Breathtaking cliffs, rare Kerry surnames, and Wicklow baskets….

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.

---

FAVOURITE PLACES IN IRELAND
Loop Head Peninsula, County Clare. (See it on a map here.)

Our journey along the Wild Atlantic Way today takes us to the Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare. This dramatic headland on Ireland’s west coast offers breathtaking clifftop views, the historic Loop Head Lighthouse (dating from 1854), and some of the country’s most spectacular Atlantic sunsets. It’s a hidden gem for those seeking rugged coastal beauty and much less crowded than the neighboring Cliffs of Moher! Read more about the peninsula’s lesser-known sights here, or listen to this soothing rendition of ‘The Waves of Kilkee’, inspired by the town that serves as entryway to the peninsula. 

---

FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Kerry Surnames

Do you have any surnames from County Kerry in your family tree? Your surname might even be a rare one! Check out the rarest Irish surnames from County Kerry here on John Grenham – and see if you can spot your own surname in the mix.

---

BOOK I’M READING NOW
“Normal People” by Sally Rooney

This follows the complex, on-and-off relationship between Connell and Marianne from their final year of school in rural Ireland through their university years at Trinity College, Dublin. Rooney captures the awkwardness of young love, class differences, and the struggle to communicate feelings. The TV adaption was also a big hit over here a few years ago! Check out the book here.

---

IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Slán”

Which translates to “Goodbye.” A familiar phrase if you’ve been following the Letter from Ireland for a while!

Hear how it’s said in Irish here.

---

IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

We went down to Glendalough in County Wicklow recently and paid a visit to Wicklow Willow which, in our opinion, has some of the best basketry pieces around. We couldn’t resist purchasing our very own unique basket piece from Aoife Patterson, who handmakes these baskets herself, creating not just functional storage baskets but also works of art.

---

RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What smells most in a perfumer’s shop?”

Click here to see the answer.

---

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!