The Isle of Kerrera sits just off Scotland’s west coast, and yet it feels like a world apart. When the ferry pulls away from Oban, you leave the mainland rhythm behind. On Kerrera you sense a calmer pulse: sheep grazing,…
You enter a landscape that blends quiet drama with centuries of human history when you walk the Falls of Acharn. The trail leads you through wooded slopes above Loch Tay. It continues into a steep gorge carved by the Acharn…
Historical Origin and Clan Power Cratloekeel Castle rises quietly from a limestone ridge near the village of Cratloe in County Clare, Ireland. It was built by the MacNamara clan in the late 1400s or early 1500s. Tower houses like this…
St Conan’s Kirk, on the north shore of Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, stands as one of the most imaginative and visually commanding churches in the country. Built between 1881 and 1930 by architect Walter Douglas Campbell, the…
The town of Scituate, Massachusetts is nestled on Massachusetts’ South Shore. It is about 25 miles south of Boston. The town carries the affectionate nickname “Irish Riviera.” Nearly half its residents claim Irish ancestry. This gives the town a vibrant…
Introduction: Ireland’s Hidden Coal Heritage When people think of coal mining, they picture Wales or the Scottish pits of Fife. Yet Ireland, too, once sent men underground into damp seams and narrow tunnels in search of black fuel. Coal seams…
Introduction Across the calm surface of Scotland’s Loch Lomond runs a story shaped by human courage, error, and endurance. Beneath the mirrored slopes of Ben Lomond, there are traces of Loch Lomond boat accidents. These are moments when the loch…
One of the great joys of family history research is when relatives from across the ocean come for a visit. The Cappie family’s trip in 1982 from Scotland to Scranton was one such memorable occasion. The Cappies consisted of George,…
Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow is home to Scotland’s oldest surviving churchyard, a place where centuries converge in stone. This remarkable site is known for its rare Viking-era Hogback graves. It also showcases the beautifully carved Govan Sarcophagus. Additionally,…
The Knap of Howar on the island of Papa Westray in Orkney is considered the oldest standing stone house in northern Europe. This Neolithic dwelling predates even Skara Brae by several centuries and offers a rare window into life around…
