My wife is “green Irish”, while my family is “orange Irish”. DWs great grandfather was made an orphan as a teenager during the Spanish Flu epidemic. His uncle was able to get him on a ship as a deck hand by lying about his age. He jumped ship in New Orleans and became an illegal at the age of 15.
Years ago I set up a trip for DW and MIL to do a 10 day horse back riding trip through Ireland. MIL raced barrels growing up and all her kids learned to ride when young. DD was on a horse as soon as she could walk and also raced barrels and poles.
DW found out just prior to the trip that she was pregnant with DS. She didn’t tell her mom until the last day of the trip as she was afraid she would cancel.
A few years ago DD and I took a trip to Ireland and went hiking in the mountains on the NW side. We also spent a day riding horses through the countryside.
A beautiful country. For anyone who rides, definitely a place to go.