Burns' Night in Ireland - why should there be a celebration for the most Scottish of all Scots on the neighbouring isle? Yet there is. But mainly in Ulster. You see, most of the settlers that went into Ulster were Scottish, that's why we also have the term "Ulster-Scots" to describe them and their dialect (or language, the jury is still out on that). And they have brought many traditions with them. Not Burns' Night though, as the bard was born "only" 253 years ago today and the plantations were much older. But the festivities were adopted.

So today, if you happen to visit a butchers or supermarket in Northern Ireland, you'll more than likely find a haggis on display. Which is the essential ingredient for a Burns' Night Supper, together with tatties, neeps and a generous helping of whisky. I'll be having the auld chieftain of the pudding race tonight as well ...

Some more information on Ulster-Scots heritage:

• The Ulster-American Folk Park - detailing the emigration of Ulster-Scots to the USA.
• Languages of Ireland - where does Ulster-Scots fit in?
• Andrew Jackson mural in West Belfast - an Ulster-Scots president.

For quite some years we attended the Chinese New Year Carnival in Dublin - an all-singing, all-(dragon)-dancing festival in the inner city. Yesterday we took some friends along ... and were somehow disappointed. When we attended, the festivities were held in Wolfe Tone Square on the Northside. Now the have relocated to the Southside, just across the Liffey and smack-bang in Dublin's "cultural quarter" Temple Bar. Which might have been less-than brilliant an idea. At least the Chester Beatty Library made up for it ...

What was the problem?

Chinese New Year in Dublin has become a fixed spot in the Irish capital's event calendar - well, as fixed as a moveable feast can be at least. After all, the Chinese community is one of the strongest immigrant communities in Ireland. Irish Celebrations for the incoming Year of the Dragon will run from January 20th to February 3rd. A very accessible highlight will be the Chinese New Year Carnival.

Check out the (temporary) exhibition of big things in the National Museum of Ireland (Collins Barracks) - "Irish High Crosses". On show are full-size replicas of some of Ireland's finest High Crosses.

A simply stunning presentation! Six plaster casts from crosses in Ahenny, Monasterboice, Drumcliffe and Dysert O'Dea stand in a half-circle in near-total darkness, the only illumination being spotlights reflected off the crosses themselves. It is hard to imagine the impact, it really has to be experienced.

The casts were commissioned by Colonel G.T. Plunkett at the turn from the 19th to the 20th century and initially exhibited in the National Museum's premises in Kildare Street. Languishing in storage since the 1970s, the replicas were dusted off for an exhibition in Japan and are now on show in Dublin again. Go! Alternatively, read up on Ireland's High Crosses - Their Origins and Variations right here.

Photo of (original) High Cross at Kells © 2007 Bernd Biege licensed to About.com, Inc.