The Irish Vodka of Kings! 23 April, are you ready?

2019 is the 106th anniversary of the 1913 lockout in Dublin. Often referred to as a strike, it is more accurate to call it a ‘lockout’ since many of those to suffer from the vengeful actions of the employers were not members…

I was a bit bored today so I quickly recorded "Danny Boy."  Just one take LIVE. Just because.  Fingers not conditioned so I was in quite a bit of pain.  hahah

I recently came across the lovely and nostalgic promotional poster from Ireland's Midland Great Western Railway shown above.  Although I live one of the areas formerly served by this grand old railroad, I didn't know much about the history thereof.  I've shared the information…

I recently sat down with the Director of the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, Dani Gill (picture above).  The Cúirt festival is in its 29th year here in Galway, and they have gone from strength to strength as one of the premier literature festivals in all the world.  Writers and…

I lived in England two and a half decades ago during a time of great prosperity. Purveyors of T-shirts were among the many people who were out to make a quick buck - or rather a quick pound. Selling T-shirts in England - particularly ones with statements meant for other people to read - is no small achievement. The weather in England is rarely warm enough for T-shirt wearing.…

After traveling from the new Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport to Galway on a GoBus luxury coach I needed to contact my brother as we had arranged. My American cellphone could not get service. I am…

Brooklyn, 1925 - On Christmas night just south of the Gowanus Canal at 154 20th Street, the bodies of three young men were found at a ramshackle saloon known as The Adonis Social Club. One of them had been dragged outside, evidenced by the long blood streaks on the sidewalk, and left in the gutter.…

As some of you may know, I publish a series of books on Irish history (eight in the series to date) under the general title of Kilmainham Tales. To accompany these I have set up a website to carry further information and on that site we are currently running a series of articles on…

Enjoying its final year as a 20-something-year-old (the festival was founded in 1985), the 2014 Cúirt International Festival of Literature is back and ready to satiate the appetites of literature enthusiasts from all over the world.  Running from Tuesday, April 8th…

High bridge of the South Side Railroad across the Appomattox. Capture of this bridge allowed Union troops to catch up to Lee at Farmville

LUAIN --…

 The Wild Swans at Coole

by William Butler Yeats

The trees are in their autumn beauty,

The woodland paths are dry,

Under the October twilight the water

Mirrors a still sky;

Upon the brimming water among the stones

Are…

After the winter that many of us experienced, it's hard to believe it, but spring is finally on its way.

We asked our Facebook followers to tell us where they would plant their shamrocks if we sent…

An annual Commodore John Barry Book Award is established by the New York Council, Navy League of the Unites States for the purpose of recognizing significant contributions to American maritime literature and to encourage excellence in authorship. Such maritime literature should be…

Light of the Diddicoy, the historical novel about Brooklyn's  waterfront gangs as told by a 14 year-old Irish emigrant, is continuing to surprise the book industry and gain momentum. New interest is popping up in different areas, including Europe as the…

Following on from the Belleek video in our series of Meet the Makers Videos here on The Irish Store is our trip to Ogham Wishes Workshop in the remote village of Knockcroghery in County Roscommon in March 2014.

Ogham writing is Ireland’s ancient script. It can still be…