Old city walls, rare Galway surnames, and leather belts….

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
The Walls of Derry, County Derry. (See it on a map here.)

The Walls of Derry are the only completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest in Europe! Built between 1613-1619, these massive stone fortifications survived three sieges, including the famous 1689 Siege of Derry. At about 1.5km around, you can walk the full circuit in under an hour and enjoy spectacular views of the city from every angle. The original cannons are still mounted along the walls! Watch this video we filmed while we were there, or check out the official Derry Walls website here. 

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Rare Galway Surnames

Do you have any surnames from County Galway in your family tree? You might even have a rare surname! Check out some of the rarest Irish surnames from Galway here on John Grenham’s site – and see if you can spot your own surname in the mix.

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“I’ll Know It When I See It” by Alice Carey

In this fabulously witty memoir, Alice Carey bridges two contrasting worlds that shaped her identity — her childhood as the daughter of poor Irish immigrants, and her adulthood, when she and her husband purchase a farmhouse in Ireland where she learns to make peace with her bittersweet childhood. The novel offers a clear view of Ireland with an authentic, witty, and often bittersweet voice. Check out the book on Amazon.

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear”

Which translates to “All is not what it seems”.

Click here to hear how it’s said in Irish.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Margaux of Beara Belts has been handcrafting leather goods for years, all taught to her by her late partner. Today, Beara Belts is a testament to her skill and attention to detail. Just look at that intricate detail-work! You’ll find plenty of tooled belts like this, along with other quality leather goods, such as wallets, hair slides, and even earrings.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“Where are all kings crowned?”

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!