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

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.

Bridging Oceans and Generations: The Irish Thread that Binds us

Bridging Oceans and Generations: The Irish Thread that Binds us.

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us once again! In these times, I like to reflect on the Irish thread that binds us all together, wherever we may be.

Irish Culture & Customs Podcasts

Giants Causeway - Danny Boy and 5 Other Irish Anthems (#819)

Danny Boy and 5 Other Irish Anthems (#819)

Which songs come to mind when you think of Ireland? Do you have a favourite Irish anthem? We all know Danny Boy – Ireland’s unofficial anthem. But what other songs out there are truly worthy of being considered an Irish Anthem?  I define Irish anthems as songs that you are likely to hear both on the…

Alcock and Browne - This Field In County Galway Should be A Lot More Famous! (#815)

This Field In County Galway Should be A Lot More Famous! (#815)

In this episode we visit a field in the wilds of Connemara in County Galway and chat about two significant events – each of which brought about a huge step forward in technology and communications and are associated with this field. In the first letter, we introduce you to an Italian genius and his Irish…

Patrickswell, County Limerick, Ireland with Carina

The Holy Wells of Ireland – Stories, Traditions and Cures! (#813)

We visit one of the many, many Holy Wells around Ireland and chat with the lady whose family is responsible for the upkeep of this ancient Irish shrine. This is probably a place that was used and venerated from pre-christian times. In the show we share lots of tales, cures and tradtions that many of…

Looking down the long room in Trinity College University library, Dublin.

Irish Books – TOP 10 As Chosen By Readers

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!

View of Little Skellig from Skellig Michael across the water.

From Carnivale to An Irish Easter (#808)

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…