An Irish fjord, landscape photography, and wooden suncatchers…

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
Killary Harbour, County Galway. (See it on a map here.)

On this leg of the Wild Atlantic Way, we find ourselves on the border of Counties Galway and Mayo, with one of Ireland’s only natural fjords, Killary Harbour, cutting right between these two counties. This extraordinary natural waterway is home to an abundance of wildlife, such as dolphins and occasionally otters. It’s also home to plenty of breathtaking and photogenic views. Check out this very informative video about the geological landscape in Killary, or listen to this hauntingly beautiful, traditional Connemara song sung by a Connemara native.

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Roscommon Surnames

Do you have any surnames from County Roscommon in your family tree? Your surname might even be a rare one! Check out the rarest Irish surnames from County Roscommon 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
“Kingdom” by Norman McCloskey

There is something incredibly special and nostalgic in the photographs of Norman McCloskey, and especially so in his book, Kingdom, which includes more than a hundred original pictures of County Kerry in all its raw, splendid beauty. It’s a loving homage to all the small, natural details that make this place what it is. It’s enough to make any Irishman proud of the place they call home! Check out the book here.

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Dia duit“

Which translates to “God is with you” or more casually, “Hello.”

Hear how it’s spoken in Irish here.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Husband and wife Giolla and Emily are the proud minds behind Artwood, a true family-run craft business from County Leitrim that specializes in creating beautiful, wooden suncatchers. Their suncatcher moons are some of their bestsellers, and there’s no doubt as to why — they’re gorgeous and are more than just window decorations. You can even have them engraved with your names, a quote, or an entire Yeats poem.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What runs from Dublin to Cork and yet never moves?”

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!