SNIPPET: The July-August 1998 issue of "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine published in Dublin had some interesting comments about Ireland from some of their readers: Lily Sillert WEBB, Houston, TX, shared: "Your article on the Avoca Handweavers in the Jan-Feb 1998 issue really did bring back memories - how I ran every morning to get to school from my Granny's house up in Knockenree, which is just up above the road from the Mill. The 'up above the road' was 4 or 5 miles from the village and the school. I would drop off my Uncle Peter CULLEN's lunch and would look around the mill at the wonder of it all: water wheels, little bridges, heaps of coloured wool drying outside, white-washed buildings more wonderful when the sun was shining, the busy little ducks waddling around in and out of the little brooks, the green grass, the flower pots. Wave hello to my cousins the BASS family, who were weavers there. I think about ten of them were trained and worked as weavers for years. I remember the big house, the beautiful gardens. I still remember shaking in my shoes as my cousin, Lily BASS, raised the knocker on that big door to drop off some knitting for the lovely WYNNE sisters who lived there - the friendly hello. I was only ten years old at the time but I guess that I recognised beauty and magic when I saw it. Thank you for bringing back the wonderful memories." M. J. RIGHETTI, Brooklyn, OH, wrote: "In July of 1996 the night before my sister and I were preparing to make our first trip abroad, the tragedy of Flight 800 from JFK happened. We were so upset that we decided not to go, but in the morning we said a prayer, flipped a coin and later that afternoon we left. We arrived safely in Dublin. A tour guide told us plenty of stories and myths as we drove through each county. Through your magazine I am able to live all those memories again and again. You hear about the beauty of Ireland, but you can never truly appreciate it until you visit it yourself." Edward P. INGOLDSBY, King of Prussia, PA, shared: "In your May-June issue of 1993 you had an article about "The Lantern Lodge" Bed & Breakfast. I was so impressed with the article that I saved it for many years. I made up my mind that some day I would return to Ireland and visit the O'DONNELL farm. On September 9, 1997, I landed in Shannon. It was a long first day: o I took the bus, train, walked and hitch-hiked to Ballyorgan. When I arrives Frances O'DONNELL greeted me at the door. She looked just like her photograph in "Ireland of the Welcomes." She made me feel right at home as she treats her guests as part of her family. I was like a child on Christmas morning: I took photographs of the deer, the exotic birds and beautiful countryside. On the second day I went to the Ballyhoura mountains. The weather was perfect and scenery spectacular. My two days at the O'DONNELL farm were the high-light of my trip. "The Lantern Lodge" is a great place to get away from it all." Julie MAYNARD, Brookings, OR, wrote: "My mother was of Irish descent (GALLAGHER/COSGROVE) and was intrigued by her visits to Ireland. After her death I was determined to go to Ireland. I planned a trip in late October. I too feel there is genetic memory when one finds oneself brought to her emotional knees in an inexplicable manner!" Pamela Gill TODD, New Oreans, LA, wrote: "My husband and I went on a tour in Ireland last summer led by the musicians Danny and Patrick O'FLAHERTY who were raised in Connemra and who now have a pub in New Orleans. They played traditional music whereever we went, which was the main reason for the tour. They are very interested in encouraging this type of music, especially among young people. Since my husband and I love traditional Irish music, our trip was a combination of everything we hoped it would be. We got to meet the O'FLAHERTY family both on the Aran Islands and in Connemara. Ireland is so much more real to us now and we look forward to the time that we can return to your fair Emerald Isle." Alexander BREED, Watertown, MA, wrote: "I was glad to see the stories in Irish, which you have included lately in "Ireland of the Welcomes." "Patrick," Mallachtai Cholm Cille, and "St. Brigid." I'm sure that many of your readers are interested in the Irish language. As you know, many travellers to Ireland attend Irish language summer schools, myself included. While not all of us may speak great Irish yet, we love the language and we are very encouraged when see it in the pages of this important magazine. Keep it up!" Harold A. NELSON, Hermitage, PA, sent in this verse which it appears he composed, titled "Nostalgic Thoughts on Ireland." Up early to a breakfast of just-right eggs and the unique flavour of potato-fed ham, bacon and blood pudding topped off with soda bread and 'Barry's Tea.' Then outdoors to an open, level country, crossed by lanes, closely defined by hedge-covered stone walls, and low white cottages roofed by warm yellow thatch. To the north, Galway Bay is changing from Atlantic blue to slate under the large white clouds charging in from the sea. In the distance is a line of bright green tree-less mountains, their hues alter with the cloud shadows. The low, steady wind carries the sound of cattle and the wash of waves. So cool after a Pennsylvania heatwave.