SNIPPET: Readers shared their experiences in Ireland in the May-June 1999 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine: Janet A. SIMMONS, Ashburnham, MA, shared: "It has been my privilege and pleasure to visit Inis Mor on the Aran Islands for the past three years. Each day while I was there, I stopped at a small restaurant in Kilmurvey at noon for 'tea and scones,' where I witnessed an episode that to me, epitomises the wonder of Ireland and the Irish people. I was sipping my tea when I noticed an elderly gentleman opposite me carefully nurturing a sandwich and tea. He stopped briefly and removed several coins from his pocket which he counted slowly. Then he finished his tea and sat looking about, apparently enjoying his stay. At this point, the manager of the restaurant approached him with a full cup of steaming tea, which he placed before the gentleman. The old gentleman took out his coins but the manager waved them away and left. What impressed me was the fact that the entire act was carried out with the deepest respect and dignity, there was no hint of condescension. To me, this is real Ireland - may you never lose your graciousness. I shall return in 1999 to your kind, thoughtful, considerate people." Peter & Bobbie WARNER, Redonda Beach, CA wrote: "My wife and I have been receiving your magazine for several years in anticipation of a trip to Ireland. We finally joined another couple in September 1998 and drove through the beautiful countryside. We concluded our trip with friends in Belfast. Since the second day was rainy, we decided to stay local and visit a village they thought we would like - Hillsborough. Imagine our excitement upon reading your article on Hillsborough in the Nov-Dec 1998 issue. The pictures brought back so many memories of a trip thoroughly enjoyed by all of us..." Edna K. STAFFORD, Wharton, NJ, penned, "While on vacation in Ireland, a friend and I went for a picnic on the Beara Peninsula, in Co. Cork. Cheese, wine, fruit and bread were purchased in the local shop, but ice was not on hand. We drove through some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable while looking for a place to purchase ice. Finally we reached a village and we were directed to a fishing pier with a huge ice-maker and locker. An obliging passer-by opened the locker and we obtained plenty of ice, but no one was around to offer payment to. Some time later while enjoying our picnic in a gorgeous scenic lay-by, a voice called out, 'Did you get your ice?' I replied that I had and asked him how he knew. With a grin he replied that he was in the shop in the village when I had asked for ice. I'm sure when your readers visit Ireland, they will find the stuff for fond memories as I have." Ed TONER, Brick, NJ, shared: "I'm glad to see an Irish shipyard doing a replica of the "Jeanie Johnston." She should be an asset and could prove very useful in many ways, as well as being a shot in the arm for Irish shipbuilding. As an aside, last summer there was a replica of one of the ships in Columbus's flotilla, the "Nina," on display at the Barnegat Light Seaport Museum in NJ. My wife Marlene, (who is from Lucan, in Dublin), and I drove down to pay a visit. It was a rewarding experience. The replica was magnificent. Close inspection of the builders plaque, told us that the man behind the project was none other than an Irish-American from NY, Patrick SARSFIELD, whose namesake's demesne is in Lucan today. Small world!" E. Cahalane JENNINGS, Victoria, Australia, wrote: "I have been receiving your lovely magazine since I visited my cousins in Ireland in November 1997 and have been re-visiting them with each issue. As a child I always felt a close affinity with my Irish roots, as I was named after my great-grandmother, who was Miss Elizabeth CAHALANE, before she married. I received her surname as did my mother. I had not been to Ireland since 1981 when my mother generously paid for my trip. She wanted me to see the home of her father John MURRAY, who left Cork in 1887 to sail to Australia. My grandfather's letters home to Ireland were kept by his young brother Denis, who also wrote regularly and sent him the Irish newspapers. These letters were kept in the family by Denis's daughter and they proved invaluable to me when I was writing my Master thesis. The first chapter dealt with an Irish childhood in Australia. As my grandfather died before I was born, I like to think that he would have been pleased with my efforts to reflect on his stories. Fiana GRIFFIN's article on "Why Do the Irish Speak English," in the Nov-Dec 1998 issue reminded me of the impact on first seeing bi-lingual signposts and street names in Ireland. The Irish language is still alive in Melbourne, Australia, where classes in Irish grammar and conversation are run in adult education schools. I enjoy reading IOTW, congratulations on a quality magazine." Eileen SULLIVAN, Kyabram, Victoria, Australia, wrote: "What a lovely surprise for Christmas, IOTW with my favourite section, 'Byways Rather than Highways' featuring 'Towns of Tipperary.' Over the years we have been able to contact many of our relatives in Co. Tipperary and other counties. It is a great feeling to be able to visit the places where our ancestors came from and wonder how they must have felt leaving their home and travelling to this new country, in most cases never to see the rest of their families again. They were very brave or desperate people. We have always marvelled at the great history that surrounds Ireland .... In Australia, we do not see the evidence of an early way of living such as castles, round towers, ring forts and megalithic tombs ... Through IOTW we can share a little bit of Ireland with our friends in Australia." Bobbie Keith HOUSTON, Lafayette, LA, shared: "The photographs in IOTW provide a visual feast for anyone, but especially for those of us who are artists. I first visited your country several years ago and my dream since that time has been to return - just to paint. Last summer I had the good fortune of accompanying a group of fellow artists for the sole purpose of painting for two glorious weeks ... first in the wildly beautiful countryside of Connemara, then in the charming little fishing village of Dingle. Not only is the scenery inspirational, but the people are so wonderfully friendly and many of them were perfect studies for an artist, from the rugged fishermen hauling a boat onto a rocky beach at Killary Bay to the beautiful girl playing Celtic melodies on a flute outside a Dingle pub."