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"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors."
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 Today's Irish headlinesWe comb the newspapers and web sites to find news to start your day with a positive spin. In this section you will also find links to stories from the past two weeks as well as links to the major Irish newspapers, the current time in Ireland and a link to the weather forecast. And last, but not least, once a week we post the Regional County News. This week's begins Friday January 28th, 2012.  Trivia Contest Think you're Irish? The January contest is posted.This is our monthly trivia contest which is designed to test your knowledge of Irish history, legends, superstitions, arts, politics and more and there's a prize for the winner! Just want entertaining facts about Ireland? Then click here for Did you Know?  St. Ita, foster-mother to the saints of Irelandby Bridget Haggerty After St. Brigid, St. Ita is the most famous woman saint in Ireland. Her birth of noble Christian parents, Kennfoelad, a Déise Chieftain and Necta his princess wife, is said to have taken place around 470 near Faithlegg outside Waterford. From her baptism on she was filled with the Holy Spirit. All marvelled at her childhood purity and behaviour, and her abstinence on the days she had to fast. She was prudent, very generous, kind toward everyone, and gentle as well as chaste in her language. As she grew up, it quickly became apparent that she wished to devote her life to God. [Continue]  Joyce's Dublinby Irene Togher James Joyce didn't like Dublin. He made no secret of the fact. But his writing is filled with the city. From his early work, Dubliners, to his last novel, Finnegan's Wake, Joyce shows a type of obsession with the city of his birth and childhood. Although in voluntary exile abroad, Joyce could accurately paint a picture of Dublin in detail that would be difficult to achieve for someone walking its streets and taking notes every day. [Continue]  Irish People, Irish Linenby Kathleen Curtis Wilson For beauty and desirability, the finest Irish linen once had little competition, but even coarser linen also had a great number of utilitarian uses long forgotten in today’s world of plastic and synthetics. Linen’s distinction as an important fabric emerged from the efforts of a vast number of Irish people across the island who grew the plant, harvested the fiber, spun the yarn, wove the cloth, and found buyers willing to purchase the final product. [Continue]  Gathering the Threadsby Rosemary Maguire Nagy Genealogy has become my passion, not restricted to just my family names and birthplaces, but ever-widening to encompass the history that molded their lives. I have developed a respect and admiration for my ancestors and the difficult choices they made in pursuit of a better life for their children. Through my research, I discovered some historical facts that, when woven together, directed the lives of my grandparents and, subsequently, the lives of all the generations to follow. [Continue]  Who Are The Irish?by Alicia A. Reynolds DERRY, Northern Ireland -- Sitting at a bar in Stansted Airport sharing a pint with fellow travelers from the United Kingdom, I was asked, "How do you find the Irish?" I wasn't sure how to answer that loaded question beyond the customary response, "They're very friendly." This, of course, is true, but the "Irish," if there truly is such a people, are much more than the stereotypical pint-drinking, fiddle-playing, joke-telling, how-are-ya, gregarious folks featured in all those travel books that fill U.S. bookstores coast to coast. The truth is, that after being in Ireland for 10 months now, I've yet to meet any Irish people. Instead, I've met people from Donegal, County Tyrone, Dubliners, those from Cork and Limerick and, of course, the proud people of Derry. [Continue]  Poetry Corner: Padraic Colum (b. Dec. 8, 1881 - d. Jan. 11, 1972)Photograph courtesy of Phillip Brown (See his Celtic Folklore site) www.belinus.co.uk/folklore/ we tried to reach/find Phillip Brown's Celtic Folklore site (it is, apparently much admired) without success. We hope he is still at the helm (we would like to exchange links, if nothing else). Irish poet, dramatist, folklorist and children's writer, born in Longford County under the name Patrick Collumb. He was one of the founders of The Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and worked with Yeats and Lady Gregory. In 1914 he and his wife Mary left Ireland for America, soon entering New York literary circles. His books include a play The Land (1905), Wild Earth (1907), The King of Ireland's son (1916) a story for children, Dramatic legends (1922), Castle Conquer (1923) (his first novel) and Irish Elegies (1958). In the thirties the Colums left for France. There he renewed his old friendship with Joyce, for whom he typed parts of Finnegans Wake. He had before that contributed a preface to Anna Livia Plurabelle. The Colums returned to America and were made US citizens in 1945. He wrote Our Friend James Joyce (1958) and Ourselves Alone, a biography of Griffin in 1959. He died in Enfield, Connecticut and was buried in Ireland. Padraic was a perfect representative for all those who wish to preserve Irish Culture and Customs. We do not give him enough space or time. Perhaps over the years ahead we can make up a little of the attention he deserves; for all our sakes. [Continue] The Irish Kitchen: A Taste of Ireland...Soda Bread by Bridget Haggerty  There's an ancient Irish proverb that says one should serve only "the newest of food and the oldest of drink." This illustrates exceedingly well the Irish attitude toward baking and distilling or brewing.[Continue]  Basic Irish A New yearA New Year, A New You? Whether or you succeed in taking off the pounds or giving up the smokes, why not make this year the year you resolve to learn some Irish? We have close to seventy lessons, beginning with the very basics all the way to greetings and toasts! Athbhlian faoi mhaise! (Happy New Year! (pronunciation: Ah-vleen fwee wash-eh) [Continue]  Kids' Ireland: Never Forget Irelandby Grainne Rowland Maire was terrified! The soldiers were dragging her mother out of the small thatched cottage. Mother was trying to stay in the cottage, and Father was trying to help Mother. One well-muscled soldier shoved a gun into Father's face. "Get out of this house now," the soldier yelled. "You have not paid the rent. Your landlord needs this house for those who can pay." "Then he'll wait a long time," said Father, "for no one can pay rent with this famine going on. We are all starving!" [Continue]
I recently looked at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin’s web site to find out the date that I first saw her and the band Clannad are not even mentioned as having performed there. It was a huge shock to me, as it was a seminal moment in my life. Life changing, beyond believing, actually. Photo Credit: Candida Hofer's book "Libraries" which is available on amazon and features gorgeous photographs of the world's most stunningbookshelves! Shop for the best of Irish products from the comfort of your home We combed the internet to find reliable resources for the most popular Irish products: Aran Isle sweaters, Guinness glasses, Waterford Crystal, genuine blackthorn walking sticks, the flag of the Republic and more. Some of these shops have become friends; others we trust from their reputations and some offer products that are completely unique. We hope you enjoy browsing through what's on offer and we are confident you will find gifts for any occasion or person, all with an Irish flair. |
 The Phoenix Park, Co. Dublin Five times the size of Hyde Park in London and twice as big as Central Park in NYC, Páirc an Fhionn-Uisce is the largest urban enclosed park in Europe, with a circumference of seven miles and a total area 1,760 acres. Located west of the city centre, it features ornamental gardens, nature trails, and broad expanses of grassland separated by avenues of trees. A herd of fallow deer have roamed the forested areas since the 17th century. Main attractions within the park include Aras an Uachtaráin - the residence of the Irish president and Dublin Zoo. The name is a corruption of the Irish fionn uisce meaning "clear water".
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Dear Mr. & Mrs. Haggerty,
