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

21730756 m jpg - Do You Use an Advent Calendar in Your House?

Do You Use an Advent Calendar in Your House?

This time of year – the lead into Christmas – seems to become more commercial each year here in Ireland. It’s as if shops are willing Christmas to stretch back in to November. But I also find that this time of year has a quiet beauty all of its own. A time that calls us…

genesisslider1 jpg - Irish Surnames – County Cork Surnames and Places

Irish Surnames – County Cork Surnames and Places

Do you have a County Cork Irish surname in your Irish family tree? Here we include ALL the County Cork surnames belonging to our readers – and lots of pictures too!

genesisslider2 jpg - Tralee to Kilkee on the Wild Atlantic Way

Tralee to Kilkee on the Wild Atlantic Way

Coming into the town of Tralee – the administrative capital of County Kerry – my mind always goes back to the Rose of Tralee festival. Specifically to the early 1980s and heading down to Tralee for the craic, sleeping only when necessary and wherever possible. Funny how those memories can colour your impressions of a…

wild atlantic way

Wild Atlantic Way Ireland – Join us on a Long, Slow Trip.

Join us on a journey around the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. We make our way up the west coast of Ireland – starting in Kinsale in County Cork and finishing in the Inishowen peninsula in Derry City.

genesisslider4 jpg - The Dingle Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way.

The Dingle Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way.

We left Killorglin heading for the small town of Milltown – marking the southern start of the Dingle Peninsula. From there, it was an easy drive along a coastal road, enjoying Dingle bay to our left. The first stop along the way was Inch Strand – which is nicely ironically named as it extends along…

Irish countryside

The Ring of Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way

The thing that hit us most as we wandered into the colourful village of Sneem was the smell of turf fires! A real smell of Kerry for us. The village offered a welcome rest after the snaking road out of Killorglin and getting stuck behind a tractor or two. The other thing about Sneem are…

Eyeries - The most colourful village in Ireland?

The Amazing Colours of Ireland.

My Dear Children, I am having a great time in Ireland and wish you were here to see its beauty with me. As soon as I got off the plane I had a calming feeling of being home. I am staying here in Limerick City but traveling as much of the country in my rental…

facebook1 jpg - The Lovely Irish Smile.

The Lovely Irish Smile.

As I sit here in my hotel room in Limerick waiting for my ride to get to the Shannon airport, I can’t help thinking about the ten days I’ve been here.  I saw so much of this beautiful island that my ancestors called home. I think I went through at least half of the counties…

Taking a rest before we hit "civilisation"

A Letter to my Irish Grandmother.

Dear Grandma Margaret (or I guess Maggie as they used to call you!), I know I never got the chance to meet you, since you passed just before I was born, but I felt your love through my father, and I hope you have felt my love right back. After many years of researching my…

Driving down towards Allihies

A Birthday Trip to Ireland.

Dear Family, we boarded our Aer Lingus flight to Shannon At Baltimore Washington International Airport (a 65th birthday Present from our Six children). Ron and I are full of expectations of what we imagine Ireland to be. This is our dream come true. As we circle to land at Shannon Airport, a look below reveals…