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
Over the last couple of years, I have noticed many readers mention that they have combined Irish citizenship with that of their own country – and many more asking what it takes to apply for dual citizenship. How about you – do you hold dual Irish citizenship? Would you like to? Do let me know…
We’re “doing” the Ring of Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way at the moment – travelling from Kenmare to Sneem to Caherdaniel to Waterville to Ballinskelligs to Valentia to Cahirciveen to Glenbeigh to Killorglin (phew!). As we drive around the Ring of Kerry we come across so many tour buses (it’s that time of year!).…
Meitheamh – pronounced “meh-hev” – is the Irish word for June, and therefore more or less means mid-summer. The growth in the fields is at its green height – grass seems to be shooting up an inch a day up to this point. In the old Celtic Calendar there were four minor festivals through the…
What do the Great Wall of China, the Sydney Opera House, the great Pyramid in Egypt, the Niagara Falls and the London Eye all have in common? They are all, of course, world icons—but for one day this year, these and many other similar icons will turn green. For one full night in the year…
Welcome to my attempt to dispel the fiction from the facts about my ancestors. But first a little recent history. I was born 77 years ago at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland to Thomas James O’Neill and Helena Margaret Wess O’Neill, October 4, 1937. I have a brother Thomas James O’Neill Jr. and a…
Irish Culture & Customs Podcasts
This is a list of popular books that are mentioned many times in our Green Room Book Club.
The books listed cover the topics of Irish history, The famine, colourful country life, letters, Irish cooking, fictional genealogy, murder mysteries and Celtic spirituality. Something for everyone!
In this week’s episode we look a little closer at how our Irish ancestors lived and worked through the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday each year. This was a time known as “Lent”. It was treated very seriously by the Roman Catholic church – who were very specific in their directions to the…
In this week’s episode share what we consider to be eight of the best traditional Irish love songs of all time! This is, of course, a very personal and subjective collection – and I’m sure you will agree with some and disagree with many. I have used the input of many of our readers and…
In this episode we explore not just the world of Irish music – but 10 tracks from the extended Celtic family. We use music featured on the TV programme – “The Transatlantic Sessions” – to bring you music and song from Ireland, Scotland, the USA and much more. With lots of chat between each song.…
In today’s episode we share some old Irish names – quite beautiful ones – that are just some of our favourites for boys and girls. Perhaps you already have one or two in your own family? We also share the story of Jimmy Hasty, an Irish footballer from Dundalk in County Louth and how I…