Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween, aka Samhain. The holiday’s roots come from the ancient Celtic calendar, which ended on October 31st and began on November 1st. The ancients believed that a sort of veil separated the ordinary world of the living from the world of the dead and the supernatural. Over the year, that […]
Every summer, Irish families flock to Florida in search of fun and sun. The climate of Florida couldn’t be more different than Ireland’s, and the array of amusement parks, beaches and other attractions makes it one of the most beloved vacation destinations for Irish families. We rarely think of Florida as a destination for Irish […]
Daniel O’Connell’s statue towers above the Dublin street bearing his name, and an actual tower marks his grave in Glasnevin Cemetery. All of this behooves a man who had such a profound influence on the fight for Irish independence. In his life, he earned the moniker the Liberator for leading the movement to free the […]
A generation ago, archaeologists discovered a complex of structures in a figure eight shape in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The complex series of buildings dates back to the Iron Age, and researchers determined that a timber structure there was built around the year 95 BC. The find was breath-taking, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Experts heralded Fort […]
We’re seeing more and more reports of protesters toppling questionable statues lately. In Ireland, we were disposing of offensive monuments long before it was cool. It’s part of our heritage that doesn’t get much attention. Nelson’s Pillar once stood in O’Connell Street, where it towered over the capital city’s widest street from 1808 to 1966 […]
William Butler Yeats, who was born on June 13, 1865, is one of Ireland’s most celebrated poets. His poems are woven into our collective Irish psyche. Some of his works referenced his unrequited love for Maud Gonne, widely seen as his muse, and Ireland was a popular topic for him. His fascination with the supernatural […]
Mother’s Day in North America is just around the corner. The mothers of Canada and the USA will have their day on Sunday, May 10th. The present is so strange and uncertain, it is a good time to look back and take some comfort from reminders of how strong people are. Back on April 24th, […]
The Irish are known for being gregarious people, friendly and welcoming. We’re known as story tellers, and of course stories need an audience. Even in an impersonal modern world, this is a close-knit society made of communities, where neighbors have known each other for generations. The draw of the local pub isn’t the pints, but […]
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 […]
