Direct flights between Cleveland and Dublin Ireland on Aer Lingus

 Paula Svadlena is Aer Lingus Regional Sales Manager for the Midwest USA and Canada. She sat down with Dan Hanson and told about Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) which took its first flight in 1937 and started transatlantic flights in the 1960’s.  

The big news for people in Cleveland and NEOhio and nearby is that Aer Lingus is launching 4 weekly non-stop flights from Cleveland to and from Dublin Ireland starting in May 2023. Paula told us the details and the great ease of making the trip (including clearing international customs) between the two cities.  

In addition, travelers can fly to Dublin and spend some time in Ireland before continuing on their final destination in Europe such as London or Paris without additional fees.  Plus travelers from Europe and Ireland now can visit Cleveland quickly and easily. 

Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland's Ambassador to the US, in Cleveland

 What a weekend it was.  The new Ambassador of Ireland to the United States of America - Geraldine Byrne Nason came to Cleveland for the weekend.

The Ambassador just completed five years as Ireland’s Ambassador to the United Nations, most recently during Ireland’s term serving on the Security Council as an elected member, working for international peace and security.

Before the reception she joined former US Ambassador to Ireland Ed Crawford at the Irish Cultural Garden in Cleveland.

She was then the guest of honor at a reception in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall. 

Blaine Griffin, Brian Kazy, Chris Ronayne, Ambassador Byrne Nason,
Mayor Bibb, Kerry McCormack and Ambassador Crawford

On Saturday she gave a powerful keynote address at the Irish Network USA annual conference.  IN-USA is the national umbrella organization integrating the Irish Networks that exist in various cities across the United States. 

Of course she visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and other sites.

See lots of photos and videos from the Ambassador's visit to Cleveland.

Uilleann pipes (national bagpipe of Ireland) explained and played

Michael Vignoles both makes and plays the Uilleann pipes, the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland. He explained the pipes at the 36th annual Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival and then played a song. #cleirish

  See more photos and videos of the Uilleann Pipes

International New Year Traditions

Here are a few international New Year traditions:

First Stepper. A very old tradition in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales revolves around your guests on New Year's Day. The first person to enter your home in the New Year will have a significant impact on year's to come. Here's how you can take part in this tradition. Make note of who that first person is to enter your home. In fact, you may want to write it down, since the information won't really be of use to you for a year. At then end of the year decide if your year has been a good one or a bad one; lucky or unlucky. If you feel it has been a positive year then on the next New Year's Day, don't let anyone else in the house until that first person from the "lucky year" comes in. If, however, you have had a bad or unlucky year, do whatever you must to have someone else be "the first stepper" into your home, so the luck will change for the upcoming year. The Dutch believe it is important to "eat out the Old Year and Eat in the New" so they start a meal before midnight and finish it after, just to be sure there is food all year. Although it is said that farm animals talk on New Year's Day, a superstition from Romania says it is important to avoid the animals because hearing them talk is very bad luck. Egyptians once believed that onions kept evil spirits away; so many New Year's dishes with Egyptian roots will include onions. Eating twelve grapes at midnight is a Spanish custom also said to bring good luck. In Denmark, residents keep a pile of dishes, all broken, in front of the door. For this they save old dishes and People usually throw these on the friends’ doors during New Year. This symbolizes friendship and brotherhood and they believe the one with maximum dishes outside, has the most friends. Some Danish are found to leap some chairs during midnight. Brazilians believe that lentils signify wealth and prosperity. So they serve food items made up of the legume like soup or rice on the New Year. Germans pour molten lead into cold water and the shape that is taken after, predicts the future. Heart shapes symbolize marriage whereas round shapes denote good luck; anchor shapes tell that you need help however a cross signifies someone’s sad demise. Filipinos consume grapes, have coins, wear polkas dotted dresses, as they have faith that circular things attract more fortune and money. They also throw coins as New Year begins to increase wealth and prosperity. Japanese New Year or Oshogatsu is meant for celebrations with family and it begins with proper decoration of the home to welcome luck and fortune. They clean the entire house, get themselves off from every financial liability, and resolve all issues before the New Year hits. They follow traditions of three things: a pine branch, called kadomatsu, denotes longevity; a stalk of bamboo symbolizes prosperity, whereas a plum blossom shows nobility. Before the clock strikes 12, they ring 108 bells to show that the all 108 troubles have been eliminated.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th Gala - Dignitaries

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  CCGF Sheila Murphy Crawford introduced Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ who acknowledged some of the dignitaries in attendance such as Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Consul of Ireland from Chicago Orla McBreen.

Irish and US national anthems at St Patrick’s Day Parade

Katie Cooper sang the Irish National Anthem in Gaelic and then the United States National Anthem at the beginning of the 2016 Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade.


See more of the Irish in Cleveland

Adventure to Ireland - in Cleveland

The latest Cleveland Food Adventurers Passport event was at the Claddagh Irish Restaurant where the sold out crowd enjoyed a traditional Irish breakfast (bangers, black and white pudding, tomato jam and more) while learning about the history and culture of Ireland and the Irish in Cleveland.


They were also entertained by Pipe Major Bruce Grieg who explained the apparel that pipers wear and the parts of the bagpipes.

If you don't know what the word Claddagh means, where most Cleveland Irish hail from or think Craic (pronounced crack)is a bad thing, be sure to watch the videos from the event.

Be sure to learn about the three Irish memorials in Cleveland that every Clevelander should visit sometime.

Photos and videos from the Irish Adventure

Prime Minister of Ireland in Cleveland

The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland Mr. Enda Kenny was in Cleveland on October 12 and 13, 2012. It was the first ever visit of a sitting Irish Prime Minister to Cleveland.

ClevelandPeople.Com covered the historic visit with photos and videos from many of the weekend's event starting here. 

1) Taoiseach Enda Kenny at a special presentation of the City Club of Cleveland (Intercontinental Hotel on Cleveland Clinic Campus) on Friday, October 12, 2012.

 2) Taoiseach Enda Kenny at a private meeting at Cleveland City Hall with Mayor Jackson and other city officials.

 3) Irish Cultural Garden visit. Besides the main page, there are 6 more pages of photos of the hundreds of attendees in the Garden. Who do you recognize?

 4) The last public appearance of the Taoiseach was at the annual Mayo Ball where James C. Boland was named 2012 Mayo Person of the Year.