Is there gold in the rivers of County Wicklow? According to Gerry Stanley of the Geological Society of Ireland it would take you at least two years to collect enough gold to have a ring made – but it wasn’t always so. In September 1795 a 682 gram single nugget of gold, enough to make 100 rings, was found near […]
This hidden tourist destination in County Westmeath, Ireland is well worth a visit. The island of Ireland is packed full of wonderful places to visit. Of course most visitors do not venture off the beaten track, visiting the most popular attractions like the The Guinness Brewery, The Cliffs of Moher or the Blarney Stone. However, […]
An evocative poem of times past in rural Ireland. This poem was born out of Kavanagh’s loneliness and solitude and he penned it having spent a Christmas season alone in his flat in Dublin. The poem is filled with nostalgia for a disappearing Ireland and his memories come to us through Christian imagery from the […]
Can Guys Wear Claddagh Rings? Although the legendary story of the claddagh ring’s roots tells us that the very first one was created for a woman, the Irish jewelry’s iconic design featuring a crown, heart, and pair of hands is not exclusively for female wearers. The symbolic representation of love, loyalty, and friendship has made […]
Is there really gold in Ireland? When we think of gold mining, the country of Ireland does not immediately spring to mind. However, the ancient inhabitants of the Emerald Isle had been mining gold thousands of years ago. So much so, that more bronze age gold hoards have been found in Ireland than anywhere else […]
It is hard to beat the romantic gesture of presenting a Claddagh ring as a token of your affections on Saint Valentine’s Day. The heart, hands and crown that feature in this famous Irish ring give meaning to any relationship, regardless of whether a couple have been married for years or yet to go on […]
“My people… Before I was changed… They exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It’s a Claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty… And the heart… Well, you know… Wear it with the heart pointing towards you. It means you belong to somebody. Like this. Put it on.” With these words, the […]
We look at the pagan origins of Halloween in County Meath County Meath is known as the Royal County for good reason. The seat of`the High King of Ireland is located at the center of the County and at one time the kingdom was powerful enough to rival the other four provinces of Ireland as […]
The home of The Claddagh ring, Galway and the Fishing village of The Claddagh have changed much throughout the years but still retain the charm of times past. To take a stroll along the medieval streets of Galway down throught the Spanish Arch to the fishing village of Claddagh nestled by the banks of the […]
In the times before Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, Pagan beliefs and traditions held sway. Celtic pagan festivals were celebrated throughout the year according to the cycles of The Sun. The spring and fall equinoxes and of course the shortest and longest days of the year held particular significance. Traditionally bonfires were lit in […]