A Lost Town, Norman Names and Knit Kits…

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 
Jerpoint, County Kilkenny.

Jerpoint Abbey makes a wonderful stop if you’re in County Kilkenny. It was founded in the 12th century and has some amazing stone sculptures. Nearby you will also find the “lost town” of Newtown Jerpoint. We had an amazing chat with the owner, Joe O’Connell, about the ingenuity of the people who lived there.

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – The Normans!

Do You Have Irish Norman Surnames in Your Family Tree? Let’s have a look at some of them – and see if you spot any of your own Irish surnames!

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BOOK I’M READING NOW

“Reading in the Dark” by Seamus Deane. A book about a young boy growing up in County Derry. He deals with his family’s secrets and the history of his country. The story is exciting and full of mystery – showing how what happens in the past affects the lives of people in the present. Seamus Deane writes with a style to make you feel like you really engage with the characters. Click here to see the book on amazon.

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán“

Which translates to “A small bite is the tastiest”.

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

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

We’ve featured Ériu before on the letter because of their 100% Irish wool products. Now you can buy your own knitting kit from them so get your own hands on this great Irish product to make a shawl, hat or mittens.

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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 Ériu) 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!