Irish Picks

What's New - Scottish Picks - Picks of the Week

Irish Picks: May 2000

Welcome to Irish Picks for May! If you know of a site we should cover, don't keep it a secret.
Just contact our Editor, Sheila McDonald, and one of our reviewers will check it out.

You know how it is. You're getting married, you've got the spouse, the fancy clothes, the hotel booked: but what about the papal blessing? Many Irish weddings aren't complete without one. Weddings Online can get you hooked up with an official blessing, and a great deal more. In addition to the usual e-commerce fare - there are plenty of vendors listed who sell dresses, rings and things - this gorgeous site has a guide to Registrars in Ireland, plus expert advice on wedding etiquette, speeches, and wine. Our favourite feature? A downright practical question for the wine expert: "Can you please suggest how many bottles of wine to have on each table at the start of the reception, considering that half the guests are quite big drinkers?"
We're not big fans of Web sites that lean too heavily on Flash technology, but the fetching site for Fortunes Live makes it worth your while to download the plug-ins you need. Operating rather like a highly interactive horoscope, the site lets registered users get personalised readings telling them what to expect from work and love each day, and providing an overall "attractiveness rating". Users will also get a description of their Key Influencer, a person they will meet that day who could influence their life for good or bad. Astrology addicts be warned: if you love horoscopes, you won't be able to leave this site alone. Remember, membership is free, but phone calls in Ireland still aren't.
Meet the first Irish Web site that lets you gamble with your child's future. Superstarprize.com lets you wager that your child, or the child of a friend, will be a famous footballer, movie star, politician or other celebrity. Lay down your USD15, and take your chance that the child in question will find celebrity in later life. You'll receive a certificate in the post, which the site's creators say can be framed as a unique christening or birthday gift. The site, which was founded by a Dublin comedy club entrepreneur, puts its money where its mouth is: the payout of all prizes is insured by Royal & SunAlliance.
Religion and education have long been interlinked in Ireland, but the new Faith in Schools site offers a rare opportunity to learn about traditions, holidays and customs from all the religious institutions in the country. The site was launched by Ireland's four main churches and the Jewish community, and it features Web resources on topics like racism, equality, bullying and human rights. And for anyone concerned about Ireland's increasing ethnic tensions in the wake of increased immigration here, the site's "Teaching Tolerance" section is an important resource.
Launched with much fanfare in Ireland last month, First Call Direct claims to be the first utility in Ireland to let surfers get motor and house insurance quotations instantly online. We tried the service and got the info we were seeking after just a few minutes. If you've had an Incident, you can also use the site to notify the company of any claim you need to make. Whether your windscreen has been cracked, your car has been stolen or your home has been damaged, online forms let you give a full description of what was lost and when. Excellent stuff!

Sites Featured in Irish Picks:

Weddings Online - get your papal blessings here
Fortunes Live- what do the stars hold for you?
Superstarprize.com - gambling with your child's future
Faith in Schools - teaching tolerance in Ireland
First Call Direct - get insurance quotes on the Web

Previous Irish Picks of the Month:

[ April 00 | March 00 | February 00 | January 00 ]