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

facebook2 jpg - Planning your Trip to Ireland.

Planning your Trip to Ireland.

After we talked a while, it became apparent to Carina and myself that what Naomi means by the word “luxury” was away more than that. It really meant: “tailored”, “different” and “personal” – and with a distinct Irish touch. So, we invited Naomi to tell us a little more about herself and her family history…

Fitzpatrick slider jpg - An Irish Mentor

An Irish Mentor

Céad Míle Fáilte – and you are very welcome to this week’s Letter from Ireland. It’s a bring day here in County Cork – and shaping up to be a very nice day for the sea and maybe a few photographs. I hope you are doing well wherever you are in the world today –…

Brown Slider jpg - Admiral William Brown of County Mayo

Admiral William Brown of County Mayo

Céad Míle Fáilte – and welcome to this week’s Letter from Ireland. I’ve got to say, we’re heading into my favourite time of year here in this corner of Ireland. The grass is growing by the inch every day, there’s an optimism around the place and the light is staying past 10.00pm at night –…

Titanic Slider jpg - Molly Brown and The Titanic - An Irish Story.

Molly Brown and The Titanic – An Irish Story.

We often get stories in from readers who recall a member of their family who ALMOST travelled on the Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage. Here is the story of one Irish lady who lived to tell the tale – and go on to great things. A lady by the name of Molly Brown.

Irish countryside

The Fighting Irish – Is Your Irish Surname Mentioned Here?

Céad Míle Fáilte – and welcome to your Letter from Ireland this week. Well, the early summer is truly underway here in this part of Ireland. The cherry and apple blossoms are coming to an end, to be replaced by that beautiful light shade of green you see in the trees. A great time of…

trace your Irish ancestry

3 Steps to Tracing Your Irish Ancestry Back to Ireland

Tracing your Irish Ancestry can feel like quite a daunting task. Here, we see a 3-Step process that you can use to structure your search.

slider1 jpg - The Easter Rising, 1916

The Easter Rising, 1916

The following are the words contained in the proclamation: IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN: In the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom. Having organised and trained her manhood through her secret revolutionary…

Enniskillen Slider jpg - The Kings of County Fermanagh

The Kings of County Fermanagh

Céad Míle Fáilte – and welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week. I hope you are keeping well? I hear that many of our friends on the east coast of America are experiencing powerful snowstorms at the moment – I hope you are keeping safe and warm if you are being affected. And then…

slider jpg - Touring West Cork with Kilcrohane Sue

Touring West Cork with Kilcrohane Sue

Céad Míle Fáilte – and welcome to this weeks Letter from Ireland.  I am on some pure, clear water from the well as we chat this morning. So, I do hope you’ll join me now with a cup of whatever you’re having, as we start into today’s Letter. Have you ever considered planning the ideal…

Knocknareaslider jpg - Are You a Descendant of the Queen of Connaught?

Are You a Descendant of the Queen of Connaught?

Their letter contained many fascinating ancestral anecdotes, but one in particular caught my eye – it was a story about their ancestor, Helen Reynolds. You see, that surname suggests that she may have been a direct descendant of a very particular “strong woman” of ancient Ireland. Queen Maedbh of Connaught.  In last week’s letter, I…