Christmas Chocolate Yule Log
Christmas Chocolate Yule Log is a favorite cake in Ireland, and consists of a chocolate sponge roll filled with whipped cream and covered in a chocolate butter cream frosting… Read more and get the recipe here with step-by-step photographic instructions.
Holly And Ivy As Christmas Decorations
Holly branches festooned in red berries, together with ivy leaves, were transformed into festive Christmas decorations when I was growing up in Ireland. Have you ever wondered why this beautiful greenery is associated with Christmas? Why are we drawn to nature at this time of year, when the days are longer and the nights seem darker? Are we simply wired to bring the outside in to celebrate this joyful season?… Read more and learn about the significance of holly in Celtic times.
Irish Childrens’ Book Gift Basket Giveaway For Christmas
Finding it difficult to get that perfect gift for younger relatives living abroad this Christmas? Allow Eire’s Kids to take the stress out of these decisions for you. This family run company is based in County Galway, Ireland and specializes in gifts and souvenirs for children. This Christmas, Eires Kids have put together the ultimate gift hamper for kiddies living abroad, featuring their wonderful children’s picture books. And some great news! To get the holidays off to a lucky start, the good folks at Eire’s Kids are sponsoring a giveaway for readers of Irish American Mom…. Read more and enter the giveaway here.
Irish Proverbs About Proverbs
The Irish or Gaelic oral tradition is replete with numerous proverbs and sayings. Our ancestors composed many little nuggets of advice, and some of their words are overflowing with Irish wit and wisdom. There are thousands of wonderful Irish proverbs and sayings covering a wide variety of topics, so you won’t be surprised to learn our forebears even composed proverbs about proverbs, bearing advice about their own advice. And so, today I thought we might explore a few words of advice about advice from our wise old ancestors.…. Read more here.
Ancient Land – A New Tour By Grammy Nominated Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman, an ensemble of talented Irish singers and musicians, celebrates Ireland’s rich musical and cultural heritage. This Grammy® -nominated, multi-platinum international music group has announced its return to North America with a brand new live show, Ancient Land…. Learn about their new album and upcoming 2019 tour here.
Irish Rice Krispie Buns
Rice Krispie Buns are part of every Irish childhood. These little chocolate crispie treats are the centerpieces of Irish birthday parties, and a staple at school fund raising cake sales. They’re easy-to-make, no-bake Irish children’s favorites…. Read more and get the complete recipe here.
The West Cork Coastline
Today I have a little video treat for you. Here’s a lovely collection of photos of the West Cork coastline along the Sheepshead and Beara peninsulas. I hope you enjoy these shots of County Cork’s peaceful, unspoiled landscapes. You’ll find some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Ireland in West Cork. Many thanks to Ana, a reader from County Cork, who submitted these lovely photos of her home county’s beautiful scenery….. Read more and check out the video here.
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.
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…. Readmore 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.
“My Ireland” is a place of love which invokes a deep sense of identity. “Mother Ireland”, as we so lovingly call her, will always influence my state of mind, no matter where I wander.
She instills in me a life-long feeling of connection. “My Ireland” is a collection of stories and memories that have shaped my life.
“Memories, converted into stories,
can become a monument of sorts
to the remembered.”
– Christy Kenneally
“My America” is a place of acceptance, which invokes a deep sense of pride. I have chosen to live in a small state in the heartland of America. In Kentucky, we live outside the limelight, and may not be considered part of “mainstream” America.
Here I present the stories and images of “My America” – Smokey Mountains, natural wonders, and great rural beauty. I have learned we are as integral a part of the ‘Real America’, as our more famous urban neighbors. Welcome to my American Dream.
Slán agus beannacht!
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
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