A stone circle, Kerry surnames, and polite phrases

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
The Grange Stone Circle, Lough Gur, County Limerick. (See it on a map here.)

The ancient Grange Stone Circle in Lough Gur is a Bronze Age marvel and the country’s largest stone ring. This colossal monument isn’t alone—it’s the centerpiece of a prehistoric complex near Lough Gur featuring smaller circles, enigmatic standing stones, and a mysterious megalithic tomb.

For Letter from Ireland Plus members: Also check out our County Limerick Homelands Feature here for much more.

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – County Kerry Surnames

Do you have any roots in County Kerry? From O’Sullivans to Fitzgeralds, this Irish county boasts a tapestry of historic surnames. Read more about it here – and see if you can spot your own surname in the mix!

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“Haven” by Emma Donoghue

In this moving tale set in 7th-century Ireland from author Emma Donoghue, three monks set out in search of an island on which to establish a monastery, guided by a vision their leader saw in a dream. As compelling as it is surprisingly intense! You may also recognize this Irish-Canadian author for her other works, such as the best-selling novels “Room” and “The Wonder”, the latter of which was turned into a Netflix movie. Check out the book on Amazon.

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Go raibh maith agat”

Which translates to “Thank you” when spoken to one person. Bitesize Irish has a good number of polite phrases that are always good to know.

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

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Kaiko Studio is a cutting-edge designer of jewelry, accessories, and functional home decor. Their innovative workshop, based in County Wicklow, crafts sleek creations inspired by Irish nature and imagery. Plus, they’re very dedicated to sustainability! If you’ve been wanting to bring a touch of modern, earthy, Irish-inspired style and decor to your space, Kaiko Studio is more than a safe bet. Check out their shop here.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What goes round and round the wood and never enters?”

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!