A MacCarthy Castle, rare Antrim surnames, and oil paintings…..

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

This 16th-century castle in County Kerry sits right on the edge of Ballycarbery Bay with stunning views of the Atlantic. Once owned by the MacCarthy clan and inhabited by their constables, the O’Connells (read more about the bloody legend of the castle here). Now it’s just weathered stone walls wrapped in lush green ivy. If you’re doing the Ring of Kerry drive, it’s a bit off the tourist path but totally worth the detour. Check out this video about the Ring of Kerry to see more about the area. 

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Antrim Surnames

Do you have any surnames from County Antrim in your family tree? Your surname might even be a rare one! Check out the rarest Irish surnames from County Antrim 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
“Galway Bay” by Mary Pat Kelly

“Galway Bay” chronicles one family’s journey from County Cork during the Great Famine. When potato blight devastates their homeland, Honora and Michael Kelly join two million Irish refugees seeking survival across the Atlantic, arriving in Chicago. Through Civil War and the Irish freedom movement, the Kelly family’s story mirrors the resilience and contributions of Irish immigrants who helped shape America while preserving their cultural identity. It’s a powerful narrative that I’m sure the ancestors of those Irish immigrants will find moving. Check out the book on Amazon. 

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Is namhaid ceird gan chleachtadh”

Which translates to “An unpractised craft is an enemy”.

Click here to hear how it’s said in Irish.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Do you have roots in County Limerick, or a special connection to it? Ever wish you could take a piece of it and hang it on your walls? Nici Le Gear creates beautiful oil and acrylic paintings of many Irish landscapes, with a particular focus on Limerick City, where she is based. All paintings are unique and original and come in their own handcarved wooden frames. She also sells limited edition museum-quality prints of her paintings, if you want something smaller but still visually stunning.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“There is a town in Ireland that’s noted for great fame, spelled backwards and forward its all the same.”

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!