That is really sad about your Mum, did she convert as education orfor love (I am thinking all romantic, like Charlotte in SATC, how shallow am i?) I really think that Irish people are so closed off when it comes to religion, and that families all over the world separate for the most ridiculous reasons. Land and religion are the main two though.
Kilkenny is not a million miles from my end of the world (I am from Wexford which is the next county, and Kilkenny are our annual hurling adversaries, we beat them this year!)
I could convince BF to come to NYC for a long weekend, but it would depend on dates, as one of my best friends is getting married 8 October next year and I am a bridesmaid so that will take up time and money.
I LOVE New York! I lived in Queens (Sunnyside and Astoria) for a summer and worked 2 blocks from Penn Station. BF worked in 1500 Broadway which is on Times Square. That was the summer of 1997, when we had just started going out.... I have been back twice since,once with my Mum and once with my Dad but BF hasn't been...and the exchange rate is pretty good at the moment....
Movie wise I watched Chicago, which was well done. I think I can probably recite "Four Weddings" at this stage I have seen it so many times!
OK, while my first vote is for a European destination, my 2nd vote would be NYC.