Mary Knapke Expert Guru

Mary Caffrey Knapke is a freelance writer with a master’s degree in Irish Studies and experience in journalism, marketing and teaching. As a freelance writer, Mary contributes to a newspaper serving a diocese of the Catholic church. She has also completed a series of brochures for a Midwestern university, among other projects, and works as an English instructor at the community college level. Mary has covered arts and politics for the Associated Press in Germany and has written reports on Irish government affairs and policies for the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Ireland. In her work in marketing for higher education, Mary was responsible for the coordination, writing and editing of a variety of print projects, including brochures, letters and postcards. She has also written for the Web and developed Web-based marketing strategies.

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Don’t Miss Dublin’s Theatre Scene

Celebrate Ireland’s renowned literary tradition with a visit to the Dublin Theatre Festival, one of the oldest theatre festivals in Europe. Dublin theatre has been in the vanguard of the dramatic arts for 300 years and has featured many of the world’s most cherished playwrights, including Samuel Beckett, John Millington Synge and W. B. Yeats.

This year, which marks the Dublin Theatre Festival’s 50th anniversary, contemporary Irish artists Marina Carr, Michael Keegan–Dolan and Christian O’Reilly, as well as several international playwrights, will present new pieces at 12 venues in Ireland’s capital city. The Dublin Theatre Festival takes place each fall. If your travel schedule won’t allow you to catch the festival, the vibrant Dublin theatre scene is easily accessible. A citywide theatre schedule is available online at www.visitdublin.com, and all major Dublin theatre venues accept online bookings.

Experience Ireland’s Midlands

Most tourists to Ireland shoot straight from coast to coast, from Dublin to Connemara, or Shannon to Waterford. But in-the-know travelers recognize the charms of the country’s Midlands region. County Westmeath, in the heart of the Midlands, is an hour’s drive from Dublin and offers a variety of attractions, entertainment and shopping. Stop in Westmeath for a day or two and check out one or all of these Midlands must-sees:

Fore Abbey. The stones of this imposing structure were set into place around 1200 A.D. on the site of an abbey founded by St. Fechin in the seventh century. The site includes a chapel, church, cloisters and original gateways, and numerous stone Celtic crosses dot the fields surrounding the site. The village of Fore serves as a tranquil base for exploring the nearby lakes.

Midlands Organic & Arts Fair. Americans may be most familiar with Ireland’s traditional menu of corned beef and cabbage. But health-conscious travelers in search of homemade hummus or lentil stew need not make sacrifices when it comes to their food choices. This year’s inaugural Midlands Organic & Arts Fair, held in Athlone, showcased local organic produce, as well as holistic therapies. Organizers plan to make the fair an annual event.

Tullynally Castle Gardens. After driving along an avenue lined with 200-year-old Irish yew trees, travelers turn a bend to see majestic Tullynally Castle. One of the largest Irish castles to survive as a family home, Tullynally has been owned by the Pakenhams, Earls of Longford, since the seventeenth century. An extensive garden dates from the early 1800s.

Lough Derravaragh. Known as an outstanding pike lake, Derravaragh is 5 miles long and about 2,800 acres in surface area. Trout fishing and fly fishing are also popular at Derravaragh, as are a variety of water sports. Lake access is available near the towns of Castlepollard and Multyfarnham, both of which provide a number of additional attractions such as the Tullynally Castle Gardens and Multyfarnham Franciscan Friary.

Get to Know Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s well-publicized Troubles, religious strife that reached a crescendo in the 1970s, have caused most travelers to the island to pass up this region’s numerous treasures. Now, thanks to continued peace agreements, Northern Ireland is a feasible addition to anyone’s Ireland itinerary.

The capital, Belfast, is becoming one of Europe’s hippest, most sophisticated cities and offers galleries and museums, stunning architecture, a world-renowned university and a unique blend of cultural influences. Nature lovers can’t miss the Giant’s Causeway, a distinctive coastal landscape caused by a volcanic eruption, but Northern Ireland’s lesser-known beaches, nature reserves and woodlands are also worthy of a visit. More information about visiting Northern Ireland is available online at www.discovernorthernireland.com.

Alternative Easter indulgences

With a rise in obesity in children, candy may not be the best filler for a child’s Easter basket. Instead, shower your little one with books, activity packs, and crayons and markers. Treat them to games, puzzles, or accessories for game sets they already own. Some kids might even appreciate a fun new outfit. After stuffing their baskets full of goodies that are good for them, you don’t even need to feel guilty about throwing in a chocolate egg or two.