Rory, if you know that West Virginia is a separate state from western Virginia, you know more about American geography than most Americans do! (Not that it's all that difficult to reach that pinnacle
).
I'd love to see Ireland. I bummed around Europe for a month in my 20s but never made it past Scotland. I was mostly trying to hit the big art museums. It was only having a friend in Edinburgh that took me there. All gorgeous country and wonderful people. I'd love to go back.
Enjoy the Songcatcher. My mother was actually alive in West Virginia in the '20s and she said the movie was the best representation she'd ever seen.
Cheers-