Did you know that Cork is the largest county in Ireland (both north and south)? The surnames of that county are the subject of today’s Letter from Ireland.

Laurel & Hardy and An Irish American Hero (#721)

This episode of the Letter from Ireland podcast has a Hollywood theme! Not just Hollywood however, we tell two stories behind recently released movies with a strong connection to Ireland. So, what do Laurel & Hardy, Steven Spielburg, Tom Hanks, Mary Black and Carina Collins all have in common? They all feature in this week’s…

The Evolution of Irish Surnames – Where your Irish Surname fits

In this article, we look at Irish Surnames – their origins and evolution. See if you can find the Irish surnames in your family tree in one of the sections below.

Do You Know this Irish American Hero?

We have just arrived back from a very successful visit to Chicago and Milwaukee – and took full advantage of the movies on offer in the airplane. One in particular caught my attention – it was a new film by Steven Spielberg. The director of Jaws and Schindler’s list always offers some great entertainment. In…

The Penal Laws – and A Tale of Love and Loss

GREETINGS FROM THE LARGEST COUNTY IN IRELAND Cork is, by far, the largest county in Ireland, so it’s not a surprise many of our readers have a County Cork ancestor. Within its boundaries, it has mountain ranges, dramatic shorelines, expansive bogs, fertile land, long rivers, a wide range of market towns and ports as well…