Ireland: The Emerald Isle
The Emerald Isle The following verse contains the first printed example of the term ‘Emerald Isle’ being used in reference to Ireland. William Drennan, a Belfast born poet, was also…
Ireland, The Island of Saints and Scholars
Though there were some Christians already in Ireland before the coming of Saint Patrick in 432 A.D., it was the success of his mission converting the island that the Irish…
Mná na hÉireann | Women of Ireland in History and Mythology
Were the rights of women really so good in ancient Ireland? You will hear this fact repeated often, but is it true? With a bit of research we find the…
14 Ancient Names for Ireland (Video)
The Names of Ireland An Ainmneacha na hÉireann With a land as ancient as this, it should come as no surprise to learn that the place we call ‘Ireland’ was…
Under the Brehon Laws: Family, Children, and the Status of Women in Early Ireland
Ireland's Brehon Laws teach us about the central importance of the family, the role of children, and the rights of women in ancient Irish and medieval history. The Brehon Laws…
We (really) need to talk about Ireland
I remember coming across this production about two years ago and how the content struck a deep chord with me. It was the sort of production that one could imagine…
Dublin or Baile Átha Cliath? Blackpool or the Ford of Hurdles? On the Name Origins of Ireland’s Capital City
Dublin offers one of the most striking examples in Irish place-name history, a capital city where the English name and the native Irish name describe two entirely different things. Most…
Map of Ireland in the Heroic Times Depicting the Sites of Many Legends
Below you can find the Map of Ireland in the Heroic Times, found in Standish O'Grady's History of Ireland. It visualises the key sites and locations from Irish mythology showing…
34 Irish Names from Ancient Myth and History
ÁED m Ancient Irish, Irish Mythology Older form of AODH. ÁEDÁN m Ancient Irish, Irish Mythology Older form of AODHÁN. This was the name of a 6th-century king of the…
On the Formation of the Irish Counties
How and When were the 32 Irish Counties formed? THE division of Ireland into shires or counties is of Anglo-Norman and English origin. The counties generally represent the older native…