Irish Culture

Culture and Anarchy is a series of periodical essays by Matthew Arnold, first published in Cornhill Magazine 1867-68 and collected as a book in 1869. Arnold's famous piece of writing on culture established his High Victorian cultural agenda which remained dominant in debate from the 1860s until the 1950s. According to his view advanced in the book, ‘Culture [...] is a study of perfection’.

Embrace all things Irish with these 200 interesting, important, and fun Irish words and phrases—as well as what each teaches us about the history and culture of Ireland. Céad míle fáilte! Dia duit. You don’t need to be fluent to appreciate the beauty of the Irish language. Maybe you’re...

What does it mean to carry a culture in song? From mythic bards and medieval harpers to rebellious ballads, bodhrán beats, and Beyoncé-backed fiddles, A History of Irish Music: Bardds to Bono tells the story of Irish music like never before. This sweeping, lyrical history explores how music shaped—and was shaped by—the Irish people across centuries of joy, sorrow, migration, resistance, and reinvention. Travel from candlelit sessions in County Clare to sold-out stadiums, from sean-nós singers to TikTok trad stars. Learn how the humble fiddle survived famine, how Riverdance took the ...

When Sinead Long trades Manhattan skyscrapers for the thatched cottages of Cloncastle, she's ready for fresh scones, familiar faces, and a slower pace of life in her Irish hometown. But her plans for peace crumble fast when she discovers her husband's affair with her old school rival, Joan. Determined to confront the woman who's destroyed her marriage, Sinead storms over to Joan's house, only to find her rival stone cold dead in her own kitchen. Before she can even process what she's seeing, the gardai arrive, and suddenly Sinead finds herself at the top of their suspect list. Now all of ...

Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time. The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar.

Set on Ireland’s west coast in the 1970s and 80s, a captivating debut novel about a baby boy who is discovered on the beach beside a small fishing town, as told by the locals who fall under the boy’s transfixing spell. "Compassionate, lyrical and full of devilment."—Louise Kennedy, author...

Ireland – North and South – has sustained significant change in the last 100 years, accelerating at the end of the 20th century with the legalization of contraception, divorce, gay marriage, the end of the ‘Troubles’, and freedom to choose abortion and reproductive autonomy. This collection of specially commissioned essays tells the stories of cloth, clothing, textiles and materials that have been actually or symbolically stained by blood or other bodily fluids in Ireland’s last 100 years.

Winner of the Irish Book of the Year * Winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction * Shortlisted for the Nero Novel of the Year * A New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice From one of the most acclaimed Irish writers today, a new novel about smalltown Ireland that explores a community...

Have you ever wondered what lies in the history of Ireland's past? What they believed and the epic legends they created. In this guide, I introduce you to the four cycles of gods from Ireland's past and the mischief they got up to. I look at the legendary Cuchulainn, Morrigan, Dagda, and many more.

The Ultimate Ireland Travel Guide – Discover the Heart of the Emerald Isle Like Never Before From the lively streets of Dublin to the windswept beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, The Ultimate Ireland Travel Guide is your complete companion to exploring one of the most enchanting countries in the world. Written for first-time visitors and seasoned travelers alike, this guide offers a perfect balance of must-see attractions, hidden gems, local tips, and budget-friendly strategies so you can experience Ireland authentically — without overspending. Inside, you’ll uncover: Detailed city and ...

Emmy Award-winning storyteller Bobby Norfolk brings his electrifying energy to world folktales (African, Eastern European, Appalachian, and Irish traditions), to the delight of all ages. From Anansi, the African trickster, to Jack, the bumbling, lucky, persevering Everyman of traditional stories, Norfolk's characters instruct while they entertain.

From the host of MSNBC’s Alex Wagner Tonight, “a rich and revealing memoir” (The New York Times) about her travels around the globe to solve the mystery of her ancestry, confronting the question at the heart of the American experience of immigration, race, and identity: Who are my...

In 1847 the Choctaw Tribe took up a collection for Irish Famine Relief. They sent $170 to the US famine relief for Ireland. This was a very generous donation from a Native American Nation that had gone through great hardship themselves. Black '47 is one of the fifty-five poems in Jack Scoltock's Collection. The book is dedicated to the Choctaw Nation.

A deeply stirring memoir of fathers, sons, and the oldest bar in New York City. Since it opened in 1854, McSorley's Old Ale House has been a New York institution. This is the landmark watering hole where Abraham Lincoln campaigned and Boss Tweed kicked back with the Tammany Hall machine. Where a...

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes, vibrant culture, and timeless traditions of the Emerald Isle! "Discover the Emerald Isle" is your ultimate guide to unlocking the myriad secrets and hidden gems that make Ireland such a unique and enchanting destination. Delve deep into the heart of this fascinating land—its breathtaking natural beauty, its captivating mythology, and its enduring hospitality—captured across 23 enthralling chapters! Adventure along the enchanting pathways of Celtic mythology and folklore in Chapter 2, uncovering the age-old tales ...

Stories of growing up in an Irish village told with a "blend of history, tradition and humour". Siobhán Lincoln records the social history of Ardmore village, tales of school days, dances, fishing, work, language and tradition. This book will be of interest to anyone who wants a picture of life in rural Ireland from the late 19th century to the dawning of the Millennium. From the forword by Fergal Keane: "The past slips away from us quietly. We are too consumed with the drama of the present to notice the departure of old ways and traditions. In an age of economic growth without parallel in...

Discover the Magic, Myths, and Marvels of Ireland—One Fascinating Fact at a Time! From ancient druids to modern rock stars, haunted castles to Guinness pints, 200 Fun Facts About Ireland is your all-in-one guide to the charm, wit, and wonder of the Emerald Isle. Whether you’re a curious reader, a proud member of the Irish diaspora, or simply looking for the perfect gift for a Celtic-loving friend, this book delivers a delightful mix of history, culture, and quirky surprises. Inside, you’ll find: Legendary landmarks and ancient mysteries Famous Irish figures from past and present ...

The University of Limerick (UL), the first university to be established since the foundation of the Irish state, came about through determined local campaigns. This sumptuously illustrated volume celebrates UL’s fiftieth anniversary, presenting fifty contributions from or about people associated with the university. A wide diversity of writings ranges from scholarly essays to students’ tweets, through poems, presentations and personal memoirs. Voices include those of Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Donal Ryan, Denise Chaila, President Michael D Higgins, Donnah Sibanda Vuma, Paul O’Connell,...

Reveals how Stonehenge was an extraordinary astronomical calendar used in the cultivation of ingredients for long-forgotten botanical cures Explores how Stonehenge and other stone circles were ancient healing sanctuaries and celestial calculators for the preparation of natural medicines ...

Ireland is a small island — rugged, rain-soaked, and far from the centers of empire —yet its influence has stretched across continents, cultures, and centuries. From the poetry of Yeats to the code of Boole, from the ballads sung in rebellion to the submarines launched in revolution, the Irish have left fingerprints on the modern world that are as enduring as they are unexpected. This book is a tribute to the impact—real, verifiable, often remarkable - in which Irishmen and women altered the course ofhistory, influenced thought, reshaped societies, and touched lives well beyond the ...