Irish Culture & Heritage Chapter 16

Interesting fact, the national symbol is a harp – not a shamrock.

Here I’m going to give you a better idea of Irish culture and tell you a few activities to consider doing…

Irish people are proud of traditional and cultural values are clear throughout the island. Some of the top cultural counties are Kerry, Belfast, Dublin, Wicklow, Galway and Cork.

Hearing the Irish language – As Gaelic: Although a benefit of honeymooning in Ireland may be you speak the same language as us, many tourists say they want to hear Irish being spoken during their visit. The Irish language is very romantic and is a direct route to traditional Celtic culture.

But I can’t tell you how many couples came to Ireland in anticipation of hearing the Irish language and failing because they didn’t know where to go, because Ireland is predominantly english spoken.

An estimated 4% of the country speak Irish as their primary language. But that doesn’t mean nobody knows how.

Rather than finding out the hard way I’m going to tell you the very best locations to hear Irish…

It is a real treat to experience and you can do so in:

  • An Cheathrú Rua in Connemara, County Galway,
  • Baile na nGall, County Kerry and Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal,
  • Achill Island,
  • Dingle, Co. Kerry.

These towns are worth a detour if you are passing by. Irish speaking areas are called “Gaeltachts”. Learn some Irish phrases to show off to others, here are some…

  • Dia Duit – Hello
  • Slan – Goodbye
  • Cead Mile Failte – A hundred thousand welcomes
  • Conas atá tú – How are you?
  • Póg mo thóin – Kiss my ass
  • Maidin Mhaith – Good morning
  • Le do thoil – Please
  • Sláinte – Cheers

If culture is what you want you’ll need to check out some Irish sports, either gaelic football or hurling. They are popular in every town and city. Buy a ticket and enjoy the grassroot sports.

Gaelic football, hurling and camogie are very popular, traditional sports exclusive to Ireland and the Irish communities abroad. Fishing, sailing, horse racing, shooting, windsurfing, hill walking are all well supported and recognised sports.

Gaelic is like soccer except you can use your hands, the scoring system is 3 points for a goal and 1 point for a point. Hurling involves a crafted or shaped stick called a ‘hurley’ and a ‘slitor’ which is a small yet hard ball. Players must wear helmets for hurling. It is the fastest paced team sport in the world.

Ireland has much to offer! We have a wide range of activities and traditions for you to take part in. Evan with pretty much every activity available, there is nothing like traditional Irish dancing, it is different & enjoyable. The traditional and contemporary music scene is essential to Irish culture. The Celtics brought their own form of folk dancing over 2,000 years ago. But it was the 16th century where dominant styles were being made. in the 18th century each Irish Dance Master had their own district to teaching pessents. You can catch a show or join in and have the ‘craic’ (an urban Irish term meaning having fun and enjoyment… which you’ll hear a lot of). The following styles of dancing are considered Celtic or Irish dancing. No doubt you’ll meet some fun people during these sessions.

 

Ceili Dancing – Ceili means – gathering of neighbours in a house to have an enjoyable time.It is a social or party dance. Pronounced as Kay-lee.Several couples dance together to set movements.

 

Tap Dancing – Similar to tap dance you and your partner synchronise dance side-by-side .Entirely focused on footwork, swing your arms however you like! :)Often improvised so it is really fun.

 

Quadrilles – Combination of Irish and French dance. More formal moves like the waltz & swing.

 

Riverdance – is a fantastic show and great display of Irish dance talent. Tickets range from $43 to $60. It revolutionised Irish dance.

There is more to the Irish music culture than traditional dance.If you are not a couple that love to dance – Irish Style – but you are a social couple that like to be out and enjoy live music – there is always live music on in most cities, towns and villages.Venues range from intimate and cosy to all-out concert size. Ireland is full of venues that attract big names including U2, Ed Sheeran, One Direction & Hozier.

 

Although not technically a part of Ireland – The Isle of Man is a beautiful small Island between Ireland and The United Kingdom. It has a diverse culture with a deep history of Celts and Vikings.

 

The island is host to the famous festival of motorcycling and epic motor racing. It also hosts the inter-Celtic Festival and Yn Chruinnaght – a traditional music festival. WIth plenty of activities and romantic sights, it is great for a day trip during your honeymoon.

Book of Kells

The Book Of Kells and Trinity College are major attractions for any tourists seeking Irish heritage. The beautiful college grounds are wonderful to stroll through with your partner. The Book Of Kells is a manuscript gospel book, written in Latin and famously designed in Celtic drawings.If you want to discover more of Ireland’s Celtic roots then you should check out the Aran Islands and Achill Island because these islands are untouched from the modernisation of the rest of the world. Some of the locals still go day-by-day using traditional methods of living and farming.

Aran Islands

The Aran Islands - known as the ‘Island of Saints and Scholars - located off the mouth of Galway Bay are a must see for those who want to see a true Celtic experience. They are fIlled with spectacular sights, accommodation, Irish tradition and one of the world-wide venues for Red Bull Cliff Diving.

About Ed


Hi.
My name is Ed short for Edgar. Mixed blood of Latvian and Ireland
I have lived in Mullingar town for most of my life. Traveling around the country is my favorite pass time activity, I have been to many places, and love to explore all the nooks & crannies of Ireland. The beauty of Ireland's landscape is unbelievable sometimes you feel like in a different country. From the serenity of the walk at Glendalough to the humbling feeling of being beside Cliffs of Moher is truly amazing to experience.
When I travel throughout Ireland the hospitality is the one thing that stood out most! Cork is my personal favourite as the people are so nice and welcoming my highlight was the Titanic experience where you feel like one of the passengers who are about to board the ship from the heartbreak pier that still stands to this day.
In Ireland you will always get the warmest welcome in any B&B. My other hobbies are cooking horse riding and fishing. I can’t wait to share the experiences with you for your Trip of a lifetime to this amazing Green Isle.
Sláinte (Cheers)

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About Donna


Hey, my name is Donna and I'm from the town of Mullingar in the Heart of Ireland.

One of my passions is exploring and from my experience, Ireland is a beautiful country to explore. I have so many recommendations but for newcomers to Ireland I definitely opt to send you to Westport for Croagh Patrick & Clew Bay, perfect for hiking scenery and beautiful seafood, 

My favorite place in Ireland is Galway City - I love going for a meal with my friends, followed by a stroll down the cobbled streets, before popping into one of the Traditional Irish Pubs like  An Púcan.

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About Rita


Hi, I’m Rita and I am living in Kilkenny, the Marble city.

Born in Portugal, I fell in love with Ireland from the moment I landed here. I intended to stay for 6 months, and 6 years after I just cannot imagine my life without the Irish ‘craic’. 

Working in Events & Tourism for the last years has been so rewarding - bringing people to see all the magical, undiscovered spots in this country is what I wake up for every day. I have made memories that will last a lifetime, and I work towards creating the same experiences for others visiting the Emerald island. 

My favourite place in Ireland is probably the Dingle Peninsula, where bumpy roads bring the Atlantic ocean and green mountains together. The seafood is just as brilliant as the landscape, which I couldn’t forget to mention, being the foodie that I am!

You could say I am biased when I pick Kilkenny as one of my other top spots - I just can’t get enough of this lively mediaeval city branded by its hospitality.

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About Tina


Hi my name is TinaMarie, I have been working in Travel for over 15 years now and still love it as much as when I just started. There is something very special about bringing people to Ireland because we live here we take pride in our wonderful little country and want the whole world to experience what we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep.

Without a shadow of a doubt my favourite county and city in Ireland is Galway simply due to the dual aspect living you can have in this area the beauty and serenity of the Connemara countryside and the diverse cultural living of Galway city. Come and see firsthand how friendly and welcoming the Irish people are , Stop waiting and make the trip of a lifetime!

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About Sinéad


Hey! My name is Sinéad. I'm from Longford, the heart of the midlands. I'm a countryside girl at heart, depsite living in the capital for a few years while studying. I love the hustle bustle of Dublin city centre, there's always so much going on and so much to do. Although, you can't beat the tranquility of the Irish countryside in my opinion!

Apart from my hometown, one of my favorite place in Ireland has got to be 'The Kingdom' (Kerry). The scenery is just unparalleled. From the idyllic wild Atlantic coasts to our selection of well-known mountain ranges, and everything in between. The ring of Kerry is definitely a must see, the nightlife is pretty great too!!

On my weekends I love to cheer on my local Gaelic football teams. I'd definitely recommend catching a GAA match on your travels!

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About Jessica


Hi, my name is Jessica,

I'm from the town of Mullingar, known as the hidden heartlands of Ireland. Travel is my passion, every weekend I try to visit a few different counties here in Ireland and also explore new and exciting countries. Unfortunately there is just not enough time to visit everywhere I want too on our beautiful island of Ireland, Naturally the next best thing is to help make others dreams come true with the trip of a lifetime to our fair isle!

My two favorite places in Ireland is Galway and Kerry. They are full of great culture, food, scenery, and of course many traditional Irish pubs!! There is always a great lively buzz no matter what time of year you visit.

I look forward to working with many of you in the near future to offer my knowledge, guidance and support for your trip of a lifetime.

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About Ronan


Hey!

My name is Ronan and I'm from Mullingar (the heart of the Midlands). I have a passion for travelling and have been all over the world. However, my most favourite place in the world is the west of Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way. From seeing Basking sharks in Keem bay in Achill Island (Mayo), to having a lovely relaxing pint of Guinness in Salthill in Galway, to taking in the majestic Cliffs of Moher in Clare and kayaking alongside dolphins in Dingle bay (Kerry) - it's all just amazing. Oh, and not to forget the delicious Skellig chocolates while looking out at Skellig Michaeal in Kerry, yum!

I love all things sport and food - when I'm not travelling around Ireland I'm cooking up a storm in the kitchen and watching some local GAA (our national sport). I can't wait to help you out and make your trip to Ireland, the trip of a lifetime!

Céad mile fáilte mo chara - (A thousand welcomes my friend).

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