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

Bealtaine Blessings Welcoming the Summer across Ireland

Bealtaine Blessings: Welcoming the Summer across Ireland

With the arrival of summer comes Bealtaine blessings! Come with us on a journey all across Ireland to see how your ancestors celebrated the beginning of summer.

An Irish Easter Celebration

Is this how your Irish Ancestor celebrated Easter?

Have you ever wondered how your Irish ancestor celebrated Easter? Come and have a chat with us as we take a look at a traditional Irish Easter celebration.

Farming Folklore: Spring Planting Rituals in Rural Ireland

Farming Folklore: Spring Planting Rituals in Rural Ireland

With springtime comes the planting season in rural Ireland. Discover the pastoral rituals and traditions that come with this important time in the time of our ancestors.

Cuckoo Day and April Fool's: Old Irish Pranks and Irish Superstitions

Cuckoo Day and April Fool’s: Old Irish Superstitions and Pranks

Discover uniquely Irish superstitions around April Fool’s Day, known as “Cuckoo Day”, with traditional pranks and folklore dating back generations.

How Irish Railways Transformed Your Ancestors' Lives

How Irish Railways Transformed Your Ancestor’s Life

All aboard for this week’s Letter from Ireland, as we take a train ride through the history of Irish railways and their impact on our ancestors’ lives.

Irish Culture & Customs Podcasts

Night of the Big Wind - It's Time for an Irish Census (#713)

It’s Time for an Irish Census (#713)

Here in Ireland we are getting ready to fill in the population census for 2022. We use this opportunity to chat about the census down through the years and it’s usefulness to genealogists and family historians. Carina also reads a letter all about an unusual question that the population were asked before the 1911 census…

Irish Song in London Town - An Irish Musical Education (#712)

An Irish Musical Education (#712)

This is a musical episode (with a running commentary) of the Letter from Ireland show. Over 10 tracks, Mike takes you through an Irish musical journey that shaped his growing awareness and appreciation of the Irish music that surrounded him. As he plays the tracks, he chats about Irish history, surname, culture and much more.…

34979317 s - Let's Celebrate St. Patrick's Day! (#711)

Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! (#711)

In this special episode we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! The parades and celebrations are returning in Ireland after a 2 year absence. Along with some very appropriate music, we chat about the first and sur-names that have come into being in honour of the Saint. We then go on to ask you “what do you…

Aran Islands Roadway 1 - Would You Live on an Irish Island? (#710)

Would You Live on an Irish Island? (#710)

Today we visit the beautiful islands off the west coast of Ireland. For many centuries, these islands grew in population as the natives of Ireland were forced off good land on the mainland wandering even further westwards until they arrived at the sea. The islands offshore were the only option left. The islanders had an…

Sherlock film poster

James Bond Meets Sherlock Holmes – An Irish Story (#709)

Today we take to the streets of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. Edinburgh was the home to Seán Connery, the actor who played James Bond for many years. We also examine another native of Edinburgh – Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the immortal detective Sherlock Holmes. We chat about their Irish roots –…