A portal tomb, Irish surname variants, and Irish dog names…

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
Brownshill Portal Tomb, County Carlow. (See it on a map here.)

The magnificent Brownshill Dolmen stands as a testament to Ireland’s ancient past. Dating back to 3300 BC, this Neolithic portal tomb boasts Europe’s heaviest capstone, weighing an astonishing 100+ tons. How our ancestors managed to place this massive stone atop its slender supports is a captivating mystery! Watch this short video about the dolmen here, or read more about its history here. 

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Find Your Surname Variants

Have you ever wondered about the different variants your Irish surname could have? With the Irish Surname Index from the Irish Folklore commission, you can see the many different spellings and variations of your Irish surname. Check out the Irish Surname Index here. Also, this website is a treasure trove of all sorts of information such as the “Schools Collection” where we find many of the riddles we feature.

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“The wind that round the Fastnet sweeps” by John M. Feehan

This fascinating account details the author’s solo journey around West Cork’s coast in search of the land of the “Heart’s Desire”, capturing the rugged shorelines, quiet harbors, and colorful local characters in this corner of Ireland. Quite a nostalgic read! Check out the book on Amazon.

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

Irish Dog Names

Ever wanted to give your furry best friend their own Irish name? All About Irish’s self-proclaimed “ruffolution” aims to spread the joy of the Irish language to our pets as well!

Click here to read all about it – and see if you can find a suitable Irish name for your dog!

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Couple Julie and Owen, the minds behind JANDO, create vibrant prints using both traditional and digital techniques. Their eye-catching artwork is printed on premium archival materials to last a lifetime, and comes in eco-friendly packaging. Beyond wall art, they also make cool greeting cards, notebooks, and screen-printed accessories like totes and tea towels. Check out their store here.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“Where do soldiers go after a long march?”

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!