Most Recent Post and Other Highlights

Irish Turf Giveaway

This week’s Irish American Mom giveaway is one that should stir memories of the hearths and homes of our Irish childhoods, or rekindle fond thoughts of heartwarming travels in Ireland. Now that summer is over, I thought it would be the perfect time to host a giveaway for some Irish turf so you can be stocked up before the days turn cold. One lucky reader will win an Irish Turf Gift Basket containing about 30 pounds of naturally dried Irish turf or Irish fire logs….. Read more and enter the giveaway here.

 

 

Photos of Ireland Featuring Counties Kerry, Cork and Donegal.

Ireland is a spectacular subject for photographs. Mother Ireland can look amazing for professional and amateur photographers alike. Many of you have journeyed to my homeland to personally witness the majesty of her scenery, and along your merry way, you’ve snapped some incredible shots of sites and sights found all around the Emerald Isle. Today’s post is a video compilation of readers’ photography submissions…. Read more here.

 

 

Discover The Book Of Kells Through Trinity College’s Free Online Course

A new, free, online course developed by Trinity College Dublin will allow learners worldwide to explore the history of Ireland through the remarkable Book of Kells — one of the world’s most famous medieval manuscripts…. Read more here and learn how to register for this free course.

 

 

Adrift By Brian Murphy – New Book Giveaway

“Adrift: A True Story of Tragedy on the Icy Atlantic and the One Who Lived to Tell about It” by Brian Murphy tells a harrowing story of the ship, The John Rutledge, which sank after hitting an iceberg in the wild Atlantic in 1856. One hundred Irish emigrants were on board the ill fated craft…. Read more and enter the giveaway here.

 

 

New Irish Children’s Book Giveaway From Maureen O’Hanlon in County Cork

A little Irish field mouse is the subject of a new Irish children’s picture book by County Cork native, Maureen O’Hanlon.  In today’s giveaway post, I’m delighted to introduce this little field mouse who’s on his way to visit the rainbow…. Read more and enter the giveaway here.

 

 

Berry Irish Cream Mousse

Easy desserts are perfect for summer entertaining. This Berry Irish Cream Mousse is an excellent, make-ahead dessert with a delicious taste of Irish Cream Liqueur blended through the berries and cream. This mousse recipe is an egg-free mousse, using heavy whipping cream and gelatine to create this lightly textured, airy dessert. Plus I blended a new brand of Irish Cream Liqueur called Five Farms from County Cork through the mousse to make it extra decadent and delicious…. Read more and get the full recipe here.

 

 

Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur At The Milwaukee and Kansas City Irish Festivals

Five Farms, the makers of a a new Irish cream liqueur are thrilled to announce their partnerships with two of the largest Irish festivals in the world, Kansas City Irish Fest and Milwaukee Irish Fest. Five Farms is the highest-scoring Irish cream in history and will be the exclusive Irish cream at both of these celebrated Irish festivals this summer…. Read more here.

 

 

Introducing Claddagh Design – A Modern Twist On Traditional Irish Jewelry

The Claddagh ring is a beloved symbol of Ireland and today I’m delighted to introduce you to a very talented silversmith from County Cork who is creating magnificent Claddagh jewelry with a modern Irish twist.  Plus do read on. Claddagh Design is offering a generous 20% discount for Irish American Mom’s readers, valid until August 31st, 2018.  You’ll find the code at the end of this post…. Read more and get the discount code here.

 

 

Family Rosary “Try Prayer! It Works!” Contest Winners 2018

Try Prayer! It Works! That’s the title of a children’s art and writing competition held each year by Family Rosary and the Holy Cross Family Ministries in Eaton, Massachusetts. Last week they shared with me the beautiful artwork and exceptional creative writing works of their talented 2018 winners. I’m delighted to congratulate them and share their wonderful work with you today… Read more here.

 

 

What Is A Limerick?

Have you ever wondered how limericks, those short, five-line rhyming ditties were named after one of Ireland’s counties? Are they really Irish? And how did the name limerick come to describe these comical verses? In today’s post you can learn all about the origins and history of this favorite Irish verse form…. Read more here.

 

 

County Limerick – The Treaty County

County Limerick lies at the heart of the Shannon region in Ireland with the City of Limerick built right on the banks of Ireland’s longest river. Limerick is a tourist’s paradise.  The county boasts beautiful mountains to the south. The Ballyhoura and the Galtees are spectacular inland mountain ranges surrounded by rich fertile plains and verdant valleys of green.  County Limerick boasts over 5,000 years of history with evidence of Neolithic life, amazing medieval castles and charming thatched cottages just waiting to be explored…. Read more here.

 

 

Irish Language Learning Project In Northern Ireland

Today, I’m delighted to publish this guest post from Trinity College Dublin, explaining their investigation of the “Turas” Irish language project in East Belfast that encourages exploration and study of the Irish language as a reconciliation initiative. Language-learning projects can help revise destructive understandings of history in a polarized society. A study by Dr. David Mitchell of Trinity College Dublin of the East Belfast ‘Turas’ Irish language project found language classes help groups in conflict find shared heritage…. Read more here.

Our Irish Heritage

Here in the Irish American Mom Community we love to celebrate our Irish heritage. But what is it about our heritage that makes us so proud? Is heritage the memory of our ancestors and the legacy they have gifted us? For some of us it surely is. But others have only recently discovered their Irish roots through DNA testing, and never knew their Irish forebears. A while back I asked a favor of members of our little Irish community.  I sent subscribers an email and posed a complex question in search of insights into the meaning of our Irish heritage. Here’s the question I asked: “What’s the most important thing to you about your Irish heritage?” In today’s post let’s explore some of the amazing answers I received….. Read more here.

 

 

Ice Cream Sandwiches

An ice cream sandwich consists of a slice of ice cream between two rectangular wafers and is a favorite summertime treat in Ireland. The ice cream layer for these little slabs of summer is sliced from a pint block of ice cream. And did you know the pint block of ice cream was first created in Ireland in the 1930’s. You can learn a little Irish ice cream history in today’s post….Read more here.

 

 

May God Give You For

Every Storm A Rainbow

Today’s post explores an old Irish saying that’s perfect for wedding speeches. A reader requested I share a Gaelic or Irish language blessing so I created today’s post with a recording of this old Irish blessing recited in the Irish language. I also included a link for two free printables for the Irish and English versions of this saying, which feature old Gaelic scripting, and a Celtic border and knotwork…. Read more and get the free printables here.

 

 

Irish Potato Sayings

Potatoes holds such significance in Irish history, and therefore it’s no surprise that Irish folklore is replete with sayings about the potato. Today, I thought I would gather some of these potato sayings together in one blog post, so that we can all enjoy the wisdom of our forefathers, and further understand the significance of the potato in their lives….. Read more here.

 

 

The Rock of Dunamase

The Rock of Dunamase dominates the County Laois countryside. The ruined remains of an ancient castle stand atop a rocky outcrop in the middle of the fertile plains of this midland Irish county. Today’s post is a tour of this old Irish fort. I created a short video to help you feel as if you are right there, climbing amongst the castle walls and rocks of Dunamase…. Read more and check out the video here.

 

 

Cod and Parsley Sauce

Cod and parsley sauce is a simple, traditional Irish meal. The cod is dredged in seasoned flour before frying, then smothered in a creamy white sauce infused with parsley and a hint of onion. Simply delicious…. Read more and get the complete recipe with step-by-step photo instructions here.

 

 

Irish Champ

Champ is a traditional Irish potato side dish. Mashed potatoes are mixed with green onion infused warm milk, and served with a knob of butter melting in the center….. Read more and get the complete recipe with step-by-step photo instructions here

 

 

What Is A Dolmen?

Dolmens are megalithic monuments found dotted around the Irish landscape.  Standing for millennia, they perch majestically on grassy hillsides,  on craggy cliffs, on winding roadsides, and even right between modern day homes. Ireland is home to over 150 of these ancient portal tombs, and so I think it is fair to consider these historic monuments as symbols of our ancient past. And so today, I hope you’ll join me as we take a little tour of Ireland’s wondrous dolmens, both great and small….. Read more here

 

 

Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee is a favorite after dinner drink all over the world and consists of sweetened coffee with a shot of Irish whiskey, topped off with a layer of lightly whipped cream. But did you ever wonder how on earth Ireland became famous for a coffee cocktail rather than a tea based tipple?… Read more and learn the history of Irish coffee here.