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
Wondering why you don’t have an Irish DNA match yet? Here’s why fewer people test in Ireland and how to track down your ancestors anyway.
Do you know what happened to your Irish relatives who stayed behind? You may still find some living cousins that have stayed on the same farm in Ireland.
How did your ancestors face the autumn Irish equinox? In this letter, we talk about harvest traditions, the light at Sliabh na Caillí, and life on the farm before winter.
Do you have an ancestor from Munster? Learn how the Irish counties in Munster were formed, the history of local surnames, and how geography shaped your ancestors’ lives.
Looking for Norman surnames in your Irish family tree? Trace the origins of names like Walsh, Burke, and Fitzgerald in this letter.
Did your ancestors walk barefoot on pilgrimage? Walk with them through the 1,000-year history of Lough Derg and lost Irish traditions.
Did your Irish ancestor walk along this ancient Irish road? Walk with us down Slí Dála and the ancient routes that shaped Ireland’s history and county landscapes.
Have you heard about Máire MacNeill and how she saved the heritage of Lughnasa, Ireland’s ancient Celtic festival? This story is why preserving your own family stories matters today.
Is an old Irish superstition still quietly following your family? In this letter, we discuss the origin of these ancestral traditions and the Mayo football curse.
I almost gave up writing this Sunday letter, but here’s what stopped me…