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
We’re having a birthday celebration here in Cork, and not just any birthday – it’s the 10th anniversary of this Letter from Ireland!
I’m sipping on my regular cup of Barry’s Tea, do join me with a cup of whatever you fancy yourself, as I share the story of how this little Letter from Ireland came to be.
Did the Irish Temperance Movement impact your ancestors? Join us as we unveil the influential story of Fr. Mathew and his monumental efforts to combat Ireland’s alcohol crisis in the 1800s. Was your family among the many who took the pledge?
Curious about the Irish roots of the world-renowned steeplechase? Journey with us from North County Cork to Liverpool, as we unravel a tale woven with gentlemen’s wagers, iconic surnames, and a race that changed horse-racing forever. Dive in and discover the legacy behind the gallop.
Journey with us as we uncover the surprising Irish roots of the iconic “British Racing Green.” From the bustling roads of early 20th-century France to the picturesque lanes of Counties Kildare and Carlow, discover how a shade of green, closely tied to the isles, became an emblematic hue for British automotive giants. Is it time to rechristen it “Irish Racing Green”?
Did you know that Mr. Yankee Doodle Dandy himself – George M. Cohan – has deep Irish roots? Read on to find out more about his Irish family origins and more.
Irish Culture & Customs Podcasts
In this episode of the Letter from Ireland Podcast show, we travel to the city of Glasgow in Scotland to meet two proud Glasgow natives of Irish ancestry. Come with us as we get a unique perspective on this city that saw the arrival of so many Irish immigrants from the 1800s onwards.
In this episode of the Letter from Ireland Podcast show, we visit a Holy Well in County Limerick and chat to the “keeper of the well” about cures, traditions and the Saints associated with these wells.
In the late 1800s, hundreds of thousands of Irish people moved into the Tenement Buildings of Dublin and New York. In this Podcast, we travel to the Tenement Museums of both Dublin and New York to get an insight into what life was like in these buildings for our Irish ancestors.
Do you know that there are 4 main Irish festivals to mark the turning of the year? In this episode we cover just one of those festivals that marks the start of a Celtic Spring.
Do you have some Irish Halloween stories in your family? Join us as we share some Irish Halloween memories and tell stories from this time of year known on the Celtic Calendar as “Samhain”.