Happy Thanksgiving
The
Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess (and Paradise Connections, too) would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
We would like to thank Ruairi and Olivia for this interesting and informative article on harvest time in Ireland.
from the Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess...
Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess - Barging cruises in Ireland
With Thanksgiving being this week, it got us thinking about the origins of harvest festivals and how the celebrations included ceremonies, family get togethers, games and food, a lot like today. In Ireland, the pre-Christian traditional harvest festival was known as Lughnasadh (pronounced
loo-na-suh), named after the god of craftsmanship, Lugh. Of pagan origin, it marked the start of the harvest season, some time in August.
One of the few harvest celebrations to have remained to date, with links to Lughnasadh, is the Puck Fair in Co. Kerry. A tradition stretching back 400 years, it is a 3-day festival of storytelling, traditional music, horse fairs, street traders and a mountain goat is crowned King. The itinerary includes lots of family fun such as puppet shows and face painting.
Harvest festivals – it's all about the food
From late Summer into Autumn, berries are in abundance and can be picked to make home made jams and preserves, a practice that is done less and less nowadays. Before the advent of the industrial era, humans relied on what nature provided and a bountiful harvest meant survival for families, unlike today where items are easily found in supermarkets.
Wild garlic, apples & nuts – the sight of nature’s provisions, with all their glorious colours, smells and tastes would have been a time for joy and celebration.
Of course, the most well-known harvest celebration is Thanksgiving in the US. Dating back to the early 17th century, it was originally only celebrated in New England by the pilgrims as a thanks for their first harvest.
Beginning in 1846, Sarah Josepha Hale wrote to five American presidents over 17 years, to advocate Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the American South. President Lincoln established a national holiday in 1863.
Traditional autumnal vegetables such as butternut squash & pumpkin are served with the main star of the show being the humble turkey. One of the nicest elements to the tradition of Thanksgiving is that it brings families and friends together.
Celebrating food with Shannon Princess
All of the harvest festivals throughout history have their own origins but the one thing they have in common is being thankful for nature’s harvest and commemorating this with a celebration of food.
Here on the Shannon Princess, we like to celebrate the joy of food with our guests, every day of their vacation. Our chef Olivia, brings healthy, organic, homegrown produce to life in a multitude of scrumptious dishes from breakfast time right through to dinner. If you would like to know more,
visit our menu pages.
Our
classic cruise brings guests to some of Ireland’s most traditional locations. From castles and christian settlements to historical cities such as Galway, there are lots of places to explore when we moor up. Once back on the water, the Irish scenery is beautiful and ever changing as we cruise along the River Shannon – a real feast for the eyes!
Enjoy the mouth-watering food aboard the Shannon Princess
Happy Thanksgiving from all on board the Shannon Princess.
Thank you and Happy Holidays, Olivia & Ruairi...
About The Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess
The Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess - Cruising the waterways of Ireland
The Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess is a very popular barge and they book up quickly. They are almost sold out for the 2019 season.
Current availability for 2019:
- July 21-27 : 2 cabins open
- July 28-August 3 : 5 cabins open - available for either a private charter or a cabin cruise week
- Aug 4-10 : 4 cabins open
- Sept 1-7 : 4 cabins open
We are now accepting bookings for the 2020 season.
Shannon Princess
The Shannon Princess has been thoughtfully designed throughout. The barge's inviting interior makes a charming floating living space – a perfect "Home away from home" for guests to enjoy. The welcoming atmosphere is enhanced by Ruairi and Olivia’s love of antiquities, crafts, pottery and art with many works by established and local Irish artists. On board the barge a friendly & relaxed mood has been created by carefully mixing casual informality with quality service.
The Shannon Princess provides accommodation for up to 10 guests in 5 cabins which can be configured as double or twins, each with ensuite facilities. This barge is owner-operated with a total of five professional crew in attendance.You will be charmed with excellent but friendly service, gorgeous food & wines, and share in a slice of local life and knowledge.
