Bolton, Greater Manchester

Bolton is located 15 miles from Blackburn. They are bitter local rivals when it comes to football, a relationship that is rooted in their intertwined economic histories. Bolton's social history has roots back to 1251, with an industrial history commencing in 1337. Today it's a major town with diverse industry. It is twined with Le Mans, France and Paderborn, Germany. Like Blackburn it is linked with the cotton industry that was the commercial powerhouse of the industrial revolution. Nowadays, Bolton is a large and busy commercial centre surrounded by beautiful countryside and country parks yet still only 20 miles from the city of Manchester. The locals are understandably proud of the Premiership football club, Bolton Wanderers FC, based at the recently constructed Reebok Stadium next to the wonderful sports facilities provided by the Bolton Arena.

Bude, Cornwall

Look at Bude now! (click here)

Bude is a seaside town situated on the Atlantic Heritage Coast adjacent to fine sandy beaches, and on the South West Coastal Path. Bude and nearby beaches provide some of the finest surfing to be had in all England. It has been a popular UK holiday destination since Victorian times. Today Bude continues to welcome visitors as it has always done. The town is well placed to enjoy the spectacular coastal path scenery and is also blessed with beautiful sandy beaches. Surfing is possible on nearly all the beaches. During June, July and August, many beaches are patrolled by lifeguards, and if you wish to swim when the tide is out there is a seawater open air pool and "The Splash", a modern well equipped leisure centre The town has excellent facilities with an interesting selection of shops, a large supermarket, and recreational activities, including a modern indoor heated swimming pool. A few minutes walk from the town centre and you can be exploring the dramatic scenery of the South West Coastal Path, or discovering the famous Bude Canal, an engineering feat of the early 19th century, or walking in some of the most unspoilt rural areas to be found in the South West. Local excursions are possible to the mysterious and mythical Tintagel Castle, the Eden project, the trendy coastal resort of St. Ives with a branch of the Tate Art Gallery and the famous Minnack Theatre in its breathtaking natural setting on the cliffs overlooking the sea.

The home of inlingua Dublin and the historic home of Gaelic Sport with its award winning museum, Croke Park is a stunning venue ideally situated 10 mins walk from the city centre on the northern side of town. You can feel the history as you enter the stadium complex and the excellent conference and training facilities giving a dramatic view of the pitch below will inspire your learning.

Three kilometres East fo O'Connell Street, Croke Park is the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), a magnificent, much redeveloped and now very modern stadium whose capacity of 82,000 plus puts it amongst the largest in Europe. Situated under the Cusack Stand is one of Dublin's finest museums, the GAA Museum www.gaa.ie

The creatively designed exhibits provide an enthralling account of not only the sports of hurling and Gaelic football, but also lesser known games such as camogie and handball. Historical and political contexts are explored in a thoroughly engaging manner - since its foundation in 1884 the GAA has always been irrevocably linked with Irish Nationalism. Thus the museum does not shirk from recounting key politically sensitive events such as the first Bloody Sunday, when British troops fired on the crowd attending a match in 1920, killing 12 people in the process.