A Viking ship, Irish-American history, and bronze artefacts…

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
Reginald’s Tower, County Waterford. (See it on a map here.)

Did you know that Reginald’s Tower in County Waterford, Ireland, is located right at the apex of the Viking Triangle? Reginald’s Tower dates all the way back to the 13th century and is Ireland’s oldest existing civic building. Nowadays, it houses a museum featuring artifacts from Waterford’s medieval and Viking past – including a Viking ship replica! You can also read our article about a famous Waterford native here. 

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

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Brehon Surnames

For thousands of years, Gaelic Ireland was ruled by “Brehon Law”, so named because they were devised by the “Brehon” or judge of each Gaelic kingdom. Like many positions in ancient Ireland, this was usually a hereditary role that was passed down among specific families in each county. Let’s have a look at some Brehon surnames – and see if you can spot your own surname among them!

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“The Story We Carry in Our Bones” by Juilene Osborne-McKnight

This is a pretty comprehensive read that covers plenty of ground in Irish history. It starts way back in 3800 BC and goes all the way up to the 20th century, covering everything from Celtic legends, Vikings, the Great Hunger, and Irish immigration to America. Great for a good refresher on Irish history! Check out the book on Amazon.

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Téann focail le gaoth”

Which translates to “Words are like wind.”

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

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Wild Goose Studio, founded in 1970, creates unique Irish art pieces that blend Irish tradition with modern artistry. Some of their best-sellers are their bronze pieces, like the one of St. Patrick’s Cross pictured below. They also have personalized framed gifts and special little pieces that’ll brighten up any home. Check out their shop here. 

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“A car load of people went over the bridge, and not a single one in it. How could that be?”

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!