SNIPPET: In the Nov-Dec 2001 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine, readers had varying comments regarding recent trips: Mary Ann FLANAGAN, Cranford, NJ, wrote: "By ordering your magazine, perusing the internet and travel brochures, we started planning for our trip to Ireland to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary a year in advance. IOTW gave us the most accurate picture of Ireland, but nothing could have prepared us for the wonder of just being there! Eight of us, both family and friends, traveled together and we experienced the landscape, history and the people of Ireland, which were all greater than our greatest expectation. We booked a 12-day Brian MOORE International Tour and each day eight happy tourists, wearing green zip-up sweatshirts ... roamed the streets of Ireland. We were greeted daily with smiles and friendly hellos from all. We dined in little pubs and five star restaurants and experienced some of the tastiest meals we had ever had. From the Cliffs of Moher to Newgrange we explored the wonders of Ireland. While in Killarney, my husband, Jay, and I were able to rene! w our marriage vows in the beautiful Prince of Peace Church in Fossa. Father HARRINGTON officiated at a mass at which the altar stood in front of a large ceiling-to-floor window looking out on a rippling pond, a brilliantly-lit cross and a spectacular mountain range. Never before has this average couple felt so special .... Thank you for your wonderful magazine and your enchanting country." Frances ELLIOTT, Greenfield, WI, had some thought-provoking comments and questions: "Where have all the Irish gone? On a recent trip to Ireland I was saddened to see how much it had changed. It didn't feel or sound like Ireland. We stayed at our favourite place several miles from Dublin, where our hostess told us about the landfill in the farm next to hers. Landfill! She was angry and had spoken to the authorities, but they said nothing could be done. It was there that we hear from an Irish guest of the plans for building many miles of motorway, which explained why we saw the destruction of so many hedgerows as we drove around the country. No more will serendipity lead us to the quaint little towns laden with charm and lovely to roam about. The changes in Dublin were even more disturbing. The desk clerk at our lodging had a very pronounced foreign accent and had to repeat everything for us. Clerks in shops and restaurants, always so helpful in the past, have be! en replaced by people who have no clue of courtesy. Gone are the days of an Irish smile given with the answer to your question, as they escort you to what you have been inquiring about, even if it was 'just down the street.' Too often an unsmiling face, from a person who simply points to something as an answer, and then turns away, has replaced it. We certainly can rejoice for the citizens of Ireland in the country's economic upswing. Poor too long, they can now better enjoy life. I absolutely acknowledge the good that comes with economic change. but still I wonder, for all that is gained, what will be lost? Where will the quiet go? Where will the slow charming smile go? Where will the beautiful brogue and fabulous Irish wit go? How long will it take for the trustful Irish to learn to not trust? When will Ireland become just like America: beautiful, rich, materialistic, questionable morals, with no time for the stranger? .... A mirror-image of our United States?! If so, I am sad for that which we all have lost, even as I rejoice for the better lives my Irish 'cousins' now enjoy." Mrs. E. A. DOYLE-ROBERTS, Fitzroy North, Victoria, Australia, shared: .... "I always get so excited when I see your publication with my mail. I often wonder how you can continually have so many wonderful stories. There are obviously a lot of talented people, who can write these interesting articles. The photography is always superb and it does make me wish I could live over in Ireland for a long period of time. I am like a lot of people, trying to piece together my family history, and my connections to Ireland. My grandparents, and great-grandparents were born in Ireland and I have been doing my research only part-time for eight years. I feel deprived of my rich culture and everything it encompasses. I am hopeful of returning to Ireland next year for a Clan gathering in May, and extending my stay, though unfortunately it will not be long enough." Mikel ARIETA-ARAUNABENA, Erandio, Basque Country, wrote: "I find that IOTW is the best way to keep in touch with Ireland, its culture and people and to revive the memories I have of the wonderful times I have spent there. When you meet Irish people you immediately feel at home, as they become your friends and accept you inside their circles and environment as if they knew you from a long time before. I think that in that sense (and in many others) they are quite similar to the people of the Basque country, where I come from. My relationship with Ireland started when I was twelve, my parents sent me to Tralee, Co. Kerry to learn English for a summer and my passion for Ireland probably started in that moment, with that very first contact. I continued spending many summers in Tralee until after I was twenty years old. Once I finished ny University studies in Bilbao, I undertook a Law degree at University College Dublin and spent a whole year in Dublin. This gave me an o! pportunity of getting to know another part of your country and increased my love for it .... Do not ever change either Ireland or your magazine." Bill CONDON, Dallas, TX, penned: "Jan REIST's article 'Has Ireland lost her Irishness?' struck a note dear to my heart. Having first visited Ireland in September 1984 it was in stark contrast to one of our visits some 14 years later. Although Cork and Limerick cities were bigger and busier, the fact is the impact of the city was about the same both years. But go into the hinterlands and you can really tell the difference. The infrastructure in 1984, especially the secondary roads, were busy with sheep and cows. There were carts being pulled by tractors or horses, and an occasional bus made you say your prayers as they passed with only centimetres to spare. Of course being Texas Irish, Alicia and I were having to constantly remind ourselves - left is right, right is wrong. Affluence of the younger generation was apparent, everybody has a car now, or so it seems. The national highway were considerably busier, and for the most part better. In 1984 there were nine pub! s in Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, and five of them had Irish music. In 1999 there are still nine pubs, but only one had Irish music and two of them had Country and Western, catering mostly for the youth. I don't remember even seeing any young people in the pubs outside of the cities in 1984. But the important fact is the people are the same. The same lilting speech, the warm engaging smiles, the natural effort to want to help, and lastly the outstanding friendship that seem to emanate from the soul. I suspect that in the future, Ireland will be able to readily cope with their new-found position in the Western world. We feel certain that they are wise enough to blend their historic beauty and charm with the perks that go with being a more affluent society." --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.716 / Virus Database: 472 - Release Date: 7/6/2004