Articles about Irish heritage, travel, genealogy, local history, ancestral places, culture, landscapes, and practical planning for exploring Ireland.
The Knights Templar in Scotland and Ireland were medieval religious warriors. They were also estate managers and landholders. Their houses helped support the wider crusading world. In Scotland, their best-known center stood at Balantrodoch, now Temple in Midlothian. In Ireland,…
This isn’t abstract history for me. In 1925 and 1926, both of my grandfathers were Scottish immigrants in Pennsylvania’s anthracite region. My dad and several uncles were with them. They came over from Scotland and went straight into the anthracite…
Mount Falcon Estate is a historic estate property in County Mayo, Ireland, near Ballina and Foxford in the Moy Valley. This article uses Mount Falcon Estate as a real case study in Irish genealogy method. It begins with one verified…
Clifden Castle is a ruined Gothic Revival manor house. It is castellated and located on the outskirts of Clifden in the Connemara region of County Galway, Ireland. It was built for local landowner John D’Arcy, who is widely credited as…
Brian Boru was a medieval Irish king who became High King of Ireland in 1002 and died in 1014. His power base lay in Munster and along the River Shannon around Killaloe, on the Clare and Tipperary border. His most…
Duckett’s Grove Carlow is a ruined Gothic Revival “big house” and estate courtyard. It is located in County Carlow, Ireland, near Carlow town and the village of Palatine. The site is best known for its dramatic towers and the shell…
A Northern Ireland vacation is a one-week trip focused on Northern Ireland (UK). The trip uses Belfast as the base for day trips to the coast, countryside, and historic cities. Belfast is in County Antrim. It sits within practical driving…
If you have been Googling red hair festival Ireland and wondering whether you should start booking flights, you are in the right place. This update is written for the reader who loved my original guide, The Irish Redhead Convention, and…
The gallowglass warriors of Ireland still feel close when you stand on a windy headland and look up at a stone stronghold that once guarded a sea-road. (You will also see the spelling “galloglass” in some sources (including The Galloglass…