While many love to call the Emerald Isle home, there were brief moments in history where Ireland was a scary place to live. The first came during the Viking invasion on 795, when nearly every Irish monastery in their path was destroyed. The next was the black death, or the bubonic plague, that killed 14,000 […]
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World War One Draft Cards: Buster Keaton
World War draft cards can open a world of details about the men who served in the Great War. Among them was popular icon Buster Keaton. He performed along Harry Houdini and was part of “The General,” a film called the “greatest comedy ever made…and perhaps the greatest film ever made.” His legal name, Joseph […]
Terminally ill Dad Films Boxing Video for Baby Daughter
Diagnosed with terminal cancer while his wife was pregnant, Darren Mullery knew he had to stay alive for his baby daughter. While he has bad days and good days, he called his daughter Noelle his “inspiration.” To show her that he fought to spend more time with her, he was video of himself boxing, literally […]
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh: Irish American of the Year
The Irish American of the Year goes to….Boston Mayor Marty Walsh! Presented by the Irish American Partnership, the group chose Walsh for his determination of spirit which they believe to be an Irish value. Born to two Irish parents from County Galway, Walsh’s family settled in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. Saying that the award “[meant] a […]
The Original Rebels: Ireland’s Whiteboys
In 18th century Ireland, a band of rebels emerged whose name who not be soon forgotten. They dubbed themselves “fairies” but the name “whiteboys” stuck, as the sported while garb during their night raids. They fought against tithe collecting, excessive church dues and other unacceptable landowner demands. In the beginning the group responded only to […]
Ancient and Strange Irish Home Remedies
The ancient Irish took home remedies to a whole new level. We’re not talking herbal tea and extra sleep here. It is said the Irish used dead hands as a cure-all for many diseases. They also used funeral candles to cure burns. Another top-ranking home remedy was to wear a bracelet of mint around your […]
Celtic Mythology: FIONN MAC CUMHAILL
The King, the seer, the druid, the intelligent man- His name was Fionn Mac Cumhall. Taking on the childhood nickname meaning fair, Fionn was a man of deep knowledge and wisdom. He came to this unseemly state by accident. As a 7-year-old boy, Fionne met with a seer who had dedicated his life to finding […]
A Viking Midsummer’s Night
Different from Shakespeare’s Midsummer night, archaeologist Alva Gowan’s was not a dream. After a long and exhausting winter, Gowan decided to spend her midsummer’s night in happy spirits. Staying in a Viking replica structure in the Irish National Heritage Park in Ferrycarrig Co. Gowan and her friends performed many of the Viking midsummer traditions, from […]
Breakfast For An Irish Dance Champion
Do you eat breakfast? Drink Coffee? According to an Irish Dance Champion, there are three crucial tips to eating a healthy breakfast. The first tip is that you should actually eat it! You may feel your mind is awake but your tummy is still snoozing. Your body needs food to wake itself up. Try drinking […]
10 Things Irish Women Couldn’t Do in the 70’s
While the feminist movement in America was being revved up in the 1960’s, Irish women were having troubles of their own. Even into the 1970’s the gals of the Emerald Isle were denied basic rights such as the ability to buy contraceptives and deny their husbands sex. Some one the more strange restrictions barred women from […]