A picturesque lakeside chapel, Irish short stories, and Thank You cards…

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
Gougane Barra, County Cork. (See it on a map here.)

Tucked away in the Shehy Mountains of West Cork at the source of the River Lee, Gougane Barra captivates with its serene lake and tiny island church. This sacred site is where St. Finbarr established his monastery in the 6th century. The surrounding forest park, with ancient trees reflecting in still waters, creates one of Ireland’s most photographed and peaceful landscapes. Take a visual journey through Gougane Barra with us in this video here, or read more about the legend of St. Finbarr here. 

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Tribes of Ireland

Up to the end of the 12th century, Ireland was an island of tribes and small kingdoms. Many modern Irish surnames can trace their origins back to these various tribes – does your surname come from a specific clan? Read more about the Tribes of Ireland here – and see if you can spot your own surname in the mix!

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“Short Stories in Irish for Beginners” by Olly Richards/Patricia Nic Eoin

Looking to brush up on your Irish language skills? “Short Stories in Irish” by Olly Richards & Patricia Nic Eoin (from allaboutirish.ie) allows you to flex your Irish reading skills and expand your vocabulary in a fun way. With many skill levels available, you can read for your own pleasure, or use it as a valuable stepping stone on your learning journey – or do both! Check out the book on Amazon. 

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Ceart go leor”

Which directly translates to “Correct enough” or in other words “Okay/alright”.

This is one you can get a lot of use out of!

Click here to listen to how a native Irish speaker would say it.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Handwritten notes are a rarity in this digital age, but no email can beat the thoughtfulness and sincerity of a handwritten ‘Thank You’ note. This colorful pack of ‘Thank You’ cards from Pawpear feature unique illustrations of iconic Irish landmarks, such as the Giant’s Causeway and the Poulnabrone dolmen in the Burren. Any recipient would be delighted to receive these! They also create other stationary and paper items. Check out their store here.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What is the hardest key to turn?”

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!