By Jenny Snook When it was first built, the RMS Titanic was celebrated as the largest ship in the world and allegedly ‘unsinkable’. As we know today, this was untrue, and the ship is now recognised as a symbol of… Continue Reading…

The Irish Viking Age is agreed to have begun c. 795 AD with a raid on Rathlin Island, off the Antrim Coast. The year it ended is signified by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1170 AD. From the time… Continue Reading…

During the 18th century, the condition of most prisons in Ireland was appalling. Overcrowding, starvation and the spread of disease were three common problems. Opened in 1796, Kilmainham Gaol was designed by Sir John Traille, who wanted to encourage criminals… Continue Reading…

With of over 1500 megalithic tombs in Ireland, approximately 150 of these are dolmens or portal tombs. The one located in Poulnabrone, Co. Clare has been classed as the oldest and best-preserved in the country. Situated in the centre of… Continue Reading…

Figures have shown that the main reason 80% of international visitors travelled to Ireland in 2014 was to experience the atmosphere of the Irish pub. 83% revealed that their favourite holiday activity was listening to traditional music inside. Pubs are… Continue Reading…

Luckily, Irish dance is celebrated today as a part of our national heritage which people are proud of. This has a lot to do with the recent success of Riverdance but societies such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann also need to… Continue Reading…

By Jenny Snook While the Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland in the 12th century, their descendants adopted the Gaelic way of life and language. Intermarriage was common and they became known as: More Irish than the Irish themselves. Although they were a… Continue Reading…

Today, the main reason that people visit the town of Blarney, Co. Cork is to kiss the Blarney Stone. According to legend, kissing this stone provides that person with the ‘gift of the gab’ or, power of persuasive speech. The… Continue Reading…

Founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759, by the 1770s Guinness was already selling overseas when most Irish companies were content with domestic sales. In 2018, the Guinness Storehouse made it possible for visitors to have their face imprinted onto the… Continue Reading…

While the shamrock might be the symbol that most people associate with Ireland, the national Irish symbol is the harp. Ireland is the only country in the world represented by a musical instrument. This emblem not only symbolises resistance against… Continue Reading…