From ‘Skytanic' to bizarre ‘blended wing' jet – five astonishing planes of the future we could see by 2030
Here's a glimpse into the not-so-distant future of air travel.
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Soon to be the world's biggest plane, WindRunner, will be able to carry 12-times more than a Boeing 747
Credit: RADIA
7
Dubbed "Skytanic", the airliner will take to the skies by 2030
Credit: RADIA
7
The world's first "blended-wing body" plane, dubbed the Z4, could someday replace older Boeing jets
Credit: JetZero
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The 250-passenger Z4 plane, built by JetZero, has not yet been certified - but the company is hoping to launch it by 2030
Credit: JetZero
'Skytanic'
Soon to be the world's biggest plane,
Dubbed "Skytanic", the airliner will
It will be tasked with transporting enormous cargo.
WindRunner will clock in at an incredible 356ft - longer than the pitch at Wembley - and will be 79ft tall.
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READ MORE ON AEROSPACE
'Blended wing' jet
The world's first
The unique design was just backed by United Airlines
, which has plans to purchase up to 200 of the swanky new planes.
The 250-passenger Z4 plane, built by JetZero, has not yet been certified - but the company is hoping to launch it by 2030.
Managing director of United Airlines Venture told
Business
Insider that the Z4's oversized wing could create a "living room in the
sky".
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Most read in Tech
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In October last year, the Beijing-based firm said that it successfully completed the first test flight for the prototype model
Credit: YUNXING
Yunxing superplane
A
The
In October last year, the Beijing-based firm said that it successfully completed the first test flight for the prototype model.
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The jet could potentially reach the speed of Mach 4 (3,00mph) -
World's first private jet that can fly 9,000 miles non-stop to launch across US and Europe after breaking records
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This globetrotting jumbo jet is set to launch across US and Europe, having secured FAA and EASA certifications
Credit: Gulfstream
Globe trotter
The
This globetrotting jumbo jet is set to launch across US and Europe, having secured FAA and EASA certifications.
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It's hoped it will be zooming across skies in 2030.
Now the longest-range private aircraft in the world, the Gulfstream G800 can ferry passengers to almost anywhere in the world without taking a single stop.
If the jet were to take off from London it could fly to any airport across the globe - with the exception of Sydney.
It has three luxurious living areas for up to 19 passengers, as well as a dedicated crew compartment for maximum in-flight comfort.
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Overture aircraft could feasibly fly passengers from London to New York City in just 3.5 hours at supersonic speeds
Credit: The Mega Agency
Boom Overture
The supersonic Overture jet is on track for a 2029 launch, according to the company behind the project.
US-based Boom Technology has forecast a market for up to 1,000 supersonic airliners, across 500 viable routes, with fares comparable to business class.
Overture aircraft could feasibly fly passengers from London to New York City in just 3.5 hours at supersonic speeds.
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The flight currently takes roughly 8 hours on a standard commercial carrier.
Laying the groundwork for Overture,
Bosses at the Colorado-headquartered firm believe it will be the first US-built commercial supersonic jet to hit the market
Supersonic and Hypersonic Jets
There are several types of hypersonic and supersonic jets. A breakdown of what's been happening in the industry and what's expected in the coming years.
Talon-A
Built by Stratolaunch
Reported speeds of Mach 5
The first test flight conducted in 2024
Built by Nasa and Lockheed Martin
Predicted max speeds of Mach 1.4
The first test flight in 2024 - but subject to delays
Built by Venus Aerospace and Velontra
Predicted max speeds of Mach 6
First test flight in 2025
Built by Hermeus
Predicted max speeds of Mach 2.5
First test flight in 2026
Built by Hermeus
Predicted max speeds of Mach 5
First test flight by 2030
Built by China's hypersonic plane programme
Predicted max speeds of Mach 6
First test flight in 2025
Built by Hypersonix Launch Systems
Predicted max speeds of Mach 7
First test flight in 2025
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The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Harry Styles spotted enjoying Rome and Vatican with Belgian designer as ex-1D star continues love affair with Italy
HE has made no secret of his love for Italy – and now it seems Harry Styles is enjoying showing off his favourite spots there. The former One Direction singer was seen wandering through Vatican City and Rome with Belgian-Congolese designer Kim Mupangilai last Friday. 8 Harry Styles was seen wandering through Vatican City and Rome with Kim Mupangilai Credit: Instagram 8 Former 1D singer Harry has made no secret of his love for Italy Credit: Getty 8 Belgian-Congolese designer Kim Mupangilai Credit: Instagram Harry was seen walking in front of St Peter's Basilica with New York-based designer Kim, who has appeared on the cover of high-end interior mags. The pair were also spotted wandering through the back streets of Rome — with Harry carrying a bottle of wine. A source said: 'Harry loves nothing more than showing people his favourite spots in Italy. 'He also loves art and Kim has been a great source of inspiration.' Read more on Harry Styles Kim, who grew up in Antwerp, She also posted snaps of red peppers drying on a rooftop in Ravello on Italy's Amalfi Coast. It comes as Harry is rumoured to have fallen in love with the small Italian village of Civita di Bagnoregio. The Watermelon Sugar hitmaker spent the pandemic learning Italian and sign language. Most read in Bizarre During his final Love On Tour show in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in 2023, Harry thanked 120,000 fans in Italian. Speaking in their language, he said: 'The last two years of my life have been a wonderful gift and it is truly very special to end my tour here, in a country that has a special place in my heart.' Harry Styles' mystery woman revealed after Glastonbury snog - and she's VERY different to the women he's dated before In June, the singer was seen sharing a passionate kiss with producer Ella Kenny at Glastonbury Festival. It came after his relationship with actress Taylor Russell ended in May last year. He was seen kissing model Emily Ratajkowski on a night out in 2023 and has previously dated model Kendall Jenner, singer Taylor Swift and actress Olivia Wilde. Last month, Harry launched his own vibrating sex toy and lubricant through his lifestyle brand, Pleasing. Alongside his new passion as a tour guide, it seems that Harry has many strings to his bow. DUA RULES AT FEST 8 Dua Lipa performs at Sunny Hill Festival in Kosovo Credit: Supplied The annual event, which she organises with her family, also saw her sing on stage with her dad Dukagjin. Posting on Instagram, she wrote: 'This festival is something my family and I created with so much love for our city Pristina. 'And to see it come to life like this is beyond anything I could've dreamed of.' The New Rules hitmaker also revealed that she has been granted Kosovan citizenship. The singer was born in London to Kosovo-Albanian parents and briefly lived in Pristina when she was a child. Posting a number of snaps from the weekend, including a selfie with her certificate, she wrote: 'Got my Kosovo citizenship the night before then partied hard at Sunny Hill Festival the night after!!!' HEIDI READY FOR SUGA HIT ON TV 8 Heidi Range will recount her days in the pop group Sugababes Credit: Getty HEIDI RANGE is set to lift the lid on her tumultuous time in the Sugababes in explosive BBC documentary Girlbands Forever. The singer will sit down with interviewer A source close to the project, which follows last year's Boybands Forever, said: 'Heidi has never spoken about what went on. 'Louis reached out to her directly and she finally agreed to take part a couple of weeks ago. It was an emotional interview and one that viewers will want to watch.' Last year, the Sugababes were handed a gong at the Mobo Awards, but Heidi's mum hit out after her daughter was 'white-washed' from the nomination video. She wrote on Instagram: 'I can't believe the cheek of it. Sugababes didn't have a hit till Heidi joined. It is so false and disrespectful the way they are carrying on.' Mutya hit back: 'When I wasn't in the group and the girls was doing big things without me, do you think I was getting upset about not being mentioned?' A spokesman for the original trio declined to comment. Forget the Suga – things might be about to turn very sour again. GENT IS IN LOVE 8 Tom Rhys Harries and songwriter Amy Allen Credit: Getty THE Gentlemen actor Tom Rhys Harries has just landed the starring role in DC Studios' Clayface, the villain and ally of Batman. But I can reveal the Welsh hunk is also a leading man in American songwriter Amy Allen's life. The pair soft-launched their relationship on Instagram, with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy sharing snaps of their holiday to Spain. A source told me: 'Tom and Amy are in the honey-moon phase and are the new power couple in town. 'Tom is a rising star in the film industry and Amy has fast become the first person pop stars want to work with.' Earlier this year, Amy scooped the Grammy Award for Songwriter Of The Year – the first woman to win the gong since its introduction in 2023. Amy penned Sabrina Carpenter hit tracks Espresso and Please Please Please as well as co-writing Adore You and Matilda for Harry Styles. Sounds like Tom and Amy will make sweet music together. OLIVIA SHOWS METAL 8 Olivia Rodrigo dazzles in a sparkly silver halter neck corset and mini skirt Credit: Getty OLIVIA RODRIGO pulled off a dazzling performance at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago. The Good 4 U hitmaker wore a sparkly silver halter neck corset and mini skirt as she took to the stage on Friday. Sabrina Carpenter and A$AP ROCKY are set to top the bill at the festival tonight. In June, Olivia headlined Glastonbury, describing it as the 'best weekend there ever was'. I was there and can vouch for that. PUB JOB FOR SAM BEFORE rising to fame on Eurovision in 2022, Sam Ryder started out singing in boozers – and now he has been appointed Head of Gigs for Greene King Pubs to help support up-and-coming artists. Sam, who dropped new single The Feeling Never Went Away from his upcoming album Heartland on Friday, said: 'Pubs provided a place for me to actually learn how to play in front of people. 'Before the pub stage, you just played guitar in your bedroom as loud as it could go. 'At pubs, you got the chance to hone your craft and learn different songs, create a little catalogue, get the expertise of actually playing in front of people.' I couldn't agree more, Sam. CRUZ BECKHAM is taking his new band on tour next month, branding his indie music style as 'nepo rock'. Having assembled a group of musicians, David and Victoria's youngest son will start with a series of gigs in London pubs. 8 Cruz Beckham is taking his new band on tour next month Credit: Getty Confirming the news on Instagram, Cruz posted a video of him crooning to a Tom Petty cover, but added, 'Originals are coming soon', and 'Nepo rock is the new genre'. A source said: 'Cruz is determined to prove he can earn his crust on his own merit.' With the amount of celeb offspring in music, nepo rock could be here to stay . . .
Irish Examiner
21 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork video game studio urges greater backing after global success of 'Ready or Not'
A Cork video game studio is celebrating 2m console sales of its first-person shooter game Ready or Not, but says more supports are needed for the industry to thrive in Ireland. Ready or Not was released internationally by Cork studio Void Interactive for PlayStation 5 and Xbox on July 15, having been released initially in 2023 on Windows for PC. Sales of the first-person shooter game, which sells for around €50, exceeded 2m in the two weeks following its release on console, taking its total global sales to 11m. First established more than seven years ago by Julio Rodriguez, Ryan David Post, and Stirling Rank, Void Interactive is based in the National Esports Centre on the South Mall in Cork City, employing 70 people in total, who work remotely. Void Interactive CFO Philip Nathan, COO Stirling Rank, and CEO Julio Rodriguez celebrate the success of their first-person shooter game 'Ready or Not' with David Cronin at the National Esports Centre in Cork. Picture: Gerard McCarthy Its flagship product, Ready or Not, is a tactical first-person shooter game set in the fictional dystopian US city of Los Sueños, depicting a modern-day world in which Swat police units are called to defuse hostile and confronting situations. Following the significant uptake in the game so far, the company is actively looking to expand its teams, offering remote positions for developers spanning across graphic design, animation and programming. 'We want to hire as many people as we can in Ireland,' said Philip Nathan, chief financial officer of Void Interactive. Speaking on the release of the game for console, Mr Nathan said: 'Surpassing the 2m milestone has been an incredible success for us. It can be so hard to estimate, as it is so reliant on the consumer market and how it reacts. 'Our lowest estimation for the release was 800,000, while our highest estimate was 2.75m, which we are on track to exceed very soon, with demand remaining strong.' 'Ready or Not' was released internationally by Cork-based Void Interactive for PlayStation 5 and Xbox on July 15, having been released initially on Windows for PC in 2023. Picture: Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Nathan says the company's establishment in Cork was an easy decision, noting: 'The founders always knew this would be a global business and we needed a strong area to facilitate this. 'Our founders are from Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand and wanted an English-speaking city with strong European ties. "They also didn't want a capital city, which made Cork the perfect choice for the company." While its staff are fully remote, Void Interactive is based in the National Esports Centre, located in the Republic of Work on South Mall. Officially opened in March 2025 following €1m investment in gaming infrastructure, the National Esports Centre created 10 new jobs along with further positions in gaming, media, and technology expected as the centre continues to expand. The hub is used by professional eSports athletes, aspiring gamers, developers, gaming researchers, and students and is also home to WYLDE, Ireland's first professional Esports academy, which was founded in Cork in 2021. Gamer Karina Shastak, Steve Daly of the National Esports Centre and Philip Nathan of Void Interactive with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Wylde Esports player Ciarán Walsh at the official opening of the Esports Centre in Cork in March. Picture: Gerard McCarthy Recent years have seen Cork City become an epicentre for Ireland's growing video game industry, but despite a strong ecosystem, Mr Nathan says more needs to be done for Ireland to realise the opportunities available within the sector. 'Ireland has a thriving film and TV industry, which offers everything from heavy supports to generous tax breaks. While this is great, the video game industry should get similar attention. 'The video game industry is valued significantly higher than TV and film, and is only growing larger. 'The current generation of retirees is the first to grow up with mainstream video games, which means a growing customer base with the industry now targeting every generation. 'There is so much potential for the Irish Government, universities, and Enterprise Ireland to get behind this and allow for Ireland to become a video game hotspot in Europe." The global videogame market is projected to grow by 3.4% to $189bn (€165bn) in 2025, compared with last year's growth of 3.2%, according to a report by video game research specialists Newzoo, with this projected growth reflecting concrete changes, hardware cycles, pricing trends, install base growth, and title pipelines. 'We've seen this happen in Cork before, where one company comes and a whole industry follows,' Mr Nathan said. 'In 2005, McAfee set up here, and it wasn't long before the city became a hub for cybersecurity companies. The Government was quick to take notice, and universities altered their offerings to cater for the heightened demand for computer science graduates. There is an opportunity here to do that again and replicate previous success. 'I've reached out to universities and government agencies, offering sponsorships and other things. I said, whatever they wanted, we would give it to them. I never got a response. 'I hope that changes in time, and people begin to see the opportunity that lies in front of them.' Looking forward, Mr Nathan says sales of Ready or Not are expected to total 5m by the end of 2025, with a further 2m to 3m sales anticipated over the next five months, and the company also looking to add extra levels to the popular game in the near future. 'We are constantly investing in ways to improve the game and user experience,' says Mr Nathan. 'And while we do that, we are also looking to diversify our offerings and develop new games, while always keeping Ready or Not our main focus and at the core of our business. 'There are a lot of exciting things in the pipeline, and we're looking at a very busy few years ahead.'
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Travel experts share their once-in-a-lifetime itineraries for hidden Ireland
'My first tour was in 1998, right after the Omagh bomb. So it was quite the strange time,' says Ginger Aarons. From the peace process and the Celtic Tiger to the advent of a multicultural society, the travel expert and genealogy enthusiast has seen huge changes across the island of Ireland in the 27 years she's been bringing clients here on tailor-made travel trips. And she's not alone. Her fellow bespoke tour operators, Kate McCabe and Max Sussman of Bog & Thunder and Rachel Gaffney of Rachel Gaffney's Real Ireland, have also been blazing a trail from the US to highlight a 21st-century vision of Ireland to their clients, and each have their own take on what that is. Their tours are high-end, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but all are agreed on one thing: luxury is not necessarily about helicopters, champagne, and five stars. It's to be found in those magical moments of connection, a hidden Ireland that's there, waiting to be revealed, if we just give it the opportunity to do so. Rachel Gaffney at the Port of Cork Rachel Gaffney Rachel Gaffney's Real Ireland 'Take your time. Otherwise you're just doing a drive-by,' is what Cork woman Rachel Gaffney advises the Americans for whom she organises bespoke tours of Ireland. 'Allow Ireland to unveil herself, because she will,' says the Dallas-based slow-travel advocate. Gaffney moved to the States in 1996, having worked in the Irish and UK hotel industry for decades. She set up her own travel company, Rachel Gaffney's Real Ireland, when she moved Stateside, and every year spends 12 weeks in Ireland doing on-the-ground research of what's new and what will chime with her clientele, who, typically, 'have a home in Aspen, and a home in Palm Beach, a home here, and a home there'. 'They have pretty high standards,' she says. 'They may say they're low maintenance, and in fairness, most are. Just get it right for them, that's all they want. 'I have a plan, but I don't have a plan,' she says of her annual deep dive into what Ireland has to offer. Coupled with her natural curiosity and an instinct for the new and unusual, what unfolds for her clients is an eclectic mix. While super-luxe spots invariably feature — 'Ashford and Ballyfin, those are the no-brainers. I send people there because I want them to experience that' — if a place can meet her exacting standards, it stands a chance of making the cut. 'I love Perryville House in Kinsale. Their breakfast is one of the most gorgeous in Ireland.' Rachel Gaffney on Inis Mór Gaffney has an eye for perfection, and the custom luggage racks in Perryville's rooms — no bending down required — merit special mention: 'the ergonomics of how you travel was thought about'. 'I'm matchmaking,' Gaffney says of her role as curator of a bespoke offering. 'I'm putting clients in the right place for them.' The 'truly spectacular' Dunluce Lodge in Co Antrim, is one of her recent discoveries, and only opened its doors this spring. 'When I visited, they were working on a putting green, which will be the largest putting green in Ireland. It's for the residents. So, in the evening, you can sit overlooking the sand dunes and the fourth fairway of Royal Portrush and the ocean. Then, if you like, you can walk outside and practice your putting by a fire pit.' Gaffney likes to immerse herself in a place. 'I sit in bars and restaurants by myself. I talk to people. I want to see what's happening in the area. I want to get a feel for the area, a sense of it. I want to be able to tell my clients, 'when you drive out the driveway and take a left, you can continue that coast road or you can take a fork...'' She rates Clare, calling the county one that's 'really starting to punch above its weight', and namechecks Doolin's Fiddle and Bow — 'the natural colours, the simplicity, the bare floorboards; they brought the outside in' — and the Michelin-starred Homestead Cottage: 'It's literally in the middle of nowhere.' 'I'm finding some of the best hospitality is in the most inaccessible places. If I send people, they'll throw the red carpet out for them. They'll just be so delighted to have you.' Cork is close to her heart too, with one of her 'most favourite hotels', Clonakilty's Dunmore House, sparking memories of a past trip. Gaffney had spontaneously decided to organise a morning yoga class for a group of ladies on an adjacent tiny beach and the hotel staff stepped up to elevate their experience. After the yoga 'what happened was these women, who were in their 60s and 70s, forgot themselves. They were running up and down to the water, making sandcastles. The head gardener had made a fresh-flower crown for the creator of the best one,' Gaffney recalls. 'The hotel staff brought us blankets and a picnic of strawberries and fruit from their garden and cheeses from the English Market. We were still there at four in the afternoon. It was the best day ever. Then the ladies went back to the hotel and had this fabulous dinner and sang songs in the bar. Just magical. That's luxury.' Rachel loves: Wilder Townhouse, Adelaide Rd, D2: 'It was a mansion for retired school governesses. The history in that building is so interesting.' Vandeleur Walled Gardens, Kilrush, Co Clare: 'Spectacular.' Barrow House in Tralee: 'A white Georgian manor house overlooking Barrow Bay. Ekotree knitwear, Doolin, Co Clare: 'The finest cashmere gloves I've ever seen.' Bog & Thunder's Kate McCabe and Max Sussman. Kate McCabe and Max Sussman Bog & Thunder Dubliner Maeve Brennan, a staff writer for The New Yorker in the last century, had no time for cliches about her homeland, decrying 'the bog and thunder variety of stuff that has been foisted abroad in the name of Ireland'. Her adjectives provided the perfect name for McCabe and Sussman's bespoke travel business, which has an eco-tourism and sustainability focus and operates out of the duo's Ann Arbor, Michigan base. 'We're trying to frame Ireland as the modern country that it is. We love the Aran sweaters and we love sheep and we love pubs and all that kind of stuff. But Ireland is so much more than that,' McCabe says. 'We do three types of travel,' explains Sussman, who's also a chef. 'Private itineraries for people who want to plan their own trip; group trips, and retreats.' The retreats are 'a way for us to get more deeply embedded in a specific place,' McCabe says. For their third annual writing retreat this year, they are staying in Within The Village, 'a really special place' in Roundstone, Co Galway. Last year, Max cooked for the group, and they enjoyed a pop-up by Westmeath-based chef Rose Greene of sustainable fermented food business 4Hands Studio. Bespoke food tours and curated culinary experiences are a large part of the Bog & Thunder offering. Two decades ago, New Jersey native McCabe, whose dad is from Tullamore and has connections to Belfast through her maternal grandmother, was 'doing political work around some of the outstanding issues of the peace process' as a college student, and it led to her travelling to Derry and Belfast. After graduation, she continued to visit Ireland and Max, whom she'd met in college, came too. 'We don't do typical food tours,' explains McCabe, whose background is in environmental policy and sustainability. 'When we design our tours, we usually have a theme or a narrative that we're telling throughout the tour. We're doing a tour in August with Youngmi Mayer, a Korean-American comedian whose paternal grandmother is from Cork. She just published a memoir where she talks about being Irish and not really being accepted for being Irish because she looks Korean. She's never been to Ireland before.' Everyone will 'eat amazing food', McCabe says, and there will be talks on 'Irish history and colonisation and immigration and emigration, to ground people in the themes that Youngmi talks about in her book.' Bog & Thunder lead a group around The Burren The duo like the value of involving people 'who aren't necessarily guides' in the tour conversations and are also passionate about 'trying to translate to people, whether they come on guided trips or do our private itineraries, how much of a multicultural nation Ireland is'. They feel hidden Ireland still exists, but like Gaffney, emphasise the need to venture off the beaten track to find it. 'Give yourself a little bit of time and freedom to explore a little bit. Every time we're in Ireland, we meet new people who are doing incredible things.' Once again, the Antrim coast comes up. 'One of our favourite bakeries in Ireland is Ursa Minor in Ballycastle.' Lir, a seafood restaurant in Coleraine, also gets the nod. 'We like to send people there,' McCabe says. 'It's a very beautiful spot, they're very into sustainable seafood, and sustainability is a pillar of our organisation. We like to connect travellers with people that are really walking the walk and actually translating their ethics into the food that they serve in their restaurants.' Another sustainable seafood spot they love is Goldie, on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork, while the city's Izz Café is cited as a 'great example of an immigrant couple who moved to Ireland and started a food business'. Baltimore's two Michelin star Dede, which they acknowledge as likely to be already on people's radar, is 'one of the best restaurants in Ireland'. One of the things that makes it really special, in addition to the food, is how warm and hospitable it is,' McCabe says. 'And I'd be remiss if we were to talk about Co Cork and not mention our dear friend, Sally Barnes, the only fish smoker on the island of Ireland to work exclusively with wild fish, which is something that we consider really important.' Since 2022, McCabe and Sussman have hosted a podcast, Dyed Green, exploring Irish food and culture, and the duo have 'a medium-term goal of moving to Ireland. We'd love to own and operate a B&B with a food component one day.' Bog & Thunder love: Native Guest House, Ballydehob: We just organised a private writing retreat for some clients there. Seaweed & Saltwater camper vans: For travellers who really want to get off the beaten path and travel sustainably, they have a small fleet of eco-friendly luxury Mercedes Sprinter camper vans. They're both off-grid AND high end, and you can shower and enjoy a good night's sleep on quality sheets. Dingle Sea Salt: A project run by Tom Leach & Moe McKeown, two surfer-scientists who hand harvest and use polytunnels to evaporate all of their salt. Ginger Aarons at Torr Head Ginger Aarons Time Travel Tours Yes, it's her real name, Ginger Aarons tells me over Zoom from Portland, mentioning the Duke of Abercorn is also a sceptic: 'he can't imagine anybody would ever christen me Ginger'. That impressive namedrop is a clue as to one of Aarons's areas of expertise, genealogy; the flame-haired entrepreneur is also a master gardener, and combines these passions in her bespoke travel business, Time Travel Tours. She's been bringing clients to Ireland to find their lineage since 1998, and can trace her own paternal Maguire ancestry back to the Flight of the Earls in the 17th century. On her mother's side, Aarons's Dublin-born ancestor arrived 'in Virginia about 1710', meaning her US ancestors predate the founding of the United States. 'My forefathers fought in the Revolutionary War.' While her own expertise is considerable — 'Ashford Castle uses me for their genealogy' — she recruits experts, such as historic garden consultant and plantsman Neil Porteous and architectural historian Robert O'Byrne, 'so that everybody gets a well-rounded look at Ireland and at the history'. 'Taking people around to the gardens in Ireland is fantastic, and I have so much support — at Mount Stewart, Lady Rose came in and they gave us a Champagne welcome. I have great people on the ground.' Her genealogy tours have a maximum of 12 participants. While they research in libraries and pore over records in great houses, her clients also frequently find themselves in graveyards in search of an ancestor's resting place, with everyone helping each other in their quest. She has long worked with Historic Houses of Ireland but a new venture will see her promoting education around them and giving 'the Irish people more reason to go to these houses, whether it's for a concert or a country weekend'. Ginger Aarons in Armagh Also in the works is an associated educational film, and a book 'Dogs of Historic Houses, which is going to be from the dog's point of view'. Aarons believes that hidden Ireland is to be found in these historic houses, some of which have new owners who are bringing new life to these 'hidden gems', as they welcome paying guests for the first time and find inventive ways of making their properties generate income. Over the course of a fortnight, Aarons's garden tour clients often see three gardens a day, but the pace is never rushed, and food is always an integral part of the tailor-made experience. 'We do a salvia class at Jimmy Blake's and then go to Russborough House for lunch and a history tour. We'll meet the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland volunteers who look after the walled garden at Russborough, and then go to June Blake's [near Blessington] for afternoon tea.' This September, Aarons's garden enthusiasts will be enjoying cookery lessons from Paul Flynn at Dungarvan's The Tannery, another 'hidden gem', and stopping off at Manning's Food Emporium, near Ballylickey in Cork. 'I've been going there for 25 years. We've had little kids come in and do their music and dancing. Then we'd have our picnic lunch and go to Bantry House for the history and the gardens. We'll be doing that again.' A new trend Aarons has noticed is more people visting Ireland for sport. 'They want to see games, even if it's a local hurling or soccer game. People are very interested in what Irish people do in daily life.' Ginger loves: Enniscoe House, Co Mayo. 'You can do a lot of walking and fishing, enjoy a glass of whiskey by the fire, and they allow dogs stay.' Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare, Co Limerick: 'A great little hidden gem.' A virtual reconstruction of the Record Treasury and its records which were lost in a fire in 1922. 'You can research your ancestry, and look up wills and all kinds of letters on there.'
