SNIPPET: In the March-April 2006 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine, readers shared their impressions: Harry McENTEE, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales wrote: "I have been a subscriber to IOTW for many years now and I just want to tell you that your Sept/Oct 2005 issue was one of your finest yet. From your ten-page spread on the 'Inspiring Crafts' in Clare to 'Oystering in the West,' exploring our wonderful coastline, calling in at beautiful Bandon on the way and ending up on the 'Precious Waters' of Loughs Ennell, Owel and Derravaragh, where I spent my summer school holidays many years ago, trying to fish and wandering along the winding lanes and stopping for a rest in Fore. You gave a name to the places you depicted, which made your writings more interesting -- I would never have recognised the lakes pictured, had you not named them. Thank you for helping me recall happy memories of boyhood." Ann Healy SCOTT, Stamford, CT penned: "I so enjoyed your article on 'The Butter Road' which you featured in your July/Aug 2005 issue. My father, John HEALY, was born and raised in Carriganima (The Rock of the Butter), a village between Millstreet and Macroom - obviously on the butter route. I've been there many times in the past 40 years and have always felt very much at home in that lovely part of West Cork. My cousin Ned WALSH and family are still dairy farmers in Carriganima as they have been for over a hundred years. Thanks for bringing back lots of fond memories." Don and Eileen RICHMOND, Franklin, CT wrote: "My wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in a special way last summer. We returned to Ireland for the second time, only on this occasion we travelled there without our kids! Could our high expectations be met a second time? Absolutely. While our small CT town was melting during a scoring heat wave, we felt ocean breezes and enjoyed the pleasant weather. It is an over-simplification to say that the people are friendly and speak in such musical tones, that you can't help but smile. And it is all too obvious to say that Ireland is a photographer's paradise. Driving on the 'wrong' side of the road, while shifting gears with the wrong hand sitting in the wrong seat on roads that are only meant for one car, is actually more fun than terrifying. Ireland is a time-traveled adventure. Always travelling back in time and driving into the unexpected. Never expecting to find a sign that read 'Quiet Man Bridge.' Driving down narrow roads and finding a holy well, round tower, megalithic tomb or castle ruins in places that I could never have imagined is all part of the thrill. The fact is that there is so much to see and do, so we feel that we have only scratched the surface in our two visits. Finally, your magazine allows us to read and enjoy parts of Ireland that we may never see and what a delight to see a donkey behind a stone-wall on the cover of your Nov/Dec 2005 issue." Patrick O'TOOLE, Peekshill, NY penned: ,,, "I'll start by singing the praise of IOTW!. I've been a subscriber for a few years and enjoyed it so much that I took out a gift subscription for my daughter and son-in-law, and likewise they are taken with the breathtaking informative publication. As a second generation Irishman on my father's side, although my mom described her heritage as 'melting pot' so I delight in all my background especially my Irish line. I've been known to start training for St. Patrick's Day two months in advance. It takes that long at my age - 76. I'm still confused about shillelaghs. I have two walking sticks, Blackthorn and a third shorter handheld one which I'm told that it's a cudgel." Doraine Wall RILEY, Old Saybrook, CT wrote: "I am an avid Fan of IOTW, but reluctantly I take issue with your response to Roger PETERSON, Ossing, NY, when he asked you about the shillelagh. I owned an Irish import store in the USA for 15 years and purchased many shillelaghs and walking sticks from Irish vendors. While I learned that many things Irish are over romanticised by some people, here is my take on the shillelagh and walking stick as represented to me over the years: The shillelagh is an Irish cudgel used by faction fighters in years past. These sticks were sometimes tempered in slack lime and very often they were rubbed in butter and put up the chimney, where they were left seasoning for months. The world-famous Irish walking stick is cut from the Blackthorn tree which grows all over Ireland. The stick is seasoned for two to three years, steamed, straightened, sanded and polished before grading for weight, balance, taper, size and shapeliness. The spacing and regularity of the characteristic thorns (which are up to six inches long before cutting) enhances the appearance and value of the Blackthorn. Only one or two sticks in every thousand are nearly perfect and many fine Blackthorns become presentation pieces after travelling thousands of miles from Ireland to their final resting place. Alas, Mr. PETERSON has been walking with a walking stick and not a shillelagh all this time." (The editor responded that depending on which source he consults, he seems to find a different explanation.)