A Gaeltacht village, rare Wexford surnames, and genealogical records

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
Dunquin, County Kerry. (See it on a map here.)

Perched on the very western edge of Ireland, the village of Dunquin in County Kerry serves as the mainland’s gateway to the Blasket Islands. As part of the Gaeltacht, the Irish-speaking community has preserved centuries of Gaelic language and culture, from traditional storytelling to haunting sean-nós singing that echoes across the windswept landscape. Watch this documentary snippet about Dunquin village life in 1967, or watch this video to experience traditional Irish music at a Dingle pub. 

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Wexford Surnames

Do you have any surnames from County Wexford in your family tree? Your surname might even be a rare one! Check out the rarest Irish surnames from County Wexford here on John Grenham – and see if you can spot your own surname in the mix.

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“Milkman” by Anna Burns

Burns gives us the Troubles through the eyes of an 18-year-old girl being stalked by a paramilitary figure called “Milkman.” She’s from Belfast herself and writes in this deliberately tangled style that captures exactly how paranoid and claustrophobic life was during that time – the community surveillance, the way women had to navigate different kinds of danger. It’s a challenging read with its stream-of-consciousness approach, but it gets at truths about the Troubles that cleaner narratives often miss. The kind of book that reminds you why some stories need to be told sideways. Check out the book here.

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THE GENEALOGY GLIMPSE

Why are there no genealogical records in the Irish language?

This is a question we get every once in a while, and the answer to this is eloquently explained here by the Irish surname expert, John Grenham himself. 

Find out why there are no genealogical records in Irish here.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Two decades ago, artist and illustrator Belinda Northcote made a life-changing move from bustling London to East Cork – and Ireland’s natural beauty has been inspiring her ever since! Surrounded by rolling hills, coastal views, and abundant wildlife, Belinda discovered her artistic calling in capturing the simple joys of nature, family, and life’s positive moments. What started as nature sketches has blossomed into a wonderful collection of products including art prints, greeting cards, silk scarves, and beautiful stationery – each piece carrying a touch of Irish countryside magic.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“When is a piece of wood like a king?”

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) 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!