I was out at the La Crosse airport last week and was reminded that La Crosse has a sister city: Bantry, Ireland! I took this photo of the flag that hangs in our airport. Down in Riverside Park along the banks of the Mississippi River in La Crosse, you will find the beautiful Riverside International Friendship Gardens and our 6 sister cities (others are Russia, China, France, Germany and Norway) are represented there. For any gardeners or just someone anxiously awaiting Spring, here's some inspiration for you in these links below. (The photos were taken before work had begun on the Norway and Ireland gardens but are still worth a look!)
http://riversidegardens.org/
http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/locals/bluff/RIFG.htm
Also, Jay found a very interesting site that I think you might enjoy:
http://marriedanirishfarmer.com
