Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
If you celebrate your birthday in August, you share a birthstone with one of Ireland’s most famous women. Maureen FitzSimons from the Ranelagh area in Dublin was a gifted athlete, marvelous singer, talented actress and stunning beauty born on August 17, 1920. That name might not ring a bell because she became one of the […]
Lughnasa was not actually that big a part of the play and subsequent film Dancing at Lughnasa. The story was so captivating, it’s easy to focus on that and forget all about the name. But Lughnasa was once a fairly important event in Ireland. It was the Celtic harvest festival, and it was named for […]
Centuries ago, the Vikings left their mark on Ireland. Dublin and Waterford particularly can boast of fascinating evidence of the influence of the Vikings who arrived in the 8th century. They began as invaders, but as fierce as they were, even the Vikings could not withstand the charm of the Irish. So they settled in […]
When we think of famous Irish people who have made profound contributions to society, we tend to think of the arts. Ireland does boast more than its share of writers, actors, musicians and artists. But this island can also be very proud of its contributions to science, particularly those of astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who […]
“Twinkle, twinkle little star/ how I wonder what you are/ up above the world so high/ like a diamond in the sky…” Countless parents have sung that classic song with their small children without too much thought to the words, but astronomers have discovered a star is not just like a diamond in the sky. […]
The Eiffel Tower is pretty, but is standing in line with a mob of other tourists really all that romantic? If your idea of romance involves seclusion, rugged natural beauty and a sense of history, Ireland offers a lot of spots that are perfect. Of course, we have plenty of places that draw crowds. Blarney […]
The bogs play a remarkable role in Irish life. For generations, Irish people have cut turf from the bogs to burn as fuel. Visitors arriving to parts of Ireland in winter notice the rich, distinctive smell, and Irish people living overseas long for the smell of the home fires. Bogs have also preserved and eventually […]
Somewhere along the way, Beltaine became conflated with May Day in Ireland. People began celebrating on the first day of May with festivities our ancestors would have considered quite tame. It is also the first day of summer, although the weather rarely cooperates with that. The word ‘beltaine’ is used for the month of May, […]
Vacation is coming. If you are one of the many people following Game of Thrones and the intrigue of the competing tribes, you might like to plan your vacation around it. While you can’t buy a ticket to Westeros, you can visit the amazing locations where the iconic television series has been filmed, including Northern […]
The Celtic trinity knot, or triquetra, lends itself very well to engagement and wedding rings. The shape is a natural frame for gems, and it is rich in meanings. Part of this distinctive motif’s charm is that is reflects to many meanings based on the concept of a trinity or triptych. Early Celtic Christians used […]
