SNIPPET: Readers in the Sept-Oct 2004 issue of "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine published in Dublin made these comments: Patricia Hughes NEISWENDER, Clifton Park, NY wrote: "I first read 'IOTW' in 1986, when my parents brought a copy of your magazine home from a visit to Ireland ... little did I realise that your magazine would become so important to me over the years. Irish culture and literature is alive and well at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton, New York State. We run a very popular course on Irish Literature. This is a 20-week semester course, which is offered to senior high school students and the total enrollment for this course is usually 350 students per year. The course syllabus covers Irish history from the early Celts to the present day: ranging form Brian BORU to Michael COLLINS; literature, including poetry and plays. For their term papers, the students research the history and culture of many topics, including Irish music and sport. 'IOTW' is a very helpful resource for the students ... they use the variety of back issues which I have accumulated over the years, to ! look up additional information for their research. Your magazine brings their topics to life and gives them additional information, which they would not necessarily find in a book or on the internet. This year was very special to me, as myself and two other teachers took 22 of our Irish Literature students to Ireland during our Spring break in April. This was a dream come true for both students and teachers. Being of 100% Irish descent myself, I could not wait to visit the land of my ancestors for the first time. It was a trip of a lifetime and we all enjoyed every minute of it. Your magazine is not only a source of information for us, but also a source of recall ... your great articles and exquisite pictures certainly do justice to the beautiful and historic country of Ireland." George A. DUNNING, JR., Dover, DE penned: "Having read letters which you have published over the years, I have always told myself that one day I would take the time to send along a few words to extol the virtues of the land that I have come to love. I made my first trip to Ireland in 1999, with my wife, daughter and her fiance. We spent ten great days exploring your country from West to East and back again. Wonderful sights, lovely people and great food were the hallmarks of our trip. Needless to say, we weren't long back in the States, when we found ourselves talking about our next trip back to the home of our ancestors - O'NEILL on my side and ROCHE on my wife's side. In 2001, a tradition began among some of our long-time friends - each summer one couple would plan a trip to Europe, making all the arrangements, staying within a certain budget and time frame. It was our turn to plan a trip last year and it was a foregone conclusion that Ireland would be our chosen de! stination ... We left from Baltimore on June 20, and spent ten days travelling from Dublin to Doolin, making several stops en route. We sampled live music most nights, and everyone, even the gourmets, loved the food we sampled. They were all stunned by the friendliness of everyone we met on the way... " Frank KEEFE, Manchester, NH wrote: "My relationship with your magazine and Ireland goes back to the 1980s. Many copies of IOTW are neatly stacked in my hallway closet. Whenever my grandchildren are doing an Irish school project or I recall something that I wish to read again - your magazines are readily available for our enjoyment. September 1980 was my first trip to Ireland. I went hoping to find my KEEFE family in County Cork. My dream was that I would find some ancestors and get to know them; we would have a wonderful reunion, taking some photographs which I could show everyone back home. However, this never happened, mainly due to the fact that I only had some very basic information about my family who happened to come from one of the largest counties in Ireland. Although, through some pure luck, I did eventually find the birth certificate of my oldest uncle. The people of Cullen and Millstreet could not have been more helpful. Some of us have stayed friends so! me 24 years later. However, sadly, some have passed away. Since that first visit, I have made at least 20 more trips 'home' to Ireland. My ten-year passport has just been renewed and as long as I can, I will be back. My subscription renewal is also on the way to you." Richard BENNETT, Vancouver, BC wrote to call attention to an error in the Jan-Feb 2004 issue about one of Kerry's and Dingle's most famous sons and pub owner - explorer Tom CREAN. He pointed out that CREAN never went anywhere near the North Pole - in fact, he never went anywhere near the Arctic. Rather, he went to the Antarctic three times, and while he did not reach the South Pole he did come within 150 miles of the Pole and was one of the last party to turn back, leaving SCOTT et al to continue. Along with EVANS and LASHLY, CREAN was the last man to see SCOTT and his party alive. Mr. BENNETT said that he intended, in the coming summer, to raise a glass in his memory in the 'South Pole Inn.' (The editor apologized for what he called 'slip-shod' editing and that he knew only too well that Tom CREAN visited Antarctica with SHACKLETON, an adventure vividly recalled in Michael SMITH's 'An Unsung Hero: Tom CREAN an Antarctic Survivor'/Collins/2000). ED & MARLENE TONER, Brick, NJ, wrote: "Thank you for your excellent magazine, and I was very pleased to see a mention of Cahirciveen/Cahersiveen in the May-June 2004 issue. We chose Cahirciveen for a family reunion, and a gathering of the Clanna TONER in 2000. It was a random selection, made after searching on the internet for an interesting place to visit. And I must say that we were not disappointed. We have six grown-up children, and eight grandchildren, and most of them were able to make it. We spent a lot of time quaffing pints and eating chicken sandwiches in O'SULLIVAN's Shebeen, and enjoying fine dining in several of the excellent retaurants down the town, as well as golfing, and general sightseeing. I wish to thank everyone with whom we had contact for their great hospitality. In particular, I want to thank Dr. Kieran O'SHEA, who opened his office after hours to treat my gout, and the chemist, who did likewise to provide me with the medicines that cleared i! t up in a day."