Unlike most other Irish and Irish-Americans who fought in the American Civil War, Philip Kearny was born into a prominent and affluent family in New York City on June 1, 1815. The Kearny name, quite appropriately, came from the Gaelic "O Catharnaigh," derived from the word "cearnach," meaning "warlike" or “victorious.”…

There once was a time when Irish giants roamed the earth, their feats of strength and courage becoming legendary. However, these were not the mythical Cuchulain, or Finn McCool; they were real men who pushed the boundary of what was thought to be humanly possible. They were known as “the Irish Whales” for their size and strength and they dominated the strength events of the Olympics for the first part of the 20th century.…

It been a while since anyone held my feet to the fire over what I wrote, but Patrick O'Toole questioned some of the facts in my 7/5/16 blog America's Birthday and the Irish. I can assure you that none of the information I…

Calling all horse enthusiasts:

The Irish Workshop had the honor of attending the 2016 Dublin Horse Show, and we must say we were absolutely tickled pink with the experience!…

Kathleen Lynn has been described as one of the great Irish humanitarians of the 20th century. Her influence extended throughout Irish society with her work in hospital medicine, her fight against poverty and disease, her career as a politician and as a lifelong social revolutionary. She was a campaigner for women’s…

Why settle for a dessert with only one kind of berry when you can combine all the best the season has to offer in a dish appropriately called “Summer Pudding.” This deliciously simple sweet some attribute to the English; however, it's popular with Irish cooks as well and can be made either as one large pudding or as single serves in…

Ah! Why, Patrick Sarsfield, did we let your ship sail

Away to the French Flanders from the green Innisfail.

For far from your country you lie cold and low:

Ah? Why Patrick Sarsfield, ah, why did you go.

We prayed, Patrick Sarsfield, to see you sail home,

Your flag waving victory across the white…

It is estimated that Irish punters gamble over €6 billion a year (equivalent to €14 million per day), with over 3 percent of Irish adults gambling online regularly, and 12 percent visiting bookmakers every week. While the industry is perhaps lagging behind some other…

Last week, in his sleep, in his small palace in Rome, 400 years ago, one of the greatest figures in Irish history passed away, Hugh O'Neill. . With him in his final moments may have been his teenage son, John, whom he had nominated to succeed him as Earl of Tyrone and as The O'Neil. Also, there…

James Connolly said of "Big" Jim Larkin, his colleague in the labour movement: "We have amongst us a man of genius, of splendid vitality, great in his conceptions, magnificent in his courage." George Bernard Shaw described him as "the greatest Irishman since Parnell."

In 1913, Constance…

History Books...Tell…

When I wrote my first cookbook more than 20 years ago, nearly half of all the recipes I received from Irish chefs contained what they called “a taste of Ireland” — a small dose of Guinness, whiskey, Irish cream, or some other variety of Irish “spirit.”

We all know better now that to be an authentic Irish…

Hello everyone! 

Please allow us to introduce ourselves: we are The Irish Workshop, an online marketplace for authentic Irish gifts made by craftspeople and artists from all over Ireland. …

On a recent visit to Ireland I discovered two delicious breads made with yogurt: one from Flahavan’s, the well-known company that’s been milling oats in Kilmacthomas, County Waterford, for 200 years, and another from Catherine Leyden, the chef who presents lovely recipes on RTE using Odlum’s flours. You’ll find more…

Here is the trailer for a documentary written and directed by Gemma O'Doherty about the case of Ireland's youngest missing person. Mary Boyle vanished on her…

This week's HOT DEALS at Totally Irish Gifts.

Beautiful top quality Irish Jewellery.

Perfect for Wedding Jewellery, Bride gifts and Groom gifts.…

John Steinbeck, who had an Irish mother, once wrote that every good Irishman goes back once. This Irishman must confess that he's been back more than once in the many years since he first left for Australia. But it took 13 years before I could make the first trip, and it…

In Louisiana, they use the phonetically pleasing word lagniappe to denote a little something extra. Typically, a lagniappe is a small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measure as a way of saying thank you. I’ve been so enamored with this word that it’s found its way into my…

In 2008, Radovan Karadžić, the ‘Butcher of Bosnia,’ was captured in Belgrade and went on to be convicted by an international tribunal, of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Heavily bearded and with his distinctively abundant white hair styled in a…

Whether you cultivate an herb garden, grow a few in pots, or simply find them irresistible at your market or farm stand, the thought of cooking with fresh herbs is, frankly, irresistible! Our Italian friends can take credit for caprese, that great summer salad of tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil, but I’ve found the…