Tír
na mBláth
Irish Seisiún Newsletter
Thanks to our past editors - Mary Gallacher
and Bill Padden
Editor Tommy Mac 
............
....Today's date and new proverb
Sunday's Seisiún
for April 20, 2025
‘Tá dúil ár n-anama sa cheol againn.’
Music is our soul’s desire.
.......Thanks again to
Bob Murphy, Pat Quinn, Randy Powell, Art Jacoby, and Kevin Westley
for supplying photos and info about our sessiuns.
.
Beannachtaí na Cásca oraibh
The blessings of Easter to you all
Listen to how it is spoken here
...........
.
Click any of the above logos to go to that site
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"That’s
How I Spell Ireland"
Saturdays at 7 to 8 PM EST.
You can listen on 88.7FM or WRHU.org.
For a request please text me on 917 699-4768.Kevin and Joan Westley
Note: Show will be preempted whenever the NY Islanders have a Saturday game
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Check out their calender
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E-Mails Received
Great job Tom, enjoyed the videos. It was so great to chat with your lovely wife, tell Donna to keep the jokes coming. Anne Creaney-Caulfield
Thanks Anne.....Tommy Mac
Fireny@aol.com
Old Ireland
Old RR Train
I wonder where that young girl is heading?
And look at that rail runnung right through the middle of the train!
Ireland Travel
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Sweeping seascapes -
the Irish hotels with the best views
BY: Tony Clayton-Lea April 08, 2024
TONY CLAYTON-LEA gives the run down on Ireland's top coastal escapes
The view from the Parknasilla Hotel (Wikimedia) -
- Parknasilla Resort & Spa, Sneem, Co. Kerry Set like a work of art on a 500-acre estate, Parknasilla may have changed over the past few decades from a secret kept to a secret shared, but the essential elements that make it a must-visit remain. It's a 19th-century manor house with strong affiliations to Irish writer George Bernard Shaw (its swish restaurant is Pygmalion; its residents bar is Doolittle). Along with bookish connections there is a sturdy link to the elements, which is why we love this place. Something else we love (apart, that is, from the luxury rooms and the supremely classy ambience) is the resort's Guided Seashore Discovery Walk, which is overseen by resident marine biologist Vincent Hyland. Exploring coastal habitats such as sand dunes and underwater areas, you also learn to understand more about the coastal wildlife that thrives here. The something-something else we love about this add-on is that there is no add-on - it's free. www.parknasillaresort.com
Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, Co. Clare (Tourism Ireland)
Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, Co. Clare In the 18th century, Armada House was known as a 'gentleman's residence', but is now open to all. Inclusiveness aside, we like the cut of this Armada's jib. For starters, they do what every other hotel and guesthouse should do: provide their customers with complimentary tea and coffee in the lounge areas. You'll need that because the windswept beauty of Mal's Bay and its stunning beaches might just knock the stuffing out of you. The hotel also provides (perhaps not for free - you'll need to check) day hampers, which you'll definitely need if you're heading to the beach to relax as you watch those ridiculously slim surfers slide in towards the sand. www.armadahotel.com
Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co. Waterford
Your first glance at the five-star Cliff House Hotel will surely make you ask the following question: how on earth did the builders manage to fit the hotel right into the cliff face? To say it is perched on the cliff is an understatement, but there you have it. Luckily, the crystal clear and generally calm waters of Ardmore Bay are there to soothe away any anxious moments.. As are the Cliff House rooms, all of which have stunning sea views. Factor in the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, House (overseen by Chef Patron Tony Parkin), and what are you waiting for? www.cliffhousehotel.ie
Redcastle Oceanfront Golf & Spa Hotel, Co. Donegal
Another hotel that has recently undergone a significant renovation (to the highly pleasing tune of €500,000), you might think all you need to know about the place is its 'let's-mention-everything-we-do' title, but there's more, thankfully. Firstly, its location on the edge of the craggy Inishowen Peninsula directly oversees Lough Foyle, so if it's sandy beaches and seascapes you're after then you have surely come to the right hotel. www.redcastlehoteldonegal.com
Inchydoney Island Hotel (Wikimedia Commons)
Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Clonakilty, Co. Cork Inchydoney has many selling points - the rooms have panoramic views of the sea, the Gulfstream restaurant is a byword for elegance, and the selection of thalassotherapy treatments in the seriously well-appointed Island Spa. The USP, however, is its location on a minor bluff that divides the generous ribbon of beach. You pay your money, and you take your choice, of course, so if you want to stay on dry land and drink in the views with your eyes then that's fine. You would, however, be missing what we think is the best and smoothest stretch of sand in Ireland. www.inchydoneyisland.com
Kelly's Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co. Wexford
Kelly's is a family-operated luxury four-star property that has an operational calmness to it thanks to the super organised father-and-daughter combo of Bill and Laura. Because of the hotel's family-oriented friendliness, this is perhaps the best place in which to spoil your children - not only is there a leisure centre for the rainy days, but if it's dry there are five miles of soft, golden beach. After the kids (and, indeed, the adults) finish building sand castles, pop inside and walk slowly around the hotel to gaze at its superb art collection. www.kellys.ie
Slieve Donard Hotel with the Mournes behind (courtesy of Tourism Ireland)
Slieve Donard Resort & Spa, Newcastle, Co. Down
It's true what Percy French sings: the Mountains of Mourne really do sweep down to the sea. This hotel has recently experienced a lush makeover courtesy of new owners Marine and Lawn. Originally built in the late 1800s by the Belfast and County Down Railway as a 'final stop' luxury destination, the hotel (now fully refurbished in keeping with the Victorian characteristics of décor and design) is wonderfully located at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. Many of the 180 renovated rooms provide vistas over the mountains and the Co. Down coastline, so prepare yourself for old-school ambience and forever scenes to dream about. www.marineandlawn.com/slievedonard
Ocean Sands Hotel & Spa, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo
We have been to the Oceans Sands more than once - the first was in the winter, the second during the summer. On each occasion, the miles of beach on the hotel's doorstep rolled out like the biggest golden carpet you've ever seen. Admittedly, the first time we set foot on the beach we were wrapped up and protected against the coldest of bitter winds, but the majesty of the location supported our walk from one end of the beach to the other. As for the summer visit - well, knock me down with a feather, but the sun beamed out from the sky and there wasn't a breeze that we didn't lean into. The beach, like every beach we have strolled along, comes into its own before the crowds arrive and after they depart. Check in here for a couple of nights, have a drink from the bar overlooking the silky strand, and you'll know all about downtime. www.theoceansandshotel.ie
Arriving on Inis Mea?in (Wikimedia Commons)
Karst House, Inis Meáin, Aran Islands, Co. Galway
Karst House might be a new name to some, but long-time observers of Irish coastal getaways might recall its previous title of Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites. Although still operated by Aran Islands native Ruairi de Blacam and his partner Marie-Thérèse, a twist to the airy, contemporary property is that Karst House now offers longer stays on Inis Meáin. The previously much-acclaimed restaurant may have been replaced with an equally fine-dining deli service, but nature in all its thunderous splendour hasn't changed one iota: other worldly, cobweb-blasting, unforgettable. www.inismeain.com/houses/karst-house
The Garryvoe Hotel, Ballylongane, Co. Cork
Despite the onslaught if not assault of contemporary living, it is in many ways reassuring that tradition has never gone out of fashion. Say a suitably conventional hello, then, to the Garryvoe Hotel, which has been on the same beachfront for about 120 years (and which has recently undergone a substantial interior design transformation by Douglas Wallace Consultants). Actually, when we say 'beachfront', what we really mean is that the hotel stands proudly at the edge of five miles of a yellow-fringed shoreline. While you're there, not experiencing the views towards Ballycotton Bay, the island, and the sun glinting off the sea surface in the morning isn't an option. After you have walked the legs off yourself from one end of the beach to the other, you might just be inclined to snack. We are happy to report that the hotel's Lighthouse Bar will fulfil (with the emphasis on the second syllable) your needs and satisfy your hunger pangs. As if that wasn't good enough, the hotel also has a new leisure centre as well as plans for a new spa area. Go Garryvoe! www.garryvoehotel.co
www.irishpost.com/travel/sweeping-seascapes-the-irish-hotels-with-the-best-views-270690
Travel Quiz
Can you identify this site and it's location in Ireland?
Answer in next week's Newsletter
Last weeks Travel Quiz answer
Grand Canal
Dublin
Irish Language
submitted by our own Anita
The official status of the Irish language has remained high in the Republic of Ireland from foundation. This reflects the dominance of the language in Irish cultural and social history until the nineteenth century and its role in Irish cultural identity.
In 2022, strong recognition was added in Northern Ireland also. In the 2022 Republic of Ireland census 1,873,997 people or 39.8% of the population in the Republic of Ireland said that they had some ability to speak Irish, out of an overall population of 5,149,139.
In Northern Ireland 228,600 people (12.4%) have some ability in the Irish language according to the 2021 census for Northern Ireland, out of a population of 1,903,175 people.
It has been found, however, that while ideological support for Irish is high, actual routine use is very low, and that there is very little or rare correlation between personal fluency in the language and the perceived value of Irish as an identity-marker.
Nevertheless, the language benefits from the support of activists who continue to use it as a social and cultural medium.
Here is how we count "as gaeilge"
1. a h-aon (ah hane)
2. a do (ah tho)
3. a tri (ah three)
4. a ceathair (ah kahir)
5. a cuig (ah cooig)
6. a se (ah shay)
7. a seacht (ah shacht)
8. a h-ocht (ah hocht)
9. a naoi (ah knee)
10. a deich (ah jeh)
Le dea-ghui,
Anita
Free Irish Classes
The classes are over zoom and are held at 12:00 eastern time the 1 st Sunday of every month.
It is basic conversational Irish and open to learners of all ages, especially beginners.
All are invited either to participate privately or to meet at Tim Finnegans at 12:00 prior to the regular Sunday session.
Hope to see you there!
slan go foill. Le dea ghui,
Anita
click here to register
..
Boxty
Irish Potato Pancakes made with grated potato and mashed potato in the batter.
Author: Irish American Mom
Ingredients
1 cup mashed potatoes
2 potatoes cooked and mashed
1½ cups grated raw potato
2 medium potatoes
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1½ cups buttermilk may require less depending on moisture in potatoes "
2 ounces butter
Instructions
1. Peel and cut the potatoes for the mash into quarters. Cover with water in a medium saucepan, and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover with the lid and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain and mash.
2. Grate the other potatoes. Place a cheesecloth over a bowl and add the grated potatoes. Gather the cheesecloth in a ball. Over the bowl, squeeze the excess fluid and starch from the grated potatoes. Discard the fluid.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine the mashed potato and grated potato. Sift the flour, salt and baking soda into the bowl. Combine well with the potatoes.
4. Add one cup of buttermilk to the potato/flour mixture and stir well to form a thick batter. Add additional buttermilk, up to ½ cup if the mixture is too thick.
5. Melt the butter in an 8 inch round saute pan. Pour half the mixture into the pan. The pancake should be close to one inch high. Cook on each side over low heat until brown and crispy. This takes 12 to 15 minutes per side.
6. Alternatively cook one 12 inch round pancake, or 8 to 10 small pancakes about 3 inches in diameter. 7. Serve hot with melted butter and a side of bacon or sausage if desired.
Enjoy
If you have a cherished family Irish recipie share it with us.
And if there's a story that goes with it.....even
better! mail click here
Fireny@aol.com
filíocht pronounced FILL-ee-uhkht meaning Poetry
Easter, 1916
By William Butler Yeats
I have met them at close of day
Coming with vivid faces
From counter or desk among grey
Eighteenth-century houses.
I have passed with a nod of the head
Or polite meaningless words,
Or have lingered awhile and said
Polite meaningless words,
And thought before I had done
Of a mocking tale or a gibe
To please a companion
Around the fire at the club,
Being certain that they and I
But lived where motley is worn:
All changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.
That woman's days were spent
In ignorant good-will,
Her nights in argument
Until her voice grew shrill.
What voice more sweet than hers
When, young and beautiful,
She rode to harriers?
This man had kept a school
And rode our wingèd horse;
This other his helper and friend
Was coming into his force;
He might have won fame in the end,
So sensitive his nature seemed,
So daring and sweet his thought.
This other man I had dreamed
A drunken, vainglorious lout.
He had done most bitter wrong
To some who are near my heart,
Yet I number him in the song;
He, too, has resigned his part
In the casual comedy;
He, too, has been changed in his turn,
Transformed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.
Hearts with one purpose alone
Through summer and winter seem
Enchanted to a stone
To trouble the living stream.
The horse that comes from the road,
The rider, the birds that range
From cloud to tumbling cloud,
Minute by minute they change;
A shadow of cloud on the stream
Changes minute by minute;
A horse-hoof slides on the brim,
And a horse plashes within it;
The long-legged moor-hens dive,
And hens to moor-cocks call;
Minute by minute they live:
The stone's in the midst of all.
Too long a sacrifice
Can make a stone of the heart.
O when may it suffice?
That is Heaven's part, our part
To murmur name upon name,
As a mother names her child
When sleep at last has come
On limbs that had run wild.
What is it but nightfall?
No, no, not night but death;
Was it needless death after all?
For England may keep faith
For all that is done and said.
We know their dream; enough
To know they dreamed and are dead;
And what if excess of love
Bewildered them till they died?
I write it out in a verse—
MacDonagh and MacBride
And Connolly and Pearse
Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.
AI Overview "Easter, 1916," by W.B. Yeats, is a poem that explores the Irish Easter Rising of 1916 and the aftermath.
The poem grapples with themes of nationalism, sacrifice, and the complexities of Irish identity.
Yeats expresses his ambivalence towards the uprising, recognizing the rebels' dedication while questioning their actions.
The poem ultimately celebrates the "terrible beauty" born from the rebellion, recognizing the historical significance of the event and the transformation it brought.
Listen to Liam Neeson read WB Yeats' Easter 1916
"seanchaí"
(pronounced "shan-a-key")
comes from the Irish words "sean" meaning old and "caí" meaning to tell.
Stories and Tales
Brian Ború,
the first and only true High King of Ireland.
Hi Thomas,
Ireland’s history is filled with great warriors and kings, but few are as legendary as Brian Ború, the first and only true High King of Ireland.
Born around the year 940 in Munster, Brian was the youngest son of Cennedig, leader of the Dal Cais clan. He grew up when Norse invaders ruled much of the island and sadly lost his mother in a Norse raid. When his own brother, Mahon, was willing to accept terms to keep peace with the Norse, Brian refused.
He led a small band of fighters, launching guerrilla raids against Norse settlements. Though his Dalcassian army was usually outnumbered, he was a brilliant tactician which led to many successes. Brian Ború border
Eventually, Brian reconciled with Mahon and defeated the Norse ruler Ivar of Limerick. But peace didn’t last, as Ivar returned years later and had Mahon assassinated.
To avenge his brother’s death, Brian challenged Ivar to single combat and killed him, stamping out Norse influence in Munster for good. From there, Brian defeated his rivals in Cashel and Connaught, and was crowned as the King of Munster.
Another Irish rival of Brian's at that time was Malachy II of the Uí Néill, King of Tara, who controlled Meath and was recognised as the High King of Ireland at the time.
It seemed a clash between Malachy and Brian Ború was inevitable, but the two leaders reached a compromise in 998.
Malachy would rule the North of Ireland, and Brian the South. Malachy stepped aside peacefully just four years later, when he was unable to gather enough support to challenge Brian’s growing power.
And so, in 1002, Brian Ború became the first (and only) High King to rule over Ireland in its entirety.
The Battle of Clontarf "
The Battle of Clontarf" by Hugh Frazer border
The greatest challenge to his rule came in 1013 when the Dublin Vikings and the King of Leinster, Mael Morda, rebelled against the High King. This rebellion was backed by other Vikings from as far away as Orkney, Iceland, and Normandy.
Brian’s forces met them at the Battle of Clontarf on Good Friday, 1014. His son led his army to victory in the battle, but Brian, too old to fight, was tragically killed in his camp by a fleeing Viking.
The High King's Legacy
Though his death marked the end of Ireland’s unity under one High King, Brian’s victory broke Viking military power for good. The Norse remained as settlers and traders, but never again as conquerors. Malachy II resumed his rule as the High King of Tara and Ireland, while leaving Munster to be ruled by the Dal Cais.
With the anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf this week, I wanted to remember the story of the only High King to unite Celtic Ireland under one rule. I hope you enjoyed!
Want more stories and info on Irish music and culture? Go have a look at our fantastic blog!
Slán go fóill,
Paraic McNeela
McNeela Instruments
5-Tune Friday
Hi Thomas,
Paraic here with this week’s Five Tune Friday! This week, we're tapping into the festivities of Easter for a mix of deep-rooted traditions and important events that shaped who we are in Ireland today.
From joyful reels and moving airs to tunes that dive into both faith and history, there’s something here to suit every mood and moment of the weekend ahead.
Let’s have a look and see! border
"The Merry Days of Easter" – Reel
What better way to start than with "The Merry Days of Easter", a joyful, upbeat reel to kick off the weekend and its festivities. This version is played on tin whistle by Stephen Ducke, and even includes whistle tabs so you can follow along and learn as you go. A great one to lift the mood!
"Easter Snow" – Slip Jig / Slow Air
Though listed as a slip jig on The Session, "Easter Snow" has found much of its popularity as a slow air, and for good reason. It’s absolutely stunning when played with space and feeling. This week’s version comes from the group Beginish, who deliver a gorgeous, heartfelt performance of this tune.
"Palm Sunday" – Slide
Since Palm Sunday passed us just last weekend, it would be a shame not to mark it with this lovely, uplifting slide. Performed by Benoit Volant on fiddle, this version captures all the grace and bounce that make slides so enjoyable to play—and perfect for keeping the session moving.
"The Holy Land" – Reel
In addition to the modern Easter traditions of chocolate and treasure hunts, it's a deeply spiritual time for many around the world. This reel is a beautiful reminder of those roots. "The Holy Land" is an upbeat and energetic tune, and the main man himself, Fergal Scahill, brings the tune to life in this version.
"The Wind That Shakes the Barley" – Reel
Easter Sunday also marks a solemn chapter in Irish history as the anniversary of the 1916 Rising, which led to Ireland’s War of Independence. This tune, "The Wind That Shakes the Barley", carries that weight with dignity. This week's version is performed by Tunes from Doolin on the concertina, and also pays homage to the powerful film of the same name.
That’s all for this week, folks! Whether you’re celebrating the holiday or simply enjoying a few peaceful moments of music, I hope this selection brings you a bit of joy and inspiration.
Have a lovely Easter weekend!
Slán go fóill,
Paraic McNeela
McNeela Instruments
I bought my Bodhran from Paraic and I am very satisified with the quality and the service.
If you visit the store please let Paraic know you heard about it
from Tommy Mac and the Tír na mBláth. Tim Finnegan's Pub, Irish Seisiún Newsletter
Book launch of "Rockin’ the Bronx" by Larry Kirwan
coming to New York Irish Center
The new novel by Black 47 frontman Larry Kirwan, offers a searing, unfiltered portrait of Irish immigrant life in the Bronx during the early 1980s.
"Rockin’ the Bronx" by Larry Kirwan Fordham University Press/ Larry Kirwan
Set against a backdrop of political unrest, cultural transformation, and musical revolution, "Rockin’ the Bronx" captures a moment in time that has never before been chronicled in fiction.
From 1980 to 1982, the Bronx was burning—literally and figuratively. John Lennon was being stalked. Bobby Sands was dying. AIDS was about to be identified. But in the Irish bars of Bainbridge Avenue, life roared on, fueled by music, political idealism, and a fierce hunger for survival.
In "Rockin' the Bronx", the main character Seán Kelly arrives from Ireland searching for his girlfriend, Mary Devine, but he finds much more than he bargained for—including Danny McCorley, a book-loving, hard-hitting gay construction worker with a shadowy past in the Irish Republican movement.
To celebrate the release of "Rockin' the Bronx", a book launch and signing with Larry Kirwan will be held in the New York Irish Center on April 23. Find out more here!
Through these unforgettable characters, Kirwan vividly recreates an era when Irish immigrants built new lives in a city teetering on the edge. While hip-hop was emerging in the South Bronx, a different musical revolution was taking shape in the Irish bars just a few miles north, setting the stage for the rise of bands like Black 47, Flogging Molly, and The Dropkick Murphys.
“The immigrant life in the Bronx was intense—the drinking ferocious, the work punishing, and the politics as raw as the streets themselves,” says Kirwan. “This was a time of defiant energy, both in music and in the struggle for identity.”
By the early 1990s, the scene had begun to fade. The Celtic Tiger called some back to Ireland; others drifted into quieter enclaves. Like the Five Points of the 19th century, little remains today of the bars, dancehalls, and fiery political debates that once defined this Irish-American stronghold. But in "Rockin’ the Bronx", Kirwan transports readers straight into the heart of this vanished world, capturing its vibrancy, its struggles, and its enduring spirit.
About the Author
Larry Kirwan at the Tony Awards 2022 Larry Kirwan at the Tony Awards 2022
Larry Kirwan, originally from Wexford in Ireland, is a renowned figure in both music and literature, based in New York City. He led the influential political rock band Black 47 for 25 years, performing 2,500 gigs and releasing 16 albums.
Kirwan has authored three novels—Liverpool Fantasy, Rockin' The Bronx, and Rockaway Blue—as well as the memoir Green Suede Shoes and A History of Irish Music. In theater, he has written or collaborated on 21 plays and musicals, most notably conceiving Paradise Square, which earned 10 Tony Award nominations, including one for himself as a co-book writer.
An active political voice and former president of Irish American Writers & Artists, Kirwan received the 2022 Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also an Irish Echo columnist and hosts Celtic Crush on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
"Rockin’ the Bronx" is available to purchase wherever books are sold, including Fordham University Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org.
Celebrating an Irish Easter:
traditions, blessings and recipes
A time of rebirth and celebration! A look at some of the Easter traditions in Ireland, past and present.
IrishCentral Staff @IrishCentral Mar 31, 2024
Forget the eggs, let's go old school. The ancient traditions of celebrating Easter in Ireland, from Lent to Easter Sunday. Getty
From dinner to dessert to the special Irish bread in hot cross buns, the traditional Irish Easter celebration is full of great recipes and fantastic Easter food.
Apart from Christmas and St. Patrick's Day, Easter is the most important religious holiday in Ireland's calendar with traditional Irish dinner, blessings, recipes, greetings, and even bread. The works!
Preparation for Easter Sunday in Ireland starts at the beginning of Lent and culminates with a gathering of family and friends and everyone's favorite food, usually chocolates or whatever other vice was given up for the Lenten period, is eaten.
Although many of the older traditions remain in place, some of them have not. Here's a look at some of the Easter traditions in Ireland, past and present.
Before Easter
Clean house thoroughly inside and out - whitewash applied.
Get new clothes.
On Good Friday
Fast - this is the most serious day of fasting from the Lenten calendar. Some devout Catholics will not eat until midday and even then will only have a piece of bread and three sips of water, honoring the Holy Trinity.
Cut your hair to prevent headaches during the year and trim your fingers and toenails.
Take off your shoes when entering a Church.
Remain quiet from noon until 3 pm.
Visit holy wells and graveyards.
All water from holy wells has curative properties on Good Friday.
Plant a few crop seeds to bring a blessing to all your crops.
A child born on Good Friday and baptized on Easter Sunday will have the gift of healing. It was thought that boys born and baptized on these days should enter the ministry. Those who die on Good Friday go straight to heaven.
Chicken's eggs laid on Good Friday are marked with a cross. Each member of the household eats one on Easter Sunday. And chicks hatched on Good Friday will be healthy.
Easter Saturday
You must have holy water blessed. Drink three sips of the water for good luck and sprinkle everything for good luck.
Bring the cinders from the fire to be blessed.
During Lent, Catholics would abstain from any red meat eating only fish. On Easter Saturday a tradition developed of having a mock funeral for a herring.
Easter Sunday
Gather your family and go to a hilltop to see the sunrise. Catholics believed that this is the Savior rising from his grave.
Alternatively, view the reflection of the sun in a bucket of water and then move it so the sun appears to dance.
Celebrate with eggs as a signifier of life. Either color them or give them as gifts.
Have a Cludog / Cluideog. This is a ritual where children collect the eggs and cook them with other food in a structure at the edge of the farm. Essentially it's roasted eggs.
Merrymakers dressed in brightly colored rags would go from place to place singing and dancing and demanding the eggs of Easter.
Have a feast with your family. Traditionally, leek soup and roast lamb were served.
Have a cake dance. The best dancer gets the prize of a cake.
Céad Míle Fáilte -
and welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week.
Irish Indentured Servants:
What Were They,
How Did It Work,
How Can I Research Them?
Hi Tom, Each week we take a reader question and share suggested approaches, resources and a little historical context to help answer that question. Do feel free to reply to this email and let me know if it helped you in any way, it's always great to get feedback.
Today we answer the question: Irish Indentured Servants: What Were They, How Did It Work, How Can I Research Them? Let's kick off with the following question from Paula:
"I've been researching my Irish ancestors and found family stories suggesting some came to America as 'indentured servants' in the early 1700s. What exactly were Irish indentured servants? How did the system work? Where did they typically go, and how can I research them? Were they different from other immigrants?" Thomas, South Carolina, USA
Thank you, Thomas, for this question. Indentured servitude was a crucial part of very early Irish migration to North America, yet it's often misunderstood or conflated with other forms of bound labour (i.e. slavery). Understanding the indenture system can help you trace ancestors who may have come to America through this pathway.
What Were Irish Indentured Servants?
Indentured servitude was a labour system where individuals (the "servants") agreed to work for a fixed period (typically 4-7 years) in exchange for passage to the American colonies, food, lodging, and sometimes education or training. At the end of their term, servants would receive "freedom dues," which might include land, tools, clothing, or money to help them start independent lives.
The term "indenture" comes from the physical contract's original form. Early indenture contracts were written in duplicate on a single piece of parchment or paper, with the copies separated by cutting or tearing along a serrated, wavy, or "indented" line (hence the name "indenture"). Each party—the master and the servant—kept one copy of the agreement. This distinctive zigzag pattern created a unique edge that could later be matched up like puzzle pieces to verify the document's authenticity. When disputes arose, the two copies could be brought together to confirm they were originally from the same document, as the irregular cut would align perfectly only with its genuine counterpart.
This system was fundamentally different from slavery, as indentured servants:
-Served for a limited time rather than for life
-Retained legal personhood and certain rights
-Could not be bought and sold indefinitely (though their contracts could be transferred)
-Were eventually freed with some compensation
For many Irish people facing economic hardship, religious persecution, or limited opportunities at home, indentured servitude offered a pathway to potential prosperity in the colonies, despite its significant hardships.
How Did the Indentured Servant System Work?
The journey from Ireland to indentured servitude in America typically followed several stages:
1. Recruitment: Merchants or ship captains would advertise opportunities in Irish ports or rural areas. Some voluntarily signed indenture contracts in Ireland before departure, while others agreed to arrangements after arrival.
2. The Passage: The Atlantic crossing (often called the "middle passage" for indentured servants) was hazardous and uncomfortable, with passengers crowded into ships for a minimum of 6 - often up to 12 - weeks. Many died during the journey from disease, malnutrition, or harsh conditions.
3. Arrival and Sale of Contract: Upon arrival in colonial ports, those without pre-arranged contracts would be displayed to potential employers who would purchase their labour contracts. This process was sometimes called being "sold off the boat," though it was the contract, not the person, being sold.
4. Service Period: During their term of service (usually 4-7 years), indentured servants worked for their master, who provided basic necessities but controlled most aspects of their lives. Servants could not marry without permission, travel freely, or engage in independent business.
6. Freedom and Settlement: Upon completing their term, servants received their freedom dues and could establish their own households, farms, or businesses. Many former servants moved to frontier regions where land was more affordable.
Indentures typically specified:
--Length of service
--Type of work to be performed
--Treatment standards (food, clothing, shelter)
--Freedom dues to be paid upon completion
--Restrictions during service
Historical Context: Understanding Different Types of Irish Migration
To effectively research Irish indentured servants, it's crucial to understand the different waves of Irish migration and their historical contexts:
1. Early Colonial Migration (1600s-early 1700s)
-Primarily from Ulster and other northern counties
-Mix of voluntary indentured servants and transported political prisoners
-Many fled religious persecution or economic hardship
2. Mid-Colonial "Scotch-Irish" Migration (1710s-1770s)
-Predominantly Ulster Presbyterians
-Often served indentures to pay for passage
-Frequently settled in Pennsylvania and the southern frontier
3. Post-Revolutionary War Migration (1780s-1830s)
-Decline of the indenture system after American independence
-More Irish Catholics began arriving
-Mix of skilled workers and agricultural labourers
4. Famine and Post-Famine Migration (1840s-1900s)
-Mass migration during and after the Great Hunger
-By this time, the indenture system had largely ended
-Immigrants typically paid their own passage or had it paid by relatives
Understanding which wave your ancestors were part of can help focus your research on the appropriate records and locations.
Where Did Irish Indentured Servants Go?
Irish indentured servants primarily went to British colonies in North America and the Caribbean, with destinations varying by time period:
Early Colonial Period (1600s-early 1700s)
-Virginia and Maryland (tobacco plantations)
-Pennsylvania (particularly Ulster Scots)
-Massachusetts and other New England colonies
-Barbados, Jamaica, and other Caribbean islands
Mid-Colonial Period (1720s-1770s)
=Pennsylvania became a major destination
=The Carolinas and Georgia New York and New Jersey Continued migration to Virginia and Maryland
The majority of Irish indentured servants in the early colonial period arrived in the Chesapeake Bay region (Virginia and Maryland), where tobacco cultivation created high demand for labour. Later, as Pennsylvania opened up, many Ulster Scots (Scotch-Irish) migrated there, often through indentured service.
In the Caribbean, Irish servants frequently worked alongside enslaved Africans on sugar plantations, though their experiences and legal status remained distinct.
The Unique Challenges of Researching Irish Indentured Servants
Researching indentured Irish ancestors presents some particular challenges: Record Limitations: Many indenture contracts were informal or haven't survived.
1. Ships' passenger lists from this period are often incomplete or nonexistent.
2. Multiple Name Variations: Irish names were frequently anglicised or recorded phonetically by English-speaking officials, creating inconsistent spellings across different records.
3. Time Depth: The further back in time, the fewer records survive, particularly for ordinary people like servants.
4. Distinguishing Types of Bound Labour: Historical records sometimes blur distinctions between indentured servants, redemptioners (who paid part of their passage), transported convicts, and enslaved people.
5. Limited Personal Documentation: Most indentured servants were illiterate and left few personal accounts of their experiences.
How Can You Research Irish Indentured Servant Ancestors?
Despite these challenges, you can employ several strategies to research potential indentured servant ancestors:
1. Start with What You Know
-Gather all family stories, documents, and information about your earliest known Irish ancestor in America
-Note approximate arrival dates, locations, occupations, and any mention of indenture
-Trace backward from well-documented generations to earlier ones
2. Key Record Types
Colonial Court Records
-Court records often contain information about disputes between masters and servants
-Servants who ran away, were abused, or requested early termination might appear in court documents
-Look for petitions for freedom dues or complaints about treatment
Land Records
-Former servants often received or purchased land after completing their terms
-First land purchase might indicate the approximate end of indenture
-Headright grants (where colonists received land for sponsoring immigrants) might list servant names
Ship Passenger Lists
-Though incomplete, surviving ship lists sometimes indicate passenger status as "servant"
-Check colonial port records for Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, Boston, and Charleston
-Many books by Peter Wilson Coldham contains examples of transcribed passenger lists
Colonial Newspapers
-Advertisements for runaway servants often included detailed descriptions
-Notices seeking servants or selling indenture contracts
-Look in colonial newspapers from major port cities
Church Records
-Parish registers sometimes noted servant status in marriage or baptism records
-Catholics might be recorded in Anglican records during periods of religious restrictions (1600s and 1700s)
3. DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy
-Autosomal DNA testing can help identify distant cousins who might have documentation
-Y-DNA testing can help validate surname lineages
-DNA matches might connect you with others researching the same ancestral lines
Success Story: Tracing an Indentured Ancestor
Let me share a success story from our Green Room community. Margaret, a Green Room member, found evidence suggesting that her ancestor James O'Neill arrived in Maryland around 1710. Before I go on, bear in mind that this example involved a lot of luck and persistence. Following a number of approaches, Margaret examined Maryland court records and discovered a case where James petitioned for his freedom dues after serving his seven-year term. This document provided his approximate arrival date, his master's name, and even mentioned his Irish origin in County Down.
With this information, Margaret was able to locate a land patent granted to James in 1718, consistent with him having completed his service. Church records later revealed his marriage to another former servant, with both described as "lately freed." This example shows how piecing together various colonial records can gradually reveal an indentured servant's journey.
In Conclusion
Researching Irish indentured servants requires patience, creative thinking, and an understanding of historical context. I would add that learning the historical context of such arrangements is a worthwhile "adventure" in itself. While records may be fragmentary, combining information from multiple sources can help reconstruct your ancestor's journey from Ireland to freedom in America.
Remember that indentured servitude, while often difficult, represented a path to opportunity for many Irish people. Your ancestors who survived this system demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination – qualities that likely continued in subsequent generations of your family.
Don't hesitate to leverage the collective knowledge of the genealogy community, as others researching similar families or locations may have encountered resources you haven't discovered yet.
Slán until next Thursday,
Mike
PS. I'd love to answer every one of your Irish genealogy questions, but there just aren't enough hours in the day! So, if you would like more detailed help - do visit the Green Room.
Tommy Mac here.
For years I have been asking my readers to submit
some of their own memories on various subjects.
But, I have only had a handful of replies over all those years.
Come on now!
I'm sure many of you have recipies, memories of your own,
or stories handed down that would be of interest.
Please.....
Send in some of your actual memories of family stories to share with everyone.
If you don't want your name to appear the let me know.
Send them to me, Tommy Mac at Fireny@aol.com
Please note
I will be deleting this section starting next week.
All of the stories have been repeated several times.
I will try to find another source of stories for the future..
Tommy Mac
This Week in the History of the Irish:
April 21 through April 27
Posted by The Wild Geese
DOMHNAIGH
-- On March 21, 1763, William MacNeven, United Irishman, was born in Aughrim,
County Galway. (left: The emblem of the United Irishmen. It reads "Equality"
above and "It is new strung and shall be heard" below.) Educated in the medical
profession in Austria, where his uncle was a physician to the Empress, MacNeven
returned to Ireland to practice in 1783. He was sworn into the United Irishmen
by Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Arrested with most of the other leaders of the United
Irishmen on March 12, 1798, MacNeven was imprisoned at Fort George in Scotland.
Released in 1802, he traveled to France and for a time was an officer in Napoleon's
Irish Legion, but departed when it was clear that the French would not be sending
troops to Ireland again. Emigrating to the United States, MacNeven settled in
New York City, where he had a distinguished career in medicine, worked among
the growing Irish community there, and also published several books. MacNeven
died in the city on July 12, 1841. The
Catholic Encyclopedia on William James MacNeven
DOMHNAIGH
-- On March 21, 1921, Irish Volunteers of the Kerry No. 2 Brigade ambushed a
train at Headford, County Kerry, during the Irish War of Independence. In many
parts of Ireland, the war was increasing in intensity as the winter turned into
spring. They had learned that a detachment of the Royal London Fusiliers would
be traveling from Kenmare to Tralee, and would have to change trains in Headford.
Commandant Danny Allman commanded about 30 Volunteers in the ambush. The British
would have approximately the same number on the train, which also contained
many Irish civilians.
Unusually for the Irish railroad system, the train arrived earlier, barely over 10 minutes after the Volunteers arrived to prepare the ambush. Luckily most of the civilians had disembarked prior to the soldiers, but a few were still on the landing as the firing began. As the soldiers began to debark, the Volunteers opened fire with devastating effect.
The British had a Vickers machine gun in front of the engine but the Volunteers were able to kill or wound the entire five-man crew manning it fairly quickly. Meanwhile, the soldiers still inside the train's cars returned fire. It was a very long battle by the standard of the Irish War of Independence and the largest engagement in Kerry during the war. After about 50 minutes another train arrived carrying more British soldiers, and the Volunteers scattered into the countryside. The British had suffered at least 8 dead and 12 wounded. The Volunteers had 2 killed, Commandant Allman and Lt. Jimmy Baily and, in addition, three civilians died in the crossfire and two others were wounded. Hardly a day had gone by in the month of March without some sort of attack by the Volunteers in some part of the island. The world was taking notice and the British government was starting to feel the pressure. Read more about the Headford Ambush HERE.
MÁIRT
-- On March 23, 1862, Irish-born Union General James Shields (left: pictured
during the Mexican War) defeated Stonewall Jackson's Confederates at the Battle
of Kernstown, Virginia, during the American Civil War. Just a few miles south
of Winchester, in the Shenandoah Valley, a thunderous exchange of artillery
fire around midday signaled the battle's start. At first, Jackson's men drove
in the Federal line. Jackson had received a false report about the strength
of the Federal forces around Kernstown, and he believed he was only facing a
rear guard. In fact, Shields had 9,000 men there, outnumbering Jackson's 4,000
by better than two to one. About 3 o'clock, Shields' Federal forces counterattacked.
When Confederate Brigadier General Richard Garnett's brigade ran out of ammunition,
Jackson ordered a retreat, which precipitated a general retreat of the Confederate
line. Jackson lost 455 men killed or wounded and several hundred captured. The
Federals lost 553 killed or wounded and 23 missing. Although Jackson had lost
this first major battle of what would come to be known as his Valley Campaign,
his actions had already alarmed authorities in Washington enough for them to
reduce the number of troops that they would send to Major General George B.
McClellan on the Virginia peninsula. In the coming weeks, Jackson will exacerbate
those fears. For Tyrone-born James Shields, Kernstown would be the pinnacle
of a rather lackluster performance during the Civil War. Still, Shields would
go on to become the only man to serve in the U.S. Senate from three different
states, and how many of his colleagues in the Senate, or anywhere else, could
boast of having once bested the great Stonewall Jackson in independent command?
DEARDAOIN -- On March 25, 1846, Michael Davitt
(right), revolutionary and agrarian agitator, was born in Straide, County 
Mayo.
Davitt's family was evicted from their small farm when he was just a boy. After
they emigrated to England, Davitt lost his right arm while working in a cotton
mill at the age of 11. He joined the Fenians in the 1860s and served a typically
brutal jail sentence. Released after seven years, he began what would be his
life's work: agrarian agitation. Using funds raised by John Devoy and Clan na
Gael in the United States, and allied with Charles Stewart Parnell, Davitt formed
the Land League in 1879. This organization forced many reforms in the corrupt
Irish landlord system. Davitt was a member of Parliament for a time in the 1890s
but resigned in protest against the Boer War. Michael Davitt died in Dublin
on May 31, 1906.
SATHAIRN
-- On March 27, 1872, Mary MacSwiney (Maire Nic Shuibhne), republican activist,
was born in Surrey, England, of an Irish father and an English mother.
(Left: National Library of Ireland: Mary MacSwiney, in her later years.)
Mary grew up in Cork and was educated as a teacher, like her mother and father. Influenced by her revolutionary brother, Terence, she became involved with the Irish nationalist movement. She was arrested in her classroom during the 1916 Easter Rising. After her brother's death on hunger strike, she toured the United States in support of the republican cause. She opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty, calling it, "the grossest act of betrayal that Ireland ever endured." When de Valera compromised in 1926 in order to enter the Dáil, MacSwiney, much like her brother before her, held fast to her strict republican ideals, refusing to take the required oath to the Crown. Mary MacSwiney died at her home in Cork on March 8, 1942.
VOICES
We had no prepared positions and scrambled into position as best we could. I was in a section commanded by Davit McCarthy. We were on the railway embankment with very little cover, but a good field of fire. I think most of the military were put out of action early on, but some two or three got down on the tracks under the train and kept up a continuous fire. No doubt they could have been dislodged, but a full train of troops entered the station and we had to withdraw. -- Denis Prendiville Kerry #2 Brigade on the ambush at Headford, County Kerry
Right National Museum of Ireland Michael Davitt,
one of the founders of the Irish National Land League. 
'If the nationalists want me [the Irish farmer] to believe in and labor a little for independence, they must first show themselves willing and strong enough to stand between me and the power which a single Englishman, a landlord, wields over me.' -- Michael Davitt, giving voice to the attitude of the small Irish farmer toward Irish independence, December 1878
'If [England] exterminates the men, the women will take their places, and if she exterminates the women, the children are rising fast.' -- The indomitable Mary MacSwiney March - Márta
News of Interest,,,,,
Irish businesses 'unprepared for tariffs impact'
Many Irish businesses are vulnerable to the impact and uncertainty that could be caused by potential US tariffs on exports.
George Morahan @ BusinessPlus.ie Apr 17, 2025
Shipping containers at Dublin Port in 2021. RollingNews.ie
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Irish businesses have not taken steps to mitigate the potential impact of trade tariffs from the US despite ongoing uncertainty, ACCA Ireland has found.
The survey was conducted immediately prior to the 90-day pause on tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump last week.
One in six (15%) businesses had undertaken a risk analysis prior to the postponement, while 7% had started to look at new markets due to the potential tariffs.
The majority of companies were confident that the initial tariff posed by the Trump administration wouldn't proceed as planned, with 60% believing that President Trump would seek to negotiate with the EU, as opposed to implementing the punitive 20% tariff.
From the outset, almost 70% of businesses did not want immediate responsive tariffs. Instead, they wanted the EU to engage and negotiate a deal with the US.
Mor than a third (36%) of those surveyed thought that government supports would be required if the tariffs were to proceed, with 43% seeking clearer guidance and advice from the government and 38% of businesses seeking assistance to explore new markets.
The potential impact of tariffs has created uncertainty too, as just 41% of businesses believe the Irish economy will grow over the next 12 months, reflective of global attitudes as found in ACCA’s Global Economic Conditions Survey.
"These findings not only underline the vulnerability of many Irish businesses to the impact and uncertainty that could be caused by potential US tariffs on exports, but they shine a light on the need for businesses to scenario plan to support operational continuity and growth," said Stephen Noonan, head of ACCA Ireland.
"President Trump’s 90 day pause provides businesses with some breathing space to consider their options and plan for a range of scenarios with government, trade and professional bodies playing an important role to help them plot their specific course.
“On the international stage with a dip in economic confidence globally, it is vital that there are calm heads both in Government and within the EU ensuring that we can safely navigate this period of deep uncertainty.”
*This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.
Guidance for Irish J1 visa applicants
as US immigration rules shift under Trump
J1 visa experts discuss the areas of concern impacting prospective applicants this year.
Rebecca Fisher @ Extra.ie Apr 16, 2025
Thousands of people from Ireland travel to the US each year on J1 visas. Getty Images
Recent media stories have undoubtedly raised concerns about visa-related matters when it comes to travelling to the US.
Thousands of Irish students participate in the J1 visa programme each year, which allows full-time third-level students to work and travel in the US.
A number of students also travel to study abroad through their third-level degrees, with Irish universities linked with a number of institutions stateside.
As we head into another summer of travel for Irish students, there is undeniably some hesitation with regards to the visa process.
Since Donald Trump became US President, the US administration has revoked hundreds of student visas, with some relating to activism and participation in protests, particularly those in connection with the Middle East.
Many of these students have had their immigration status changed by the Trump administration, including students who are in the US on a J1 visa.
Chatting to Extra.ie, CIEE J1 Exchange Ireland discussed the areas of concern impacting prospective J1 applicants.
Addressing border refusals, the team said: "While arrivals for BridgeUSA Summer Work and Travel participants start mid-May, we have already welcomed participants this year under other BridgeUSA programs.
"To date, we have not seen any increase in border denials. From our perspective, admissions continue as usual.
"We understand there is increased media attention and anecdotal buzz, but our current data does not reflect any meaningful change in participant entry patterns.
"Border officers are authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to inspect travellers’ phones and electronic devices. While this is not a new policy, it has recently drawn more attention in public discourse," they added.
"We have not heard of BridgeUSA participants experiencing this at scale, but we continue to remind all students to use good judgment in what they post, access, or store on their devices, not only during travel but throughout the program.
"If asked, students should cooperate fully, as refusing could lead to further questioning or delays."
Discussing possible visa withdrawals, they added: "There have been questions about whether students can have their visa revoked while already in the United States.
"We can confirm that we have not encountered any such cases among our BridgeUSA participants. As long as students follow program rules and remain in good standing, the likelihood of visa revocation remains extremely low.
"As always, we remain committed to supporting our participants with transparent, timely updates and a proactive approach to emerging challenges."
Fellow J1 provider USIT also quelled any concerns for impending applicants.
"Each summer, USIT supports Irish students travelling to the US on the J1 cultural exchange programme, a long-standing and valued initiative that builds international understanding and personal development.
"The J1 visa remains valid and supported since 1961. We continue to work closely with our US sponsor partners and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure every participant is fully prepared with valid J1 documentation and guidance in advance of their planned departure date.
"The US travel guidance remains in place, and we continue to remind all travellers to respect immigration procedures and local laws at every stage of their trip. Support is available throughout the J1 experience via USIT’s dedicated service, US sponsor partners, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through its Embassies and Consulates in the US," they concluded.
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Dublin also reiterated these claims, adding: "Continuous vetting and visa revocation actions are not limited to visa holders from any specific country or area in the world. All visa applicants and visa holders, no matter the visa type and where they are located, are continuously vetted."
Irish students travelling to the US on a J1 visa have this week been urged to consider the local "situation" and the "laws" regarding protests.
The Union of Students in Ireland warned students to be "cautious" about the potential risks of becoming involved in protests while in the US over the summer – however the Taoiseach said most J1 students are "not that focused" on activism.
Thousands of students will travel to the US on the special student visa which allows them to work and travel across North America for up to four months.
In a statement, the union said: "We urge students to be cautious and informed about the potential risks involved in activism while on a J1 visa.
"While activism is a vital part of student life and a right that should be protected, it is important that students fully understand the possible consequences for their visa status, including the risk of deportation, and take steps to safeguard their participation in such activities."
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
Millennium-old monks’ manuscripts
return to Ireland for exhibition
Books include religious scriptures and scribbled jokes, giving glimpse of daily lives of early medieval Irish monks
Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent
The Lough Kinale Book Shrine is the earliest and largest known container for a sacred text. Photograph: National Museum of Ireland
More than 1,000 years ago, Irish monks took precious manuscripts to the European continent to protect them from Viking raids and to spread Christianity and scholarship – a glow of culture in what would be called the dark ages.
The monks did not know if the books, which included religious scriptures, linguistic analysis, scribbled jokes and a collection of tomes described as the internet of the ancient world, would survive, or ever return.
A millennium later, fragments of that trove are for the first time finding their way back to Ireland.
Switzerland’s Abbey of Saint Gall has agreed to lend 17 manuscripts to the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin for a landmark exhibition that will combine artefacts and parchments to recreate a sense of Ireland’s golden age as the “land of saints and scholars”, when missionary monks established monasteries in what are today Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
A page from the medieval Latin grammar book Priscian’s Institutiones Grammaticae. Photograph: National Museum of Ireland
“What we’re trying to do is to retrace those journeys and the world in which those manuscripts were produced,” said Matthew Seaver, who is curating the exhibition, titled Words on the Wave: Ireland and St Gallen in Early Medieval Europe. “These books are key to an understanding of ourselves, our language and our links with the continent. Their value and importance are difficult to overestimate.”
Ireland retained the Book of Kells, a masterpiece that is now displayed at Trinity College Dublin, but lost most of its ancient books to the Vikings and subsequent centuries of political turmoil, Seaver said. “That’s why today there are more Irish manuscripts in Britain and the continent than in Ireland.”
The exhibition, which coincides with challenges to international trade and European unity, is a reminder of economic, cultural and political ties that threaded the Atlantic to the Alps from the fifth century.
After much of Ireland converted to Christianity, its monasteries became centres of learning that produced and replicated academic and religious manuscripts, including the oldest surviving copy of Etymologiae, an encyclopedia of the origin of words that has been called antiquity’s internet.
A page fragment of the medieval encyclopedia Etymologiae. Photograph: National Museum of Ireland
Scribes who wrote a grammar book titled Priscian’s Institutiones Grammaticae recorded not only Latin language rules but, in the margins, scribbled comments about their daily lives. One admitted to being “ale-killed” – having a hangover. Some complained of the cold, others grumbled at their materials. “New parchment, bad ink. O I say nothing more.”
Another expressed hope that a storm would deter any Viking raid. “Bitter is the wind tonight, it tosses the ocean’s white hair: I fear not the coursing of a clear sea by the fierce heroes from Lothlend.”
Such comments showed the manuscripts were not just relics of scholarship, Seaver said. “They’re full of human voices, humour, frustration and resilience, offering us a rare and very real glimpse into the daily lives and personalities of early medieval Irish monks.”
Taking manuscripts to the continent was a response to the Viking threat and also part of a system of cultural exchange, said the curator. “It was a two-way street. From an early stage, Ireland was receiving books and scholars from the continent and Anglo-Saxon England.”
It is thought that ships that brought wine, oils, pottery and other wares from the continent took Irish monks in the other direction.
A cast bronze 12cm-long brooch pin. An early medieval brooch pin that will form part of the National Museum of Ireland exhibition.
Photograph: Fran Veale/it_freelance
The most famous, Saint Columba, also known as Columbanus, established monasteries in the seventh century in the Frankish and Lombard kingdoms. One of his reputed disciples, Saint Gall, founded a hermitage that became an abbey in what is now the Swiss city of St Gallen.
The abbey library, now a Unesco world heritage site, has agreed to lend 17 manuscripts for the exhibition, which will run from 30 May to 24 October.
The National Museum of Ireland will display the books with more than 100 artefacts from its own collection, including the Lough Kinale Book Shrine, which is the earliest and largest known container for a sacred text. Discovered broken at the bottom of a Longford lake, it makes its public debut in the exhibition after years of conservation.
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A Little Humor 
From PATRICK ODEA
A few "One Liners"
The pessimist complains about the wind.
The optimist expects it to change.
The realist adjusts his sails.
There's a fine line between a numerator and a denominator.
Only a fraction of people will find this funny.
Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.
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From my wife Donna
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kyol-tori air-in", the largest group involved in the preservation of
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Well, that's it for this week.
Slán abhaile
Pronunciation: slawn a-wol-ya
Meaning: Safe Home
Fireny@aol.com
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Sláinte, Tom Guldner (Tommy Mac)
Slán agus beannacht, (Good-bye and blessings)
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