| It is estimated that almost one in every four | | | | entertainment? Couple that with an original |
| American people claim some kind of Irish | | | | heart rendered poem in parched paper |
| roots. This is an amazing statistic given | | | | detailing the history of this piece of land |
| that the entire population of Ireland is just | | | | and you have an ideal gift for any family |
| over five million people. During the famine | | | | member of friend with an Irish attachment. |
| times in Ireland in the mid 18th century | | | | This gift is all the more unique in that the |
| literally over one million people starved to | | | | plots of land in question are bogland, which |
| death while another million people fled to | | | | the Irish government and local agencies are |
| the four corners of the globe. America was | | | | stringently trying to protect as a piece of |
| the preferred destination of choice but the | | | | Irish heritage. Bogland is where turf is cut |
| route was a treacherous and perilous one for | | | | and is unique to certain parts of Ireland. |
| those brave enough to take it.A whole new | | | | Turf is a fuel that is burned in fires and |
| industry has now sprung up in Ireland with | | | | smells beautiful in comparison to other fuels |
| thousands of Irish Americans tracing their | | | | used in fires.Imagine the joy and pride of |
| family roots every year. Ronald Reagan and | | | | being able to say that you "own a little |
| John F. Kennedy being but two famous Irish | | | | piece of Ireland". You are of course welcome |
| American names. Genealogy has become big | | | | to visit and stand on your own plot at any |
| business in Ireland in the past decade with | | | | stage or even welcome to meet the poets |
| dozens of companies only too happy to assist | | | | author Conor Ward, a retired teacher, |
| eager clients trace their family origins. | | | | historian, bard, and owner of the land in |
| Family crest names and family tree charts are | | | | question.Dara Ward is an expert on all things |
| the most common items sought after.Imagine | | | | Irish. He is the webmaster for his family |
| however being able to actually own your own | | | | operated business Irish Gifts Dara also |
| little piece of Ireland, complete with title | | | | operates one of Ireland's best run travel |
| deed for less than an evening's | | | | websites Ireland Travel. |