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"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors."
-Edmund Burke

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Shop for the best of Irish products from the comfort of your home

We combed the internet to find reliable resources for the most popular Irish products: Aran Isle sweaters, Guinness glasses, Waterford Crystal, genuine blackthorn walking sticks, the flag of the Republic and more. Some of these shops have become friends; others we trust from their reputations and some offer products that are completely unique. We hope you enjoy browsing through what's on offer and We are confident you will find gifts for any occasion or person, all with an Irish flair.



Last call for Ireland's phone boxes?
by Mattie Lennon

The day of the familiar Irish phone box is drawing to a close. Earlier this year the powers-that-be decided to reduce the number of post boxes from 4,850 to 2,699. Since usage of the public phone has fallen by 80% in the past five years, how long before the total demise of the phone box?






Two Weeks in Heaven - Ireland 2009
by Jane Fadely

Somewhere, out at the edges, the night
Is turning and the waves of darkness
Begin to brighten the shores of dawn.
The heavy dark falls back to earth
And the free air goes wild with light,
The heart fills with fresh, bright breath
And thoughts stir to give birth to colour.
~John O’Donohue, Benedictus




Poetry Corner: Joseph Mary Plunkett (b. Nov. 21, 1887 - d. May 4, 1916)

...was born in Dublin and educated at Catholic University School, Belvedere College and Stonyhurst College.
For a while he was editor of the Irish Review.
He was a close friend of Thomas MacDonagh and Padraic Pearse, noted Irish poets. Along with MacDonagh and Edward Martyn, he co-founded the Irish Theatre. 

During the 1916 Rising he was one of the signers of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. He was imprisoned by the English army in the Richmond Barracks. Shortly before his execution in the courtyard of Kilmainham jail, on the morning of May 4th, he married his fiance, Grace Gifford, in the jail's chapel. He died at the age of 28. One of the best known romantic tragedies, his marriage to Grace has become both song and fable.







In My Father's Time
by Mattie Lennon

It was 1959. The National Council for The Blind of Ireland gave my visually impaired mother a wireless. It was our first radio. At the time my contemporaries were clued in to the highlights of Radio Luxemburg and the Light Programme. But, always one to live in the past, I had a preference for the folk programmes on Radio Eireann. My adrenalin was really let loose by the prologue to one in particular:




Preparing the Puddings
by Bridget Haggerty

At our house, my mother served three different kinds of Christmas pudding. Not all at the same time, mind you. If we could afford it, which was seldom in my memory, she’d begin making an incredibly rich version weeks before the big day; when times were lean, which was often, we had a much simpler dessert which could be made on Christmas Eve, or even on Christmas. Then, there were the really hard years, when we had a commercially-made travesty that came in a tin...




The Irish Kitchen: Irish Christmas Goose

The following is adapted from recipes created by Irish chefs, Herb and Christine Quigley, of Ballycormac House, Co. Tipperary. Christine recommends that when you buy the goose, you calculate one lb per person as opposed to half a pound per person for turkey. She also recommends that you buy a bird which was raised outdoors because it will be a lot less fatty.







Basic Irish: The Big Dinner

With the holidays right around the corner, this month's lesson focuses on the all-important festive feast. Our resident Irish speaker gave this offering a most appropriate title: An Dinnéar Mór - The Big Dinner.
Photo Credit: Ivan Elsas








Kids' Ireland: The Story of Sadhbh
by Grainne Rowland

Not long after the twin wolfhounds, Sceolan (shkih-oh-lawn) and Bran came to live with Finn, they went out hunting with their master and the Fianna. They came across a young deer and gave chase. But, much to their surprise, the deer was very fast of foot and easily outran most of the men. At last, only Finn, Bran, and Sceolan were still chasing the deer. Finn was getting tired and was ready to stop when Bran and Sceolan gave a bark. When Finn drew close to the dogs, he saw that the deer had stopped and was resting quietly. The dogs were laying beside her, resting their heads on her soft hide.








Music Review: Beoga - "The Incident.”
by William Ramoutar

Lively Does It! A lad from a record company once told me "the hardest sell is a band without a singer.”  And if you think of it, it might make sense, if all their tunes sounded the same.  But Beoga which means "lively" in Gaeilge (from the Irish), hardly have a tune that sounds like another one. And now what do they have on their latest offering, "The Incident", but a little firebrand of their own, in the shape (nice shape!) of Niamh Dunne.




Letters
We receive many lovely letters from visitors to our web site and subscribers to our newsletter. As we’re fond of saying, your feedback helps to make all of the time and effort worth while. While we have a Readers Write Page where we post comments from time to time, we’ve decided to also select a Letter of the Month - one that, for whatever reason, tickled our fancy.



Hello,

I have finally been able to make time to do the trivia again!  The trivia contest is one of my favorite aspects of your site as it gives me a chance to learn things I never would have thought of otherwise.  Thank you for you great site and all the enjoyment you provide by giving it to us.  God bless you throughout the New year and every year.

Tex

Book Cover: So You Think You're Irish by Margaret Kelleher.

Image: The Letter by Kirsten Soderlind, Note card from All Posters
Caption: We lost a lot when we stopped writing letters. You can't reread a phone call.
To read our previous letters, please click Letters



Live Music from Mayo

A link to the internet service from Midwest Radio out of Mayo. Broadcasting from their state of the art studios; Midwest Irish Radio plays nothing but the best Irish music. No matter where you are in the world, you are never too far from Ireland when you listen in.
Click here for: Irish Midwest radio.



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The November Trivia contest is posted! Our apologies for the delay. Please click here for the Trivia Contest.