SNIPPETS: Readers shared their thoughts on recent visits to Ireland in the May-June 2007 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine: Timothy LUNNEY, Coral Springs, FL: "Your Nov/Dec 2006 'Byways Rather than Highways' article on 'Derry and the Sperrins' brought back some wonderful memories of our trip to Ireland in August 2004, when my family and I spent a week in the Glenelly Valley of the Sperrin Mountains. We stayed at the Sperrin Mountain Clachan, which is a lovely little group of cottages located next to the Sperrin Heritage Centre. These four charming and well-appointed cottages are available for rent on a weekly basis at a very reasonable rate and they provide the perfect venue for a large family gathering. The Glenelly Valley is a wonderfully preserved piece of rural Ireland. The view of the Valley from the cottages is lovely by day and by night, the sound of hundreds of sheep 'baaahing' from high-up on the hillsides lulled us to sleep. The staff of the Heritage Centre graciously made their meeting room available to us one evening for a lecture about and a reading of my family's folktales, the 'Sgealta Mhuintir Luinigh,' in Irish by Professor Donall O BAOIL of Queen's University. The local District Council tourism office kindly publicised the event for me and as a result, a number of local residents and native Irish speakers joined us for the evening and for refreshments afterwards in the Heritage Centre's tea room. Although, as remote and rural a place as one can find in Ireland these days, the Glenelly Valley is surprisingly convenient to all of the must-see attractions in Ulster, such as the old town of Derry, the Ulster-American Folk Park, lovely Lough Neagh and the beautiful gardens of Springhill House, to mention but a few. Thanks to the Glenelly Valley and its hospitable people, my family and I got to experience Ireland much as it was when my great-grandfather lived there." Cynthia ZUJKOWSKI, Clarks Summit, PA: "Permit me to add a few words to the discussion of your altered format for IOTW. Change is rarely well received. So I'm sure you have attributed the criticism to your new layout to a simple human preference for the familiar. I think it runs deeper than that. Those of you who have lived through Ireland's dramatic transformation in the last 20 years must be delirious with pride, Ireland's self image is now that of a modern European nation, prosperous and progressive. Of course, you want the magazine to reflect this level of sophistication. In fact, the graphic design is beautifully done. But give a thought to the emotional consequences of this new reality for those of us in the Diaspora. I am a fair example. I grew up with a grandmother who was born in a small Mayo village in 1892. Because I loved her, I loved the image of Ireland she gave me. Her stories were of drilling potatoes and stacking turf, of men in tweed caps and white shirts, of women praying the Rosary. When I travelled to Ireland, it was in search of the place she had described. It was still there in 1981 when I visited. Now it is being erased by suburban housing developments and sprawling industrial estates. It was further erased by your change of format. So forgive us if we balk at the loss of something so dear to us. It was unrealistic to expect that Ireland would be the one corner of the world where time stood still." Patrick J. CORR, Wesley Chapel, FL: "I am a long-time subscriber to your magazine and have truly enjoyed each and every issue. Some 56 years ago, I emigratd from Ireland to the USA. My first visit back home was in 1989. Last October I returned again, this time with my American-born wife. It was her first visit and she fell in love with Ireland in particular its people. She uses only superlatives in describing her impressions and experiences. We had many encounters in which total strangers greeted us and offered assistance if we were lost. On one occasion in Waterford, when we pulled over to consult our map, a man actually stopped his car behind us and graciously gave us precise directions to our hotel. I'd be remiss if I did not single out the Gardai too, who also came to our rescue several times ... For me, our visit was a very nostalgic return to the world of my childhood. Certain highlights include our visit to St. Fin Barre's in Cork City, where my Dad is buried. Through the gracious help of Gerard RICE, I was able to arrange to have my Dad's headstone refurbished. Mr. RICE kindly sent me photographs of the headstone after it had been restored. We visited my old boarding schools, which were all run by religious orders such as the Jesuits, Presentation Nuns and Brothers, whom I will always remember fondly for the care and wonderful classic education they provided. In those days, such an educational opportunity was rare for a boy of my family's circumstances. And now for some constructive criticism and commentary. Ireland's all important tourism industry ... would benefit immensely if both Shannon and Dublin airports were completely demolished and rebuilt, especially the latter. The whole facility is a shabby relic of airports in the 1940's, the car rental services at Dublin Airport, with his muddy car parks downright deplorable. Since both airports are primarily gateways into Ireland, 'first impressions' are important. Two clean, modern airports would greatly enhance the all important image of Ireland. In so many of the shops, restaurants and hotels we visited in Dublin, we found ourselves having to interact with employees who were unfamiliar with the English language. As we walked the streets of Dublin, it seemed in its turn that the city had become Ireland's version of the 'melting pot' syndrome and was now reaping the reward of its membership in the EU. Throughout the rest of the country, the difference was remarkable ..." He added that they might not include Dublin in their next visit to Ireland. (The editor suggested that the new transatlantic route from Ireland West Airport might be an option for a future trip and sent him a copy of "Paddy Mac's Collection of Vintage Postcards," ed. Paddy MacMONAGLE, Mac Publications. Paddy MacMONAGLE was four times President of the Irish Master Printers Assoc., and his portrait hangs in their Hall of Fame. Also, he is the author of many guide books dealing with his beloved county Kerry.)