A ‘sea stack’, rare Donegal surnames, and scented candles….

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
Downpatrick Head, County Mayo. (See it on a map here.)

As we near the end of our Wild Atlantic Way road trip, we arrive at Downpatrick Head in County Mayo. This ancient pilgrimage site, where St. Patrick is said to have founded a church in the 5th century, features the striking Dún Briste sea stack – a 45-meter tower of rock which used to be connected to the mainland, but which was dramatically separated by centuries of pounding waves. The remains of a medieval house can still be found on top of the sea stack and many have attempted to climb it. This instrumental piece by Bill Whelan just fits the atmosphere of the place perfectly.

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Donegal Surnames

Do you have any surnames from County Donegal in your family tree? Your surname might even be a rare one! Check out the rarest Irish surnames from County Donegal 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
“The Sea” by John Banville

John Banville’s luminous novel follows Max Morden, a grieving Irishman who returns to a childhood seaside town where he first encountered love and death. This literary masterpiece explores how the past shapes us, delivered through Banville’s gorgeous, masterful prose. A haunting meditation on memory, loss, and the weight of experience. Check out the book here.

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Ní thagann ciall roimh aois“

Which translates to “Sense does not come before age.”

Hear how it’s spoken in Irish here.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

We stumbled across these candles by Larry Kinsella of County Kilkenny and have been fans of them ever since. Moth to a Flame has a variety of scented candles, as well as some uniquely-shaped ones that make for excellent decorative pieces. Their silkmoth scented candles are a staple in our household – they have a strong yet pleasant scent that really lasts!

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“Why is a limping dog like a boy adding six and seven?”

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!