I grew up in County Monaghan, in Ulster and I have been profoundly influenced also by Patrick Kavanagh and Seamus Heaney and the love of landscape and placename. Continue reading
Filed under Irish Studies …
A Walk on The Wild Side
Two Dublin men, Eric Moran and Ryan Haran, are, for the first time in its 32 year history, in leading roles in ‘Circe’s Carnival of Vice’. Continue reading
What we are reading at the moment
Ó hEochagáin wryly suggests that Irish car windscreen wipers should have special settings to cater for the variety and intensity of the rain: ‘slow, medium, fast, Irish’. Continue reading
Old Wisdoms, with an Irish cultural twist
The premise of Saskia Levy Rogers’ book is to provide a new look at old wisdoms, with an Irish cultural twist. Continue reading
What’s on May/June and beyond
Scoil Gheimhridh Sydney 2025
The Scoil Gheimhridh Sydney 2025 is a long weekend of Irish language and craic. Come and improve your Irish language skills. The key activity of the weekend is Irish language classes. Other
Irish activities provide a break in a convivial environment. These may include the official opening, table quiz, guest speaker, concert and classes in singing, tin whistle, boardgames or dance. Informal
sessions continue every night. Come and join the fun. Continue reading
The Brothers O’Shea: becoming stardust
We are struck by the extent of the brothers’ influence on both their adopted countries. They made a difference. They added to the community and to the culture. Continue reading
Agallaimh le Scríbhneoirí na Gaeilge/Interviews with Irish Language Writers
Childhood memories, family, grief, the beauty of nature, climate change and war are my main themes. I write to make sense of life and to shape my memories and feelings. I have a lyrical style of writing. Continue reading
Irish homestead names in Australia
While many Irish place names in Australia remain unchanged, especially those of populated areas and permanent geographical features, the names of homesteads are more likely to change. A homestead in Australia is usually a house and pastoral property. Some placename websites separate the homestead from the land, and some call a homestead a ‘station’. Continue reading
Memories of Our Old House
Who can forget the smell of the Ulster fry of bacon, eggs and fadges completely soaked in gravy? Continue reading
Poetry Corner: Michael Boyle, Colette Ní Ghallchóir, Seán Ó Coistealbha, Eda Hamilton
We heard you read local poets
McNiece, Larkin, Rodgers. Told us of
Hewitt’s ox and goat metaphor
for Northern Ireland. Continue reading