A medieval gate, Irish trees, and fountain pens
Your Letter from Ireland shorts from the 8th of October 2024.
Cรฉad mรญle fรกilte, 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
St. Laurence’s Gate, Drogheda, County Louth. (See it on a map here.)
Towering over the town of Drogheda in County Louth, St. Laurence’s Gate is an imposing structure, once one of ten medieval gateways that guarded the town. Commissioned by the influential de Lacy family, it’s a rare survivor of Drogheda’s ancient walls – almost like a portal through time! You can read more about it here. Also, check out this amusing video of the legendary “Bird Man” of Drogheda.
For Letter from Ireland Plus members: Also check out our County Louth Homelands Feature here for much more.
FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – County Mayo Surnames
Is Mayo in your blood? This wild Atlantic county has been home to many family trees, including the O’Malleys, Kellys, and Morans. Read more about it here – and see if you can spot your own surname in the mix!
BOOK I’M READING NOW
“Irish Trees: Myth, Legend and Folklore” by Niall Mac Coitir
For centuries, trees have played integral roles in Irish history and folklore – and now you can read all about it! This captivating book details the mystical lore of native Irish trees, from the majestic oak to the sacred rowan tree. It’s a very interesting dive into some deep-rooted (forgive the pun) folklore and you’re sure to gain a new appreciation for these ancient guardians.ย Check out the book on Amazon.ย
IRISH WORD OR PROVERB
“Dia dhuit ar maidin”
Which translates to “Good morning!”. Good morning to you too!
Click here to listen to how a native Irish speaker would say it.
IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE
Master craftsman Roy Humphrey has been transforming nature’s bounty into functional art from his workshop in Mohill, County Leitrim, for over 25 years. He harvests ash, beech, alder, and oak wood from his family farm to carve exquisite bowls, cheese boards, and sculpted curiosities under his skilled hands. We highly recommend their fountain pens, like the one pictured below. Beautiful and functional! Check out their shop here.
RIDDLE OF THE WEEK
“What has an eye and cannot see?”
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.
Slรกn 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!
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