Seán Ó Coileáin had definitely settled here by 1977 because he states in a manuscript that he was “in Castle Ire House” in that year when he was writing the genealogy of the O’Donovan Clan. It is almost certain that he spent most of the rest of his life in […]

Daniel Corkery refers to ‘Irish’ Ireland in the eighteenth century, that is the country outside of Dublin and the larger towns, as the “hidden Ireland” in his book of the same title. He refers to it as that “dreadful century during which our forefathers were tested as never before. He […]

According to an ancient tale, the chieftain, Bricriu, prepared a great feast to which he invited all the Ulster warriors and their women. The feast was sumptuous, consisting of beef broth, roast boar, salmon, honey cakes and many other dishes; to drink, the guests had the finest of ale, the […]

The ever-changing moon was an object of mystery and superstition in Ireland. The old Celtic druids placed great emphasis on the moon and arranged their calendar by it. It was believed that any work or business undertaken when the moon was growing (waxing) would be successful. Work begun when the […]