When was the last time that you seriously considered a holiday in Ireland for a change, swapping Salou for Sligo or the South of France for the South of Ireland? Some of us have forgotten what it’s like to take a holiday in our own country. Many may not even have been on one since […]

A collection of thoughts and memories on coming home for an Irish Christmas and its special connection with our diaspora. Many things have changed in Ireland, especially in the last decade or more with the ever-increasing involvement of technology and the internet in our daily lives. Then there’s the old adage, ‘the more things change […]

Michael Cusack takes a critical look at the many controversial issues facing Croagh Patrick Mountain today. There’s the continued erosion caused by ever-growing numbers of climbers on the Reek (its nickname) and the inherent dangers that that brings. He asks who is actually responsible for Croagh Patrick as it is not a national park, and what needs to […]

The Fleadh, back in Ennis… Ah, County Clare, Ennis and Irish music, a match made in Trad heaven. The 65th Fleadh kicked off in the town last week and expectations were high and bumper crowds expected, especially after the record-breaking attendance figures since Tullamore 2008, which crowned the event as Ireland’s largest festival. Last year’s […]

What’s it all about? The Willie Clancy week, or Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy to give it its official title (as Gaeilge), is one of Ireland’s longest running Summer Schools (predated only by Scoil Acla, Achill 1910 and The Brian Merriman Summer School also in Clare, 1968) . The week-long Summer School and ‘festival’ of Irish traditional […]

There was a time in Ireland, not that long ago… I’d say pre early 90’s, when coming across people happily playing music and singing in our pubs, heck, for the love of it, was fairly commonplace. Not so much these days, I find. Yes, there are many places, and pockets around the country, where this […]