Festival of Samhain 2023 – Letter from An Cathaoirleach

Festival of Samhain 2023 – Letter from An Cathaoirleach In this season, as we move from Autumn to Winter, our ancestors celebrated the festival of Samhain. With its many traditions marking the move from the plentiful harvest to the dark days of winter, this turning of the year, now more familiar to many as Halloween, […]

11 August 2023 – Decolonising an Irish Surname by Working the Hyphen of Gene-Ealogy

11 August 2023 – Decolonising an Irish Surname by Working the Hyphen of Gene-Ealogy A very insightful article by Esther Fitzpatrick and Mike Fitzpatrick just published in the journal Genealogy 2023, 7(3), 58Abstract:The surname Fitzpatrick is readily identified as Irish. Until recently, the traditional Fitzpatrick surname narrative was of a medieval super-progenitor named Giolla Phádraig. […]

3 June 2023 – Obituary: Conor, The O’Brien

Obituary – Conor, The O’Brien Conor, The O’Brien, who has died in his eightieth year was 32nd direct male descendent of Brian Boroimhe (Boru). Conor was, above all other titles, hereditary chief of the O’Brien clan, but generally referred to by his courtesy title, Lord Inchiquin. The O’Briens remained unambiguously one of the royal families […]

1 February 2023 – Spring Message from An Cathaoirleach

Spring Message from An CathaoirleachFebruary 2023 Beannachtaí na Féile Bríde ort. Today, the 1st of February, marks the ancient Gaelic festival of Imbolc, as well as being the feast of Naomh Bríd (Saint Brigid), the matron saint of Ireland. Many people in Ireland are visiting the many holy wells around the country. Some continue the custom of attaching pieces of […]