A Celtic fort, Anglo-Norman surnames, and Imbolc…

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.

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FAVOURITE PLACES IN IRELAND
The Rock of Dunamase, County Laois. (See it on a map here.)

The Rock of Dunamase Castle is a dramatic ruin sitting atop a 150-foot-high limestone cliff in County Laois. First fortified in the 9th century and later rebuilt by the Normans, it was once an important stronghold guarding a major route through medieval Laois and has strong ties to the O’More or Moore surname. Check out this virtual tour of The Rock for a close-up of this fantastic structure. 

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Anglo-Norman Surnames

Do you have any Anglo Norman surnames in your Irish Family Tree? Join us as we talk about some of these Irish surnames and follow the Norman trail all the way back to Ireland. Listen to our podcast to hear more about Anglo-Norman surnames – and see if you can spot your own surname in the mix!

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“Irish Crossings: Danny’s Story” by Terence O’Leary

A gripping story set during Ireland’s Great Hunger of the 1840s. Following young Danny as he struggles to survive amid the devastating potato famine, this novel explores themes of family, resilience, and injustice. It’s a powerful portrayal of one boy’s determination during one of Irish history’s darkest chapters. Check out the book on Amazon. 

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Imbolc”

Also called “St. Brigid’s Day”, Imbolc is an ancient Celtic festival that celebrates the beginning of Spring.

Click here to listen to how a native Irish speaker would say it.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE*

Good news for our family genealogists out there. We’ve partnered up with MyHeritage to get you an exclusive 50% discount on their complete plan, valid till February 18, 2025. If you’ve been planning on signing up, make sure you take advantage of this offer. Check out their exclusive offer for Letter from Ireland subscribers here. 

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What is that which nobody has seen?”

Click here to see the answer.

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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 MyHeritage) 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!