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Black 47 Review

The movie “Black 47” is making quite an impression. The title is a reference to 1847, the worst year of the famine that saw a million people die and some two million uprooted. In this post I’ll give my Black 47 review, my thoughts and impressions on this famine era, western styled film. It is […]

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Saint Patrick’s Tour

Day 1 We will pick you up at Dublin airport and bring you to The Merrion Hotel, in Dublin city centre. After checking in and refreshing, your tour would begin with a visit to the Guinness brewery, followed by a visit to Trinity College, where the famous Book Of Kells is on display, then to […]

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The meaning of the Irish Counties

Ever wonder what the Irish language county names we see on football jerseys and road signs actually mean?   Ireland’s long history of native kingdoms, which were supplanted by assorted invaders (Vikings, Norse, English, golf-playing American tourists) has had a profound effect on the country’s place names. Check out these English translations of Irish county […]

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The Brehon Laws

A superb new book explains Ireland’s ancient Brehon Laws in fine detail. Written by San Francisco attorney Catherine Duggan, who has studied the laws extensively, the book called The Lost Laws of Ireland is available from GlasnevinPublishing.com in Ireland.   As Duggan noted, the laws governed Ireland for over a millennium and she has synthesized […]

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Trinity College

Trinity College is Ireland’s most prestigious college – and although its rivals at University College Dublin might dispute this, it’s probably the best university in Ireland. But one thing not up for argument is the magnificent setting of Trinity: many of its majestic buildings are hundreds of years old. (The college was founded by England’s Queen Elizabeth […]

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Beautiful Irish Tours: Kerry

Irish Name: Ciarraí – “people of Ciar” Nickname: The Kingdom Population: 145,500 Area: 1,832 square miles Province: Munster County Town: Tralee GAA Colors: Green and Gold Common Surnames in Kerry: Brennan, Browne, O’Sullivan, O’Connor, Shea, Murphy, McCarthy, Moriarty, Fitzgerald, O’Connell, Donoghue, Griffin Famous People with Kerry roots: Gregory Peck, St. Brendan the Navigator, Daniel O’Connell, Thomas Ashe, Tom Murphy, Mike Quill, Jerome Connor, Tom […]

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Visiting Ireland: Meath

Irish Name: an Mhí – “The Middle” Nickname: The Royal County Population: 184,000 Area: 904 square miles Province: Leinster County Town: Navan GAA Colors: Green and Gold Common Surnames: Reilly, Smith, Lynch, Brady, Farrell, Farrelly, Kelly, Brien, Daly and Maguire. Famous People with Meath roots: Pierce Brosnan, Duke of Wellington, Jonathan Smith, Saint Oliver Plunkett, […]

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Irish Chauffeur Tours: Dublin

Irish Name: Baile Átha Cliath meaning “town of the hurdled ford” or Duibhlinn meaning “black pool” Nickname: The Dubs, Jackeens, The Big Schmoke Population: 1,270,603 million Area: 356 square miles Province: Leinster County Town: Dublin GAA Colors: Sky blue and navy Common Surnames: Aungier, Barnwall, Begg, Bermingham, Bissett, Brien, Byrne, Cappoc,  Casey, Connor, Donoghue, Doyle, […]

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Tours of Ireland: Clare

Irish Name: Contae an Chlair Nickname: Banner County Population: Approx 120,000 people Area:  1,300 square miles Province: Munster County Town: Ennis GAA Colors: Saffron and Blue Common Surnames: The more common surnames in County Clare include McMahon, McNamara, O’Brien, Moloney, Ryan, Kelly, Mclnerney, O’Connor, Keane, O’Halloran, Hogan, Burke, Murphy, Lynch and Walsh. Famous People with Clare roots: Brian Boru – High King of […]

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