Irish Seisiún Newsletter
Person of the Year
Scheduled for January 18th, 2026
This Week’s Session 1
Tom, Here’s some tunes played: Apples in Winter, Old Man Dillon / Green Mountain, Tinker’s Daughter / Calliope House, Black Rogue, Rambling Pitchfork / the Banshee, Maid behind the Bar, Sligo Maid / Charlie Harris, Finnish Polka, Jessica’s / Hare’s Paw, Five Mile Chase / Father Kelly’s 1 and 2, Redigan’s / Lilting Banshee, Coleraine / Fairies Hornpipe, Honeysuckle Hornpipe, Liverpool Hornpipe / The Anthem, the Oakum / Home Ruler, Kitty’s Wedding / Greenfields of Woodford, Hole in the Hedge / Mossy Banks, Mountain Top / Rakes of Clonmel, Trip to the Cottage / Willy Colemans 1 and 2, Maid in the Meadow / Merry Blacksmith / Miss Thorntons, My Love is in America / John Brennon’s, Knotted Cord, Tinker’s Daughter / New Mown Meadow, Devaney’s Goat, Galway Rambler / Lark in the Morning, Connaughtman’s Ramble
Click on any image to enlarge.
Finnegan's Calender
Find out what’s happening at Tim Finnegan;s this month.
Spider Cherry composes music that connects many genres from rock to funk to dance to theatre. As both front man and pianist, Nathan combines a powerful soul/rock voice with an effortlessly slick playing style
.
.
Click here to view calendar
Finnegan’s supports us…Let’s support them!
.……….
Click any of the above logos to go to that site
.
“That’s How I Spell Ireland”
Saturdays at 7 to 8 PM EST.
You can listen on 88.7FM or WRHU.org.
For a request please text me on 917 699-4768.Kevin and Joan Westley
Note: Show will be preempted whenever the NY Islanders have a Saturday game
Old Ireland
OConnell-Street-
Dublin 1800s
Nelson was still atop his column
Mail Received
Travel in Ireland
.
Stepping into history on the island of Inisheer
A scenic trip to Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands, off the coast of Galway and Clare.
Perhaps the best-known group of islands off Ireland’s coast, The Aran Islands are renowned for their history, Irish culture and stunning natural beauty.
They are what some might call ‘last outpost of Irish culture’, remaining a Gaeltacht area, where Irish is still the first language and school-children from the mainland are often sent for their summer break to brush up on their native tongue. It is a place where ancient traditions still prevail.
The smallest (and often thought of as most stunning) of these islands is Inisheer, or Inis Oírr. It is an extension of the geographic phenomenon that is The Burren in County Clare.
Named from Irish for ‘great rock’ – boireann – The Burren is what is known as a karst landscape, a unique geographical formation made of rugged limestone. It also enjoys unusually lush greenery and flora and much of Inisheer is like The Burren in this way. The result is a diverse selection of birds and wildlife on the tiny island, making it a botanist’s or nature lover’s delight. Here, they will find arctic, Mediterranean and Alpine plants thriving side by side, peppered with butterflies and moths (including native ‘Burren Green’ species).
With a population of just 300 residents, life on the island today depends mainly on tourism and summer schools. But agriculture and craft were traditional means of living on Inisheer. Today, the legacy of its farming history can still be seen.
The most striking visual aspect of Aran islands and Inisheer is the number of stone walls that separate land into small fields. Over 1,000 miles of ancient walls interlace across three islands giving them a unique landscape and are believed to have been built in such a way out of necessity.
For the earliest settlers who wanted to use the land for agriculture, stones that covered arable soil had to be moved by hand; building walls was the simplest way to move and store rocks. The sheer volume of stone led to these high and numerous walls dividing small patches of green.
Much of the livestock kept on islands were sheep, wool of which was turned into yarn to make now famous traditional Aran knitwear. Aran wool is still sold in many craft shops that line streets in Doolin, a town on the mainland that ferries people to Inisheer.
Stepping off the boat, visitors to the island are welcomed by a gathering of horses and traps, and one or two tractor tours waiting to show you around the island in time for last boat home.
Arriving at the marina, another striking feature of Inisheer is the turquoise of waters that surround it. Where some parts of the Atlantic coastline are tossed up and grey in appearance, waters in the bay at Inisheer remain crystal clear and an inviting blue. The marina overlooks a small sandy beach which on a sunny day is buzzing with families and children swimming and kayaking in the sea.
Aside from tractor tours or horse and cart, other main ways to explore the island are on foot or by bicycle, which are available to hire by day.
Ruins of ancient history
Inisheer is steeped in history, with several ruins waiting to be discovered and an abandoned shipwreck from the 1960s perched on one side of its stony coastline. The most prominent ruin is O’Brien’s Castle. Perched at top of a hill on the southern side of the island, the three-story castle dates back to the 14th century, although it is built upon a more ancient site, Dun Formna (meaning ‘top of hill’), which is thought to have been home to island’s chieftain from around 400 BC.
The O’Briens were a clan known to have controlled much of County Clare during medieval Ireland. Records show substantial payments in wine to clan from Galway city in return for keeping shipping routes in and out of city free from piracy.
From here you can enjoy a fine view across the island, over to Galway Bay and, on the other side, The Burren and Cliffs of Moher – well worth a moderately steep but short climb or cycle.
Dun Formna is just one of seven stone forts on the island, with a further three stone chapels, dating back to 11th century, making up the remainder of historical stone structures.
The Teampall Caomhán (pronounced tem-pawl kwee-vawn) is a buried church named for the patron saint of island, Caomhán, and site is also home to his grave. Lying under ground level, each year church is covered by blown sands and each year islanders dig around it to make it accessible.
The Plassey is the name of the shipwreck on Finnis Rock. Originally a steam trawler launched in the 1940s, The Plassey was sailing through Galway Bay carrying whiskey, yarn and stained glass when it got into trouble in a severe storm and crashed onto rocks in 1960. Local islanders were able to rescue full crew of 11, and ship remains on rocks to this day. It is a popular tourist attraction, reached by following narrow winding lanes.
A little further on is a lighthouse, a local landmark in itself.
Getting to Inisheer
Getting there From Doolin, in County Clare, there are two operators running daily services to and from three Aran Islands and scenic trips to see Cliffs of Moher from water.
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most popular sights and a designated UNESCO Geo Park. Over 700 feet high at their highest point, they stretch for almost five miles looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Standing majestically on the headland is O’Brien’s Tower, another ruin left by a formidable clan. The view of The Cliffs from ferry coming back from Inisheer are breathtaking, while view of Inisheer from on top of The Cliffs is equally beautiful.
From the Galway side of islands, it’s possible to get a ferry from Rossaveal to get a ferry across Bay. Alternatively, regional airline Aer Arann Islands offers short flights to see beautiful islands from birds’ eye view and can take you from Connemara Airport to any one of three islands in a matter of minutes.
* Originally published in July 2013 in Ireland of the Welcomes, updated in Nov 2023.
Irish Language
Submitted by our own Anita
.
.
January 6th, also known as little Christmas, is also known as Nollag na mban (nulag nah man)for women or Women’s Christmas.
This is the day traditionally in Ireland that the women take the day off to relax with their lady friends after toiling long days over the holidays, cooking and cleaning, while the men handle the cooking and chores!
Ban (ban) = Woman with an m before it as in nollag na mban Mna = Women
Fear (far) = Man Fir = Men
Cailin = Girl Cailini = Girls
Buachaill (boo-hill) = Boy Buachailli = Boys
Athair (ah-hir) = Father
Mathair (maw-hir) = Mother
Slan agus beannacht.
Anita
Free Irish Classes
The classes are over zoom and are held at 12:00 eastern time the 1 st Sunday of every month.
It is basic conversational Irish and open to learners of all ages, especially beginners.
All are invited.
Hope to see you there!
slan go foill. Le dea ghui,
Anita
click here to register
Travel Quiz
Can you identify this site
and its location in Ireland
Answer in Next Week’s Newsletter
Last week’s answer
Location of executions after the 1916 Rising
Kilmainham Gaol Dublin
This week’s Irish recipie
Irish chef’s recipe for a modern family favorite –
chicken curry!
Here’s top Irish chef Neven Maguire’s recipe for one of the Irish family’s favorite dinners – chicken curry!
Irish chef Neven Maguire is a television chef, author of multiple cookbooks, and owner of one of Ireland’s most prestigious restaurants, MacNean House and Restaurant in Blacklion, County Cavan.
Below is Chef Neven Maguire’s recipe for one of the Irish family’s favorite dinners – chicken curry!
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 – inch piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 tbsp mild curry powder
- 1 small jar of mango chutney
- 1 can chopped tomatoes
- 1 can of coconut milk
- 2 tbsp freshly chopped cilantro
- 4 skinless chicken breast cutlets, cut into thick strips
Method
Gently cook onion, ginger, and garlic in a tablespoon of oil in a saucepan for 5 minutes, or until soft. Stir in curry powder and cook on a low heat for five more minutes.
Slowly add the chopped tomatoes and coconut milk, then add the small jar of mango chutney (three tablespoons), and season to taste. Add the chopped cilantro and chicken, then cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve with steamed jasmine rice, wedges, or a wholesome baked potato.
Tommy Mac here.
With a wife, 3 daughters, and two granddaughters,
I thought this might be appropriate for Women’s Day
Poem of the Week
Queen Mave of Connacht,
a powerful and legendary figure in Irish mythology, defied traditional roles as a warrior, strategist, and sovereign ruler.
For Woman's Day 2026
.
We are women we are Warriors of steel
.
This is a poem written by a 14 year old Irish girl called Brenda. I didn’t get her 2nd name, but I think this is very appropriate for The Times that we’re living in. I wrote it out from a poor audio recording so hopefully I got it right, it sounds quite good to me.
Stories and Tales
Woman’s Day in Ireland
From Hearth to Heart: How Irish Women Preserved Our Culture
In Ireland, culture was never kept in books alone. It lived in kitchens warm with turf smoke, in whispered prayers at bedside, in stories told while hands were busy with needle or spoon.
Long before Ireland’s history was written down, it was remembered, and Irish women were its keepers.
Mothers, grandmothers, and aunts carried Ireland through centuries of upheaval including colonisation, famine, poverty, emigration, and loss. They preserved language, faith, foodways, and folklore not through grand gestures, but through everyday acts of care.
From hearth to heart, Irish women ensured that identity endured, both at home and far beyond Ireland’s shores.
The Cultural Role of Irish Women Through History
Irish culture has survived centuries of upheaval, colonisation, famine, poverty, and mass emigration. It has remained strong and survived, not only through politics or literature, but through family life. At the centre of that survival were Irish women.
Mothers, grandmothers, and aunts preserved Irish culture in quiet, everyday ways. Through storytelling, faith, food, and family rituals, they ensured that traditions were passed from one generation to the next.
While history books often focus on public figures and events, the true continuity of Irish identity was safeguarded in homes and kitchens.
Irish women were not just caregivers; they were cultural guardians.
The Irish Hearth: Where Tradition Was Passed Down
In traditional Irish homes, the hearth was the heart of family life. It was a place of warmth, nourishment, and learning. Long before children encountered formal schooling, they absorbed Irish culture by listening and observing at home.
Irish mothers and grandmothers taught values through example. Children learned the value of hospitality, respect, resilience, and humour in the face of hardship.
Storytelling played a central role. Folktales, family histories, and local legends were shared orally, preserving memory in a country where literacy was not always guaranteed.
This oral tradition allowed Irish culture to survive even during times when language, religion, and customs were actively suppressed.
Storytelling and Oral Tradition in Irish Families
Storytelling has always been central to Irish identity, and women were its primary storytellers within the home.
Around the fire, children learned about fairies and folklore, but also about right and wrong, bravery and caution, faith and fate. These stories often blended myth with lived experience, connecting children to both imagination and ancestry.
Irish grandmothers, in particular, acted as living archives, remembering family lineages, local events, and traditions that might otherwise have been lost. In this way, Irish women preserved history long before it was written down.
Irish Mothers and the Practice of Faith at Home
Faith has long been a defining feature of Irish life, and Irish women played a central role in maintaining religious practice within the family.
While churches and clergy were important, it was often mothers who shaped daily spirituality. Prayers said at bedtime, the Angelus during the day, holy water at the door, and candles lit for loved ones formed a deeply personal expression of faith.
During times when formal religious practice was restricted or dangerous, Irish women ensured that belief endured quietly within the home.
Even in later generations, many Irish people carried prayers learned from mothers and grandmothers long after regular church attendance faded.
Irish Women, Food, and Cultural Memory
Food is one of the most enduring ways Irish women preserved culture.
Traditional Irish recipes were rarely written down. Instead, they were passed on through observation and practice. Mothers taught daughters how to bake bread, stretch meals, and cook seasonally with what was available.
Simple dishes and foods like soda bread, porridge, stews, and apple cakes became deeply tied to memory and identity. These foods reflected Ireland’s agricultural roots, economic hardship, and emphasis on making the most of limited resources.
In Irish-American families, these recipes became a tangible connection to the homeland, adapting to new ingredients while retaining familiar tastes.
Family Rituals and the Seasons of Irish Life
Irish women were also the keepers of life’s rituals, many of which were never formally recorded.
They knew the customs surrounding birth, illness, death, and mourning. Women prepared homes for wakes, led prayers for the dead, and maintained traditions that helped families navigate grief.
Seasonal traditions also rested largely in women’s hands:
- Christmas preparations and visiting graves
- St Brigid’s Day customs
- Holy wells and local pilgrimages
- Little Christmas (Nollaig na mBan), marking the end of the Christmas season
These practices connected family life to faith, land, and the natural cycle of the year.
Irish Women and Emigration: Preserving Culture Abroad
The Irish diaspora tells one of the most powerful stories of women as cultural preservers.
When Irish families emigrated, it was often women who recreated “home” in unfamiliar places. Irish mothers in America, Britain, Canada, and Australia established households that remained unmistakably Irish.
They passed down accents, sayings, recipes, and religious customs. They told stories of Ireland, named children after relatives left behind, and maintained traditions even when assimilation pressures were strong.
In Irish-American communities, women often formed the backbone of parish life, community groups, and family networks. Through these efforts, Irish culture survived far from its place of origin.
The Quiet Matriarchy of Irish Family Life
Although Irish society was historically patriarchal, many families were quietly matriarchal in practice.
Irish women frequently managed household finances, made decisions about education and emigration, and provided emotional stability. Their authority was rooted in experience and resilience rather than public power.
They endured loss with remarkable strength, whether it was children lost to emigration, famine, illness, or poverty, all the while continuing to place family and faith first. Their influence shaped generations, even when it went unrecognised.
Irish Mothers and Grandmothers Today
Today, Irish culture is celebrated more openly than ever, but its foundations remain deeply personal.
Modern Irish and Irish-American women continue to choose which traditions to preserve and which to adapt. Many rediscover family recipes, revisit ancestral stories, and intentionally reconnect with heritage that once felt automatic.
There is growing recognition that what was once dismissed as “women’s work” was, in fact, cultural preservation at its most powerful.
From Hearth to Heart: An Enduring Legacy
Irish women preserved culture not through formal institutions, but through love expressed in daily life.
They fed families, told stories, taught prayers, remembered the dead, welcomed neighbours, and passed on values without fanfare. Their legacy lives on in family traditions, seasonal rituals, and the sense of belonging carried by Irish people worldwide.
From hearth to heart, Irish women carried identity across centuries and oceans, ensuring that Irish culture did not merely survive, but endured.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad –Irish American Mom
Pronunciation – slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad – rhymes with parade
Prehistoric Wicklow find could prove Vikings may not have built first Irish towns
A massive archaeological discovery in County Wicklow suggests that ancient Irish people lived in dense urban settlements long before the arrival of Norse invaders.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of a sprawling prehistoric complex in the hills of Wicklow that rivals the scale of early cities. This monumental find challenges the long held historical narrative that the Vikings were the primary architects of Ireland’s first towns and urban centers.
Archaeologists working in the Baltinglass area of County Wicklow have identified what appears to be the largest cluster of prehistoric houses ever discovered across Ireland and Britain. Using advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to map the landscape, the team revealed the remains of hundreds of circular dwellings nestled within ancient hillforts. These structures suggest a level of social organization and permanent settlement that was previously thought to be impossible for that era. The sheer density of the buildings indicates that this was not merely a seasonal camp but a thriving community.
This discovery is particularly significant because it contradicts the traditional view of Irish urbanization. For decades, historians have taught that the Vikings established the first true towns in Ireland during the ninth century. This new evidence points to a massive population center that existed thousands of years earlier. It implies that prehistoric Irish society was far more complex and sedentary than experts once believed.
Dr. James O’Driscoll of University College Cork led the research and expressed his amazement at the scale of the site. He told the BBC that the discovery is completely unique and changes how we view the prehistoric landscape.
Read more
According to his analysis, the area may have contained as many as one thousand individual houses. This number far exceeds any other known prehistoric site in the region and suggests a major shift in our understanding of ancient Irish life.
Archaeology Magazine notes that the Baltinglass landscape is now considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Western Europe. The findings suggest that Ireland was part of a broader trend of urbanization that predates the medieval period by millennia. Rather than living in isolated farmsteads, it seems that people chose to congregate in large fortified settlements. This behavior mirrors the development of early cities found in other parts of the world during the Bronze Age.
The Irish Independent reports that the site covers a vast area that had been hidden by overgrowth and modern farming for centuries. Because the structures are located on high ground, they provided a defensive advantage and a clear view of the surrounding valleys. This strategic positioning confirms that these were permanent residences designed for long term habitation. The researchers hope that further excavations will reveal more about the daily lives of the people who inhabited these ancient hills.
As the study continues, the implications for Irish history are profound. If the prehistoric Irish were building large scale settlements, then the role of the Vikings as the founders of urban life must be reevaluated.
A short history of the Irish surname name Gallagher
Gallagher is an Irish surname steeped in musical tradition.
Gallagher ranks in the top surnames in Ireland, and as such, there are some thirty-plus variations of the Irish last name.
The name Gallagher is of ancient Gaelic origin and is derived from the word ‘gallchobhar’, meaning ‘foreign help.’
The name is first found in County Donegal, where the family has held a seat since ancient times. A senior family of Cenél Conaill (kindred of Conaill), this sept’s territory reached across the county of Donegal, although the clan is thought to hail originally from Tirhugh near Ballyshannon.
The Gallagher ancestry shows them to be direct descendants of the 5th-century High King of Ireland, Niall Noígíallach, or Niall of Nine Hostages, who is reputed to have brought Saint Patrick to Ireland as a slave.
The head of the family was chieftain Aodh, and he and the chieftains who followed are thought to have ruled in relative peace until Vikings arrived in Donegal Bay during the 9th century.
The family coat of arms depicts a black lion on a silver shield, stepping on a green snake and surrounded by eight green trefoils. The Latin motto of the clan is “Mea Gloria Fides,” which translates to “faith is my glory.”
Many Gallaghers were also among the first Irish settlers in America, with records of Charles, David, Francis, James, John, Michael, and Thomas Gallagher all arriving in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1865. There are over 33,000 Gallaghers on passenger lists.
Some noted Gallaghers include Reverend Redmond Gallagher (1521-1601) a Bishop of Derry who was martyred for aid he rendered to survivors of the Spanish Armada; Joseph Gallagher, a British chess international grandmaster and British Champion of 2002; and Canadian geologist John Patrick Gallagher, who founded Dome Petroleum.
The name has more of a rock-and-roll heritage, though, in recent times. Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher are notorious bad-boy rockers who make up the phenomenally successful 90s band Oasis, while Rory Gallagher was a legendary Irish blues and rock guitarist.
* Originally published in September 2022 and updated in Jan 2026.
The beauty and danger of Blarney Castle’s Poison Garden
Is the Poison Garden in Co Cork the world’s most dangerous garden?
Most people go to Blarney Castle to kiss the infamous, gab-gifting stone, but visitors should also proceed (with caution!) to the castle’s fascinating Poison Gardens.
While the most famous attraction on the grounds of Blarney Castle in County Cork might be the famous stone tourists literally bend over backward to bestow a kiss upon, a visit to this medieval stronghold would not be complete without a stroll around the castle’s gardens.
There you will find 60 acres of parkland and lush gardens, including a fern garden and ice house, arboretums and a pinetum with rare species of trees, a herbaceous border of colorful perennials, the Seven Sisters garden inspired by a legend about the King of Munster, and one particularly curious corner – the Poison Garden.
Blarney Castle’s Poison Gardens are located behind the castle battlements. Though at a glance they may seem like any other botanical garden, warning signs with skull and crossbones and cages carefully constructed to contain the deadliest of the plants reveal this is no ordinary garden.
“Do not touch, smell, or eat any plant!” visitors are warned, with a note that children must be accompanied at all times. The warnings are there for good reason: among the plants and herbs are deadly specimens such as Wolfsbane, Mandrake, Hellebore, Hemlock, Nightshade, and Ricinus communis, which produces castor oil and the lethal poison ricin. Placards and signposts share the plants’ fascinating histories, properties poisonous and medicinal, and lore.
Plants of the illicit variety such as opium poppy and cannabis also grow in the garden. Memorably, back in 2010, Gardaí (Irish police) ordered the horticulture team at Blarney Castle to dig up the garden’s Cannabis Sativa and Papaver Somniferum and deliver them to the local police station.
Despite the horticulturists making their intentions to grow the plants known to local law enforcement, they had not yet fully secured the proper licensure.
In 2019, Blarney Castle announced that they are planning an exciting addition to the Poison Gardens, a new section called the Carnivorous Corridor, which will feature an exotic collection of carnivorous plants.
The Poison Gardens are a must-see for any visitor to Blarney Castle. The gardens and arboretums are open year-round and access is included with castle admission.
Today in 1922, the Irish Free State was born
On January 7, 1922, the Dáil passed the Anglo-Irish Treaty by a vote of 64 to 57. As a result of Saorstát Éireann, the Irish Free State was born.
What should have been a cause for celebration was anything but. There was finger-pointing and recriminations on both sides of the debate. The country was split—Republic versus Free State—and it would remain that way for the rest of the century.
The two dominating personalities—Éamon de Valera and Michael Collins—would, in this period, cast their politics in concrete. They had cautiously been circling each other since the Truce was called in July, and they would continue their dance of suspicion.
To fully comprehend what had happened in Irish politics in the six months between July 1921 and January 1922, and then on through June 1922, it is helpful to look at the historical time frame:
July 11, 1921
A truce between the warring Irish and British forces is brokered by King George V. Almost immediately, Éamon de Valera and Arthur Griffith go to London to meet with British Prime Minister David Lloyd George. De Valera and Lloyd George went one-on-one, and de Valera was told in no uncertain terms that he would not be bringing a 32-county Republic back with him to Dublin. This placed de Valera in a very tough, all-or-nothing conundrum. Full negotiations were set for the fall, and de Valera—sans Éamon de Valera—was forced to field a team to go head-to-head with the likes of Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, and Lord Birkenhead. It is the first indication that the infant country is already showing cracks in its new foundation.
October 11-December 6, 1921
The Irish delegation, already fractured, arrives in London for the negotiations. Arthur Griffith and the other plenipotentiaries—Robert Barton, Eamonn Duggan, and George Gavan Duffy—come as a group and live and work in the same townhouse. Michael Collins, however, arrives by himself, rents a separate townhouse, and brings his own staff from Dublin, many of them veterans of his intelligence-gathering operation in Crow Street.
Collins was paranoid, and he had a right to be. By right Éamon de Valera, as the President of Dáil Éireann, should be leading the delegation. But de Valera found himself, politics-wise, between a rock and a hard place. He knew from his conversations with Lloyd George during the summer that a 32-county Republic was impossible, so he had to walk the fine line between the hardcore Republicans and those in London trying to negotiate a Treaty. De Valera made every excuse he could to avoid leading the delegation, thus avoiding taking the blame for the establishment of a Free State and not a Republic.
It’s interesting to see Collins’ take on Dev’s excuses. In “Michael Collins’ Own Story” by Hayden Talbot—which is believed to be Collins’ unfinished autobiography—Collins talked about the reasons for de Valera’s absence: “De Valera would not head the delegation that went to London. Every member of the Cabinet and every Teachtae [TD] of Dáil Éireann wanted him to conduct the Treaty negotiations, and many of us pleaded with him not to remain behind. But he was immovable. The reason he gave was twofold. First, he said, it was beneath his dignity, as President of the Irish Republic, to leave his country; and, second, he could not afford to put himself in a position in which he might do his nation irreparable harm by a chance word across the conference table. He insisted his value to the Irish people would be greatest by remaining in Dublin, and from that distance guiding us in our task.”
Also on Collins’ paranoid mind were his suspicions that Erskine Childers, the secretary of the delegation, was a de Valera spy—if not a British double-agent—and also something de Valera muttered before packing the delegates off to London: “We must have scapegoats.” So, the Irish delegation, now led by Collins and an ailing Griffith, went to work, all the time being second-guessed back in Dublin by de Valera and his supporters, people like Cathal Brugha and the Countess Markievicz.
January 7, 1922
During the debate, de Valera, the crafty politician he was, tried every parliamentary trick in the book to forestall passage of the Treaty, clearly frustrating the Big Fellow: “We’ll have no Tammany Hall methods here,” shouted Collins. “Whether you are for the Treaty or whether you’re against it, fight without Tammany Hall methods. We will not have them.”
The sticking point de Valera and his supporters decided to make their stand on was the provision that there be a Loyalty Oath to the King. Without taking the Oath, a deputy could not take his seat in the Dáil. This stand apparently caught Collins by surprise, forcing him to state in his autobiography that “…No one but a factionist, looking for means of making mischief, would have thought it worthwhile to have risked wrecking the Treaty for.”
But de Valera saw his chance and he took it. Unfortunately for him, he did not have the votes. In a country sickened by war and violence, the Treaty was approved by a vote of 64-57. De Valera and his cohorts immediately resigned from the Dáil. This action provoked Collins to call out on the floor of the Dáil: “Deserters all to the Irish nation in her hour of trial! We will stand by her!”
The Treaty debate as seen in Michael Collins between Collins (Liam Neeson), Arthur Griffith (Owen Roe), Cathal Brugha (Gerald McSorley), and Éamon de Valera (Alan Rickman):
January 16, 1922
The British hand over Dublin Castle to the new Irish Free State, represented by Michael Collins.
There are many versions of what happened at this event. The most popular scenario is that Collins showed up late and was reprimanded by the Lord Lieutenant Viceroy, a man named FitzAlan: “You are seven minutes late Mr. Collins,” he said. “We’ve been waiting over 700 years,” snapped Collins, “you can have the extra seven minutes.” Some insist this exchange never happened. The Irish, as usual, when the legend haunts the facts, embraced the legend.
Liam Neeson as Michael Collins, accepting the turnover of Dublin Castle in the film Michael Collins:
Four Courts and the Collins-De Valera Pact
The Four Courts were taken over by anti-Treaty forces in April, led by Rory O’Connor. Accompanying O’Connor in the garrison were some great anti-Treaty Republicans, including Seán Lemass, a future Taoiseach, writer Ernie O’Malley, and Liam Mellows. Collins did not force the issue for two months, hoping for a negotiated settlement with many of his old friends. This led to a pact between Collins and de Valera in which the campaign in the upcoming general election would be fought jointly by both the pro- and anti-Treaty forces and when the people had made their decision, a coalition government would be established.
June 16, 1922
The Anglo-Irish Treaty was approved by a vote of 75% of the Irish people. The anti-Treaty forces renege on their promise to form a coalition government.
June 22, 1922
Sir Henry Wilson, a great proponent of the pogrom against Catholics in Northern Ireland, is gunned down on his doorstep in London by two IRA men. This assassination—thought by many to have been orchestrated by Michael Collins himself—alarms the British, and Churchill turns his focus to the Four Courts occupation.
June 28, 1922
Using guns supplied by the British—and being urged on by Churchill—Collins’ National Army blasts the rebels out of the Four Courts. The Civil War begins.
Postscript
Arthur Griffith would die of a cerebral hemorrhage on August 12, 1922 and ten days later Collins would be killed in an ambush. W.T. Cosgrave would become the new President of the Dáil and a brutal military campaign would be fought throughout the country until the following spring when the anti-Treaty forces laid down arms. In the aftermath of the Civil War, Éamon de Valera would go on to form his own political party, Fianna Fáil. Unfortunately, he could not enter the Dáil until he took the Oath of Allegiance to the King, which, in one of the great political hypocrisies of all time, he did on August 11, 1927. For nearly the next fifty years he would be either Taoiseach or President of Ireland. He would die on August 29, 1975, a full 53 years after the deaths of his two greatest opponents, Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins.
*Dermot McEvoy is the author of “The 13th Apostle: A Novel of a Dublin Family,” “Michael Collins, and the Irish Uprising,” and “Our Lady of Greenwich Village” from Skyhorse Publishing. He may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him at DermotMcEvoy.com or on Facebook.
* This article was originally published in January 2016. Last updated January 2026.
The story behind Ireland’s flag
The Irish flag was flown for the first time ever on March 7, 1848, by Thomas Francis Meagher in Co Waterford – learn all about Ireland’s flag here!
The Irish flag – or, in Irish, the ‘Bratach na hÉireann’ – was flown publicly for the first time on March 7, 1848, during that year’s Young Irelander Rebellion in Waterford City at the Wolfe Tone Confederate Club.
The Irish flag, or tricolor, was first flown by Thomas Francis Meagher, then a leader of the Young Irelander movement, who would go down in history as Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher of the Union Army during the American Civil War.
In the US, Meagher is best remembered for his role as a General in the Union Army and the governor of what is now Montana. His impact on Irish history and patriotic pride was also immense.
When Meagher hung the tricolor in Waterford, it boldly flew for eight days and nights until the British took it down.
The 1848 revolutions across Europe had inspired Meagher and his fellow Young Irelanders. In April of 1848, a contingent of them traveled to France to congratulate the rebels there on overthrowing King Louis Philippe I. There, Meagher was presented with an Irish tricolor woven out of French silk.
Upon returning to Ireland, he, in turn, presented it to the Irish people, explaining the symbolism of the flag’s three colors: “The white in the center signifies a lasting truce between the orange and the green,” he said, “and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped, in generous and heroic brotherhood.”
The green represents Irish nationalism; the orange, Ireland’s Protestant minority, and the Orange Order; the white, lasting peace between the two.
For his role in the 1848 rebellion, Meagher was tried for treason and sentenced to death, but this sentence was commuted to banishment to Van Diemen’s Land in Australia. He would later escape to a new life in the United States.
While the tricolor had gained traction as a symbol of Ireland until the 1916 Easter Rising, the primary flag of Ireland was green with a harp in the center (the harp remains Ireland’s national symbol; Ireland is the only country in the world with a musical instrument as its national symbol). That flag was used as early as 1642 by Owen Roe O’Neill, an Irish soldier and leader of the O’Neill dynasty.
During the Rising, both flags were flown above the GPO, the rebels’ headquarters, and the tricolor became more widely accepted.
After the Rising, it was adopted by the IRA during the Irish War of Independence (1919 – 1921), was a symbol of the Irish Free State from 1922 – 1937, and then, when the Irish constitution came into law later that year, it was confirmed as the official flag of Ireland by Article 7, which reads: “The national flag of Ireland is the tricolor of green, white and orange.”
Today, the tricolor is a symbol of Irish pride and remains an essential reminder of the peace achieved and the progress yet to be made.
Read more
Throughout 1916, which, in addition to marking the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, also marks 100 years since the tricolor emerged into the popular imagination, the Irish Defense Forces and the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation are working to ensure that the history of the flag is better known.
In the lead-up to the 1916 centenary, every school in Ireland received an Irish flag. In post-primary schools, the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation presented the Irish flag. In primary schools, the flag was given by a member of Ireland’s defense forces, who educated students on the flag’s history, meaning, and proper care.
For example, the flag must always be flown above any others on the staff, it must never be displayed in poor condition, and it must always fly with the green segment closest to the flagstaff. (Reversed, the Irish flag is quite similar to the Ivory Coast flag.)
To learn more about the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation, visit their website.
*Originally published in Aug 2016, updated in Jan 2026..
Another beautiful video sent in by our good friends Colum and Eileen, who just met this exceptional player on their last cruise. Thanks, Colum and Eileen…..
Put your feet up. Turn on the sound. Click the photo below. Enlarge the screen once the video starts, and then just enjoy on some good speakers
News From Ireland
Aer Lingus launches massive January sale with transatlantic flights starting at record lows
The flagship carrier is offering significant discounts for 2026 travel on routes connecting major United States cities with Ireland, the UK and Continental Europe.
The Aer Lingus January sale has officially arrived, offering incredible value for those looking to explore Europe in 2026. Whether you are dreaming of the bright lights of Dublin or a romantic escape to Paris, these deals provide the perfect excuse to book your next adventure.
This year, Aer Lingus is placing a heavy emphasis on its growing North American network to accommodate the increasing demand from Irish American travelers. Flights to Ireland are available from many United States gateways at significantly reduced rates for the first half of the new year. According to the airline, passengers can enjoy these savings on travel.
For those residing in the United States, the sale covers a wide range of iconic destinations and new additions to the flight schedule. Travelers from East Coast cities like New York, Boston, and Hartford can find fares from $399 roundtrip. While the Midwest’s Chicago can avail of fares from $449 roundtrip. As for the West Coast, fares start from $499 roundtrip from Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. These offers make it easier than ever for the Irish diaspora to plan a trip home to visit relatives or discover their ancestral roots.
Check out the January sale savings available at www.AerLingus.com.
The airline aims to provide a seamless connection for North American passengers looking to explore Europe after a stop in the Emerald Isle. In 2026, Aer Lingus will operate its largest-ever transatlantic schedule, adding new routes from Raleigh-Durham in April and Pittsburgh in May.
To take advantage of these limited-time fares, travelers must complete their bookings before 6:59pm on January 22nd. Detailed information regarding offer terms and conditions as well as baggage allowances and seat selection can be found on the official Aer Lingus website.
Planning a European getaway in 2026 has never been more accessible for the Irish American community. With increased connectivity and record-low prices, the January Sale is expected to see a high volume of bookings in the coming weeks. Prospective travelers are encouraged to act quickly to secure the best possible dates for their 2026 vacations.
For more information visit www.aerlingus.com.
Urgent travel warning as thousands of Irish passports recalled
Passports which were applied for and processed by the Passport Office in December 2025 and January 2026 are now having to be recalled due to a printing error.
Thousands of Irish passports are being recalled due to a printing error, which means the documents may not comply with international travel standards.
Passports which were applied for and processed by the Passport Office in December 2025 and January 2026 are now having to be recalled due to a printing error, which may cause issues for prospective travellers at eboarding gates and border control.
The Passport Service at the Department of Foreign Affairs says it is aware of an issue affecting passports issued between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 and has emailed affected customers.
A spokesperson told Extra.ie: ‘The Passport Service is aware of an issue affecting passports issued between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026.
‘Due to a technical issue with a software update, passports issued between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 inclusive are not fully compliant with international travel standards and there is a possibility that some passport holders may have an issue at eGates and Border Control when travelling.’
It appears that due to a technical issue with a software update, passports issued between those dates mentioned are not fully compliant with international travel standards, and there is a possibility that some passport holders may have an issue trying to get through departure gates and Border Control when travelling.
The Passport Service says it sincerely regrets this issue and apologises to affected citizens for the inconvenience caused.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has notified border authorities worldwide through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as well as Irish Border Management.
Earlier this week the Department of Foreign Affairs said it intends to spend €13.6million to redesign Irish passports and says that it’s necessary to strengthen security and combat fraud. It said the new documents would have enhanced security features to make counterfeiting and identity switching even more difficult.
Read more
But for now, if you applied for a new passport between December 23 2025, and January 6 2026, you may have an issue travelling with the document as it does not fully comply with standards set out internationally.
The Passport Service has contacted affected customers by email to inform them of the issue and will be reissuing passports to them in the coming days and weeks.
Affected customers can find more information at https://www.ireland.ie/en/passport-returns/.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
Irish America 250 kick-off event to honor Cork man who coined ‘United States of America’
Irish America 250 is kicking off its celebrations of the Irish contributions to America ahead of the United States’ Semiquincentennial.
Irish America 250, an initiative dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the profound role Irish Americans have played in shaping the US over the past 250 years, will host a national kick-off event in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, January 14.
The kick-off event will pay tribute to Cork native Stephen Moylan, the former aide-de-camp to General George Washington who, according to historians, was the first person to use the phrase ”The United States of America.” He wrote it in a letter to Washington’s private secretary Joseph Reed dated January 2, 1776.
Moylan held numerous roles during the Revolution, including 2nd Quartermaster General, Commander of the Fourth Continental Light Dragoons, and Commander of the Cavalry of the Continental Army.
The kick-off event, co-hosted by the Friendly Sons and Daughters of Saint Patrick, will be held in the Topper Theater at the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts at Villanova University.
The kick-off event is one of several being organized by Irish America 250 as part of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July.
Another tribute to Moylan is set to be hosted in his native Co Cork on January 30, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin among the dignitaries invited to attend.
What is Irish America 250?
Organizers say IrishAmerica250 is an inclusive, non-partisan, nationwide initiative dedicated to commemorating the enduring legacy of the Irish in America while celebrating the United States’ Semiquincentennial in 2026.
The project is made possible through the donation of time, expertise, and resources by the group’s directors, who are supporting the mission without compensation. Irish America 250 is an established LLC in Maryland, and all donations are tax-deductible.
Irish America 250 says it is particularly keen to tell the story of the Ulster Scots, religious dissidents, who fled Northern Ireland in the early 1700s and played a significant role in writing the Declaration of Independence and fighting for the Revolution.
The group is working with Irish community and culture centers all over America to prepare for the 250th Anniversary.
“The Irish were there at the beginning of the birth of the nation,” organizers say. “We hope to use this opportunity to pass on our culture and values to the next generation to sustain our democracy.”
In recent months, Irish America 250 has engaged with the Irish government, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the America250 Commission to build a collaborative and inclusive commemorative effort. The group said it is consulting historians on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure our narrative is accurate and meaningful.
2025 was Ireland’s second warmest year on record, Met Éireann says
A Met Éireann climatologist cautioned that continued warming in Ireland brings an increased risk of severe weather events.
2025 was the second warmest year on record in Ireland since 1900, Met Éireann said in its 2025 annual climate statement, published on Tuesday, January 6.
The last four years (2022 – 2025) are now the top four warmest years on record in Ireland.
“The warming trend is very clear with the last four years being the warmest four years on record in Ireland, since 1900,” Met Éireann climatologist Paul Moore said.
“2025 saw not only our warmest spring, but also our warmest summer on record, with high nighttime temperatures contributing to the summer record.
“We experienced five named storms in 2025, as well as a number of impactful rain events. The continued warming brings with it the increasing risk of severe weather events.”
2025 Annual Climate Statement:
👉Second warmest year on record in Ireland
👉2022-2025 now the 4 warmest on record
👉Warmest spring and summer on record
👉4th wettest autumn on record
👉Storm Éowyn brought the highest winds on record
More details here – https://t.co/5JLfuHxXMp pic.twitter.com/BJSH1siDfT— Climate Services @ Met Éireann (@METclimate) January 6, 2026
According to Met Éireann, the average annual air temperature for Ireland in 2025 was 11.14 °C, which is 1.59°C above the 1961-1990 long-term average (LTA) or 0.97°C above the most recent 1991-2020 LTA.
This makes 2025 the second-warmest year on record, placing it only slightly behind the warmest year – 2023 (11.21 °C) – and only the second time with a mean over 11 °C.
The last four years (2022-2025) are now the four warmest years on record, with 2024 tying 2007 for the fourth warmest; seven of the top ten warmest years have occurred since 2005.
The coldest year on record in Ireland was in 1919, with 8.73 °C. Of the top ten coldest years, none have occurred since 2000.
Provisionally, rainfall data suggests 2025 was the 15th wettest year since 1941, having reached 104% of the 1991-2020 LTA, with an observed average of 1,338.7 mm.
Extreme values in Ireland 2025
Rainfall
- Highest annual total: 1809.4 mm at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry (110% of its LTA)
- Lowest annual total: 804.2 mm at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin (104% of its LTA)
- Highest daily rainfall: 66.9 mm at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford (58% of its monthly LTA) on Friday, November 14 (associated with Storm Claudia)
Temperature
- Highest mean annual temperature: 11.9°C at Sherkin Island, Co Cork (0.8°C above its LTA) (its warmest year since 2007)
- Lowest mean annual temperature: 9.9°C at Knock Airport, Co Mayo (1.1°C above its LTA) (its warmest year on record (length 22 years))
- Highest air temperature: 31.1°C at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon on Saturday, July 12 (its second highest max on record (length 17 years))
- Lowest air temperature: -7.6°C at Athenry, Co Galway on Thursday, January 9
- Lowest grass minimum: -11.8°C at Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Thursday, January 9
Sunshine
- Highest annual total: 1721.4 hrs (daily mean 4.72 hrs/day) at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford
- Lowest annual total: 1348.0 hrs (daily mean 3.69 hrs/day) at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry
- Highest daily sunshine for the year: 15.7 hours at Malin Head, Co Donegal on Saturday, July 12
On This Day: The final evacuation from the Gallipoli campaign took place
January 9 marks the anniversary of the final evacuation from the Gallipoli campaign where it’s estimated that between 3,500 and 4,000 Irish soldiers died.
On January 9, 1916, the disastrous and costly Allied campaign at Gallipoli came to an end as the final British and French troops evacuated the area.
At least 3,000 Irishmen, and even as many as between 3,500 and 4,000, lost their lives at Gallipoli during one of the greatest Ottoman victories of the Great War and one of the Allies’ biggest failures.
In 2015, RTÉ aired the documentary “Gallipoli – Ireland’s Forgotten Heroes” to mark the campaign’s 100th anniversary.
Until recently, the story of the Irish at Gallipoli remained largely untold, with at least 3,000 Irishmen dying there, fighting shoulder to shoulder with their Australian and New Zealand comrades.
They hadn’t a hope; the young Irishmen in their thousands who entered the deathtrap that was Gallipoli as part of the Allied failed invasion of Turkey during WWI.
Read more
Today, many lie in unmarked graves that are strewn across this foreign, rugged landscape – their memories neglected for far too long. A battle scar etched firmly on Australian and New Zealand souls, the documentary follows the story of the horrific conditions and the deaths in the trenches hacked into the hard Turkish soil.
David’s own grandfather – Jack Power from Kimmage, Co Dublin – was one of the lucky ones, one of those who returned, although, like many others, ‘he became a prey to drink.’
During the documentary, Ronan Lee talks about his grand-uncle, a young rugby player who volunteered with his pals and thought he was heading for “a great adventure” but ended up being killed along with many of his friends.
Brother and sister Jim and Mai Carey talk of their grand-uncle who left their family’s Tipperary cottage to emigrate to Australia for a better life but ended up signing up for the Anzacs and losing his life in his first couple of days of fighting
Today we remember all those brave soldiers who fell at Gallipoli. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.
Listen to the late journalist, David Davin Power, speak about his documentary “Gallipoli: Ireland’s Forgotten Heroes” here.
* Originally published in 2016. Updated in 2026.
Tommy Mac Here…..
Listen to the Pogus version of “Waltzing Matilda,” a song about the slaughter at Gallipoli
Jokes
Government is the great fiction,
through which everybody endeavors to live
at the expense of everybody else.
— Frederic Bastiat, French economist(1801-1850)
Cats vs Bears
Don't mess with a cat
Click below to view
Funnies From My Wife
Funny Headlines
Church Bloopers
Times when you might be excused for using foul language
Funny Statue Photos
Many News items, stories, recipies, jokes and poems are taken from these sites with their generous permission.
Please support them my clicking on the links below and sign up for their free newsletter.
…..
….
Subscribe to IrishCentral 
..
…. 
………
……
Welcome to
Tír na mBláth
Tír na mBláth is one of hundreds of branches throughout the world of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) pronounced “kol-tus kyol-tori air-in“, the largest group involved in the preservation of Irish music, dance and song.
Our board and membership is made up of Irish, Irish descendants, and all those who support, celebrate and take pride in the preservation of Irish culture.
We also aim to promote good will and citizenship.
Interested in belonging to Tír na mBláth? Feel free to download our membership form
Facebook page is at Tír na mBláth
Our meetings and several events are held at Tim Finnegan’s Irish Pub in Delray Beach Florida.
Well, that's it for this week.
Number of visitors to this website since Sept 2022