National Pilgrim Paths Day is a new Easter Festival based on Ireland’s dense network of medieval pilgrim walking routes. This new heritage themed event is organised by the local communities adjacent to each of our principal penitential routes and is aimed at raising…

Irish is considered to be the first uttered literary language of Europe. The ancient Gaeilge of Ireland served as the seed language for Scottish Gaelic and Manx, just as the venerable Irish gene pool originally spread north and east to Scotland, to the west of England, and beyond.…

I must stress upon the reader the fact that no animals were harmed in any way during the writing and re-telling of this story. It is true though, that the star of the tale was definitely shocked, awed and mesmerized not to mention puzzled, bewildered and befuddled. As you read, I am sure you will agree that the unruly canine brought it upon himself with his dogged actions towards my hapless father.…

When the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) marched up Fifth Avenue in New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade it should have been crystal clear, if it wasn't already, that this parade is incompatible with any serious effort to support Irish freedom. The PSNI is the…

A recent study on the most borrowed books from Irish libraries in 2012 makes for interesting reading.

Out of the top 10 most borrowed titles for 2012, eight were children's or YA fiction. The only appearance of an Irish writer in the top 10 was also for a children's title - Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent, the first volume in Alan Early's Father of Lies…

The online availablity of core genealogy material such as census returns, births, marriages and deaths records, emigration/immigration lists, military service records etc can prove such an attractive lure to family history researchers that they often overlook the wealth of information that can be gleaned from newspapers. Although census returns and BMD data can provide the bread and butter facts needed to compile a family tree, newspapers can provide the details that flesh out a person's…

Established in 1985 and quickly becoming one of the premier literature festivals in all of Europe (and beyond), the Cúirt International Festival of Literature launched its 2013 programme on the 23rd of April.  This annual festival based in Galway continues to…

Established in 1986 and quickly becoming one of the premier literature festivals in all of Europe (and beyond), the Cúirt International Festival of Literature launches its 2013 program in Galway today.  The festival will run through Sunday, April 28th, and will feature some of the very best in what modern Irish literature has to offer (as well as literature…