My wife is still amazed at the lack of celebration of Birthdays and holidays like Mothers Day in Ireland. I think things have “evolved” for Mother’s Day in Ireland in the intervening years from when I was growing up in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary For most Irish people “The Mammy” holds a special place. There’s nobody like ‘the Mammy”. As I reminisce, thinking about my Mother, I realize that she faced tough times like a lot of people are facing now. I’m channeling some of the wisdom and wit that she might have shared. So today’s blog is honoring all of...
National Teachers Day is 5/3 Influencers: If you ever listen to interviews with the various celebrities you will often hear how they were influenced by a teacher in school. I’d have to say that overall I’ve had very good memories of the Christian Brothers School (CBS) Boys Only in Clonmel for Primary and Secondary education. While I still flinch if I see a ruler in someone’s hand, there were teachers that instilled in me discipline, focus, and a lifelong love of learning. We started our early years with the nuns in kindergarten. My memories are of a time before corporal...
Earth Day 2022 is celebrated April 22nd. Sustainability is not just a buzz word for our suppliers. They live it day to day and for most it is not some new fad or marketing angle - it is how they operate daily.We’re proud to tell you that our suppliers don’t think Earth Day is limited to one day of the year. When you live on an island like Ireland, you have to be keenly aware of what you use, what you produce and what you throw away...every day. The Blackthorn sticks are harvested yearly from a sustainable source of wood...
First things first - as with many Irish things and places - how to say Donegal?DON-eh-gol or Dun - ee - gaaaaawl - What? It’s a sure giveaway when you put the emphasis on the first syllable– It’s not DON-eh-gol.Instead use more even emphasis on the 3 syllables and extend the last syllable as inDun - Ee - Gawl with more emphasis on the “Gawl” than the “Dun”. Now you’re a local! ;) We had a great few days recently at Showcase - the annual gift show in Dublin. It was the first time in 2 years that it...
What an honor to spend time meeting and sharing experiences with some of the other 100 nominees of the 2022 Irish America Magazine Awards. We were in great company and were humbled by the experience and sense of occasion at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan hosted by the Irish America Magazine.The event was kicked off by a very touching rendition of an old Irish rebel song by the world famous Judy Collins and then she went into the all time favorite - “Danny Boy”. Her strength and conviction and emotion was not lost on her audience. The sentiment was to...
