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Budget wedding ideas: how we got married for under $2000
Ideas for keeping your wedding low cost but still special. How we managed to get married with a budget of $2000.
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History of Ireland: The Norman Conquest of Ireland
Norman warlords arrived in Ireland in 1169 in search of land in fortune. In 1171 King Henry II of England laid claim to Ireland, starting a long and conflicted relationship between the two countries.
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History of Ireland: The Vikings in Ireland
At the end of the eighth century sea-faring warriors from the North of Europe began to spread out in search of lootable wealth and new lands to settle in. A shortage of land in Scandinavia meant that many men there were looking for opportunities in...
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History of Ireland: Early Medieval Ireland
This article discusses early Medieval Ireland in detail, with a focus on monasteries, saints, and artwork.
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History of Ireland: Life in Celtic Ireland
Celtic Ireland, the time between the Bronze Age and before the coming of Christianity in the 4th century AD, is often looked on as something of a golden age in Irish history. At this time, the island was home to a rich and flourishing culture.
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A Brief History of Ireland's First People
The first people in Ireland were hunter gatherers, and they almost certainly migrated from Britain to Ireland as the last ice age ended. The earliest known site of human habitation in Ireland is at Mountsandel, near Coleraine in Northern Ireland....
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The Irish Origins of Halloween
Find out the Irish origins of Halloween - how many traditions have come from the ancient pagan festival of Samhain which was celebrated in Ireland in pre-Christian times.
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Who Were The Celts? Why Historians Can't Agree...
This article looks at the history of the Celts in central Europe, as well as the six Celtic nations of northwestern Europe. Were they all the same Celts? Read this article for an introduction to the historical debate.
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Celtic Mythology: Myths of the Ancient World
Celtic mythology is rich with symbolism of life, death and rebirth, replete with the magic of nature and the ancient world. This article outlines some of the most famous stories from Celtic mythology, in Celtic Ireland and Britain.
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Irish Blessings, Proverbs, and Toasts for St. Patrick's Day
The Irish are well known for having 'the gift of the gab'—the ability to use words to make anything sound good! There is a wonderful tradition of Irish sayings, proverbs, and blessings—some funny, some wise.
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Irish Traditions: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Ireland
St. Patrick is the most famous of Ireland's three patron saints, and a symbol of all things Irish around the world. St Patrick's Day (17th March) has been celebrated in Ireland since Medieval times find out why in this article.
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Where to see the best St Patrick's Day Parades
If you want to go see a great St Patrick's Day parade - or even just watch on television - there are a lot of options. Irish people have emigrated from the Emerald Isle to live all over the world, bringing with them the tradition of celebrating...
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Orthodox Christmas Traditions
Orthodox Christians include members of the Eastern Orthodox Church which is prevalent in Russia and Eastern Europe, and also the Oriental Orthodox churches such as Coptic, Ethiopian and Syrian. With such an array of religious traditions and local...
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How Are Christmas Traditions Celebrated in Mexico?
Learn the food, important dates, and activities of Christmas in Mexico.
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Irish Christmas Blessings, Greetings and Poems
In Ireland, blessings are traditionally used to commemorate important life events and wish good fortune to loved ones. This article includes a selection of Irish blessings, greetings and poems that are perfect for Christmas time.
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Irish Christmas Traditions: How to Have an Irish Christmas
Unlike in the USA and Canada, in Ireland we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. So, for us, Christmas is the time of the year when families and loved ones make sure that they spend time together.
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Celtic Christmas Traditions: Candles, Greenery, Blessings and More
Christmas has been marked in Ireland since St. Patrick brought Christianity to the island in the fifth century. Over the centuries, pagan Celtic customs merged with Christianity to produce some unique traditions for the winter festival.
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Irish Folklore: Traditional Beliefs and Superstitions
A major aspect of traditional Irish folklore is the wealth of long-held beliefs and superstitions that Irish people have retained across the centuries. Many of these beliefs can be traced back to long-standing Celtic traditions.
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Dia de los Muertos Skulls: history, meaning, craft ideas ...
All you need to know about day of the dead skulls - history and meaning, and how to create did de los muertos skull crafts. Alos, get a recipe for mexican sugar skulls.
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Day of the Dead Festival: an Introduction
The Day of the Dead (or dia de muertos in Spanish) is a festival celebrated in many parts of Latin America and also in parts of the southern US where Latino culture is prevalent. The Day of the Dead falls on 2nd November each year, the Catholic holy...
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Meaning of Dia de los Muertos Face Painting
An article exploring the meaning of dia de los muertos face painting, including day of the dead symbols such as skulls and flowers.
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University of St Andrews Acceptance Rate
An insider's guide to the acceptance rate and admissions standards for the University of St Andrews. Competition for places is increasing, along with the University's international ranking - but international students may have a particular advantage...
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Women Through History: Women's Experience Through the Ages
A guide to the changing experience of women through history. From ancient times to the present day, women have adapted, survived and thrived.
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Elizabeth I and Grace O'Malley: The Meeting of Two Irish Queens
This article is about the meeting of Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland, and Grace O'Malley, the Irish pirate queen. The meeting was quite remarkable. The political leader and the pirate formed a special bond.
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Blood of the Irish: What DNA Tells Us About the Ancestry of People in Ireland
Examining what it means to have Irish blood, outlining where Irish DNA comes from and who are the closest genetic relatives of the Irish in Europe. Of interest to anyone with Irish ancestry who wants to understand their genealogy.
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A Guide to Shared and Contested Political Symbols in Northern Ireland
The different symbols in Northern Ireland are controversial and represent all the people of Northern Ireland. This is a guide to the symbols' meaning, as well as important advice for employers in Northern Ireland on the use of symbols in a shared workplace.
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Dia de los Muertos: History and Meaning of the Day of the Dead
The history and meaning of Dia de los Muertos come from a mixture of indigenous beliefs and Catholic traditions. This article explores the celebration of day of the dead not only in Mexico, but also Peru, Haiti and Brazil.
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Top Ten Women Who Changed the World
Celebrating ten women who have done much to change the world. These ten women are examples of women that have changed the course of history.
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Queen's visit to Ireland: History of British Royal Visits to Ireland
The Queen is to visit Ireland in May 2011. This article is a guide to the history of British Royal Visits to Ireland, and the reactions of the Irish to the Queen's impending visit.
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Vlad Dracula - the real Dracula
Who was the real historical figure who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula? Read on to find out ... Vlad III the Impaler is believed to have inspired Bram Stoker to call his famous vampire villain 'Dracula'. His surname was Draculae - and there are...
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Shuar: Meeting the Headshrinkers of the Amazon Basin
This article details the few days I spent in the forest home of a Shuar family and all the interesting things I learned about Shuar culture and beliefs, Shuar family life and headshrinking/tsantsas.
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Terrible Beauty: Irish Poets and the Conflict in Ireland
"All is changed, changed utterly; A terrible beauty is born" So WB Yeats prophesied in his poem 'Easter 1916'. In a single line, he captured the ambiguity of Irish politics at the time.
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GRE analytical writing: how to get a perfect 6.0 score
With the right preparation and strategy, you can get a 6.0 on the GRE analytical writing test. You just need to know how to write for the test. I got 6.0 the first time I sat the GRE test - and if I can do it, so can you! In this article I am...
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How to Engage Children's Attention at Home and School
Do you find yourself having a hard time keeping your child's attention at home? What about at school? Keeping a child's attention can be a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be (trust me, I know). Read more to learn how you, too, can engage your child.
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Count Dracula: myth, fiction and historical reality
Where did Bram Stoker get the inspiration for his 1897 novel Dracula? The answer is a blend of myth, fiction and historical reality.... The earliest recorded stories of blood-sucking demons have come to us from Egypt and Ancient Greece. Hectate,...
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Indigenous People of Latin America: An Introduction
50 million people living in Latin America are considered to be 'indigenous'. The Amerindians of Latin America include many different groups with very different languages and traditions.
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Was Bram Stoker's "Dracula" Inspired by an Irish Legend?
Looking at the possible influence of an Irish vampire legend on the creation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
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Bufeo: Close encounters with the Pink River Dolphin of the Amazon
Pink river dolphins? I first discovered the existence of the bufeo during a trip along the River Mamore in Bolivia's Amazon basin. I had never heard of river dolphins before - so it was quite a surprise when a pink-grey dolphin head surfaced just a...
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The Growth of Latin America as a Political and Economic Force
Can Latin America become a major influence on world politics and the global economy? That is the question on the lips of an increasing number of political commentators. The region, for long indebted to others, has now moved from being a net...
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What Is Latin America? Geography, Language and Culture Explained
Latin America is made up of 21 countries spanning North, Central and South America. Learn about Latin American geography, language and culture here.
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My Guide to the Best Irish Folk Music
One Irish music lover's guide to the best Irish folk music - some folk singers you may have heard of, others are bound to be new to you...
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The Largest Whale in the World: Best Places to see Blue Whales in California, Canada and Beyond...
Blue Whales are not only the largest whale in the world today, they are also the biggest animal that has ever lived on our planet. These magnificent sea mammals are larger than any dinosaur that walked the earth. They were once numerous in our...
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How to make the perfect Irish Coffee
Irish coffee is a great-tasting alcoholic drink, combining Irish whiskey, hot coffee and whipped cream. The perfect Irish coffee is a warm smooth coffee with cream floating gently on top, and an after-kick of quality Irish whiskey. It makes a...
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The Relationship Between Stress and Your Physical Health
There is a two-way relationship between physical health and stress. Most of us know that when we are under long-term stress our physical health can begin to suffer. However it can be pretty difficult to avoid stress at certain times in our lives!...
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A Guide to Irish Folk Tales
This article looks at the main traditions in Irish folk tales, which include warrior myths, romantic tragedies, ghost stories and local fairy stories.
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Wake Up! The Insight and Inspiration of Anthony de Mello
There are only a handful of writers I would say have changed my life - Anthony de Mello is one of them. His writings are so clear, so profound that I can honestly say he has transformed how I look at the world. His emphasis on awareness is a...
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Best Places in the World to See Wild Tigers
A guide to the best places in the world to see wild tigers, such as Bengal tigers in India's national parks or Sumatran tigers in Indonesia.
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The best Irish whiskies in the world: its official!
'Best' is a relative term. There is no accounting for personal taste when it comes to whiskey, or any other drink for that matter. However, the spirits industry does have an annual competition where spirits are judged by a panel of expert judges...
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Herbal Teas to Increase Energy Levels Naturally
Think about herbal tea if you want to increase energy levels naturally. Coffee is bad news for anyone suffering from low energy levels. Although the caffeine can temporarily relieve feelings of tiredness, it can also create a chemical dependecy in...
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Can Orange Mix With Green? St Patrick's Day and the Irish Protestant Tradition
The 17th of March, St Patrick's Day, is recognised as a celebration of Irishness around the world. Yet somehow, even though there are almost a million Protestants living on the island of Ireland, Irishness is often equated with Catholicism.
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Drowning the Shamrock and Other Irish Whiskey Traditions
If you've ever seen the film 'Waking Ned Devine' you will know that whiskey is an essential part of many Irish cultural traditions. Whiskey is part of traditional Irish hospitality, celebrations and commemorations. Whiskey is still widely prescribed...
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A Guide to the Whiskey Distilleries of Ireland
While in earlier times there were hundreds of independent whiskey distilleries in Ireland, there are only three distilleries on the island still producing whiskey today. Each distillery has its own uniquehistory and heritage, as well as producing...
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History of Irish Whiskey
The word 'whiskey' (or whisky) comes from the Gaelic uisce beatha, meaning water of life. This gives you an idea of the importance of whiskey to Irish culture. Whiskey (we spell it with an 'e' in Ireland!) was first invented by medieval Irish monks,...
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Forgotten Fairies of Irish Folklore
Irish fairy tales and folklore are populated with a wonderful collection of magical creatures and supernatural beings. Leprechauns are so famous they can sell breakfast cereal, and many people have heard the legend of the Banshee—but what about...
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Single Moms: How to celebrate Mother's Day when you are a Single Mother
On Mother's Day, single mothers deserve to be celebrated most of all, but actually they can end up feeling forgotten on this special day. With no partner to organise the celebrations and bring the kids along, single mothers need to plan their own...
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My Grandmother's Irish Soda Farls: A Traditional Bread Recipe
In the north of Ireland, soda farls are the Irish soda bread. My grandmother spent the seventy years of her adult life cooking this wonderful bread on an old-fashioned griddle, before serving it up still warm, butter melting slowly over the top....
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Natural Alternatives to Asprin
Like all medications Aspirin has a list of potential side effects, particulary if used consistently over a long period of time. The good news for anyone looking to find natural alternatives to Apsirin is that there are a range of natural options...
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10 ways to banish Monday morning blues
What is it about Monday mornings? If we don't like our job, or even if we do but we like our weekends better, Monday morning can feel like the low point in our week. We have to change mental gears, get motivated and focussed for the week ahead -...
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The Unexpected History of Coca Cola
When I was travelling in Bolivia a few years ago, I took a visit to the Museum of Coca where I found out some surprising facts about the origins of coca-cola. This visit has inspired me look deeper into the history of the most commonly recognised...
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Fun Ideas for St Patricks Day Breakfast
St Patrick's Day does not have to be celebrated by drinking alcohol. There are lots of fun ways you can use food to create an Irish-themed breakfast or brunch which is a delicious and healthy alternative to the traditional cooked Irish breakfast. I...
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Redheads and Rebels? The Truth Behind Irish Stereotypes
A tour of the most common Irish stereotypes, answering the question: how true are Irish stereotypes. Looking at how the Irish see themlsevlves and how they are seen by others.
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Why Did So Many Irish People Emigrate to America?
Two major waves of emigration took place from Ireland to the United States. In the 1700s Scots-Irish sought religious freedom, while in the 1800s Irish Catholics left in the face of a great famine. Why did these waves happen? Read on to learn about this important historical period.
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How to Communicate Calmly
How we communicate is at least as important as what we communicate. Quality of communication can make or break relationships, whether in the business world or our personal lives. How can you communicate your needs calmly and effectively, even in a...
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What is Celtic Christianity?
Christianity in the celtic-speaking world developed in its own unique.way. Celtic spirituality was imbued with a respect for the natural world and this influenced the practice of Christianity in Celtic countries (mainly Ireland, Scotland and Wales)....
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Early Irish Saints
Did you know St Patrick is only one of three patron saints of Ireland? In the early middle ages Ireland was known across Europe as the 'land of saints and scholars'. There were many early Christian saints in Ireland, each with wonderful and...
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Best Irish Drinking Songs
Drinking and singing just seem to go together in Ireland. Those two things have been at the heart of Irish social life for centuries. So it isn't really surprising that the Irish have produced some of the catchiest, most energetic drinking songs in...
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Shamrocks, Snakes and Shililelaghs: St Patricks' Day Symbols Explained
St Patrick's Day has come to be celebrated all over the world. Wherever there is an Irish bar (and that's most places!) on the 17th March you will see people wearing shamrocks, embracing all things green and telling stories about how the snakes were...
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A Tour of St Patrick's Ireland
Ireland has many sites closely associated with St Patrick, in history and legend. However most of them are off the well-worn tourist trail (you know - Dublin, the Ring of Kerry, the Giant's Causeway ...). As an Irish woman I grew up listening to...
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Feeling stressed out for no reason? 5 simple tips to reduce stress ...
It's great to take time out and relax, go away on retreat, have a spa day. But if you are like me, sometimes you just don't have the time! Well, here are five simple actions you can take right now to reduce stress. If you are feeling stressed out...