More about Ireland

Ballygally Castle in County Antrim, currently a hotel owned by a big chain, is supposedly among the most haunted places in the nation. The castle was built by lady Isobel Shaw, whose husband in 1625, is said to knock on doors at night and then disappear. While living, Ms. Shaw was locked in her room by her husband and starved, until she jumped to her death from a window.

Ireland's top star in the game of hurling is Sean Og O'Hailpin, that had been born to an Irish father and Fijian mum on the small island of Rotuma, an isolated atoll about 400 miles north of Fiji. He plays for the Cork County team.

A village called "Dun Bleisce" recently won the right to change it's name back into an old-time community favorite. The town will now be known as " Fort of this Harlot," as it was in the remote past. Following a variety of names were used to describe the town over time, the government christened it "An Dun," which translates simply into "The Fort," in 2003. But a recent request by townspeople has prompted officials to place "the Harlot" back to the name. The historical harlot involved here may have simply been a strong woman

The White House (possibly the most photographed home in the history of humankind?) Was designed by architect James Hoban who was born in 1758 in Kilkenny.

The Titanic -- Surely the worlds most famous ship was constructed in Belfast in the Harland and Wolff shipyard. The mighty boat sank on her maiden voyage with the loss of over 1500 lives.

The Hypodermic Needle -- In 1844 Doctor Francis Rynd, a Dublin-based doctor, devised the hypodermic syringe that has been used as an instrument of curing and terror millions of times since. The world subcutaneous injection was administered in the Meath hospital of Dublin