St. Valentine, Irish royal families, and how to express your love in Irish

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
Whitefriar Street Church, County Dublin. (See it on a map here.)

Valentine’s Day is upon us once more! Have you made any plans with your loved one yet? Well, if you ever happen to find yourself in Dublin on this special day, be sure to drop by the Whitefriar Street Church (The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel). This church houses the remains and relics of St. Valentine himself, and many couples visit to ask for his blessing as they embark on this new journey together. Check out this video of St. Valentines’ shrine here, or listen to our podcast episode where we talk more about St. Valentine. 

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FEATURED IRISH SURNAMES – Two Royal Families of Ireland

Do you have an O’Neill or an O’Connor in your family tree? Or maybe even both! These are only two of some of the most popular Irish surnames. But did you know that both surnames trace their origins from two very prominent Irish royal families? Learn more about these royal clans here.

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BOOK I’M READING NOW
“My Father Left Me Ireland” by Michael Brendan Dougherty 

A moving memoir about identity and belonging. Raised in New Jersey by his Irish-American mother, with a distant father in Dublin, Dougherty explores his complicated relationship with his Irish heritage through a series of letters to his father. The book transforms from a personal journey into a broader exploration of cultural identity. Check out the book on Amazon. 

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Tá grá agam duit”

Which translates to “I Love You.”

Surprise your loved one this Valentines with plenty more ways to say “I Love You” in Irish!.

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

Meet Christopher Tuohy, a craftsman who brings Irish woodworking tradition into the modern home. From his workshop in Cork City, he handcrafts beautiful, made-to-order, freestanding furniture, transforming raw wood into unique, functional pieces. This ash-wood stool with handwoven seagrass cord caught our eye immediately with its wonderful use of contrast. 
Check out his shop here. 

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“What is full of holes but can hold water?”

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!