Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
Ireland has always had a more personal relationship with ghosts and spirits than most places. This is the birthplace of Halloween, after all. The holiday grew out of Samhain, the last night of the Celtic year when the veil between the world of the living and the spirit world was worn so thin that those […]
Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween, aka Samhain. The holiday’s roots come from the ancient Celtic calendar, which ended on October 31st and began on November 1st. The ancients believed that a sort of veil separated the ordinary world of the living from the world of the dead and the supernatural. Over the year, that […]
Long before the modern goth music and fashion scene was born, the Irish were revealing in Gothic literature. It is no surprise that this island has produced so many exceptional writers of horror fiction. Howling winds, dense fogs, driving rains and old graveyards with tilted Celtic cross tombstones are all entirely normal, unavoidable parts of […]
The mention of pearls usually conjures up romantic images of pearl divers searching for oysters in tropical waters. But not all pearls come from warm seas. Some species of pearl-producing molluscs live in freshwater in much cooler climes, including Ireland. This wee island has never been a large producer of freshwater pearls, but it is […]
Every summer, Irish families flock to Florida in search of fun and sun. The climate of Florida couldn’t be more different than Ireland’s, and the array of amusement parks, beaches and other attractions makes it one of the most beloved vacation destinations for Irish families. We rarely think of Florida as a destination for Irish […]
Daniel O’Connell’s statue towers above the Dublin street bearing his name, and an actual tower marks his grave in Glasnevin Cemetery. All of this behooves a man who had such a profound influence on the fight for Irish independence. In his life, he earned the moniker the Liberator for leading the movement to free the […]
Irish bridal jewelry is more than engagement and wedding rings. On the big day, the bride can wear earrings and a necklace. The right earrings are the finishing touch if she is wearing her hair up, and a pendant framed by the elegant neckline of her wedding dress is stunning. And of course, her bridal […]
A generation ago, archaeologists discovered a complex of structures in a figure eight shape in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The complex series of buildings dates back to the Iron Age, and researchers determined that a timber structure there was built around the year 95 BC. The find was breath-taking, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Experts heralded Fort […]
You’ve found the right woman, and you know this is it. It’s time to pop the question. That means it’s also time to find the perfect Irish engagement ring for her. Deciding to propose to your beloved is a huge decision, and planning your proposal involves more important decisions about how, when and where to […]
We’re seeing more and more reports of protesters toppling questionable statues lately. In Ireland, we were disposing of offensive monuments long before it was cool. It’s part of our heritage that doesn’t get much attention. Nelson’s Pillar once stood in O’Connell Street, where it towered over the capital city’s widest street from 1808 to 1966 […]
