Irish Culture & Customs Resources

In this section I share articles on Irish music, dancing, poetry, writing, story-telling and history. Many of the topics that we consider to be quite unique in our shared Irish heritage.

 

Browse the features 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 and podcasts.

Irish Culture & Customs Letters

Riverdance - Have You Had Your Riverdance Moment?

Have You Had Your Riverdance Moment?

Let’s jump back to a time 22 years ago – the place was Dublin City, and the event was the “Eurovision song contest”. The Eurovision song contest is one of those “love it or hate it” institutions here in Ireland. Each year, a song is entered from each country in Europe (that’s quite a few…

City of Baltimore - An Irish Placename Travels Abroad to the City of Baltimore.

An Irish Placename Travels Abroad to the City of Baltimore.

If you were to pull out a map of your area this moment and have a look, how many places would you spot named after Irish villages, towns and counties? As you may have noticed, anywhere that the Irish – and other nationalities settled in numbers – they also brought along the names of their…

Irish music

A Different Sort of Irish Music

Are you a fan of Irish music? Today, we have something a bit different as we look at the music of one man who had his roots in the north of Ireland.

A letter from ireland

Philomena

Given that you are reading this letter, can I assume that you have an interest in your Irish Heritage and ancestry? Now, let me ask you this – when did you develop this interest? For a few of us, it’s always been there – for others, a curiosity appears in our forties or fifties –…

Ancient stone circle

The Stone Circles and Druids of Ireland

Have you heard of the Druids of Ireland? Long before Christianity reached Ireland’s shores, there was a complex culture of beliefs involving the practices of law, medicine, and the oral tradition. In this letter we discuss the Druids, the ancient intellectual class of ancient Ireland.

Irish Culture & Customs Podcasts

Irish Male Singer

The 8 Most Unique Male Irish Singing Voices (#834)

Discover eight standout Irish male singers in today’s episode. Did we miss any of your favourites? Tune in and be swept away by Ireland’s melodic charm!

Broadway PNG - From County Cork to the Bright Lights of Broadway and Chicago (#833)

From County Cork to the Bright Lights of Broadway and Chicago (#833)

This episode spotlights two Irish families from Bantry, West Cork: Francis O’Neill, who preserved Irish music in Chicago, and the Keohanes, ancestors of Broadway composer George M. Cohan.

Irish Birthday 10 years - An Irish Birthday Celebration (#830)

An Irish Birthday Celebration (#830)

Join us as we toast to the birthday of the Letter from Ireland, celebrating a decade of connecting with 60,000+ global Irish descendants through our letters and podcasts – thank you for being part of our journey!

The Surprising Irish Origin of 2 Racing Legends - The Surprising Irish Origin of 2 Racing Legends (#829)

The Surprising Irish Origin of 2 Racing Legends (#829)

Listen to the origins of the iconic Steeplechase in Irish racing history and unravel the surprising Irish roots of the famed ‘British Racing Green’ in a thrilling 1903 motorcar race

Beer Whiskey and The Irish Temperence Movement - Beer, Whiskey and The Irish Temperance Movement (#828)

Beer, Whiskey and The Irish Temperance Movement (#828)

Listen to the story of Viking-era water sources, the Franciscans’ art of brewing Irish beer, and the captivating tale of alcohol, social chaos, and the rise of the Irish temperance movement!