A Yank Survives Ireland

This morning, U.S. Midwest Summertime, I received an email from Alyson. She wanted to tent camp at our tent camping site in Eyeries, County Cork. Unfortunately, I had to email her back stating that our Tent Camping site was CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Then, she emailed me back writing she was so sorry that the camping site was closed. I wrote her back saying Carm - who is and was the Manager of the Solas Mor tent camping site has sever fronto-temporal Dementia. Which is true, I'm afraid.  Carmel always greeted our many campers for years and years. If someone showed up at our front door un-announced, she would take them out to our Back Garden and tell them all they needed to know. She'd go through the few rules we had the most important being, "Enjoy Yourself but be Safe especially if you have children. Do NOT walk up the steps to our top deck. It is dangerous! But do feel free to use all the outdoor furniture anywhere on our bottom Deck. Anything at all! And if you'd ...

  Planning a Trip to Ireland? Take a Drive on The Wild Atlantic Way By Tom Richards             In January, just after Christmas, many people (as well as families) are starting to plan their next holiday. Somewhere rather special, they might think as they sit around their dining room table. If you really do want something special, why not visit the Republic of Ireland? And if you’re looking for a journey of magic, take a drive along part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The Wild Atlantic Way, 1600 miles (2600 km) in length, is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. It winds its way all along the Irish west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north down to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork, in the south. The Wild Atlantic Way route from start to finish unfolds the wonders of nature, the power of the ocean and its imprint on the west coast of Ire...

It's been over 43 years since this Wandering Yank left his American shores, and all of his roots, to take a simple Holiday in England, Wales and Scotland. What transpired was much more loving but very, very complicated.  A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland was the result of that surprising trip. But this best-selling Memoir and Travel Guide was not the only result. (To Buy the very latest version of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, click on the Link just above).  Now, as I write this on the 8th of September 2025, I look back at the hardship I had when I first moved to Ireland as well as the many loving gifts. Three grown children, five grandchildren, a painful divorce, a loving relationship with my partner Carmel Murray an Irish woman I met many years ago, the Dementia which Carm was diagnosed with, and the decision to move back to the United States for many business and research reasons. Today, I would like to announce the release in the SECOND TRAVEL GUIDE / ...

  I am so pleased to announce the online availability of my latest Novella. To purchase this Digital copy, email me:  mailto:tomrichards141@gmail.com . The price is only $2.99. This new story is the latest from Author Tom Richards. The Quiet Sea A Novella by Tom Richards Premise: To save himself from certain death, an Old Man (Jake Cowley) flees to Dursey Island, a place with no communications to the Mainland of Ireland. There, he makes himself known as Tommy O’Neill, an alias that fools the Village Islanders into thinking he’s a fisherman. Using his experience of fishing in the Gulf Stream, Tommy and a young Islander, Donal McCarthy, are almost killed when a giant shark destroys their small boat. Donal voyages back to Dursey knowing Tommy will succumb to his injuries. On Dursey, as Tommy is dying, he tells them the truth: he is a wealthy man. Jake rewrites his will leaving Donal and his wife Judith a fortune to rebuild the Village and Educate their children. Jake dies and whe...

  One of the downsides - and the only one I can think of - is the 'high' price of almost everything. Buying or leasing a home or apartment in any Large Irish City or large town (think Dublin, Galway, Killarney or Cork) has become PROHIBITIVELY expensive. Renting or buying in Rural Ireland (a village such as Eyeries) is almost Impossible! In Eyeries, as one example, Planning Laws along the coast of Southwest Ireland prohibit almost anyone from building new homes, apartment blocks or any 'tall' structure that might change the coastline or coastal view. The average price to rent a small cottage with a sea view (like mine) is well over $1000 per month. Which isn't much compared to what you'd pay in the United States.     As another example: if I rented the house I'm in right now in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the price would be $2,200 or a little more. This rental would be fully furnished (as mine is) but would not have the views or the scenery of a coastal home in ...

Whoa Be to Toyota Who Now Manufactures Tesla Pickups? Not too long ago in my small village of Eyereis, County Cork, Ireland, my friends and I were having a pint in our local Pub. Looking up at the TV, we all saw Musk take a stage brandishing a chainsaw. All of us laughed at his wild antics.   "Sure, there be a Leprachaun with a Chainsaw!" one shouted as he downed his pint. "God above us, lads! That Musk Man wants to saw my brand new Tesla in half!" Running out the door, we saw him climb in that very Modern electric car and try to start to Electric Engine. After a moment, he ran back into the Pub again. "There be anyone here who has a long extension lead?" he asked us as we sat back and smirked into our Pints. "That wonderful, expensive car of mine hasn't a bit of electric juice left!" Which is a lesson for those living in Rural Areas. In Eyeries, we have only one charging station, and that's in Castletownbere, about 8 km from where we all...