SNIPPET: In the Mar-Apr 2007 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine, readers shared their thoughts on their trips to Ireland: Elizabeth Y. CANIK, Abita Springs, LA: ... "What remains vivid in our memory are the beautiful rich autumn colours of the turning foliage, in contrast to the very still-green lawns and hillsides. The temperature was pleasant and not too cold - you really have the best of both worlds. We tell everyone we know who is planning a trip to Ireland not to overlook the autumn season as this was our favourite and most colourful family holiday." Jane KILLEEN, Lynnfield, MA: "This is a long-overdue letter so that I might share my own personal 'Irish Memory' and to tell you that I find your magazine to be a very special treat. As a subscriber for the past six years, I've learned so much about its people and its culture. I can only second all the many accolades your other readers have sent you. So when the movie about 9/11 ('The World Trade Center') was released in 2006, it finally motivated me to send you my letter. I had visited Ireland once before and this was my second trip, although it was the very first trip for my long-time childhood friend (who had never even travelled outside of the U.S. before) ....We flew into Shannon, stayed in the Cork area and visited lovely Kinsale, Kenmare, the Beara Peninsula and Garinish Island; we then moved on to Killarney, where, on a previous visit, I'd played golf at my my family's namesake course, 'Killeen's' and wouldn't you know I even got a par - thus, turning me into a firm believer in the Luck of the Irish. Our next stop was the Dingle Peninsula - this was one of my favourites .... Each area is so beautiful and so different, very unspoilt and natural. Our last stop was in the gorgeous Connemara area, for an indulgent stay at the Cashel House Hotel. As we pulled into the driveway of the hotel, little did we know what a momentous day had been unfolding; you see, we arrived on September 11, 2001. Driving all day, we had not heard of the terrible tragedy in NYC. I still remember how supportive and solicitous the Cashel House staff were to all their American guests... It took me a while to realise that many of the Irish, themselves, were also in pain, as so many had family and friends in the NYC/NJ area. One of the Cashel House waitresses had a brother who was a policeman or fireman in NYC, I never did learn if he survived, but certainly hope so. The shock of being away from one's country when it's under attack, worrying about family members (I have cousins in the NJ fire department, just across the river from NYC), as well as not knowing when it would be possible to return home, not to mention the minor detail of not having a place to stay beyond a certain date - all combined to make for a very worrisome situation. I soon realised that, if we had to be stranded overseas, thank heavens it was in Ireland: I will never forget the thoughtfulness of the staff of Cashel House Hotel. Later, we moved closer to Shannon as we wanted to be ready for any available seats on the next flights home, as soon as the U. S. border re-opened. Drumcreehy House in Ballyvaughan (where we had stayed a few nights earlier) was booked fully; however they were kind enough to secure sleeping accommodation for us at a neighbour's house. When we finally managed to get a flight out (to NJ), on a return flight home, a spontaneous cheer filled the plane as the pilot announced we had just entered U.S. airspace, only to be abruptly hushed when we skirted below NYC and could see the smoke rising in the distance, in deadly, silent spirals. What stays in my mind and heart is the wonderful, wonderful warmth and caring of the Irish people - it's one thing to read about it ... but an entirely different matter to experience it first-hand - my friend and I felt very fortunate." (For her letter, the editor sent her a copy of "Islands of Connaught" - paintings by Ros HARVEY and text by Wallace CLARK).