From the back cover
Summer: Near the mouth of the River Shannon stands Glin Castle, a stately Anglo-Norman home that has survived centuries of political upheaval to become one of County Limerick's great country houses. The castle is open to guests, who can try their hand at the ancient sport of archery, or who may prefer boating on the Shannon, one of the world's great waterways. In Glin, one can see the splendor of Irish decorative arts and craftsmanship, including magnificent family heirlooms and works of art.
Ballyvolane House, originally built in 1728, lies in County Cork near the port of departure for so many immigrants headed to America. One of forty Irish guest houses that form the group "Hidden Ireland," Ballyvolane offers Old World charms that include country fresh cooking, fly fishing for Blackwater salmon, and traditional music and storytelling at the local tavern.