Ireland’s northern point, Irish placenames, and a heritage mill

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
Malin Head, County Donegal. (See it on a map here.)

Our final stop on the Wild Atlantic Way adventure: the windswept beauty of Malin Head in County Donegal! As Ireland’s northernmost point on the Inishowen peninsula, this dramatic headland has witnessed centuries of maritime history. You can see all the way to Scotland from its rugged coastline, while the iconic “EIRE” sign carved into the clifftop once guided Allied aircraft during wartime. A splendid finale to our journey 🌊 You can learn more about it here, or listen to this cover of Las Vegas in the Hills of Donegal by Ailish McBride.

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Wicklow Surnames

Do you have any surnames from County Wicklow in your family tree? Your surname might even be a rare one! Check out the rarest Irish surnames from County Wicklow 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
“Conversations With Friends” by Sally Rooney

Rooney’s debut follows Frances, a 21-year-old Trinity student caught up in complicated relationships and her own messy coming-of-age. It got solid reviews when it came out, but honestly, most of the attention came later after “Normal People” and the BBC series made Rooney a household name. Then everyone went back to read this one. Rooney writes sharp dialogue and gets under the skin of her characters well enough, though Frances can be a pain to follow at times! It’s a decent first effort that shows the talent that would fully emerge in her second book. Check out the book here.

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THE GENEALOGY GLIMPSE

Common Irish Words in Placenames

Did you know that some Irish placenames contain Irish words that describe the features of the place itself? If you know what these words mean, chances are, you’ll have an idea what these places are best known for!

See the glossary of Irish words in placenames here.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

The looms at Avoca Mill in Wicklow have been running for over three centuries – one of the few Irish textile operations still going strong. This family business kept the traditional skills alive and built a solid reputation for quality that’s served them well. Their throws and scarves, like this flannel and cashmere throw, are proper Irish-made pieces – the kind of craftsmanship that reminds you why some things are worth paying for. It’s good to see a local business that’s found its place in the world without losing what made it special in the first place.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What is the lightest county in Ireland?”

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!