What help can poetry be during a pandemic? This summer it feels like Ireland needs Americans and Americans need Ireland more than ever. I have visited Ireland close to twenty times since my first trip there in the late 1970s, drawn by the country’s remarkable beauty, justly famous hospitality, and, during the 90s, by my interest in American involvement in the Northern … [Read more...] about “Keeping Going”
Leinster
The Homecoming:
My Joyous First Return to Ireland Since Covid Began
Niall O'Dowd was on the first full Aer Lingus flight from New York to Dublin this week as entry requirements in Ireland were finally rolled back.
Aer Lingus flew its first full flight since March 2020 from New York to Dublin on Monday, as Covid travel restrictions in Ireland are no longer in place and families can again reunite. Irish America's publisher Niall O’Dowd was on … [Read more...] about The Homecoming:
My Joyous First Return to Ireland Since Covid Began
Fáilte go hÉireann
A journey through the native Irish-speaking areas of Ireland Fáilte go hEireann. These are the words of welcome that Irish people have greeted visitors with for centuries. They may well be the words that greet you when you visit. If they are, I urge you to take time to grasp their deeper meaning. Venture beyond the tourist hotspots and gain an insight into an older Ireland … [Read more...] about Fáilte go hÉireann
Sláinte! The Great October Fair
The Ballinasloe October Fair is one of the oldest fairs in Ireland. While now predominantly associated with horses, in its heyday it served as a market for the sale of cattle and sheep by the farmers of the west to their counterparts in the east of Ireland. An Irish adage advises: Go East for a woman; go West for a horse. When I was a girl I had a … [Read more...] about Sláinte! The Great October Fair
Malahide Casino Returns
The repair and conservation of the Malahide Casino building is nearing its completion. A historic 18th-century cottage orné, the building had been vacant for a number of years and had fallen into disrepair. Construction began on the restoration and redevelopment in April 2018, and the beautifully restored thatched roof is now visible to the public. In addition to the roof, … [Read more...] about Malahide Casino Returns