July 25th marks the feast of St. James in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. Dubliners celebrate this day by holding an annual drinking festival, which has been a tradition since the medieval era. Likewise, Irish pilgrims who choose to honor St. James and walk the Santiago de Compostela in Spain, often leave from St. James's Gate in Dublin, where the Guinness … [Read more...] about July 25
Today in History
May 23, 2011
American President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle landed in Ireland on the first day of a six-day European tour. He met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and then President Mary McAleese, before visiting relatives in the village of Moneygall, Co. Offaly, form where his great-great-great grandfather Folmouth Kearney left in 1850 at the age of 19. He drank a pint of Guinness, as did … [Read more...] about May 23, 2011
May 17, 2011
Queen Elizabeth of England visits the Republic of Ireland for the first time. She is the first British monarch to visit in 100 years, and the first since Ireland became a Republic. George V visited in 1911 when the country was still part of the British Empire. The four-day visit went well, despite minor protests. Her Majesty met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, visited the Garden of … [Read more...] about May 17, 2011
February 6, 2011
Gary Moore, a world-renowned guitarist most well-known for his career with Thin Lizzy, died on this day in Spain. Moore was born in Belfast on April 5th, 1952. As a young boy listening to Elvis Presley and The Beatles, he quickly became interested in music. His ear for the blues developed in the mid-60s after seeing Hendrix in concert. It was not long before other guitarists … [Read more...] about February 6, 2011
February 4, 2011
First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson stated that February 4 of 2011 marked a 'new era' in Belfast's history after Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall paid the first ever Royal visit to a Catholic Church in Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales went to see the £3.5 million restoration project at St. Malachy's Church and met with churchgoers and … [Read more...] about February 4, 2011