Letter Archive

Welcome to the letter archive page for the weekly "Letter from Ireland". We started to write these letters in 2013 covering Irish Genealogy & Family History, Irish Surnames, Irish Culture & Customs and Ireland Travel, here you'll find a link to all of them.

 

Browse the letters listed on this page and jump to one that interests you, or enter a placename, surname or other item in the search box below to see related letters.

All of our weekly letters to date

How Irish Railways Transformed Your Ancestors' Lives

How Irish Railways Transformed Your Ancestor’s Life

All aboard for this week’s Letter from Ireland, as we take a train ride through the history of Irish railways and their impact on our ancestors’ lives.

Bridging Oceans and Generations: The Irish Thread that Binds us

Bridging Oceans and Generations: The Irish Thread that Binds us.

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us once again! In these times, I like to reflect on the Irish thread that binds us all together, wherever we may be.

Irish counties - Did your Irish ancestors come from one of these?

Did your ancestors come from one of these Irish counties?

Discover how 50% of our readers trace their roots to Irish counties along the Wild Atlantic Way. Follow our ancestry journey on western shore.

Are you looking for your Irish ancestors in the right place?

A Cautionary Tale: Are you looking for your Irish ancestors in the right place?

Where did your Irish ancestors really come from? Learn how to avoid common research pitfalls and verify your family’s actual origins in Ireland.

The Irish Craft and Trades of our Irish Ancestors

Did you have an Irish Craft or Trade in your ancestral family?

Walk through an Irish village where blacksmiths, coopers, and carpenters shaped daily life. Trace these traditional Irish Crafts in your family’s past.

Saving the Turf: A Day out on an Irish Bog

A Day out on an Irish Bog: Saving the Turf

From dawn to dusk on the Irish bog, families worked together cutting turf for winter. These age-old practices created bonds across generations.

What was life in Ireland like for my ancestor? Why did they leave Ireland?

What was life in Ireland like for my ancestor? Why Did they Choose to Leave?

Experience Life In Ireland through a family’s journey from Limerick farm to Detroit’s frontier. Discover why they left their Irish homeland.

Saint Brigid of Kildare

A New Chapter in an Ancient Story: Saint Brigid of Kildare

Experience how St. Brigid’s ancient traditions are transforming modern Ireland, as families rediscover crosses, cloaks, and celebrations.

Threads of History: The Rich Heritage of Irish Linen

Threads of History: The Rich Heritage of Irish Linen

Learn the fascinating history and heritage of Irish linen, from humble cottages to Belfast’s mighty mills.

Reaching for Heaven: Ireland's Ancient Round Towers

Ireland’s Ancient Round Towers: Reaching for Heaven

The morning mist lifts, revealing a round tower soaring 110 feet skyward. A bell rings out across medieval Ireland, and for a moment, time stands still