Nollaig na mBAn ; women’s Christmas  - or Old Chrstmas Day as it later became know as .

For the lucky women who were able to participate in Nollaig na mBan  - it was considered a tradition to be a part of women’s gathering together  for a celebration of their right to a ‘day off’ if you will !.

As it was a common held thought that a women was at the hearth of the family and on beck and call for their menfolk ; being entirely responsible for the whole running of the household…

' For the whole family , makeshift beds lined the wall's with little else in the way of furniture -possibly a couple of chairs, cloths, and well worn blankets that had been given to them by local charities'. 

Mac, Gaelic for "son", is the most common element of Scottish and Irish surnames. In both countries, Mc is always an abbreviation of Mac.…

I found this on the Limerick County Council website and thought I should share. I thought it especially apropos since the exhibition starts with Siege of Limerick and the Flight of the Wild Geese.

(Left: King John's Castle, Limerick)

Friday, 9th January 2015

Private collectors and members of the public are being asked to…

New York -- About 20 stalwarts, including three members of The Wild Geese, trekked to American Irish Historical Society last night in near sub-zero temperatures for a presentation on "…

From November 2013

*    *    *

I’ve been thinking about the assassination of President Kennedy a lot the last two weeks. I will be…

'Bridget's assumption that that her grandparents had been tenant farmers was gleaned from the many conversations that she would hear her parents and the neighbors talk speak about as times went by . These people who had evicted from their homes as the rich English Landlords all had to try and exist and live by any means available to them '

The only Irish attraction to make Conde Naste Travel Magazine's "20 Most Beautiful UNESCO Word Heritage Sites" was County Antrims's Giant's Causeway.  The 40,000 basalt stone columns that stretch into the sea…

One day I watched my father from high up in the branches of the old Rowan tree that grew close to our house. He was walking down the creamery road, his brown felt hat pushed back on…

Dear Mr MacNamara,

Thank you for your email in response to recent newspaper articles around Hungry, a recently commissioned script from Dublin-based writer Hugh Travers. The script is in the development stage and is not currently planned to air.

As a broadcaster, we always ensure that any programme or series produced on our behalf, complies with guidelines set down by the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

Finally, please be assured that your concerns around the proposed content…

New York -- News of the passing of former New York state Governor Mario Cuomo reminds me of one of several serendipitous encounters I had with the Governor, whom I once happily envisioned as US president. With his flights of eloquence, his progressive views, and staunch opposition to the death penalty, he seemed to exude the self-assurance and humanism…

Many thanks once again to the ‘Creggan Historical Society', its curator Mr. Michael McShane and local historian Mr. Kevin McMahon, for their vast knowledge, brilliant minds and tireless efforts toward ensuring that the history of South Armagh be kept alive and kicking for…

A visit to the cemetery next to little Mission Dolores reveals how important the Irish influence was on the city, and how brief life could be on the Gold Rush frontier.…

http://http://jimgregory52.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/my-son-the-brother/

Kudos to the California State Department of Military History for posting this on their Facebook Page. 

Historic California Militia

and National Guard Units:

The Wolfe Tone Guard

Military Unit…

To All of the Flock...where ever you might call home

Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duibh!

May all good things find their way to your door in the coming year.... And may all things bad get lost on their way

This is one of my favorite versions...

RE/MAX Team Fogarty bring you this excellent two-bedroom end-of-terrace property with modern and stylish finish throughout, at a very affordable price, located in Waterford ... Ireland's oldest city.

The property is located close to the Outer Ring Road, Waterford…

As someone who is working on the story of one of the most famous of those Famine Refugees Patrick S Gilmore who escaped the famine in 1849 , and as someone who knows this man as well as most did in his life I can say without doubt that he would be disgusted that 150 years later we would be working on a comedy about the people he saw dying in Ballygar ,Athlone ,in Dublin , in Boston, on the ships ,being thrown overboard . From Roanoke Island Battlefield he wrote back to his editor " I eat as…

Alright, lads. Your lady is out celebrating Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) with her girlfriends. Traditionally, this is your turn to take on a larger share of the household chores. Here are a…