This interesting and uncommon name is of Old French origin.  It was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and derives from the Old French "avril(l)."  The month of April, ultimately from the Latin "aprilis", a derivative of "aperire", to open, has reference to…

Just over 200 years ago this past January came a climactic moment in military history with numerous surprising Irish connections.  The battle fought by Andrew Jackson that saved New Orleans also brought closure to a…

I’ve had many people ask about the picture on my author page where I’m standing against a gray stone wall on a windswept day in the middle of an Irish field with what are obviously the ruins of a monastery behind me. Observant people have said to themselves, “Wait, there’s a ruined…

With the push of an aul’ button or two, The Wild Geese Irish Social Network, aka TheWildGeese.com, has been reborn, becoming TheWildGeese.Irish. (Try typing it in your browser. It works!)

Finally, we have digitally married The Wild Geese to the Irish…

There is a certain type of Irishman who looms large in fiction: The "haunted man," the "angry man," the "tortured man," the "violent man," the "quiet man." He is a cliche ... but a cliche born of so much truth it is a bit like encountering an old friend when he shambles onto…

James Smith was born in Ireland's province of Ulster in 1719 and went to the American colonies as a boy. A member of the Continental Congress 1776-1778,  he  served in the war of independence as a Colonel of the Pennsylvania Militia from 1775-1776. Smith died on 11 July 1806. He was also a…

Growing up I was told, "Listen to the Story tellers, the weavers of dreams and history, legends and traditions. The Seanchaí will take you places you may only touch or see through the magic of their words."  I listened and absorbed. I became a loom on which they built each…

Legend has it that the ancient Irish game of Fidchell (literally translated as ‘Wood Wisdom’) was invented in the 9^th century by Lugh, the Irish god of light, master druid and warrior – predating the game of chess as we know it by c300 years!  Fidchell would have played…

Friday, 20th March, 2015 must have happened before, and it must have been so vitally important to early Celts and those who lived in Ireland before them.

Why?

Friday, the 20th of March is the Spring Equinox with an early eclipse of the sun followed by a supermoon all…

I am hosting a one week all-inclusive women's writing retreat on an island in Casco Bay,Maine in mid-June, 2015.  Enrollment is limited to 10.  Retreat includes professional/published writers/editors.  This retreat is open to all genres. interests and levels.  Your enquiries for…

TheIrishStore.com has launched TISTV – a home…

If you live in the southern part of the United States, you know they are still not over the war. Which war? The one where the south lost!  So thought I would stir the pot a little.

A large part of the 34th Mississippi Infantry was captured on the 24th of November, 1863 at…

A number of months ago I was approached by a gentleman who had a piece of teak wood kicking around his garage for years.  He asked me if it would be possible for me to make him some pens from this wood.  I duly obliged and made him four lovely pens, which he was delighted…

IRISH SHOW THEIR TRUE COLOURS THIS ST. PATRICK’S DAY

The official society of the Irish in Chile, “The Wild Geese”, will be celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day by turning some of Santiago’s famous landmarks green this Tuesday…

Here is a note from Tourism Ireland about turning the world green for St. Patrick's Day.

Tourism Ireland today announced that the Colosseum in Rome, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in the fabled district of Montmartre overlooking Paris and the Grand Ole Opry (the show that…

This was my third St. Patrick's Day celebration in Chennai, South India. Thanks to the opening of the Hon Irish Consul in 2013, and a little networking in both Ireland and India, we have a small community in the city, who catch-up at least once a year around St.…

The following is an excerpt from an article of the same title, first published on the website: Tales and Whispers.…

Toru Tazura O'Connell, the Public Relations Director of the Irish Network Japan was kind enough to send in the following thoughts about St. Patrick's Day celebrations in…

By Joe Gannon and Gerry Regan

It’s hard to believe that it’s now been 23 years since we participated in one of our most memorable St.…

Saint Patrick was born into a well-to-do British family, perhaps in what now is the North-Western English county of Cubmria. His father was a local government official and the family language was probably a version of Latin. As a youth he was captured by Irish pirates and taken into…