SNIPPET: In a fairly recent issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine readers shared their thoughts and experiences: Francis LOVETT, Waverly, OH -- "How many times over the years since my mother died have I found myself saying, "Oh, I must ask herself where that got into the family talk," or, "Why do we do that the way we do it?" Of course, I can no longer ask her. Well, Leslie GILMORE's article 'Old Habits Die Hard' (Jul-Aug 2003) has truly touched me, for in the telling of that essay, I hear my mother say to me again the what or the why of things Irish. She was a Tralee woman and my father's mother was from Ennis. The two of them go on well together and they filled my young head with accounts of just how life in their respective towns differed, and just had different from either was the new life in Massachusetts back then in the 1920s. I still use expressions that were common in our home eighty years ago, and my grandchildren often ask me do I truly believe that the fairies are real, or why my home has a real candle in every window on Christmas Eve. Why do I forget and call Hallowe'en "Samhain"? My mother never forgot the old ways and the old days that have passed and the article's reminder has stirred me to recall what I might have forgotten. I'll pass on whatever I can, and my thanks to all of you." Ray WEIGAND, Evansville, WI, wrote: "I just love Ireland! I visited Ireland with my parents in 1982 and since then have been back seven times. In 2001, I guided a group of twelve family members all over Ireland. It was the first visit for my Aunt Theresa YOUNG (QUINN). We had a wonderful time seeing the west coast of Ireland starting at Glenties, Co. Donegal and continuing south to Kinsale in Co. Cork. Then we travelled east to Wexford and ended our visit in Dublin. As we travelled we stayed at the farmhouse B&B's, where were were made to feel at "home away from home." My grandfather, William QUINN, the youngest of ten children, immigrated to the U. S. from King's Co. Ireland in 1876. King's Co. was later renamed Co. Offaly. During our 2001 trip we were able to meet with Ms. Margaret WHITE, a Research Officer of the Irish Midlands Ancestry Centre in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Margaret and the staff at the centre were so kind and helpful in researching our family history. What an excellent resource you have in all the counties throughout Ireland for doing family history studies. My brother-in-law gave me "Ireland of the Welcomes" as a Christmas gift seven years ago...I am now giving it as a gift myself. The 'Byways Rather than Highways' feature is the first that I read. I have used it for trips taken in the past. It is excellent because it takes you to out of the way places that you would normally miss. Thank you so much for including this as a regular feature....." Bill RELPH, Loveland, CO, wrote: "..... My mother visited Ireland several times searching for her roots. Just before she died in 1994, my daughter visited her, and took a lock of her hair and promised her that she would find an appropriate place in Ireland to leave it. Not long after my mother's death, my daughter attended the Yeats Summer School in Sligo. While she was there, she looked up one day at Knocknarea and the tomb of the mythical Queen Maeve and thought this would be an appropriate place to leave the lock of hair. She climbed Knocknarea and with a little ceremony, she left the lock of hair. Last year, my daughter and my son took me to Ireland for my 70th birthday. We spent a wonderful week in a cottage in Easkey, just west of Sligo. While there, we climbed Knocknarea and, with much ceremony, we toasted 'all that is Irish' with a pint of the 'dark stuff.' We all felt my mother's smile that day - a day which I shall never forget."