The one about the Irish and Thanksgiving

ONE of the easiest (and misleading) criticisms levelled at America is that it has no history and that it cribs ours. True they sabotaged our Samhain for an Americanised Halloween, but to be fair it is better. Better too is their Thanksgiving Day which is all their own.

Thanksgiving which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November dates back to the Pilgrims and marks their coming together with the natives.

It is now, of course, a celebration of family with which we are all too familiar through television (remember the Friends episode where Joey tried to eat a whole turkey) and film.

A whole platter of American comfort food and drinks were laid out for us too at Visit USA Ireland’s Thanksgiving celebrations in Dublin this week and in the best traditions of American and Irish fusion much singing and dancing was done to a lively band.

As if it needs retelling Ireland and America’s bonds have always been strong and one in four people from this island visit the US every year.

And many, many of us go to Florida for Disney, Potter and the rollercoasters. While we still will next year, there will be much interest in another Floridian special attraction, the Kennedy Space Center as we mark 50 years since the Moon Landings.

All major airlines serve Orlando. Daily admission to the Space Center (www.kennedyspacecenter) is €57 for adults and €47 for kids (3-11). The Space Center is only 51 minutes drive from Orlando. Really, only one small step...