What I remember most from my first trip to Ireland years ago is the color green—many shades of it, everywhere I looked. After being doused more than once by rain that always seems ready to fall, it didn’t surprise me that there would be so much lush vegetation. What did surprise me, though...

Last week, my eyes took in the beauty of Ireland, and my ears filled up with the lilt of the Irish. Our family spent several wonderful days there, starting first on the wild and rugged west coast and ending up in its famous city, Dublin. I came home with a thorough, surface-level knowledge of Irish history, a few souvenirs, and a couple of extra pounds from all that brown bread and fresh butter...