The Irish immigrants settled in the United States starting with the sixteenth century had far reaching contributions in American culture, fashion, politics, industry, cuisine, religion and economy. Irish songs and expressions, Irish literature, Irish dancing, St. Patrick’s Day parades or the iconic& …

We're half way to St. Patrick's Day. Why not take the occasion to look at Ireland's most recognizable symbol, the Shamrock. When asked to name some Irish symbols, the shamrock is often the first that comes to mind. Not many, however, know much about the tiny plant’s varied and complicated histo …

To anyone not intimately familiar the landmark moments of Irish history, the scene might sound innocuous: on September 14, 1607, some 92 Irishmen boarded a French ship on the turbulent sea inlet of Lough Swilly in Rathmullan, Co. Donegal. The vessel was was bound for Spain. The act, on a surface lev …

If you’ve ever ordered a pint of Guinness, you probably know it takes longer to arrive than your barmate’s Bud. In fact, Guinness has an official measure of just how much longer it takes—119.53 seconds. That’s the time it takes for the beer to settle in between the first and second pours in the c …

A wedding anniversary is a special time of year no matter how it’s celebrated, but, as with wedding themselves, a touch of tradition can really bring out the beauty of the whole affair. One of the most common anniversary customs is, of course, the exchange of sentimental gifts—but did you know th …

Considering the history of Irish art, it’s no stretch to say that the only thing capable of surpassing its magnitude is its complexity. Historians have established that somewhere around the year 300 BC, trade connections with Britain and northern European countries brought La Tène culture, or Eur …