Niall O'Dowd: He Was the Best
THE last time I spoke with Tim Russert, he had called for an update on the Northern Ireland peace process. He was looking for Martin McGuinness' phone number because he heard the Sinn Fein leader was going to be in town around St. Patrick's Day, and he wanted to have him on Meet the Press.

More to Bloomsday than a Book
BY now, Bloomsday in America has become a grand annual event for literary revelry. This past Monday, June 16, from Dublin to Denver, there were readings –- often fueled by pints — that lasted hours, all in the name of marking the famous date on which all of the action in James Joyce's Ulysses takes place.

Kyle Betit: DNA Test
Do you think it is worth the money to order a DNA test? … I haven't been able to find where my ancestor came from in Ireland. Joseph Harney was born about May 12, 1853, somewhere in Ireland. He had a sister Kate, born about 1851. She married John Gillin about 1876 in Cleveland Ohio … Joseph Harney died in Cleveland on 5 December 1910.

Tartan Royal Package - from $669
The Tartan Royal package offers independent travelers the opportunity to enjoy complete freedom on their Scottish journey with a unique experience of spending their final night in a 5-star deluxe hotel. Choose from Atholl Palace Gleneagles Hotel, Fairmont St. Andrews or the Scotsman Hotel as your final stay, which will be the ultimate in Scottish luxury.

Ireland Southern Route Package - from $759
Discovering your own Ireland adventure is one of the many reasons travelers come back to the Emerald Isle every year. It is a destination that is measured by the people you meet and the places you stay and the Southern Ireland route combines the best of both worlds.