Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
Spring can be an awful tease, especially in Ireland. Some say the first day of spring is Imbloc in early February, while others acknowledge it being at the vernal equinox on March 20th. Generally, things are looking a lot more like spring at the equinox than at Imbloc. But in 2018, we seem to have […]
Christmas Eve and New Year’s are two of the most popular days of the year to propose marriage. But St. Valentine’s is also at the top of the list for best days to pop the question. And that makes sense. After all, it’s the most romantic day of the year, a day dedicated to love. […]
In Ireland, Christmas is not over. Here, we make the most of the season. Office work slows well down in December. While retail and service sector staff are busy on Christmas Eve, most people have the day off. And pretty much everything closes for Christmas Day. But lift doesn’t go back to normal on the […]
Nothing sparks joy like seeing a happy couple take the next step and get engaged. The world is rejoicing along with Prince Harry and his beloved Meghan Markle, who recently ended much speculation when they announced their engagement. People love it when a woman finds her real-life prince, whether or not they’re going to live […]
December brings an air of magic to Ireland. As the month goes on, business slows down as people prepare for the Christmas holiday. December is a time for family and loved ones. As the year winds down, our minds focus on what is really important – each other. Shoppers bustle down town and village streets […]
Happy New Year! November 1st is the first day of the ancient Celtic year. Like January 1st, it’s the day after the big party. Around Ireland, neighbors are quietly cleaning up after the bonfires and fireworks of Halloween. Parents are taking down decorations and encouraging their children to pace themselves as they devour their candy. […]
Since the time of the Celts, glass has been used in Irish jewelry. Our earliest surviving artwork is beautiful, intricate stone carvings. The same swirling designs are in both early and modern Irish jewelry. Ireland quickly embraced crystal when it was developed. And we became one of the world’s most popular producers of crystal glassware, […]
As you carve the pumpkins, hang the fake spider webs and stock up on candy for trick or treaters, you probably are not thinking about romance. But the Celts of old were. Halloween’s roots are in Samhain, the pre-Christian Celtic New Year. People believed that a veil separated this world from the spirit world, where […]
The wet and cold are settling in. September’s mix of rain and surprise sunny days is over. Farmers have gathered their last harvest, and by now everyone has their turf in for winter. Fires are lit at night, filling the air with the smell of burning turf. Young people eager for Halloween are stashing away […]
September is back to school season in Ireland, like much of the rest of the world. Children are donning their fresh new school uniforms and setting off every morning to learn English, Irish, history, geography, religion and maths. As the days get shorter, the nights are drawing in. The weather is wetter and less predictable. One […]
