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
Have you ever thought of trying to learn the Irish language? I know that many of our readers and Green Room members often wish to learn a few words of Irish before visiting this island. And learning some words of Irish is the subject of today’s letter.
Céad Míle Fáilte and welcome to your Letter from Ireland. I’m writing this letter on the day most associated with Ireland and the Irish all over the world – March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day.
Today we’re going to chat about a staple of the Irish diet and the impact this food had on Irish culture and history – the humble Irish potato.
Now, you might think it would be wonderful to have a surname that enters into the English language based on your deeds and is used by millions of people. Then again, your name might be Captain Charles Boycott. I think you might see where this is going!
Do you have an Irish “Colleen” in your family tree? How about an “Erin” or a “Kelly” – or maybe a “Kerry”?
Irish Culture & Customs Podcasts
Step into the melodious world of Ireland as we spotlight the eight most beautiful Irish female singing voices. Are your favourites on the list or will you discover a fresh, enchanting talent? Whether you’re seeking nostalgic tunes or hoping to stumble upon a new songstress, this episode promises a delightful serenade from Ireland.
In this episode we look at how the Celtic Druids of Ireland in pre-christian times evolved into the monks, priests, brehon judges, bards and poets of christian times – and also chat about some of the Irish family surnames associated with those “druidic” professions and vocations.
In this episode we chat with a native Irish Gaelic Speaker – Eoin O’Connor from Ennis in County Clare. Eoin started a company called Bitesize Irish about 12 years ago and in this episode he shares more on his early childhood years in an Irish-speaking household, why he started a company to help people around the world learn and enjoy the Irish Gaelic language. We also chat about the importance of the Irish language and how it is used today.
In the month of May, we celebrate the coming of summer here in Ireland. The month of May is called “Bealtaine” in the Irish language, which is also the Irish name for the celtic festival that marks the turning of spring to summer in early May. In this episode we celebrate Bealtaine by sharing some…
In this episode we chat about the running of a very specific castle in County Galway during the time of the Irish Chieftains. We look at the various families who had a part to play in keeping this castle and it’s lands working and productive. We also look at a particular group of Irish families…