this really is. BuyIreland.com prepares and ships Christmas gift plots right up to the last minute, so even late Christmas shoppers can purchase land at the last minute and use our Next Business Day shipping to ensure the package arrives at its destination on time.

John Beckitt is Managing Director of BuyIreland.com.

Originally published here.

David Quaid works for eScape Business Solutions.

[CLICK ON THE ANNOTATIONS TO CHOOSE WHERE TO GO !!!! ] Interactive drive around Dublin city – Wexford street to Harcourt street, Leeson street, Stephen’s green and Digges street upper. Take a drive around Dublin city centre, Ireland. click on the annotations to choose where you want to go. You can drive around Dublin city with practically no traffic and, best of all, you can do it from the comfort of your own home. You will need to have your annotations turned on for directional purposes. Use it to get to know the city centre streets or just for fun. Enjoy ! ]]> http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/09/02/dublin-interactive---wexford-street-to-stephens-green-to-digges-street.html/feed 0 http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/08/29/kathy-ireland-total-fitness-workout-vhs.html http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/08/29/kathy-ireland-total-fitness-workout-vhs.html#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:10:59 +0000 Ireland Map http://www.irelandmap.info/?page_id=75

This 75-minute workout helped Kathy Ireland lose 40 pounds after the birth of her baby. Ireland is joined by an outdoor class of exercisers of both genders and all fitness levels, including one woman who is doing her first workout ever. The first segment is 30 minutes of very simple, low-impact aerobics. The moves are easy and repetitious, which is good if you’re a beginner or you don’t like choreography, and boring if you’re experienced or like variety. Beginners will appreciate that Ireland demonstrates moves such as the grapevine in slow motion instead of assuming you know how to do it. The next segment is 25 minutes of total body conditioning without weights, such as lunges, pliés, and pushups. The final segment is 20 minutes of lower body “meltdown,” traditional floor work for hips, buttocks, thighs, and abdominals. While you’re resting afterwards, listen to 15 minutes of questions and answers. –Joan Price

Kathy Ireland: Total Fitness Workout [VHS] ]]> http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/08/29/kathy-ireland-total-fitness-workout-vhs.html/feed 0 http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/08/28/ireland-make-two-changes-for-kazakh-clash.html http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/08/28/ireland-make-two-changes-for-kazakh-clash.html#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:21:59 +0000 Ireland Map http://www.irelandmap.info/?page_id=74

Published Aug 27, 2010.
Read more: Irish Examiner ]]> http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/08/28/ireland-make-two-changes-for-kazakh-clash.html/feed 0 http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/08/28/new-jersey-mom-happy-to-report-a-tale-about-her-joyful-trip-to-ireland.html http://www.irelandmap.info/2010/08/28/new-jersey-mom-happy-to-report-a-tale-about-her-joyful-trip-to-ireland.html#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:21:59 +0000 Ireland Map http://www.irelandmap.info/?page_id=73

Can you find Ireland on the map of the world? If you can, congratulations because you know your geography.

My name is Linda Shute from New jersey and I’d like to tell you about my trip to Ireland and “The Ring of Kerry”.

The “Ring of Kerry” is not a ring you can wear on your finger, it’s located in the South West of Ireland.

County Kerry has beautiful lakes and mountains, magnificent waterfalls and their coast line is studded with inlets that can take your breath away with their beauty.

The ring is the path I took as I traveled 130 miles in 6 days by horseback through this majestic land.

I have always hungered to travel to far away places and meet the folks who live there.

Being an avid horse enthusiast, and riding since childhood, I like to combine these two pleasures whenever I can.

As I was flipping through the pages of a travel catalog from Equitours, they offer worldwide riding holidays, I found a trip to Ireland I just couldn’t pass up.

Picked up the phone and booked the horseback trip, then I got a bright idea extend the trip to include a week of traveling via rental car and stay at Bed-and-Breakfast homes. This will ensure I would get off the beaten path to meet the local people.

Off to the travel agent I went with checkbook in hand. I paid for the airline tickets and booked the rental car and picked up the Bed-and-Breakfast information.

I arrived at Shannon Airport filled with excitement. I found my driver and was taken to the riding stables. I met the other people who would be sharing this trip with me.

There were elderly women from England, a young woman from Italy, three others from the United States. Our guide, Les Little, was an ex-jockey born and raised in Ireland. Since we arrived in the morning at various times the first day was a short ride so we could get better aquatinted with each other and our assigned mounts.

My horse for the week was a spirited bay mare named Melody. I learned that Melody was an Irish Thoroughbred and she use to race over timber. In other words she was a Steeplechase race horse.

These are the ones that jump over fences which may be either bushes or wood fences and sometimes water. I was ecstatic about this we were well suited for each other.

I quickly lost all fear of being stuck with some slow hack horse I would hate for the duration of the trek.

Early the next morning after a hearty breakfast we were handed our brown bag lunches and set off to mount up.

We rode around the Lakes of Killarney and past Ross Castle.

We climbed the Devils Elbow and wound our way into the mountains. One of the advantages of traveling by horseback is that we can leave the roads to cut through the fields and forest.

You get to see very beautiful places you can’t get to in a car. We visited such places as Glenbeigh, Glencar, Waterville, and Hogshead. We galloped on the beach at Rossbeigh where Melody and I won the races with such ease.

We rode around part of Caragh Lake which offers huge salmon to those who like to fish. We stayed at the Glencar Hotel which caters to the sport enthusiast. Fishermen come here from around the world because it’s so close to Caragh Lake and they will smoke your salmon for you so you can have it shipped home.

The smoked salmon we ate at the Glencar Hotel was fresh from Caragh Lake and smoked at the hotel. It was positively the very best smoked salmon I have ever had!

Our final night we stayed in a small village called Waterville during the day we again raced on the beaches and took in more wonderful sights.

That night we went to a local pub, danced and had a wonderful dinner and exchanged addresses and phone numbers from new found friends. It was the most fabulous vacation!

The next day I was off to the rental car agency to continue on my trip around Ireland via the Bed and Breakfast routes.

My first stop was a place called Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. This is a very old castle built around 1450 by Sioda MacConmara. It was restored and furnished by the late Lord Gort during the 1960s.

This was the first old castle I had ever been in, what a thrill! I was so happy I could afford such a wonderful trip thanks to my secret cash machine.

As I left the castle and I walked about the Folk Park and saw refurbished Thatched Roofs, Blacksmith shops and homes which were shared by both animal and human during the winter months for combined heat.

By animals I don’t mean dogs and cats. I’m talking about large animals like horses, cattle, sheep and such all living under one roof.

The only thing which divided the animal side from the human side was a small amount of dirt floor space. It made me glad to think we don’t have to live like this any longer.

I love my horses and dogs but I don’t really want to share sleeping quarters with them all winter long just for the benefit of heat.

My next stop was Blarney Castle. I was amazed at the very narrow circular stairways in this castle of rock. I have herd many saying about kissing the Blarney Stone and I wanted to actually see what all of this was about so up to the top of the castle I climbed.

While climbing the stairs low and behold don’t I meet and guy from northern New Jersey, my home state. We recognized each others accent and struck up a conversation. It’s such a small world in some ways both of us were on vacation.

Once at the top there was no way in this world I was going to kiss that blarney stone for anyone! You have to lie down, hang over the edge of the castle wall, and kiss the underside on a particular stone. It’s a good idea if you have someone hold your feet and legs so you don’t fall off the edge of the wall. Not for me no way!

My favorite Castle was Kilkenny Castle still in use today and part of it has been turned into a museum for tourist. My next stop was The Irish National Stud Farm and Museum. A fact I found very interesting here was that each of the stallions stalls or boxes as they called them had its own distinctive lantern type roof complete with skylights.

The original owner believed that stars dictated not only our own destiny, but also the destiny of horses. And it was considered very important that the moon and stars should exercise their maximum influence on their subjects thus skylights for each stallion were incorporated into the roofs of all stabling he built.

One item I did not expect to see in The Irish Nation Stud Farm was a Japanese Garden. So I took my first tour of a meticulously well kept garden with all it hedges and finery trimmed into different forms, each with its own story of life. At the end of the garden I came to the Horse Museum where I found the skeleton of Arkle.

He was a famous race horse who fractured his pedal bone in the hoof during his last race in 1966.

At last much to my dismay, my vacation has come to an end and I must return to New Jersey.

Warmly with a smile,

Linda Shute

Originally published here.

Linda Shute lives in New Jersey and works from home you can visit her websites at
http://www.momwontherace.com and
http://www.a1cashsecrets.com/

“Located in the South West of Ireland County Cork is the largest county in Ireland covering almost one sixteenth of the country. County Cork is located in Munster, one of the four provinces of Ireland and is known as Corcaigh in Gaelic. County Cork is home to such famous towns as Kinsale, Blarney, Cobh, Midelton and of course Cork City itself. The county is divided geographically into West and East Cork with West Cork in particular famed the world over for its’ spectacular scenery. Cork is known as a real gem by the hundreds of thousands of domestic and International visitors that holiday here each year. Hotels in Cork especially have built up a fine reputation for their ambience, warm friendly staff and excellent cuisine.

The local Cork people, known as Corkonians are proud of their heritage and have a passion for all things sports related especially Rugby, Gaelic football and hurling. Hurling is the fastest field game in the world and a live game is a memory any visitor will never forget. The county also boasts some of the finest golf courses in Ireland with Fota Island in particular having established an International reputation. However Cork has much more to offer visitors than just scenery and golf.

Some of our top recommendations when visiting County Cork include:

• Enjoy a relaxing day out with al the family at Fota Wildlife Park located on Fota Island. This is a great day out and the admission price is good value. Located approx. 10 miles from Cork City close to Midelton in East Cork, Fota Wildlife Park allows animals of all kinds roam free in their natural surrounds.

• Visit the town of Blarney, kiss the famous Blarney Stone and get some genuine Irish gifts at the world famous Blarney Woolen Mills

• Take a day trip to one of Europe’s foremost culinary towns, Kinsale and sample the delights of locally caught fresh seafood washed down with a pint of Murphys, Cork’s answer to Guinness.

• Relive some poignant history at the Titanic Museum exhibit in Cobh, last port of call for the ill fated Titanic. Located about 10 miles from Cork City.

• Explore the many and varied pubs in Cork City. Perhaps be lucky enough to be part of a real live traditional Irish music session that will be sure to make your holiday experience one you won’t forget!

• Unwind as you walk on any one of County Cork’s beautiful beaches and be at one with nature.

• Take a day trip to the famous Waterford Crystal factory in neighboring County Waterford and see first hand how the famous crystal is made.

• For the more adventurous why not try a bit of deep sea angling or even paint balling?

• Browse the many and varied side streets, galleries, shops and restaurants that Cork offers enjoying the local banter and “craic” Cork is famous for.

• Stay at any one of the fine Cork Hotels which can all be booked below.

For more info please visit Hotels in Cork Ireland”

Originally published here.

Dara Ward is the Managing Director of Hotels in Cork Ireland Dara has extensive experience within the travel industry in Ireland and the selection of Cork Ireland Hotels offered on his websites are competitively priced and suitable for both leisure, business and group reservations.