European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ireland a Southern coast Rocky Cliffs and the Blarney Stone by Norm Goldstein associated press the poets and the travel agents will Tell you go to Ireland. They la Wax lyrical about the Irish warm and Friendly they la talk about the Countryside Green and Beautiful and they la say it s cheap. Two out of three in t bad. Two Hundred years ago Horace Walpole wrote that the Irish Quot have the Best hearts in the three kingdoms Quot of great Britain. Arguably his opinion still holds. The country itself the Green Island the Emerald of Europe appears just made for photographs As Well As memories. Indeed several new picture books published this year try to capture the people and the dramatic vistas in two dimensional visions an Irish moment Colour Library books Ireland your Only place Crown Irish cottages Crown. No other country is so associated with a color Green. The Irish claim their land produces 41 shades of Green. It s now 42, with . Currency left there by tourists. Which brings us to the third Point with the recent . Dollar devaluation Ireland s economic entry into the european Community and the country s growing Reliance on tourism a to survive if not thrive a a visit is no longer the bargain of the past. Although comfortable bed and breakfasts listed geographically in an Irish tourist Board Booklet Cost a most reasonable $20-$30 per person on a recent we Klong trip we bypassed cosmopolitan Dublin and went by train ferry from London to Rosclare Harbour on Ireland s Southeast coast. The train ride across Wales and the luxury ferry across the Irish sea Are delightful adventures in themselves. There Are other ferry routes As Well depending on your plans including one from the coast of France. Ten minutes into the country provided the first of Many examples of the friendliness and hospitality of the Irish. When car rental arrangements and accommodations went awry on arrival a local woman working for a competitor rental Agency offered her Home As a bed and breakfast for the night and went out of her Way to take us to and from dinner waking Early to fetch our car and bring it to us. From there armed with the advice of a travel agent and a Good map it was off to see the country s Southern coast a constantly reminding ourselves to drive on the left. A Small car is a necessity incidentally if your plans Are to take the narrower Side roads the ones the Irish now Call Quot regional Quot As compared to the Quot National Quot highways. From Rosclare it was on to Wexford Waterford yes the Crystal Palace Dun Garvan with its celtic sea coast vistas Cork the country s second largest City and just North Blarney not a Long Way from tipperary. The 15th-Century Blarney Castle lures tourists with the legend of its Blarney Stone the Promise of everlasting eloquence to those who kiss it. According to the Story recorded in verse centuries ago Quot there is a Stone there Quot that whoever kisses Quot of he never misses Quot to grow  others obviously not Irish say kissing the Stone assures telling lies for seven years. Getting to the Stone takes some clambering up ancient staircases to the roof where the ritual requires lying Down on one s Back and leaning Over backward to Plant a pucker on the piece. There is More to see around the Castle including the Rock close with its witches Kitchen and wishing Steps and the Castle House but sure tis the Stone that attracts. On the Road again doubling Back South through Cork to the seacoast resort of Kinsale. Then Northwest toward Killarney and the precarious and astounding ride around the ring of Kerry Peninsula with its dramatic views from sinuous Mountain roads. Take the tour leave the driving to them then farther North toward Tralee a if there s time a Side trip to the Dingle Peninsula where Ryan s daughter was filmed a and a Short ferry ride across the Mouth of the Shannon to Kitrush and a few Miles across to the Atlantic coast town of Kilkeel. The spectacular Cliffs of Mohrer Rise up from the Ocean on the Road North toward Galway. Then time running out it s on to Shannon and the touristy Quot medieval banquet Quot entertainment at Buratty Castle before one last pint of Stout and shopping at Shannon Airport. 10 stripes Magazine october 25, 1990