Belfast Castle, rare Cork surnames, and the Good Friday Agreement…..

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
Belfast Castle, County Antrim. (See it on a map here.)

Just a few minutes away from the city center of Belfast, this magnificent sandstone castle has watched over the historic city since 1870. Built by the 3rd Marquess of Donegall to replace the original 12th-century fortress, Belfast Castle offers stunning views across the lough and even has a legend about its white cats – said to bring good fortune to the estate. Check out their website here, or watch this video we took with one of our Green Room members Pádraic speaking about his hometown of Belfast.

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Cork Surnames

Do you have a rare surname in your family tree? If your ancestors are from County Cork, you might find your own surname in this list of rare surnames from County Cork! Check out the surnames 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
“Stand Up, Speak Out” by Monica McWilliams

The Good Friday Agreement anniversary was just a few days ago and I think it’s only right to honour one of the many voices that led to the signing of this historic agreement. Monica McWilliams is a women’s right activist from Northern Ireland that has done plenty for the movement, from co-founding the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition to her groundbreaking work as the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. She is simply a powerhouse with a story that must be told over and over again. Check out the book on Amazon. 

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Is trom an t-ualach leisce”

Which translates to “Laziness is a heavy load”.

Click here to hear how it’s said in Irish.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Cheryl and Willie run Ballyshane from their workshop in County Carlow, combining Cheryl’s craft expertise with Willie’s 18+ years of woodturning skills. This family-run business creates beautiful wooden pieces using only sustainable Irish timber – their cheese boards are some of their bestsellers and they’re perfect for small home gatherings.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What is full of pains and never feels them?”

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!