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Posted by Corey on Nov 8, 2011 | 1 comment

Sharing Stories from Donegal

To tell the story of his grandfather’s life, Daniel McGarrigle turned to film, animation, and the “Sharing Stories” project run by the Regional Cultural Centre in...

Posted by Michele Erdvig on Nov 5, 2011 | 0 comments

Harry Clarke: Genius in Color and Light

Ireland’s Harry Clarke created masterpieces of stained glass. Although he died young his reputation was comparable to Tiffany. His art can be found worldwide but...

Posted by Guest on Oct 29, 2011 | 3 comments

A Traditional Treat Served Warm For Halloween

Submitted by Kat Behling A traditional Halloween treat is the Barmbrack Cake (or “Bairin Breac”). The dense bread is served year-round, but the Halloween tradition...

Posted by Cindy on Oct 28, 2011 | 4 comments

A Spooky Occurrence in Kilkenny

Claire Nolan is the author of a novel called The Stone, Alice Kytler, the last witch of Ireland, a medieval tale of money, power, witchcraft, family, and death. Claire...

Posted by Guest on Oct 27, 2011 | 3 comments

Halloween Finds Its Roots in Irish Folklore

Submitted by Kat Behling Each November 1st, a decrepit old woman with an iron hammer appears across the Irish countryside, pummeling the ground with such mighty force...

Posted by Michele Erdvig on Oct 3, 2011 | 1 comment

Blasket Islands: A Lost Way of Life

Just off the coast of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry are the scenic Blasket Islands. They poke out of the ocean like the tops of drowned mountains, so close yet...

Posted by Guest on Sep 19, 2011 | 7 comments

Returning to Ireland

Submitted by Deirdre McNamee Following a recent visit to Ireland I felt compelled to tell the story of my father who, like many men and women in the early 1950’s, left...

Posted by Cindy on Sep 14, 2011 | 1 comment

The Power of Words

Words have a magical power. They can raise up the spirits or dash them down. They can bring laughter as easily as tears. Spend words like a miser counting coins. Make...

Posted by Guest on Sep 14, 2011 | 4 comments

The Vikings in Ireland: “From the Fury of the Northmen, O Lord Deliver Us”

by G. Beaverson “Ann. 793 – In this year dire forewarnings came over the land of the Northumbrians, and miserably terrified the people; these were extraordinary...

Posted by Michele Erdvig on Sep 12, 2011 | 3 comments

Ireland 1934

Many Americans visiting Ireland for the first time have a stereotypical view of what Ireland is. They expect thatched cottages around every bend, sheep dotting the...

Posted by Michele Erdvig on Sep 11, 2011 | 0 comments

A Yank in Ireland Remembers September 11, 2001, in Ireland

I remember 9-11 differently than a lot of you do. You were at home in the USA watching events unfold on TV. I was far away in Northern Ireland. My husband Barry and I...

Posted by Corey on Sep 6, 2011 | 0 comments

Mellifont Abbey, County Meath

Founded in 1142, Mellifont Abbey in County Meath was the first Cistercian Abbey built in Ireland. The remnants of the octagonal lavabo (shown above) are one of the...

Posted by Corey on Aug 30, 2011 | 0 comments

Ancient Sites in County Cork… that Are Not Blarney

County Cork’s most famous attraction may be a particular castle with a rather famous stone, but Ireland’s largest county holds many ancient sites. Filmaker...

Posted by Cindy on Aug 25, 2011 | 9 comments

All About That Celtic Hair

The color of one’s hair, the way it was cut or not cut, and the grooming was extremely important to the ancient Irish. The issue of the cut of a monk’s tonsure was even...

Posted by Corey on Aug 16, 2011 | 1 comment

Dromana Gate in County Waterford

I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything described as Hindu-Gothic before finding Dromana Gate. The arched opening covers a little road between Cappoquin and...

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