Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Most tourists visiting Dublin make a point of strolling over this gorgeous iron pedestrian bridge spanning the River Liffey, and many Dubliners cross back and forth over it daily. It is estimated that an average of 30,000 people use the Ha’Penny Bridge every day. The iron arches topped with lamps give a romantic, cozy charm, […]
Just a few days after St. Patrick’s Day comes another day that was rather popular in Ireland long before Patrick set foot on these shores. The vernal equinox is on March 20th this year, and although it is less well known than the magic of the sun shining into Newgrange neolithic passage grave on the […]
You may know all about St. Patrick’s Day, but what do you know about the man? The most basic information is widely known. Patrick converted Ireland to Christianity; he used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. This is how the shamrock became such a popular symbol of Ireland on everything from […]
Shimmering shoals of silvery fish are not the only thing shining in the depths of the sea off the coast of Galway. While you will find oysters in the sea, this sunken treasure is not pearls, as much as we love them. The North Atlantic has seen a lot of traffic, from curraghs out fishing […]
Across Ireland this week, children are making square crosses of rushes in honor of a saint who, despite starring in a wealth of legends and shattering the glass ceiling before churches had stained glass windows, consistently plays second fiddle to St. Patrick. St. Brigid, the daughter of a Druid priest and a Christian slave, was […]
Many of us would struggle to come up with much that Irish and Swiss cultures and histories have in common, aside from amazing cakes and a deep fondness for fine chocolate. The Swiss are synonymous with punctuality, and the Irish, ahem, are not. The Swiss have the Alps, famous for their breathtaking heights and glorious […]
