12 Peaks, English Surnames and Irish Terms of Endearment

Céad míle fáilte, welcome to your Letter from Ireland “Shorts”. Each Tuesday we’ll bring you a quick-read of some of our favourite and interesting Irish things for this week.

FAVOURITE PLACES IN IRELAND
Twelve Bens, County Galway. (see it on a map here)

The Twelve Bens are a mountain range in County Galway that’s actually made up of almost 20 peaks rather than just 12! The reason for the name is lost to time but they make for a wonderful hiking trip regardless! You can read more about them here.

For Letter from Ireland Plus members: Also check out our County Galway Homelands Feature here for much more.

FEATURED IRISH NAMES – The Surnames of Pride & Prejudice

Have you ever wondered why there are so many Irish surnames that could also be English? It’s a question we are asked a lot, and I’m sure you would like to know more. Take a look here and see for yourself whether your own surname is Irish or English!

BOOK I’M READING NOW

“In The Woods” by Tana French. Lovers of suspense won’t be able to put this book down. Author Tana French brings us to a quiet Dublin suburb and a dark and silent wood that hides a mysterious secret. Click here to see the book on amazon.

IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“A stór“

Which translates as “My darling”. We have many terms of endearment in the Irish language. Surprise a loved one with your favourite from the list below!

Click here to listen to how a native Irish speaker would say it and discover more Irish terms of endearment.

IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Capture the charm of Ireland in miniature with Tiny Ireland’s exquisite paper models! These intricate replicas of iconic streets, houses, and landmarks are perfect for display or as an engaging craft project. The West Cork collection, like Tiny Schull, showcases beloved local scenes that’ll transport you straight to the coast. You can see more of their work here.

RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“Why is Ireland like a bottle?“

Click here to see the answer.

That’s it for this week. Send us an email with any of your own favourites for inclusion in future emails, or if you’re a plus member leave a comment below.

Slán for now,
Mike & Carina.

*Note: The above article may contain some affiliate links (for example Amazon and Etsy) which means we get paid a small amount should you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the show on the road!