You're very welcome to the Island Ireland directory for Irish folk culture.
The following hand-picked links will take you to resources on Irish cooking, customs, myths, folklore, Celtic spirituality, old dress and costume and more. |
| ISLAND IRELAND DOCUMENTS |
Here's our own collections of Irish words of wisdom. Sources range from early texts to modern-day refrigerator magnets...
Irish Toasts
Irish Sayings
Proverbs in English
Irish Blessings
Irish / English Proverbs
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| IRISH MYTHS & FOLKLORE |
| Michael Sundermeier provides some background on the geology, geography and archaeology of ancient Ireland. |
| Loch Ness in Scotland has its famous monster, but here's a site devoted to the lesser-known mystery animals of Ireland... |
| IRISH DRESS & COSTUME |
| Reconstructing History is a friendly, informative site maintained by Kass McGann. It's aimed at serious re-enactors who want accuracy in historical costume... Did the old Irish actually wear 'kilts'? How did they get their clothes a saffron colour? |
| William Wilson provides a document on 16th century Celtic dress which discusses both Scotland and Ireland. |
| Tired of the same old outfits? Fancy adding a Viking tunic to your wardrobe? |
| CELTIC, MEDIEVAL & RENAISSANCE LIFE |
| The SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) is an international organisation dedicated to researching and recreating pre-17th century European history. Members are often 'living history' re-enactors who strive for authenticity in their events, but there's lots of humour too... it's a whole other world! If you're seriously interested in Celtic, ancient, medieval, or renaissance culture (history, clothing and costume, customs, food, combat, heraldry, etc.) visit this extensive site. |
| COLLECTING IRISH FOLKLORE |
| The Department of Irish Folklore at UCD (University College Dublin) carries on the work of the Irish Folklore Commission which had been collecting stories and folk history since the 1930's. Their office is open for public inquiry... |
| IRISH SLANG |
| If you don't understand half of what they're saying in Roddy Doyle's books, visit Gerry Coughlan's Irish Slang site where all will be revealed. (Including, um, many rather 'colourful' phrases.) |
| CELTIC SPIRITUALITY |
| On to a more redeeming topic... Dennis Doyle provides a handy overview of Celtic Christianity in this page of notes from a course he teaches: chronology of the early church, key features, ideas for incorporating ancient elements into modern liturgy, recommended reading and links. |
| 'Among the Cloud of Irish Witnesses: Notes and Suggested Prayers for Commemorations of Worthies of the Irish Church'... George Otto Simms provides a calendar of modern prayers and remembrances for your favourite saints and 'Worthies' such as Saint Brendan, Columbanus, Kevin and more... |
| PUB LIFE & DRINKING |
| Here are the official brewery and distillery sites for Guinness... Murphy's... Beamish & Crawford... Tullamore Dew... Jameson... Bulmer's Cider... |
| The Whiskey Tours site gives information on how whiskey is made, and distilleries and exhibits you can visit. |
| IRISH TRAVELLERS |
| If you want to learn more about the nomadic Irish Traveller community, spend some time at the Exchange House Travellers Service site which includes a FAQ page, personal stories from Traveller teenagers, extensive links to all manner of sites on Travellers and related groups world-wide, and much more. Stuart Garland maintains this excellent online resource. |
| OLD IRISH TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS |
| Irish Culture & Customs is an attractive website created by Bridget Haggerty, the author of The Traditional Irish Wedding. Interesting articles on Irish folklore, legends and customs... |
| Peter Woods writes about hunting the wren, an old St. Stephen's Day custom in rural Ireland. |
| Ruarí Ó Caomhanach provides an interesting article about Irish folk drama, providing historical background, and info on wrenboys, mummers, strawboys, 'whiteboys' and more. |
| TRADITIONAL IRISH CRAFTS |
| Since 1825 they've been doing beautiful white on white embroidery in a small town in County Laois. The tradition of Mountmellick Embroidery continues in the new millennium... |
| How to make a traditional Saint Briget's cross... |
| IRISH COOKING |
| Need some culinary inspiration for St. Patrick's Day? Here's a good collection of recipes for Irish drinks, breads and scones, dinners, vegetables and desserts. |
| Allrecipes.com provides some cookie and candy recipes for St. Patrick's Day. Handy for anytime you need a special Irish treat... |
| OLD IRISH POSTCARDS |
| The Beechams of Nebraska have put up a nice collection of old postcards... general scenes, St. Patrick's Day, and images from Mitchellstown, Clogheen and Clonmel. |
| CLADDAGH RINGS |
| Here's a brief page of background and stories about the claddagh rings of Galway... friendship, love and loyalty. |
| IRISH FOLKLORE TOURS |
| Irish musician and folklore scholar Mick Moloney has been leading tours around Ireland since 1992. The tours are first rate: music every night, talks from local experts, returning back to the hotel in the wee hours to catch a few hours sleep before striking off on the next day's adventure... |
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