Ireland’s highest cliffs, Irish to English surnames, and woven tapestries

Céad míle fáilte, welcome to your Letter from Ireland “Shorts”.  Each Tuesday we’ll bring you a quick-read of some of our favourite and interesting Irish things for this week.

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FAVOURITE PLACES IN IRELAND
Slieve League Cliffs, County Donegal. (See it on a map here.)

Our next stop on the Wild Atlantic Way journey: the awe-inspiring Slieve League Cliffs in County Donegal! Rising nearly 2,000 feet above the Atlantic, these are among Europe’s highest sea cliffs and Ireland’s most dramatic coastal spectacle. It offers breathtaking hiking trails (some not for the faint-hearted!) and beautiful panoramic views that stretch to the horizon. 🌊 You can learn more about the cliffs here, or listen to this Donegal tune performed by Roy Buckley and Phil Coulter.

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Longford Surnames

Do you have any surnames from County Longford in your family tree? Your surname might even be a rare one! Check out the rarest Irish surnames from County Longford here on John Grenham – and see if you can spot your own surname in the mix.

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“The Heart’s Invisible Furies” by John Boyne

This powerful novel follows Cyril Avery’s life across seven decades in Ireland, from his birth in 1945 through the country’s dramatic social transformation. Boyne’s storytelling is masterful – he balances humor and heartbreak beautifully while painting a vivid portrait of modern Irish history. Cyril’s journey is both deeply personal and universally relatable. Both a coming-of-age story and a love letter to Ireland. Check out the book here.

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THE GENEALOGY GLIMPSE

How Irish Surnames Came into English

Ever wondered how Irish surnames got translated into English? In this series of videos, surname expert John Grenham explains how that comes to be.

Watch the video here.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

From the ancient landscapes of the Boyne Valley, Co Meath comes Áine Dunne, a gifted textile artist who transforms threads into breathtaking stories. Since discovering her passion for tapestry weaving, under the guidance of artist Liam O’Broin in 1980, Áine has dedicated decades to perfecting her craft. She creates original tapestry pieces as well as smaller, woven bookmarks that can be woven with unique components, like hair and old pieces of clothing.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What goes from house to house and stays out all night?”

Click here to see the answer.

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That’s it for this week. Send us an email with any of your own favourites for inclusion in future emails, or if you’re a plus member leave a comment below.

Slán for now,
Mike & Carina.

*Note: The above article may contain some affiliate links (for example Amazon) which means we get paid a small amount should you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the show on the road!