Turns out in Ireland, Tipping is indeed a city in China. So when you are at the pub, don't bother, seriously. Okay I might sound cheap, but no one tips the bar man. All right if a round is 19.80 and you are feeling frisky, leave the 2o cents, otherwise forget it. If you are dining out, it is customary to leave 5 to 10% for good service.

Just checking in with some more info about Ireland. I learned the hard way on my 2nd trip to Ireland when I went to charge my digital camera battery that not only were the plugs and outlets totally different (Irish plug pictured left), but the voltage is at a higher level. For those of you who will need to charge any batteries for you camera or otherwise, I will have a voltage converter that will accept US plugs at the concierge of the Tullamore Court hotel on the day of the wedding, so share nicely. they are bulky and kind of expensive, so this is not something you would necessarily want to buy. -Daniel

Don't forget your Passport!

Hey there, everybody, just a quick reminder if you were planning the journey for our big day, don't forget to apply for a passport or renew your existing one if it is close to expiring. They are valid for 10 years and are great documents to have and all have the new biometric technology to make them even cooler. Just make sure you follow the strict guidelines regarding your passport photo, it is very specific, so get it done right and save yourself the trouble. Also, as a general tip, it is a good idea to travel with a photocopied version of your passport in the event it is lost or stolen, it takes more than a smile to get a new one issued at an embassy. More updates and pictures to come...

Travel Deals

Hey everybody, hope the summer weather is well on the way for you all. First post in a while, just wanted to let everybody in on some good deals i heard about from some people who have already booked. Some friends got a great deal on a car and flight with Air France out of NYC. Also recently some friends got a great deal through Virgin on a similar 1 week package, check it out:

http://www.virgin-vacations.com/site_vv/pub_detail.asp?iDept=333&id=10937&iFrom=11/1/2009&utm_source=vv&utm_medium=e050709

In the mean time, just wanted to remind everyone to get your passport sorted out as these things can take time. It is a great document to have and lasts 10 years. That's all for now, hope to update this more frequently. Cheers from Dublin!

Planning Your Trip to Ireland

First things first, get your transatlantic flights booked. The sooner the better!

We recommend you stay at least 3 days in the Tullamore area for the wedding itself, but its central location could make a good base from which to explore the island. The wedding is on Friday 9 October '09 and in true Irish style, the craic will go on late. The following night (Saturday) we are planning a traditional Irish music session in a local pub.

Tullamore is located approx. 65 miles from Dublin aiport and approx. 85 miles from Shannon airport, in the middle of Ireland, in County Offaly. It is possible to get to the town by train (Irish Rail) from Dublin, but you would need to drive from Shannon. As Tullamore is in the countryside, renting a car at the airport is highly recommended.

Check out the links on the right-hand side for tips on airlines, accomodation in the Tullamore area and information on the wedding reception venue (the Tullamore Court Hotel). We recommend you look at the Tourism Ireland website for tips on what to see and do in Ireland generally, so as to help you plan your trip. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail either one of us.

Dan and Hilary

Hot off the Press

Hopefully by now those of you reading have received our letter in the post and maybe you are thinking about taking an Irish adventure one step further. We are hoping not to disappoint as we are planning an experience to remember. We are in the process of compiling information to suit everyone's travel needs for the town of Tullamore and suggestions for further travel within Ireland and Europe. Stay tuned...