http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,23483,20729135-38475,00.html EVEN if you're not among the one in three Australians said to have Irish ancestry, a trip to Ireland may well seem like a homecoming. You'll certainly recognise cultural, political and psychological echoes. More important, perhaps, you'll notice and enjoy intriguing differences. There's never a sense of the same ole, same ole about visiting Ireland, but what never changes is the countrywide warmth of welcome. The Irish are people who've made greeting and meeting a folk art; they've been doing it for thousands of years, of course, although not all guests have been as welcome as is the modern traveller. But then relatively few of us, these days, are after a bit of pillage and plunder. Forget the begorrah stage-Irishman stereotype, though: the people live for a bit of craic (good times), sure enough, and their quirks and foibles can be of Olympic standard, but they are plugged into today in every astute way. Respect for the photo-friendly past is as important as hi-tech connectivity. Which means there's something here for everyone. You can putter about on a golfing tour, dog the dolmen or cultivate castles and historic ruins; you can mosey along the monastery trail, bushwalk, cycle or read literary runes; you can tune into folk music, reel from atmospheric pub to atmospheric pub or stand thigh deep in rivers, desperately seeking salmon. Always be prepared to go off-plan, though: it's the sidetracks you'll inevitably take that will be the true measure of your memories. But here's a big secret: ................ For the rest of the story, go to the above URL and enjoy... armchair travelling at it's best. Chris in Brisbane Part Irish by blood, full Irish by soul....