When we think of global communications, Connemara does not usually spring to mind as a showcase of emerging technology. Connemara now enjoys a reputation as an area to get away from it all and relax free from the demands of modern life. While Galway City is famous for the Claddagh design, the area north of […]
Tag: Celtic history
Wolfe Tone – The Man, Not the Band
Many readers are probably fans of the band the Wolfe Tones, but what do you know about the man the band is named for? Friday is the anniversary of his birth, so it’s a good time to learn the basics about a man who had a profound influence on the course of Irish history. For […]
Law and Order Ancient Irish Style
Paradoxically, the stereotypical Irish-American occupation has long been police officer, but in Ireland, the concept of police came from outside. Once upon a time, Ireland ran quite smoothly and relatively peacefully without a single police officer. Between the time of the Druids and imposition of British Common Law, Ireland followed its own unique system of […]
Can You See the Trees for the Forest?
Images of Ireland tend to show rolling green hillsides dotted with sheep, narrow country roads, colorful pubs and villages and beautiful ruins of castles, towers and monasteries. You don’t see many photos of Irish forests, largely because they mostly destroyed long before the camera was invented. Farming began in Ireland about 6,000 years ago when […]
What’s the Appeal of Water that You Probably Shouldn’t Drink?
You might think water wouldn’t be anything special in a country famous for how much it rains, but not all water is equal. Some is potable, some isn’t – and some is holy. Catholic churches worldwide have holy water fonts, but Ireland takes it a step further. We have holy wells. Used not just for […]
A Few Irish Piles of Bricks
Perhaps they were considered piles of bricks, but typically everyone considers castles much more than that. Castles are typically made of bricks or stones, but usually castles are representative of structures that loom overhead or on the horizon in an area that is hard to get to. Oftentimes, castles are surrounded by moats or bodies […]
Another Kind of Irish Ring
Claddagh rings are not the only rings that enchant visitors to Ireland. Sure, they are beautiful and you can buy one to take home. Our other famous rings are less portable, and you’d do well to look but not touch them, as people occasionally learn the hard way. The Irish landscape is dotted with ancient […]
Sacred Tara Hill
Tara Hill has great historical and cultural significance to Ireland. Strategically it is an ideal location in the Republic because anyone who had control over Tara had a view of about forty percent of the land. They could see everyone in and around the area and thus anyone approaching. It proved to be a very […]
Very Rare Gold Fish Discovered in Ireland
This is a fish story about one that didn’t get away. It traveled extensively and hid for more than a thousand years, but it did not get away. It was caught last year by an experienced fisherman in County Down, Northern Ireland who had recently taken up metal detecting as a hobby. Barry Shannon was […]
Irish Festivities in May
May begins a great period of the year for most of the world and Ireland is no exception. It is a time to kick start festivals and outdoor celebrations that will begin to run throughout the spring, summer and even into the fall before it becomes too cold. Now that the toughest patch of weather […]