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Here's the Latest from Irish Expressions

Jan 26, 2026

This Week in Ireland - St Brigid's Eve

St Brigid's Cross

This coming week in Ireland culminates with St Brigid’s Eve on January 31, marking the quiet transition between winter and spring.

Historically, St Brigid’s Eve is a time for small household rituals rather than public observance. Rushes are gathered, beds are tidied and symbols of welcome are prepared in anticipation of St Brigid’s Day.

In Irish tradition, these in-between moments matter. They invite attentiveness rather than action, reflection rather than declaration, and a sense of continuity with the rhythms of the land.

As January draws to a close, St Brigid’s Eve offers a gentle reminder that change starts quietly — with preparation, intention, and an openness to what comes next.

For more information on this key symbol of Irish culture, visit our article on St Brigid's Cross right here.

Jan 19, 2026

This Week in Ireland - Approaching St Brigid's Day

St Brigid's Cross

This coming week in Ireland sits at a quiet threshold — the final full stretch before the arrival of St Brigid’s season and the ancient festival of Imbolc.

While winter still holds the land, the cultural calendar is already leaning forward, preparing for the first signs of renewal.

Traditionally, this late-January period was not marked by celebration so much as attentiveness. Days grew longer, lambing season approached and households began subtle preparations for change.

In Irish tradition, transitions matter. The week before St Brigid’s Day carries that feeling — a sense that winter has said most of what it needed to say, even if it isn't quite finished yet.

Ireland's traditions can often be seen in her enduring symbols, one of which is St Brigid's Cross. For more information on this key symbol of Irish culture, visit our article on St Brigid's Cross right here.

Jan 19, 2026

Irish Expressions and Activities: Share Your Irish Side!

Use Irish expressions and activities such as sayings, songs, symbols, sights, flavors, and fun to share your personal Irish side, wherever you are in the world!

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Jan 12, 2026

Ireland Culture and Customs: Simple Ways to Express Your Irish Side!

Learn what makes Ireland culture and customs so fascinating to so many people! Read on to build the culture of Ireland into your day to day Irish expressions!

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Jan 11, 2026

Cong Village Things to Know

Cong Village things to know starts with this: Don't miss it! A lovely Irish town and a wonderful stop on any Irish tour (virtual or otherwise :-).

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Jan 11, 2026

This Week in Ireland - St Ita's Feast

Cong Abbey, County Mayo

St Ita holds a distinctive place in Ireland’s spiritual story — one that feels especially fitting for the quieter stretch of mid-January.

Saint Ita lived in the sixth century, during the formative years of Irish Christianity, when faith was being shaped not through grand institutions but through daily life. Tradition remembers her for three virtues in particular: purity of heart, simplicity of life, and generosity toward others.

One of the most enduring stories connected to Saint Ita is her role as a teacher and guide. Among those said to have studied under her was Brendan the Navigator, long before his legendary voyages captured the imagination of medieval Europe.

The great monastic sites that still draw visitors today didn’t appear out of nowhere. They were the natural continuation of this earlier, more intimate way of living faith in place such as that exemplified by St Ita.

Later monastic settlements reflect that growth. One of the most evocative examples is Cong, set between lakes and rivers, where monastic life developed in harmony with landscape rather than dominance over it.

Saint Ita’s feast reminds us where that tradition began. Cong helps us see where it led. Visit our article on Cong Village to learn more about the growth of the monastic tradition and to discover a surprising fact few people know.

Jan 11, 2026

Famous Irish Landmarks: Beyond the Castles

There are many famous Irish landmarks that have nothing to do with castles! From quaint villages to majestic landscapes, we share our list of favorites.

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Jan 07, 2026

Your Irish ID: Share Your Irish Side!

Here is where you generate your customized "Irish ID" and use it to proudly share your Irish Side with others!

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Jan 05, 2026

Irish Christmas Traditions: A Global Celebration with an Irish Twist!

Learn wonderful Irish Christmas traditions and customs! This section will help you express your Irish side during the most joyful time of the year.

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Jan 05, 2026

Adare Castle Things to Know: Fun Facts About An Amazing Irish Landmark

Explore Adare Castle things to know: A standing monument to times past, and a wonderful Irish experience to enjoy - with or without traveling to Ireland.

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Jan 04, 2026

This Week in Ireland - Return to the Pilgrimage Mindset

The days immediately after Little Christmas mark a subtle shift in Ireland’s rhythm. Decorations come down, holiday visitors thin out, and the country settles into a quieter, more inward-looking season.

This early-January pause, when the year is still new and the landscape still bare, is when intention-setting feels most natural. Thoughts turn back to Ireland’s great walking routes and pilgrimage paths.

Among these, Croagh Patrick holds a special place. Rising above Clew Bay in County Mayo, the mountain has drawn pilgrims and walkers for centuries — some for religious reasons, others for personal challenge or quiet reflection.

If you’re curious about what makes this climb such an enduring part of Irish tradition, you may want to check out my personal story about hiking Croagh Patrick, which looks at the route, the experience, and why so many people feel drawn back to this special pilgrimage year after year.

Dec 28, 2025

This Week in Ireland - Preparing for Little Christmas

As December draws to a close, Ireland reaches the quiet ending of the traditional 12 Days of Christmas. Year-end rituals such as St Stephens Day take center stage, foretelling the arrival of Little Christmas, the official end of the 12 Days tradition.

This final stretch of the holiday season is less about festivity and more about gradual transition. Decorations are prepared to come down. Ordinary routines are quietly re-entered.

As the 12 days of Christmas draw to a close and the new year approaches, this older rhythm offers a useful reminder: some endings are meant to be gradual, giving space to reflect before beginning anew.

To explore how seasonal transitions like this fit into the broader rhythm of Irish life, see our guide to Irish Holiday Traditions.

Dec 20, 2025

This Week in Ireland - The 12 Days of Christmas

In much of the modern world, Christmas feels like it arrives all at once — and disappears just as quickly. Decorations go up, gifts are exchanged, and by December 26 the season is already winding down.

Historically in Ireland, however, Christmas was understood very differently. Rather than a single day, Christmas unfolded over twelve days, beginning on December 25 and extending into early January. This longer rhythm shaped how people approached celebration, rest, and community life.

The emphasis was not on intensity, but on duration — allowing time for visiting, storytelling, shared meals, and reflection during the darkest stretch of the year.

Even today, traces of this perspective remain. St Stephen’s Day gatherings, traditional music sessions, and the lingering sense that “Christmas isn’t quite over yet” all echo the older calendar.

The Twelve Days were less about spectacle and more about continuity — carrying light, warmth, and human connection through a time when daylight was scarce.

To explore how customs like these fit into the broader rhythm of Irish life, see our overview of Irish Christmas Traditions.

Dec 14, 2025

Newgrange Things to Know: Key Facts About an Incredible Irish Monument

Newgrange Photocredit Maewynia via Flickr

Looking for Newgrange things to know? You're in the right place. Older than the pyramids in Egypt, this ancient monument is a historical and scientific marvel.

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Dec 14, 2025

This Week in Ireland - Winter Solstice and Newgrange

Ireland reaches one of its most quietly powerful moments this coming week: the winter solstice. On December 21, the shortest day of the year marks an annual celestial turning point. Long before modern holidays filled the calendar, this week mattered deeply to people who watched the sky closely and organized their lives around its rhythms.

Nowhere is this more visible than at Newgrange Passage Tomb, where the rising sun on the winter solstice illuminates the inner chamber of a monument built over 5,000 years ago. The alignment is so precise that for a few minutes each year, light reaches a space designed specifically to receive it. The achievement is not just technical; it reflects a worldview in which nature, time, and human intention were inseparable.

If you’ve ever wondered why Newgrange continues to hold such a central place in discussions of Irish history and identity, this is the week when its meaning is easiest to grasp.

As winter settles in and the days begin their gradual lengthening, the solstice offers a reminder that Irish culture has long been shaped by human attentiveness to nature — to light, to seasons, and to moments of transition that pass quietly unless you know exactly when to look for them.

To explore the history, symbolism, and enduring mystery behind this remarkable site, see our full guide to Newgrange Things to Know.

Dec 12, 2025

Dunluce Castle Things to Know: An Example of Ireland's Magical Past

Dunluce Castle things to know: If it looks familiar to you, it probably is! Featured on album covers and hit movies, it is a very recognizable Irish Castle!

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Dec 02, 2025

Use Meaningful Irish Symbols to Express Your Irish Side!

Irish Symbols are everywhere. Read on to see the Celtic Knot, Celtic Cross, Claddagh, Harp, Shamrock, the Tree of Life, the Triskelion and more!

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Dec 02, 2025

Irish Song Lyrics: Sing Along to 10 Favorite Irish Songs

Celtic Woman Photocredit Chris Newman via Flickr

Here are Irish song lyrics to 10 of the most iconic Irish folk songs. Learn the lyrics, see our favorite performances and sing along to express your Irish side!

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Dec 02, 2025

Famous Irish Sayings: Proverbs, Blessings, Quotes and More!

Here you will find 7 types of famous Irish sayings, including Irish proverbs, Irish blessings, Irish jokes, Irish limericks and Irish slang.

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Dec 01, 2025

Irish History for Beginners: A Fun Way to Connect to Your Irish Side!

Here is a brief and fun overview of Irish history for beginners - where all Irish expressions began! Not your average history lesson!

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Nov 19, 2025