Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
A wedding is a time when we tend to embrace tradition, but what we think of as Irish wedding traditions aren’t the oldest approach to marriage on this island. The Claddagh ring has a very romantic backstory and beautiful symbolism, which make it a lovely choice for an Irish wedding ring. Horseshoes, wedding bells and […]
Ireland had many high kings, but one name has stood out through the centuries. Brian Boru. Who was he, and why has he towered over Ireland’s other high kings in history? Why do we know his name today? Brian Boru’s best documented legacy is his victory at the Battle of Clontarf on April 23rd, 1014 […]
Fáílte Ireland has launched a campaign to highlight a part of Ireland often overlooked by tourists – the midlands. Encompassing counties Cavan, Leitrim, Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon and parts of Galway and Tipperary, the new Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands campaign showcases a range of destinations. While many know of the broad, majestic River Shannon and the […]
Mail order DNA kits have become extremely popular, and more people are discovering exactly how genetically Irish they are. For some, that might be the end of the story. But more people will find it is an answer that leads to more questions. Who were those Irish ancestors and where did they come from? Why […]
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in the USA for the traditional St. Patrick’s Day visit, and during a visit to Oklahoma, he put his own stamp on it. In addition to the usual meetings with the president and the other usual politicians and business leaders, Varadkar paid a visit to the Choctaw nation. There he […]
Ireland is widely hailed as the land of saints and scholars. People around the world celebrate Irish culture on our most famous patron saint’s feast day. Patrick isn’t our only patron saint, however. We also have Brigid. But this small island has produced far more saints. Patrick and Brigid are our patrons and most famous […]
This week the Irish media is full of stories about the centenary of Irish women getting the vote. So is the British media, because 100 years ago, Ireland was still part of Great Britain. So Irish women got the vote when the Representation of the People Act, 1918 was passed in the British parliament on […]
Many Christian holidays are grafted on to the dates of pre-Christian celebrations. The feast day of St. Brigid, Ireland’s other patron saint, is on February 1st, which is recorded as the date of her death. But St. Brigid wasn’t the first Brigid venerated here, and Irish pagans were celebrating on February 1st long before our […]
Newgrange passage tomb in County Meath’s Boyne Valley is arguably Ireland’s most amazing site. Built in the Stone Age, it predates the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. The site gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1993. Newgrange is ringed by 97 large stones, many of which are carved with intricate designs. The entrance stone is […]
Are you planning to deck your halls with boughs of holly this Christmas? Holly is synonymous with Christmas; it’s a classic holiday decoration. We see the distinctive, shiny green leaves and red berries on door wreaths, table settings and Christmas trees. Images of holly adorn wrapping paper and Christmas cards. But did you know that […]
