Westport, Ireland

A card showing the Irish town of Westport, in the Mayo County. It arrived as a surprise from Lynda, for the FB Surprise Group.

With its urban population is around 5500 people, Westport is also a popular tourist destination and scores highly for Quality of Life.  It has won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition ( never knew competitions like this existed...we would score pretty low on it) three times in 2001, 2006 and 2008; in 2012 it also won the Best Place to Live in Ireland competition run by The Irish Times.

In the back, you can see the Croagh Patrick Mountain, which is a famous pilgrimage mountain.

Westport's name in Irish, "Cathair na Mart", has the meaning of "stone fort of the beeves".

An adorable stamp!! (quite expensive postage that is...)
It shows a very cute otter from a set of 4 definitives issued in 2015.

Thanks a lot Lynda! :)

Dublin, Ireland

Moving on to some Dublin stuff..

This first card came from Andy not so long ago from his trip to Dublin last December. Lucky, lucky guy! :)

The back of the card says" Dublin city is spread over the broad valley of the river Liffey, with Wicklow Hills sheltering it on the south. In addition to its splendid public buildings, Dublin is particularly rich in domestic architecture of the 18th century. It's one of Europe's most beautifully situated capitals with pleasant beaches and mountains only a short journey away.    

this stamp was issued in 2014 as part of two Marine Life stamps and on this one you can see the Fireworks Anemone...

the second Dublin card arrived as a surprise from Lynda...a great view of the city..and here you can see the Liffey river as well as some (important) buildings, that I  have no idea if I can identify properly...I guess the first bridge you can see is the Ha'Penny Bridge, built in 1816...and in the back on the right, that might be the Four Courts...well other than that I really dont know...that's why I included that last map card you can see below

again the fireworks anemone stamp....

and here is the Dublin map card, to help out lost and totally confused tourists like me with no sense of orientation. The back of the card has names for each of the numbers shown here, so with this, I really shouldnt get lost...all it takes now is to figure out how to get to Ireland...

nice colourful stamp from 2012 from a set of four stamps showing Myths and Legends....Id be thankful if anyone could tell me what the myth on this stamp is all about....

Georgian Dublin, Ireland

and one more card for today, from the beautiful Ireland.

I had this one in my favourites, and dear Claudia sent it to me recently.
Georgian Dublin is a phrase used in the History of Dublin that has two interwoven meanings,
 -to describe a historic period in the development of the city of Dublin, Ireland, from 1714 (the beginning of the reign of King George I of Great Britain and of Ireland) to the death in 1830 of King George IV. During this period, the reign of the four Georges, hence the word Georgian, covers a particular and unified style, derived from Palladian Architecture, which was used in erecting public and private buildings;
- to describe the modern day surviving buildings in Dublin erected in that period and which share that architectural style.

And I guess it is safe to conclude that the card refers to the latter meaning. So lovely!

that is one weird stamp...at first looks as those stickers they put at the P.O instead of a stamp due to the print...but I think it is one of those machine labels actually..not quite sure on this one honestly...

well, have a great Sunday everyone...hope you enjoyed your Christmas holidays and are getting ready for New Year's Eve. If I do not manage to squeeze another update before we bid farewell to 2013, I would like to wish you all a Happy Happy New Year, and I hope 2014 brings you peace of mind...and many postcards of course :)

And hope to see you more often next year =) Thank you for staying devoted!! <3

Roundstone, Ireland

well, for my last card today Ive chosen this beautiful Irish card (Irish cards are almost always BEAUTIFUL!)

I love the sort of gloomy atmosphere on this one...and i think I have a particular thing developed for boats like this...not like for a postcard theme, but ive noticed, that whenever I see boats on the shore or in the water, i take pictures of them, and try to make some cool shots regarding the boats' arrangement compared to the surroundings or so...and if boats come in different colours, that is just a bonus!

well, about that story I mentioned above....well, some 10 days ago, there was a huge fire at the main post office in Skopje...and unfortunately, that is the post office where the Philatelic Bureau is also situated...or should I say, 'was'...there were no deaths fortunately, but the damage is huge..and the post office is not working at the moment...all the employees there have been reallocated to other post offices...however, I cant find out where the philately lady is and if she is working at all or she is taking a break...I dont know if and how many stamps have suffered the fire but practically, right now, i cant get any nice new stamps....I have to be satisfied with the general (boring) ones that are sold at the post offices...and that is quite annoying...but unfortunately, for the time being, i dont have much of a choice, and im running out of the nice stock of stamps I usually get at the philately *sigh*
you can read about it here  as well

as for the stamps on the card, we have a nice selection of flowers here...the one on the left is a definitive from a set of 5 definitives issued in 2005. representing an Irish orchid. Next to it is the 'dandelion' (i cant tell if this one was issued in 2004 or 2007). Next tp the dandelion is the 'thrift', from the set of 3 wild flowers' stamps issued in 2008. And the last stamp shows a large-flowered butterwort, as a part of 4 definitives issued in 2007.

thanks a lot to Monika for this lovely card!

And a nice evening/morning/afternoon too all :)

Irish Breakfast, Ireland

Here comes something, which if you are in Ireland, is something you will supposedly get for breakfast......hmmmm???

im having my doubts about this one....for lunch or dinner maybe....but breakfast??? you really eat this for breakfast?? Odd, in the least hand! Oysters are such a tough food, even if not eaten for breakfast you may feel sick at the stomach....and in combination with dark beer (the stout), i really wonder how your day is gonna be :P

The back of the card says (something that has absolutely nothing to do with the front): The unique beauty of Ireland's landscape and its rich historic, literary and artistic associations have long made it a favourite resort for tourists. Encompassing a wealth of natural beauty within its modest dimensions, Ireland boasts a landscape which is as much diverse as it is gratifying. The scenic grandeur is set off by Ireland's position. Standing in the path of both the prevailing westerly winds of the Atlantic and the warming currents of the Gulf Stream, Ireland enjoys an equable climate which gives the country its unique fresh appearance.


Speaking of breakfasts, here is a link with a variety of those throughout the world...some are awesome, some id never eat...and some...I just dont know how people can consider as breakfast??

Breakfasts from around the world

The Irish breakfast presented here is rather different, so nowadays you can just trust no one :)

My tops: Spain, Hawaii, Portugal, Italy, Wales, France, Russia, Pakistan. Btw, Pakistan says to be using Ghee...which I would recommend as a butter substitute in your cooking.

The stamp is from a set of 8 animals' automat labels issued in 2010, with this one showing a Sea slug

Sheep, Ireland

Well, since both of the cards represent Irish sheep, I decided to include them together in one post.

the first card came as a swap...and it shows a fantastic scene of sheep at the Dunquin Pier, on the Dingle Peninsula...quite an interesting path to climb.

these sheep here come from the Derryclare Lough in Connemara...

Have you noticed the beauty of the Irish cards? Not just coz of the scenery...but they simply make them in a way, that these cards look stunning...they have great photography, lovely colours, clear images...I wish our printing houses/photographers paid more attention to this...im pretty sure we would have much more amazing cards to offer.

This second card comes from the Ireland vs Other Countries RR...and arrived written and stamped.

the stamp is probably the most common one you would see on Irish cards..or at least the flower theme is common on the Irish stamps...this one is from a set of 3 Wild Flowers' stamps issued in 2008, representing the Sea aster.

thank you for following, and if you are anticipating Friday as much as I am, im wishing you a great fulfilling weekend!

Ireland

A very cool and funny card coming from Ireland :)

I like cards with a sense of humour, esp. when the country/nation concerned doesnt feel offended with it but actually can laugh about it as well, coz I dont see this making fun of something, but more like portraying certain characteristics/habits/events/traditions through the prism of fun.
There is also a Rush Hour in Texas card....but of course, instead of geese, there are cows on that card :)

And the landscape is so typically Irish and beautiful! Just lovely!

The stamp is from a set of 4 issued in 2010, under the subject "Birds of prey". This is a Peregrine Falcon.  

Dublin, Ireland

Funny, but out of the Irish cards I have posted, this is my first one showing Dublin.

At this picture for some reason, it reminds me a lot of Belgrade.

This is the O'Connel Street in Dublin, located in the heart of the city, considered as one of Europe's widest streets, which measures 49 m in width at its southern end, 46 m at the north, and is 500 m long.
Known as 'Sackville Street' until 1924, Dublin Corporation renamed it in honour of Daniel O'Connell, a nationalist leader of the early nineteenth century whose statue stands at the lower end of the street, facing O'Connell Bridge.

Cork, Ireland

Well, until not so long ago I used to classify Ireland in the 'rare countries'...but now, one way or another, I got a number of postcards from there, so I could use them more often here :)

The card shows the Blarney Castle, which is situated 7 km from Cork City. The Castle is famous for its Stone, which has the traditional power of conferring eloquence on all who kiss it. The word "Blarney" has found its way into the English Language and has been described as pleasant talk, intended to deceive without offending. The famous Stone is set in the wall below the battlements, and to kiss it, one has to lean backwards (grasping the iron railing) from the parapet walk.

Yeah, nothing good comes easy ;)

Have a great day and see you soon hopefully!

Ireland

Here I have two Irish map cards which are more or less similar to one another..so even though I usually post one card per post, sometimes it makes sense to make an exclusion from it, coz otherwise it will be like posting the same card twice....which at least for me, doesnt seem very challenging....

the first one comes from a swap, showing the map of Ireland....and here is what the back of the card has to say:
The unique beauty of Ireland's landscape and its rich historic, literary and artistic associations have long made it a favourite resort for tourists. Encompassing a wealth of natural beauty within its modest dimensions, Ireland boasts a landscape which is as much diverse as it is gratifying. The scenic grandeur is set off y Ireland's position. Standing in the path of both the prevailing westerly winds of the Atlantic and warming currents of the Gulf Stream, Ireland enjoys an equable climate which gives the country its unique fresh appearance.

and the look-alike card, which also has a short text on the back.
What separates Ireland from its neighbours is the arresting beauty of the land, the turbulent history of the island, the broad smile that welcomes your arrival and the heartfelt farewell that signals your departure. Discover Ireland, it's yours to enjoy!
On this second card you can also see some typical things about Ireland, like sheep, and a typical Irish breakfast for example....Im just not sure what the drink in the glass is...supposed to be coffee if we are guided by the concept...but you dont serve coffee in such a glass..to me it more looks like dark beer...but beer for breakfast?! Odd...

well, this second card also came written and stamped, with a stamp from a set of  3 issued in 2008, showing Wild Flowers.

Connemara, Ireland

Well, i guess i rushed out with that Norwegian card, and should have saved it for today...it would have been a nice way to congratulate them on the Eurovision win! :) Well, i didnt watch the contest, i have stopped doing so a year or two ago, but i did watch the voting and those were some incredible votes for Norway!! Well, i cant judge if it was better or worse compared to other songs, coz i didnt hear the others...the Norwegian one was fine, and im actually glad they won...you already know why :) No no, not coz its Norway....

Well, instead of Norway, ill give you something Irish...they have beautiful nature as well.
Connemara - this is the name given to the western portion of Co. Galway which lies between Lough Corrib and the Atlantic. It is a region of superb scenic grandeur dominated by the rocky mountain range known as the Twelve Bens. Connemara has inspired many famous paintings and a tour of the district is indeed a memorable experience. The Gaeltacht (Irish Speaking Area) provides students of Irish with excellent opportunities for learning the language.

Well, i have to say that ive always found the Cletic languages rather difficult and odd...and back at university when i would have come across some Celtic manuscripts or readings, i honestly couldnt understand a thing...

Youghal, Ireland

A nice blueish Irish card....and as a coincidence, today is St. Patrick's Day as well....and i know you wont believe me, but i totally unconsciously chose to post this card today...i knew it was St. Patrick's and all...but when i was going thru cards and picked this Irish one, not at once the St.Patrick crossed my mind...it did, just now as i opened this post...hmmm, i dont know if i should freak out or just pay no attention to it :)

Youghal is one of the foremost seaside resorts of County Cork and is finely situated at the mouth of the Blackwater river, with a fine strand and every holiday amenity. It was occupied by the Danes, then the Normans, receiving its first charter from King John. The town was fortified with walls and towers, most of which still remain. Sir Walter Raleigh ws once Mayor of the town and his house Myrtle Grove can still be seen.
the sender of the card also included some facts, which i find worth noting down.
He says that his hometown is a very historical place and that it was surrounded by walls to keep them safe, and the only entrance was the clockgate (top centre picture). They also have 3 miles of beach which is beautiful. And he says that the Moby Dick film was also made there in 1956...

a really nice and full of stories card....hope you liked it as well...and the other cards too :) 

Irish Writers

My first card from Ireland couldnt have been more special and more perfect! I so much wanted to have a postcard which will be somehow related to Oscar Wilde, and eventually i came across a postcard not just with Wilde but with a number of other Irish writers as well...i feel ecstatic!!! 

Here, apart from Oscar, who is one of my all time favourites, you can see a number of other prominent writers, like Yeats, Beckett, Joyce, Shaw, Synge, O'Casey and Kavanagh. I studied about most of them at university, and frankly i dont really recall much regarding the autobiographies coz it was always annoying to have to learn so many dates and titles, but i definitely recall their works.
I have a great itch to actually get into details about each and every one of them, but thats gonna take way to much writing and i dont think any of you would manage to go through it all :)
So, ill just say that out of all of them, Oscar Wilde is my favourite, esp his "The Picture of Dorian Gray"....Dorian Gray has got to be one of the greatest books i had ever read, which had left such a deep impact on me...if you hadnt read it, i highly highly highly recommend that you do so!
I also love his "The importance of being Ernest" and the symbollism revolving around "Ernest"....One of the works i hadnt read is "Salome" which i hope to find and read soon....
As for the others, I would definitely recommend "Pygmalion" by Shaw..."Ulysses" and "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" by Joyce....if you are interested in poetry you can also take a look at their poems....
I should do a revision as well, and re-read many of their works...but i definitely recommend that you give them a chance as well....
Mmmmm....does anyone have a postcard related to Shakespeare...Byron...Arthut Miller...Schlink...?? If you do, can you please send me one? Thanks in advance