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We need your help to make the Irish Picks great! If you've got a great Irish site that we don't know about, send the site's full name and address to editor Sheila McDonald, and one of our reviewers will check it out. Click here if you only want to view this month's list of sites.
Everyone likes free stuff, and ScoilNet knows it. This is the new, official education site for Ireland, and if its myriad study and fun resources aren't enough to lure you in, the free PC competition might be. The site was co-developed by Intel, who are offering a high-spec (600 MHz) PC in a draw, but you must enter before the end of November. Recently revamped, the ScoilNet site is now bursting with content: lesson plans for teachers, study guides for students and PC purchasing tips for parents (Intel branded PCs, not surprisingly, are highly recommended). There's almost too much information, however, and the search facility isn't adequate to help users track down what they need.
It's attractive, packed with job leads and updated every Tuesday, according to its creators. It's EducationalPosts.com , and third-level teachers in particular shouldn't miss it. Institutions must pay a fee to list a position, but jobseekers can search and browse listings for free, including posts in England, Ireland, Australia, the US and elsewhere. Most jobs are lectureships and professorships, but librarians, technicians and Web editor positions are also included. The site needs an online CV submission tool, however, to make the most of this resource.
Irish travel sites just keep getting hotter, and this latest addition is one of the hottest yet. Trailblazer.ie is the Web version of the popular Trailblazer series of printed guides for Ireland. These folks know the information tourists want, and they've put it all on-line: from up-close maps and detailed driving instructions to restaurant guides and craft shops. The maps, in particular, are just marvellous. View a list of B&Bs in Cork, for example, and you'll see an all-Ireland map as well as a local map, with red dots showing local accommodation. Hover your mouse over each B&B in the list, and the red dots turn yellow one by one. Many parts of the site are under construction, but tourists will find it's already worth a visit.
Discover the dark delights of Irish bogs at the gallery site for artist Anne Stahl. Stahl's paintings include a wonderful collection of bog studies in moody hues of blue, purple and russet, all of which are for sale online unless otherwise marked. There's a collection of her American photos and paintings, too, plus work from her college years. Many artists fear putting work online because of unauthorised copying, but Stahl's collection is proof that online galleries can lead to a higher profile as well as actual sales. Lovely stuff!
As Ireland's online population approaches half a million, more and more people are looking to the Web as a singles meeting place. That's probably why sites like Irish Singles Online are attracting good traffic, simple though they are. This is a decent Internet personals service and lonely-hearts can input their information and a photo and their ad will be posted free on the site. Anyone may post their information, but the site's main aim is to introduce local Irish people to each other. Check out the site's links to other Irish dating resources for more of the same.