An Ancient Sacred Site, A Book About Coffin Ships, and Handcrafted Chairs

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
Hill of Tara, County Meath. (See it on a map here.)

This is one of Ireland’s most sacred and mysterious ancient sites. Known as the traditional seat of the High Kings of Ireland, this grassy hilltop was a royal and spiritual center from around 3,200 BC to 1,000 AD. It contains ancient burial mounds, ceremonial enclosures, and the famous Stone of Destiny that supposedly roared when touched by the rightful king! Check out this video that tells you more about the site. 

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – The Evolution of Irish Surnames

Do you know the origin of your Irish surname? Many Irish surnames have evolved overtime, and you may be surprised at some of their origins. Read more about the evolution of Irish surnames here – and see if you can find the origins and evolution of your name there!

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“All Standing” by Kathryn Miles

This week’s read comes as a recommendation from one of our Green Room members, Linda. Here is what she has to say about the book: “All Standing” is the story of the legendary Irish famine ship, the Jeanie Johnston, written by Kathryn Miles. I visited the replica of this ship in Dublin in 2019, and I was so happy that I had read the book in advance of my Jeanie Johnston tour.” Check out the book on Amazon. 

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit!”

Which translates to “Happy New Year!” 

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

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

The Irish Boat Builders Chair blends maritime history with modern comfort beautifully. Crafted by Brendan Lawless in County Wicklow, each chair is modeled after an 1830s design that uses traditional boat-building techniques, including steam-bent ribs for extra strength. We love the elegant simplicity of their chairs, seen here in the Inis Oirr.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“Its deep and its damp and its green above the bank and its fit for a Lord or a Lady. What is it?“

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!