With St. Patrick’s Day just barely in the rearview mirror, there is no better time to explore this lyrical culture. The exquisite beauty of Ireland belongs in the fairytales it’s so famous for.
The Emerald Isle welcomes you with renowned hospitality and the breathtaking sights of Adare Village, the Ring of Kerry and the dramatic Cliffs of Moher. Add Guinness, folklore and hearty traditional meals to scenic wonders and the outcome is a land steeped in magic.
The amalgamation of epics eras offers an experience rich in modern culture, founded on over 5,500 years of history and ancestral traditions.
Explore Culture
Whether you are feeling upbeat or contemplative, our team has selected some of Ireland’s finest artistic exports – bookworms, music lovers and art enthusiasts, enjoy!
Great Reads
When All Is Said: Five Toasts, Five People, One Lifetime
Anne Griffin
This is the story of Maurice Hannigan, who, over the course of a Saturday night in June, orders five different drinks at the Rainford House Hotel. With each drink, he toasts a person vital to him and through these people, he tells the story of his own life, with all its regrets and feuds, loves and triumphs.
READ
As You Were
Elaine Feeney
Sinead Hynes is a tough, driven, funny young property developer with a terrifying secret. Her story is about intimate histories, institutional failures, the kindness of strangers, and the darkly present past of modern Ireland. It is about women’s stories and women’s struggles. It is about seizing the moment to be free.
A Book of Bones
John Connolly
On lonely moor in the northeast of England, the body of a young woman is discovered near the site of a vanished church. In the south, a girl lies buried beneath a Saxon mound. To the southeast, the ruins of a priory hide a human skull. Each is a sacrifice, a summons. And something in the darkness has heard the call. This is the latest installment of John Connolly’s thrilling private detective Charlie Parker series.
READ
Angela’s Ashes: A Memoire
Frank McCourt
In 1935 when it is more common for Irish families to leave their famine-stricken country for America, the impoverished McCourt family does the reverse. Following the sudden death of her 7-week-old daughter, Angela and her unemployable, alcoholic husband, Malachy Sr., set sail from New York Harbor to settle in the slums of Limerick with their four children.
Easy Listening
Enjoy these selected albums featuring some of Ireland’s most iconic voices and sounds. Simply sign-up for a free Spotify account and click play! Spotify is an online service that brings millions of songs to your fingertips – all genres, all eras, all for free! Our team has been spending many satisfying hours exploring new artists and listening to the rhythmic heartbeat of the world.
#1 The Pogues
By melding the spirit of English punk with the upbeat energy of Irish folk music, the Pogues cemented their place as one of the most radical bands of the 1980s.
#2 The Dubliners
There is no denying the Dubliners are one of the best-known bands in the world of Celtic music. Since their first hit single placed them onto the global stage, their continuous touring made sure fan support never waned. Without their hard-hitting sound, there may never have been a Celtic-punk genre.
#3 The Chieftains
Over their nearly six-decade career, this Grammy Award-winning collection of musical masters is credited with transcending musical boundaries in their pursuit of elevating traditional Irish music on an international scale.
#4 Van Morrison
It is difficult to accurately describe the genre-transcending work of this rock & roll innovator and the impact he had on the canon of the day with such classics as “Gloria,” “Brown-Eyed Girl,” and “Moondance”.
Acclaimed Works of Art
Army Post Office 3, Boulogne, 1919
Army Post Office 3, Boulogne, 1919
John Lavery, 1919
Mixed Flowers on Pink Cloth
Mixed Flowers on Pink Cloth
Roderic O’Conorcirca, 1916
Sketch for Four Elements
Sketch for Four Elements
Mainie Jellett, 1928
The Swinford Funeral
The Swinford Funeral
Jack Butler Yeats, 1918
Enjoy Authentic Food
SAVOURY
Irish Beef Stew with Guinness
This hardy stew truly is a staple of Irish living. No matter which part of the country someone calls home, the size of their family or their social class, you will find stew on their dinner table.
When our Irish team member heard that we had selected this recipe to share with our community, he shared the history behind this dish. We’re told by his spouse that he is still talking about it (a lyrical culture indeed!).
In case that isn’t reason enough to try this delicious recipe at home, there is even a video that will walk you through every step.
