Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
When you think of the elegant detail of crisp white Irish lace, it is easy to imagine ladies of the past sitting in their well-appointed living rooms relaxing with their craft in the evening. The reality of the origins of Irish lace are far from that image. Instead, imagine hungry, poverty-stricken women determined to care […]
Around the world, St. Patrick’s Day parades are falling victim to the corona virus. Amid fears of people spreading the covid 19 virus, parade organizers are cancelling the traditional event. Even Ireland’s capital has cancelled its parade, which draws massive crowds from around the world. But if it seems unprecedented, our memories are short. This […]
We tend to throw the word ‘hallmark’ around – saying this or that is the hallmark of a good restaurant, business, student, leader, etc. But do you know the real significance of a hallmark and what it means for your Irish jewelry? A jewelry hallmark is no arbitrary, subjective claim. It’s a solid, objective, official […]
Ireland’s second patron saint, Brigid of Kildare, was known, loved and sometimes probably feared for her shrewd negotiating skills and her willingness to go head to head with male leaders. Her feast day is February 1st, but that isn’t the only day this month that we think of her. She left us another special day, […]
Never mind Love Island. Ireland is a much more romantic island. While tropical islands have a certain appeal, especially in January and February, Ireland has its own unique and irresistible take on love and romance. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, we have the evidence that really, Ireland is an incredibly romantic place and […]
One hundred years ago, Eamon De Valera began the new year in the United States of America. He had arrived there the previous June, coming in his capacity as president of the first Irish legislature to lobby for recognition of the emerging Irish state. The first legislature was actually elected before Ireland gained independence from […]
Kate O’Brien should be one of Ireland’s most celebrated writers. Banned by both Irish and Spanish authorities in her lifetime, she tackled the intertwined taboo subjects of women’s freedom and sexuality, rendering compelling plots in lushly beautiful prose. Nothing in her works would be shocking to modern readers, but her allusions to adultery, same-sex relationships […]
Halloween began centuries ago in Ireland as Samhain. October 31st was the last day of the Celtic year, and people believed it was a time when all sorts of ghouls could visit from the spirit world. Jack o’lanterns are the descendants of turnips carved with gruesome faces to frighten off evil spirits. Trick or treating […]
No nation or culture can be represented fairly by just one person. If any two men could between them manage to convey the essence of Irishness, it would be Oscar Wilde and Michael Collins. These vastly different men both shaped Irish history, culture and identity in very different ways – and they share a birthday. […]
His name is so merged with his product that we often forget it was a person’s name before it was a stout. His signature is right there on the logo, but what do we know about him? The name Guinness is as closely associated with Ireland as the name Patrick. But before there was Guinness […]
