At Travel Solutions Ireland, we’d like to say a huge Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the USA from our Ireland vacation team! A holiday that is steeped in tradition, Thanksgiving is a time not only to give thanks for all that we have, but to gather with friends, family and loved ones and enjoy the traditional feast of turkey with all the trimmings! Of course, people across America celebrate Thanksgiving in many different ways, with some visiting family and friends and others relaxing and enjoying a good Thanksgiving Day football game. It’s fair to say that no matter how you choose to celebrate, everyone is looking forward to something on Thanksgiving Day, whether it is pumpkin pie and turkey or just a visit to a local Thanksgiving parade. Thanksgiving and Christmas are a time for family and, with our hectic modern lifestyles and busy calendars, these are times that don’t come around as often as some would like. If you’d like to spend more time with your own family and friends, why not consider a customized Ireland vacation for you and your loved ones in 2011? We have dozens of itineraries to choose from and each tour can be customized to your exact specifications. Perhaps you’re looking for a luxury chauffeur drive Ireland vacation or maybe you’d prefer to take things at your own pace with one of our self-drive Ireland vacations? Or, if a more active break appeals to you, why not consider one of our Ireland sports vacations or Ireland golf vacations? Whatever type of vacation you desire, our Ireland vacation team will work tirelessly to make sure you have a tour of the Emerald Isle that you will never forget with memories to treasure with your loved ones forevermore. Call us toll free today on 1800 242 3610 or email info@travelsolutionsireland.com to start planning your dream Ireland vacation today!

At Travel Solutions Ireland, we are delighted to announce that the brand new terminal at Dublin Airport is officially opening today!  Irish head of state Brian Cowen will formally open Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2 this morning and the first official flight will arrive at the terminal later on today.  Terminal 2 will be fully operational from the start of 2011 and all transatlantic flights will now depart from here.  The new terminal has been built at a cost of over €600m and has the capacity to cater for up to 15 million passengers. And, in a move that will further cement the strong ties between Ireland and the USA, the new terminal at Dublin Airport will feature a US pre-clearance screening facility, allowing passengers travelling to the US to clear immigration before they even set foot on American soil. This facility will drastically reduce the time it takes to exit the airport on arrival in the US and will effectively mean that passengers travelling from Ireland will be treated as domestic arrivals as soon as they land. Ireland is the only country in the world that has a customs pre-clearance facility outside of the United States and as soon as a passenger has been cleared, they have no further queues, processing or questions and may travel freely within the US.  This is a welcome addition to Dublin Airport’s impressive new terminal and it is hoped will greatly increase the number of visitors between Ireland and America, so there’s never been a better time to book your Ireland vacation!  Talk to one of our Ireland vacation experts today about creating your customized tour of Ireland.  We have so many options, including Irish castle vacations, Irish music vacations and Irish golf vacations and each tour can be customized to your exact specifications.  Call us toll free on 1800 242 3610 or email info@travelsolutionsireland.com for your no obligation quotation! 

Is it just us or does Christmas seem to start earlier and earlier every year?  Here in Ireland, we’re already hearing Christmas carols on the radio and seeing twinkling festive lights brightening up store windows!  It’s an exciting time for all as we approach the festive season and for US citizens, the excitement is twofold as the next few weeks will be chock full of celebrations with Thanksgiving coming up on 25th November.  Americans all over the world will be enjoying turkey with all the trimmings, making wishes and giving thanks as they celebrate the quintessential American holiday. With such strong ties between Ireland and the United States, you can be sure your ancestors in Ireland will be raising a glass to give thanks with you.  And, if you’re planning a trip to the Emerald Isle yourself, why not think about a last minute festive trip?  Travel Solutions Ireland can offer great deals on customized Ireland vacations over Christmas and the New Year, so why not contact us today for your personalized quotation?  Or, if a last minute vacation isn’t your thing, now is the time to start planning your summer 2011 vacation to Ireland.  We’ve got so many Ireland vacation options, including chauffeur vacations, self-drive vacations, and group vacations, so call us toll free today on 1800 242 3610 or email info@travelsolutionsireland.com to speak to one of our Ireland travel experts today! 

This week marked an historic occasion for soccer in Ireland, as super team Manchester United opened Dublin’s brand new Aviva Stadium with a game against local Irish side Airtricity League XI. Wayne Rooney and co showed us why they’re some of the world’s highest paid sports stars by trashing their opponents 7-1. The completely redesigned Aviva Stadium is the oldest international stadium in the world and the bold new design certainly befits the momentous sporting occasions that will take place within it. On the other end of the sporting spectrum, equine enthusiasts were in for a treat this week as both the Dublin Horse Show and Galway Races opened their doors to thousands of eager visitors. The Summer Festival Race Meeting at the Galway Races is famed the world over for its thrilling atmosphere and fantastic racing with over 150,000 attending the Sumer Festival Meeting in 2009. Meanwhile, the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show is an Irish institution and one of the country’s largest events, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. Expect thrilling show jumping action at the Nations Cup, high fashion at Ladies Day and an atmosphere like no other. Ireland is certainly the destination for all things equestrian, with world renowned race meetings taking place across the country all year round. Travel Solutions Ireland offers a range of sports vacation packages, so whether you’d like to soak up all the breathtaking action of the races, play soccer against a local Irish team or enjoy the spellbinding sights of Ireland by horseback, we have the vacation package for you. Take a sneak peek here at what’s on offer and, remember, if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, simply call us toll free on 1800 242 3610 or email info@travelsolutionsireland.com and we will work with you to create your customized Ireland vacation package.

Ties between Ireland and the US show no signs of loosening as Irish Premier Brian Cowen has this week been visiting the United States to attend a series of meetings with Wall Street executives. Speaking at the New York Stock Exchange, Brian Cowen gave US business leaders a report on the launch of Ireland’s €700 million innovation fund and our continued commitment to providing the right environment for multinational companies to develop in Ireland. Ireland plays host to huge conglomerates that are household names, with the European headquarters of internet giants such as Google and Facebook now located in Dublin. Although Ireland, like the rest of the world, hasn’t escaped the effect of the global recession in recent years, the Innovation Fund is presenting a positive message of confidence and there are strong indicators that economic recovery is underway, with Ireland recording the fastest rate of GDP growth in the EU. Ireland fosters the growth of multinational and indigenous business alike and this dedication to progression will see us continue on the road towards fiscal recovery. The message is that Ireland is open for business and anyone who has experienced our world class conference and incentive facilities will agree. The latest addition to Ireland’s conferencing facilities comes in the form of The Convention Centre Dublin; a purpose built conference and event centre that will open its doors in September 2010.  The Convention Centre  is more than just a remarkable design feat; it offers first-rate conferencing facilities and is located right inside Dublin’s financial hub and just minutes from the city centre and airport. The newly built convention centre will welcome business executives and delegates from across the globe, undoubtedly drawn to its state-of-the-art facilities and unbeatable location. And, if you’re looking to impress clients or reward staff, Ireland is the ideal location for your next incentive trip. You’ll find everything here, from vibrant cities to rural castle escapes, and with such a diverse range of activities on offer, we will ensure your incentive group steps back on that plane with just the right balance of relaxation, excitement and fond memories to keep them talking about the experience for years to come! Travel Solutions Ireland offers customized conference and incentive travel programmes. Call us toll free on 1800 2423610 or email info@travelsolutionsireland.com for your free, no obligation quotation!

World famous golfers, well-known celebrities and prominent businessmen have all teamed up this week for a charity golf tournament hosted by Irish billionaire JP McManus. The Pro-Am, which teed off at Adare Manor, Co. Limerick earlier this week was founded in 1990 and has raised a massive 55 million Euro for charity since its inception, as the rich and famous take time out of their busy schedules to raise money for some very worthy causes! This year is no exception, as legendary golfer Tiger Woods has made his first public appearance outside the United States since his spectacular fall from grace last December. At a press conference for the tournament, Tiger tersely batted away probing questions about his private life and rumoured $100 million divorce. The backlash from his repeated infidelities is proving to be an expensive business for the golfing star, with a costly divorce and millions of dollars in lost endorsement deals putting a significant dent in Woods’ enormous fortune. Not only that, but it appears that personal pressures may be taking their toll on Tiger’s game, as he has failed to show a return to the form of his glory days in the months following his comeback. Despite his apparent fall from public favour, however, Tiger has certainly been shown a warm welcome here in Ireland as a massive 20,000 supporters lined the course five-deep to watch his every shot at Adare Manor Golf Club earlier this week. At Travel Solutions Ireland, we’re predicting a return to form for Tiger as soon as the dust settles and he regains the focus and drive that made him arguably the world’s best golfer in the first place. And, if he’s ever looking for a place to practice his putting, he won’t find many better courses than here on the Emerald Isle! Ireland boasts some of the world’s best and most challenging golf courses, including the K Club, Lahinch and Ballybunion, which has played host to its fair share of famous faces, including Michael Jordan and former US President Bill Clinton. If you’d like to tee off at some of the finest golf courses the world has to offer, why not consider a Travel Solutions Ireland golf vacation package? We offer a wide range of golf tour programmes and every itinerary is personalized to suit your exact requirements. Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for? No problem! We specialise in tailor made itineraries so we will work to ensure your golf vacation is perfect for you. Contact us today to start planning your Ireland golf vacation!

Although Team USA have found themselves out of the World Cup following a 2-1 defeat against African nation Ghana, sports enthusiasts across the US still have something to look forward to, as Serena Williams prepares to face off against Russia’s Vera Zvonareva in the 2010 Wimbledon Women’s Final. Meanwhile, American John Isner delighted tennis fans all over the world with an epic victory over French player Nicolas Mahut which has gone down in the history books as the longest professional tennis match ever played. And, be they sports fans or not, people all over the US have something to celebrate this weekend, with July 4^th fast approaching! Patriotic Americans are gearing up for some fun filled family festivities for Independence Day. A traditional day celebrating independence, stars & stripes, fireworks, blueberry pie and all things American, July 4^th is all about having fun with family and friends in the summer sun. Here at Travel Solutions Ireland, we’d like to say Happy Independence Day to all of our friends in the United States! With such strong ties between our nations we will be getting into the celebratory spirit here in the Emerald Isle. For those of you thinking of planning a trip to Ireland with your own family, Travel Solutions Ireland offers some fantastic family vacation packages, so you can take in a tour of the Emerald Isle with your loved ones and perhaps see firsthand where your ancestors came from! Why not check out our Highlights of Ireland Tour, which has been designed specifically with families in mind? Or have a look at our specials page to see the latest offers available. We’re always happy to help, so don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and contact us today to help you build a dream vacation for you and your family!

Well, we’re now three weeks into this year’s World Cup and despite Ireland’s failure to qualify, we’re still getting into the spirit of things here at Travel Solutions Ireland!  The “Beckham Effect” seems to have had an impact on the level of interest that the competition is generating in the USA, with ratings for the 2010 FIFA World Cup at a 16-year high across the United States.  Beckham, whose 2007 move to LA Galaxy has helped to raise the profile of the game in the US, is supporting his own country from the sidelines this year as an injury has ruled him out of playing for England in the competition.  So far, England have failed to set the world alight, only managing a 1-1 draw with the USA in their opening game, followed by a lacklustre performance against Algeria last Friday which saw both sides walking away without a goal.  Their final game in the knockout stages against Slovenia saw them enjoy their first victory, but a late goal from US star Landon Donovan against Algeria meant that England finished second in the group. Group winners USA have performed more convincingly in the competition, with two draws and a win earning them their place in the final 16. This is of course great news for the networks and their ratings, as fans continue to tune in to support Team USA.  ESPN and ABC had an average of 3.35 million viewers for the first 14 matches of the tournament – a 64% increase from 2006.  Although soccer is a long way from eclipsing football and baseball, it’s great to see the sport catching on in the US!  Here in Ireland, we’re big sports fans and we love everything from soccer and rugby to our national sports hurling and Gaelic football.  Golfing enthusiasts visiting Ireland are also in for a treat, as the Emerald Isle boasts some of the world’s finest golf courses.  Ireland is also famous for horse racing and whether you want to enjoy the sport as a spectator or you’d like to get in on the action yourself and enjoy a horse riding activity break, there’s something here in Ireland for everyone!  At Travel Solutions Ireland, we offer customized vacations which are tailored to your exact requirements.  For sports enthusiasts, we can offer tailor made activity and sports vacations, so please get in touch with us to create your customized Ireland vacation today!