When it rains it pours for the Irish. The country is facing a multi-million euro clean-up bill after some of the worst flooding in living memory.

Lonely Planet's best in Travel 2009 names the Clare cycling route in Ireland among the greatest alongside similar routes in Vietnam, Cuba, New Zealand and Australia.

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Niall O'Dowd: Steven Spielberg's trip to Ireland was a "life-changing experience" for the Oscar-winning director. Spielberg was transformed by his summer visit to Ireland, which included literally "hanging over the edge" of the Cliffs of Moher.

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For Irish woman Angela Nolan and English man Liam Adcock, Irish rugby was their true love. That was, until they met each other on Facebook. Now, both of their statuses read: “Married.”

Public urination has got to such an unacceptable level in the town of Ennis in County Clare that one local councilor has proposed that two urine wardens should be employed to patrol the town and prevent inebriated party people from peeing in public.

Niall O'Dowd: Somewhere in Australia there's an Irish lad called Rowan McCormick who broke Maureen Dowd's heart. When she went back in the early 1970s to visit her homestead in County Clare, hard by the majestic Cliffs of Moher, she met him and fell madly in love.

Threats by Ryanair bosses have sparked fears that Shannon Airport in Ireland’s west will become deserted.

Typical! An American may yet help save the Irish language which is danger of certain death in Ireland. Des Bishop is a well known stand-up comedian, which gives him a platform to reach out to those teenagers and 20-somethings, so many of whom detest the thought of Irish.

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Mourners gathered at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church on Staten Island Saturday to bury the dead, but this was no ordinary funeral. Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians escorted two caskets - one a small, white children's casket with golden angels; the other larger and pearl-colored - into the church as bagpipes played "Amazing Grace." The two coffins contained the final remains of immigrants who died over 150 years ago.

These three names and others of a similar sound such as Donnellan and Donlon are sometimes confused, as spelling variations have occurred among emigrant families. They are, however, totally distinct, and indeed both the McDonnells and O'Donnells are made up of several distinct septs. The main branch of the O'Donnells, based in Donegal, is the most eminent of the Gaelic families, leading back to Niall of the Nine Hostages, but owing their name to one Domhnaill.

When one thinks of Stone Age archaeological sites, Stonehenge, Altamira and Newgrange may come to mind. Most likely The Céide Fields will not. But they should.

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It turns out that romance is recession proof and Ireland is one of the best places on earth to ignite its flames. Who knew? Irish men aren’t known for being overly romantic, but the Irish landscape? Well, that’s another story. As any visitor who’s ever wandered further afield than the Shannon Airport stopover can tell you, Ireland is magic.

Someone special in your life? Then it's time to take advantage of the super cheap fares to Ireland and check out the Emerald Isle. We've done the hard work, now the romance is up to you! Here's Irish Central's Top 10 romantic places to go in Ireland.

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Christina Ryan-Kilcoyne doesn’t normally advertise her dance classes. She doesn’t normally have to. “I’ve never had to advertise before,” says the fair-haired teacher from Co. Clare, who came to the U.S. in 1988 and set up a dance school in Pennsylvania. “The kids just used to come. But this year my beginners’ class is down by half.”

Slideshow / The Top 10 Natural Wonders of Ireland / Click here Ireland - like the U.S. - has some seriously stunning natural

Peter Quinn remembers Danny Cassidy.

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  Introduction Ireland is an island on the western fringe of Europe between latitude 51 1/2 and 55 1/2 degrees north, and longitude 5 1/2 to 10 1/2 degrees west. Its greatest length, from Malin Head in the north to Mizen Head in the south, is 486 km and its greatest width from east to west is approximately 275

James B. Irwin, the founder of the annual International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, took his own life on Monday evening at his home in Connecticut.

He’s American and Korean, but U.S. Army Sergeant Seamus O’Fianghusa considers himself an Irishman through and through. As the fluent Gaelic speaker prepares for a deployment to Afghanistan, he talks about his love for all things Irish.

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The Reidy family surname (also Reedy, Riedy, Reid, and O'Reidy) is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Riada. The family was part of the Dalcassian sept and in early Gaelic times lived in the southwest of Ireland, in the Munster counties of Clare and Kerry.

Lisdoonvarna's resident matchmaker, Willie Daly, says that farmers are the men of choice for women looking for love in Ireland, and it’s because the Irish love of the land is recession-proof.

Moloney is derived from the Gaelic O Maoldhomnaigh, meaning a descendant or a servant of the church. The name is often spelled Maloney but the O'Moloney (or O'Maloney) form of the name is only rarely found. The family was originally associated with the area around Tulla, County Clare but is now commonly found in Limerick and Tipperary.

The name Malone derives from the Gaelic O'Maoileoin meaning follower of St. John. The family originally came from Ballynahown, County Offaly.

New York local politics will get a major Irish boost on Tuesday when Deirdre Feerick, a second-generation Irish American, squares off against two other Irish-American candidates in the September 15 Democratic primary election in Queens to succeed well known Council Member Eric Gioia who has endorsed her.

The Irish Americans we're sick of, and who we'd like to see more of.

The world-famous Guinness Storehouse in Dublin was Ireland’s most visited attraction last year, with over one million people entering through its doors.

Given that his music career is on the downturn, Jim Corr, he of the photogenic Irish sibling band The Corrs, has clearly got a lot of time on his hands. Actually, you might say that Jim has moved from his native County Louth to Cloud Cuckoo Land.

It is quite an image... Maureen Dowd, scourge of every president since Poppy Bush and, arguably, the most powerful journalist in America thanks to her must-read column in The New York Times, talking of the road not taken, living a quiet life as a barkeep's wife back in Clare. Maybe that image isn’t so fanciful, though.

Though Labor Day has passed, Irish festivals are still on tap for September and the cooler weather as much of the music shifts to indoor venues. Here’s a look at some things to keep in mind.

Dinosaurs were the only things on the mind of four-year-old Patrick Dillon as he waited patiently with his parents, sister and grandfather for the door of his new school to open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8.

Single and looking for love somewhere outside the confines of your local club scene or the internet? You’re in luck: the famous annual Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare has begun.

Muhammad Ali is in Ireland and getting ready for his fundraiser dinner in Dublin Monday night. The sporting icon landed in Dublin Monday morning local time and said he was excited about being in the Emerald Isle.

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Hollywood director Steven Spielberg is on a secret summer vacation in Ireland. Spielberg, along with his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, and their teenage son have criss-crossed the country from the windswept Aran Islands to the Burren to plush Rathmines in Dublin.

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A host of Irish stars, including Bono and golfer Padraig Harrington, jetted into Clare today for the wedding of Corrs sister Andrea and her billionaire fiancé.

Ireland is preparing for the lavish wedding of Andrea Corr of the famous Irish pop group The Corrs, and Irish megaband U2 is set to play the reception.

An Irish heritage center in County Clare is being flooded with phone calls from Ennis residents looking to establish ancestral ties with American boxing great Muhammed Ali.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali is on his way to Ireland just days after bringing Yankee Stadium to a

Irish and Irish-Americans alike tend to be immensely proud of their surnames. But which last names win in the battle of Irishness? Here are the top 10 most popular Irish last names.

The County Clare newlyweds who welcomed 300 stranded U.S. troops to their Irish wedding celebration had U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia over for tea at their new abode.

Muhammad Ali is set to visit the home of his Irish ancestors in County Clare when he visits the country at the end of August.

Been to Ireland lately and spent some time in the Shannon Region, or about to so? If you took some photos and have a favorite shot, why not enter the Shannon Development's photo competition and be in with a chance to win $1400!