Have you ever wondered when the first Irish ancestor to hold your Irish surname lived? How many generations does it go back from yourself? It’s a vexing question for many of us, mostly due to the absence of records here in Ireland from the early 1800s back. I’m settling into a cup of Lyon’s tea as…

The Music of Chief O’Neill

As I write, I can hear the Autumn winds giving the trees their first real shake of the season. An “Indian” summer may be ahead of us, but there is no sight of it at the moment! How is the weather behaving in your own part of the world today? An Irish Warrior Name. Do…

The Penal Laws – and A Tale of Love and Loss

Well, we’re just getting over Saint Patrick’s Day in this part of the world. There were parades all over the place last Thursday – as it is a holiday across the country, most people are off for the day. The weather was a bit nippy – but dry and cheerful – a nice relaxing day…

The Wine Geese of France

A very important occasion has just occurred here in Ireland – the first of the early potatoes have just been harvested. They have a taste like no other – and, as you probably realise, it is a vegetable that has special significance in Irish history. I wrote in an earlier letter about the link between…

The Yew Tree of Ireland

Do you have a favourite tree? Maybe the majestic oak, or graceful willow? In Ireland, the most ancient and revered is the mighty Yew tree, used to guard entrances to homes and cemeteries. In this letter we talk about how a tree came to name both the sons and townlands of Ireland.