IRELAND: MYTHICAL, MAGICAL, MYSTICAL

By

Christy Nicholas

BLURB:  

Do you find yourself drawn to the magic of the Emerald Isle? Would you like to see places beyond the typical tourist traps? Come, join me on a journey through the mists of legend, into the hidden places of mystery. Immerse yourself in the legends and myths, the history that has made this island precious in the hearts and minds of millions. Along with the tales and history, there is practical information on planning your trip, budgeting your costs, and finding the best places to while away the magical hours of your holiday.

Excerpt

Finding the Music

It would be difficult, indeed, to travel through Ireland for any length of time without coming across some of its unique music. However, it is becoming easier to come across ‘prepared’ performances, specifically made to entertain the tourists, glossy and polished without the authenticity of the real folk of the land. My advice is to go off the beaten path. Get out of Temple Bar and Killarney, and go to a local pub which might have a traditional seisiún. A seisiún (session) is a group of local musicians who have gotten together in a pub and just started playing some of the songs they all know. They may have never played together before, or may do so every night. They may not even know each other – but they all know the tunes. And they are playing for the joy of playing and entertaining. They aren’t being paid by the Irish Tourist Board to provide atmosphere to the Euro-laden tourist . . . they are having fun. No, the music may not be as high in production value, but it’s more honest, and in my opinion, much more enjoyable than the staged stuff.

If you are in a city, like Dublin, where tourism is common, it may be more difficult to find the local traditional pub. Your host at the hotel or B&B may give you the standard tourist answer and direct you to a staged performance. However, if you tell them you really are interested in a traditional session, they will likely give you a better recommendation. In some places, you can just walk down the street and follow your ears. Dingle, Doolin, Ardara, Donegal, Kilkenny – I’ve done this in all these places. There is a decent resource at Irish Abroad online for those who wish see an online pub directory.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

My name is Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon. I do many things, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing and photography. In real life I’m a CPA, but having grown up with art and around me (my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected me, as it were.  I love to draw and to create things. It’s more of an obsession than a hobby. I like looking up into the sky and seeing a beautiful sunset, or a fragrant blossom, a dramatic seaside. I then wish to take a picture or create a piece of jewelry to share this serenity, this joy, this beauty with others.  Sometimes this sharing requires explanation – and thus I write.  Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. I do local art and craft shows, as well as sending my art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad.

Find Christy here:
www.GreenDragonArtist.com

www.facebook.com/greendragon9

www.facebook.com/greendragonartist

www.facebook.com/greendragontravel

www.facebook.com/music-from-ireland-for-your-pleasure

www.facebook.com/musicfromscotland

www.twitter.com/greendragon9
Find Christy’s book here, and at other eBook stores:
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Nicholas_Christy/ireland-guide.htm

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Getting Published (Guest post by the author)

I had actually written two earlier books, and self-published them, prior to my current book on mystical Ireland.  However, they were, for the most part, photobooks about Ireland and then Scotland.  The latter had my trip report, a narrative about my journey to Scotland.  I gave details about who I met, what I drank, what stones I tripped over, etc.  These books were just practice runs, so to speak.

When I wrote this book, it took two years, and I was much more determined that it have useful content – some myth and history about the land, some practical tips to help people plan their own trip, hidden gems to visit, and of course, more photographs.  I had no idea it would be anything but another self-published book, available at my art show booth and on my website.

However, social media reared its opportune head, and I had become friends with a woman from America who lived in Ireland, which is a deep dream of mine.  She ‘just happened’ to have launched an ebook publishing company a year before my book was finished.  While she was mostly publishing romances, she ‘just happened’ to be interested in branching out to some non-fiction publications, and agreed to give mine a look.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Now, I don’t truly believe in coincidence.  I think this was the way it was supposed to ‘just happen’, and I’m very glad that it did.  I have developed a true friendship with my publisher as well, and that is a treasure worth more than the book being published, by far.

Perhaps, someday, the fact that I have written this book may allow me a road into moving to Ireland.  It is, as I said, my true dream, my soul’s home, mo anam bhaile.

Read my 5-star review.

Christy will award a $20 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/07/name-before-masses-ireland-mythical.html

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