The Letter from Ireland Podcast

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 of the Letter from Ireland Show. In this show, we focus in on a very particular first name - Valentine! We look at a a very special connection between Saint Valentine and Ireland, get a poem for the occasion from our resident Bard - and Mike shares lots of insights on the first name Valentine - and the surname also!

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 2 of the Letter from Ireland Show. In this episode we talk about Irish citizenship through a story about a movie star and director you may know - and also share the perspective of our very own Courtney Bayne, an Irish-American living in Ireland for a number of years with her family as an Irish citizen. She also nominates a very famous surname for our Irish surname of t...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of the Letter from Ireland Show. In this first episode of our new series we look actually take a look at the Scottish institution known as "Burns Night" - named after Scotland's unofficial national poet, Robbie Burns.  Side by side with only a bit of sea between, the countries of Ireland and Scotland have many shared histories. In this letter we will celebrate o...

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 19 of the Letter from Ireland Show. In this episode we look at two stories about Christmas in Ireland - the second letter is all about Christmas traditions in Ireland, but before that we look at the unusual tale of an Irish Santa Claus!

In this episode we look at two stories about Irish religion that may surprise you - the first about a religion leaving Cork for North America and the second about a religious community that came to County Limerick.

In this episode we look at "Approved" Irish baby names that are found in our families - maybe you'll hear one from your own family?

In this episode we look at two qualities that are in short supply in the public world today - Integrity and Principle - and the stories of two Irishmen who had those qualities in spades! Why the picture of the puppy? Do read on and find out.

In this episode we go back to the Irish Famine of the mid-1800s and look at ways at which news of the Irish Famine spread throughout the world - leading to reactions from the most surprising of quarters.

In this episode of the Letter from Ireland show - we try to answer two questions: "Where did the Irish come from?" as well as "Is Irishness in your Nature or Nurture?" I wonder if you will agree with some of our conclusions?

What can Jane Austen and the Bronte Sisters tell us about your Irish surnames - their origin and evolution down through the years? In this episode, Carina takes looks at Irish surnames through the lens of Jane Austen - specifically her novel "Pride and Prejudice" and then she heads over to the Bronte Sisters in Yorkshire via their origins in County Down in Ireland. Enjoy!

In this episode, Carina reads two of our letters from Ireland. First up we take a look at the story of Irish explorer who was also an Irish Saint: "A Voyage With Saint Brendan. Then, she introduces us to some more Irish explorers - famous for their antics in the Antarctic, as well as a well-known Irish actor whom you probably consider English: "Britons, Quakers and Kerrymen". 

In this episode, we look at two stories of strong Irish women. The first story examines that well-known muse of the poet, W.B. Yeats - Maud Gonne. In the second story, we look at the mother of a man who you still see on the "telly" on a regular basis. Did you know that "Mrs Brown", also known as Brendan O'Carroll - has a mother with an amazing story of her own?

In this episode, Carina reads two of our letters from Ireland. First up we take a look at how Irish placenames receive those names, and the letter is called: "From Cows to River-Mouths". Then, she takes us on a journey along an old Irish road - one that was very important to our ancestors in reaching the markets of Cork City: "Come Back the Old Butter Road".

In this episode of the Letter from Ireland Show, we travel in the footsteps of two Irish scientists - one with a section of the moon named after them and the other responsible for the mathematics behind the computers we use today.

Here is Cormac Lally reciting his composition - A Moving Story - which we commissioned for the 2017 Green Room Hooley.

In this episode we share our favourite ways to plan a great trip to Ireland.

4 Irish Women - Tales of Adversity and Triumph

Did one of your Irish surnames come out of one of these placenames in Ireland? It's surprising just how many places received their names from the local leading family - see if one of yours is here!

Do you have Methodist or Quaker ancestors in your Irish family tree? If the answer is yes, then listen on....

We take a trip around some Irish pubs - and follow the advice of one Pete MacCarthy to "Always visit a pub with your name over the door"!

Here we are with the very first episode of the Letter from Ireland show. What's it all about? Listen on....