Ideas for keeping your wedding low cost but still special. How we managed to get married with a budget of $2000.
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.
Early Medieval Ireland (500-800 CE) was known as the Land of Saints and Scholars. This was because, once Christianity arrived in Ireland around 400 CE, it spread quickly. By the seventh century there were many monasteries and convents dotted across...
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 with...
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....
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
Learn the food, important dates, and activities of Christmas in Mexico.
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.
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.
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.
A central aspect of Irish folklore is the wealth of traditional beliefs and superstitions which have been held by Irish people over the centuries. Many of these beliefs can be traced to Celtic traditions which the Catholic church failed to...
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.
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...
An article exploring the meaning of dia de los muertos face painting, including day of the dead symbols such as skulls and flowers.
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...
A guide to the changing experience of women through history. From ancient times to the present day, women have adapted, survived and thrived.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Estan locos? Are you guys crazy? The Shuar kill strangers on their land." This was the reaction of the (non-Shuar) locals at the edge of the Ecuadorian rainforest when my friend and I told them we planned to try and meet some Shuar people.
"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.
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...
Engaging children is easy when you know how. It can be difficult at first (believe me, I know!), but follow the tips in this article and you will soon find that engaging with children and keeping their attention has become second nature.
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.
Looking at the possible influence of an Irish vampire legend on the creation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The words 'Latin America' are used to describe the group of 21 countries (listed below) in the American continent where Latin languages are spoken. These countries are all located south of the US-Mexico border, starting with Mexico in North America,...
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...
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...
Looking at the main traditions in Irish folk tales - warrior myths, romantic tragedies, ghost stories and local fairy stories.
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.
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...
The 17th 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 in many...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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....
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...
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.
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.
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...
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...