The Cliffs of Moher, Galloglass Surnames and Irish Leather Goods

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 
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare. (see it on a map here)

Did you know that back in the 1800’s fishermen used to earn a bit of extra money catching birds and their eggs by climbing over the cliff edge? Can you just imagine what life was like there at the time! Watch this video where Carina chats about the cliffs – maybe you’ll recognise the location from one of your own visits?

For Letter from Ireland Plus members: Also check out our County Clare Homelands Feature here for much more.

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FEATURED IRISH NAMES – Galloglass Surnames

This week, we’re once again highlighting the Galloglass, a group of Scottish-Norse mercenaries who first arrived in Ireland in the 13th century to fight alongside the Irish chieftains. Do you have a Galloglass surname in your family? Have a look here – and see if you spot any of your own Irish surnames!

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BOOK I’M READING NOW

“Ireland” by Frank Delaney. This is a must-read that I always find myself going back to! It tells the story of a young boy, Ronan O’Mara, who becomes captivated by vivid narratives of Irish history and legends. Reading about the tales of kings, saints, and myths sparks a lifelong quest in Ronan to reconnect with these rich, cultural stories. Perfect for anyone enchanted by Ireland’s unique heritage! Click here to see the book on amazon.

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IRISH WORD OR PROVERB

“Thugamar féin an samhradh linn“

Which translates to “We brought the summer with us”, a perfect one to fit a bit of Irish into conversation.

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

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IRISH CRAFT/PRODUCT WE LOVE

We are big fans of Mishnóc (pronounced “Mish-knock”) who make quality hand-crafted leather products like bags, belts (we particularly like the belts), leather journal covers, like the ones pictured below, and other pieces in their Galway workshop. Want to see more? Have a look over here.

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RIDDLE OF THE WEEK

“The man that made it never wore it, the man that wore it never saw it.“

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!