Excerpts from- That’s Just How it was

Happy day’s I spent in Bray

The Town below the hill

And thought tonight I am far away

I am dreaming of it still 

[Below is a link to a recording of an interactive broadcast of Irish Christmas songs and stories, part of TheWildGeese.Irish Sibin series of discussions and…

Are you planning a trip to Ireland, and do you hope to carry out some family history research during your visit?  If you happen to have an Irish born ancestor who emigrated to the United States, and are planning a visit to Ireland in the near future and hope to do some family…

The Irish have only a few Christmas traditions that stand out as traditionally Irish and not borrowed from other cultures in recent times. Perhaps the oldest of these traditions is ... housecleaning!  And it may, too, have been borrowed from other cultures, although it was as long ago as before the birth of Christ.

This is not your typical housecleaning. Traditional Irish "whitewashing the…

Book Review

Christmas at the House on an Irish Hillside (available only in e-book format) by Felicity…

With its trademark rotating turret and .303” Vickers machine-gun the Rolls-Royce Armoured Car is probably the most well known Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) ever produced. Its simple yet robust design would set the trend for AFV’s for generations to come. Making…

There are more than just Christmas lights illuminating the darkness as the sun rises on the Winter Solstice in Ireland. On December 21, a marvelous event occurs at Bru na Boinne. On a hill in the Boyne Valley of County Meath stands a complex of three monuments to the early…

'stories about the banshee would come poring out ; and she would have to smell the tobacco smoke as well, as the pipe was handed from neighbor to another' .................................

I wonder who she is coming for tonight'-'did you hear her last night ; keening and wailing '---

Christmas Eve was always’s a hive of activity as it dawned  with crispy white show on the trees and on the hills surrounding Wolf Tone . Granny O’Rourke was always up early on Christmas Eve as there was always a lot to do. The fire grate would have to be cleaned out and the fire…

Wild Geese Irish Heritage Partner Margaret Johnson recently shared recipes from her latest cookbook,…

Yes, believe it or not, I saw the oldest surviving manuscript in Ireland. It’s called the Cathach (meaning the Battle Book) and it was used by the O’Donnell Clan as a protection or talisman when going into battle.

Because of its fragile state, it is rarely shown…

Whether or not it is true, I have long been of the opinion that God never intended cabbage for human consumption.  The rubbery leaves seem more suited to adorn the bottom of brogues than to be cooked up alongside more edible sustenance.  I kid, of course, but I truly never have…

Beautiful 4-bedroom detached home with garage. No 3 Shanagarry enjoys a large corner site with excellent privacy to the front and rear. Private parking is available to the front and the gardens are mature with a fully walled in rear garden. Spacious bright accommodation includes…

This recipe is a perfect Christmas party canapé to serve to guests, but because I didn’t have a party to host or a potluck to attend, I nearly ate the entire plate after I made them. The goat cheese filling with just a hint of basil and nuts is delicate and flavorful,…

Search for the Facts

Mark Bulik’s upcoming work, "The Sons of Molly Maguire," is the latest in a long line that characterizes Pennsylvania’s Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) men charged as “Molly Maguires” as transplanted…

Fancy sending an Irish greeting this Christmas?  Simply click on the image you like to open a PDF file, and then print the card on your home printer!

"Nollaig Shona" translates to "Happy Christmas" in the Irish language.…

"Women of the Irish Revolution"

by Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Gillis

Hardback, €30

“Ireland at the end of the…

Clonmel: July 16^th, 1843

"My dear Wife, I have received your kind and welcome letter of the 20^th of March which is the greatest happiness I have enjoted ever…

In our last blog post we took a look at Tipperary, the Premier County. In this week’s post we take a look at the Banner County. In…