Why are the Irish Public so laid back?

In most countries in the continent and also the world people usually protest if they feel they are getting a bad deal because their government is introducing new legislation that affects them. In most cases it will be hundreds of people attending, shouting and screaming in order to get their message heard.

In Ireland it is much different. This recent recession as seen the introduction of many new taxes for the Irish public. Firstly the government increased income tax and following that they rolled out a series of additional taxes such as the household charge, property tax and a new water charge which is on the way.

We also have to pay a television licence charge and part of this money pays exorbitant salaries to tv presenters of the national television station. Recently these presenters have had a cut in their salaries but some of them may still earn more than president Obama who earned $400,000 in 2012. It is understood that the tv licence is now to be converted to a general media charge. If you dont have a tv but have a laptop you will have to pay this new charge.

It makes you think about the current situation in Cyprus.  Their government was planning to take deposits out of peoples bank accounts and what did the people do? They hit the streets and protested. What would the Irish do if this happened?  Probably stay at home and have a cup of tea. We are really laid back about everything and nothing seems to phase us.

So what difference does it make which way the government takes our money whether directly or indirectly?  Maybe they should have taken once off deposits from our bank accounts. At least it would have been a once off charge.

With annual recurring taxes such as the household charge, property tax and water charges we will be paying these for the rest of our lives. They are hardly going to cancel these taxes in 10 years. If you do the sums on it maybe once off payments from our deposit accounts may have worked in our favour, depending on how much savings you have of course.

With the introduction of this new water charge how will the Irish public react? We probably will just take it on the chin like the other charges we have incured. Pictured is a recent protest about the water charge that is being introduced.  The protest is so civilised it does not even make it onto the street. What message does this send to the government?

Once this water charge is introduced the government will probably brainstorm some other pointless charge so they can tax us. Ask yourself the question when will it end?

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Airport Hotels - Why don't they have the same customer service?

Hotels in general will make a genuine effort to accommodate you. Sometimes you might forget to bring certain essential items with you like a toothbrush etc. One call to reception usually sorts this out and you will get what you need delivered to your room.

So why do hotels go the extra mile for you? Well it is to maintain their good name and generate repeat business as this is what keeps the hotel in the black. Competition is healthy and hotels battling for customers in the same area will continue to maintain and improve customer service standards. Bear in mind it is called the "hospitality industry".

How do airport hotels differ? They have a continuous stream of punters staying for one night and customer service goes straight out the window. You can forget about getting the little extras in an airport hotel so remember if you need something bring it with you. They dont need to impress you because they are guaranteed to get repeat business from airport travellers the very next day.

The menu in airport hotels can be rather limited so if you have the option to eat somewhere else before hand take it.

This might not apply to all airport hotels but from a recent experience in a Dublin Airport hotel I left as a very disappointed customer.

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Good Friday Feeding Options

With meat taken off the menu it was actually more difficult than I thought to pick something to eat today on Good Friday. Most years I cave in and order a meat dish but this year I decided to make a special effort.

Today I stumbled into the K Cafe in Kildare Town, Co Kildare Ireland. The cafe is located in the shopping centre on the main street which has the Euro Spar in it.

Still undecided on what to order which does not have meat in it the lady recommend a Veg Delux toasted sandwich which has tomato, cheddar cheese, mixed pepper and red onion.

It turned out to be an excellent choice and with fresh vegetable soup to accompany it I was on to a winner. Of course it all had to be washed down with a hot coffee or two!

One of the other perks was the free wifi. You will have to ask for the user name and password from one of the staff members.

The service was fast and efficient and the staff were very friendly and helpful. If you do decide to visit Kildare Outlet and are looking for a reasonably priced cafe this is an excellent choice. There are not many feeding options in Kildare Outlet and Cafe K is only a few minutes walk away.

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Emo Park County Laois Ireland

Emo Park in County Laois Ireland is a hidden gem that most tourists and even Irish people will not know about. The park is situated in the small village of Emo in County Laois.

Entry into the park is free and is ideal for couples or families. It is the perfect spot for a lovely walk, picnic, photography or just to take in the fresh air and scenery.

When you turn into the park from the main road in Emo village I recommend that you drive all the way up. Otherwise it is about a 10 minute walk to Emo Park from the main road. There is a link at the bottom of the page which will help you get to Emo Park.

There is a tour available of the old house for €3 per person which is the price that was given to me by the attendant the last time I was there. Unfortunately, I did not attend the tour on that occasion but will do in the near future as I believe there is a lot of history associated with the old house (pictured below).



If you didn't bring a picnic you can visit the tea rooms instead. They have a range of different sandwiches, cakes, snacks and tea/coffee on offer. The food is excellent quality and also reasonably priced. In addition there is a small gift shop where you can purchase something to remember the occasion. There is seating both inside and out so you have the option if the day is fine to catch some sun while eating your lunch and having a cold refreshing beverage.

One of my favour parts of Emo Park is the huge lake which is engulfed by trees, shrubs and wildlife. In the lake you will find swans and ducks so remember to bring some bread to feed them. There is a path that follows the perimeter of the lake which is a unique scenic walk. Below is a picture of mammy and baby ducks swimming in formation and also one of the swans.

The gardens at the back of Emo park is also a beautiful stroll and is like a little adventure. You will encounter some random statues and also some peculiar shaped trees. This is typical Ireland with lots of different shades of green so take it all in!

Because Emo Park is so picturesque I have seen newly weds getting their wedding pictures taken there. So if you are getting married in the future just bear it in mind as a possible location for wedding photos.

Thanks for taking the time to read our post. If you have any questions please get in touch with us. 

Click here for directions to Emo Park

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A trip to County Wexford in Ireland

Wexford town offers many attractions for any visitor whether domestic or international. The scenery is excellent as shown by the two pictures which were taken looking either side of Wexford bridge.

The three main hotels in the town include the River Bank Hotel, Talbot Hotel and Whites of Wexford with each hotel offering something unique in their own right.

The River Bank Hotel is located on the other side of Wexford Bridge. Adjacent to the hotel is Ferry Bank camping site and also Wexford indoor swimming pool and gym. The River Bank Hotel has a country and homely feel to it and the staff are welcoming and friendly. In addition it is kept clean and the food is very good quality. This would be my hotel of choice for a trip away in Wexford from both a price and service perspective.

Whites of Wexford and the Talbot Hotel are located in the main town centre. Both of these hotels are modern with live music on the weekends. Any one of the three hotels is a good choice but make sure to check for the best prices on their websites.

The main street in the town is not huge so getting around on foot is not a problem. There are many places to shop for clothes, electronics and also general goods. Pubs are dotted around the town and you can mix shopping with drinking or for you gentlemen Wexford is the perfect spot to let the wife go shopping while you get a few beers in. Some of my favourite pubs include - Barrets Bar, Simons Place, The Stores and also the bar in the Talbot Hotel.

There are also amusements in the town which only opened up a couple of years ago. Its no Las Vegas but if you fancy a flutter while your there they have a decent variety of slot machines to play.

If you do get the urge for some food during the day Sharkeys is an excellent option for fast food. They are a chipper that have seating inside. I got fresh cod and chips and a drink for about €9.

That's all folks, trying to keep it short and sweet because people get bored reading! If you have any questions please get in touch.

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