Most women love collecting jewelry and finding unique pieces that really reflect their personalities. If you’re a fan of wearing chic pieces that aren’t too commonplace, you’re not alone! However, you may wonder exactly which unusual jewelry designs can be combined to create a truly stunning jewelry wardrobe…
Celebrate Celtic heritage at a summer festival
One of the best ways to get the most out of the summer season is by honoring your Irish, Scottish or Welsh ancestry at a Celtic festival. In this article, we take a look at some of America’s most lively and joyous summer 2011 events, along with the activities (such as live Celtic music, dance, and storytelling) you will find at these true Celtic festivals. Celtic gatherings allow Americans to experience a deeper connection with their Celtic roots, and they are also a great outing for anyone who wants to have a good time in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere…
The History of Claddagh Rings
Regarded as some of the most iconic jewelry designs in the world, Claddagh rings have a rich history behind them, making them the ultimate symbol of friendship and love. The basic Claddagh design is of two hands clasping a crowned heart. The legend behind the symbol is a tale of kidnapping, slave trading, and sacrificial love.
Claddagh rings are often given as a token of friendship, but are increasingly being utilized as Celtic engagement rings, as well. Usually made from gold, silver, sterling silver, and white gold are also common choices. A timeless symbol of Ireland and Irish history, the Claddagh ring easily complements other Celtic design jewelry.
The Circle of Love – The History of the Wedding Band
Wedding bands have as lovely a history as the women who wear them. Learning about the symbolism and account behind this tradition can be a wonderfully enlightening experience.
Egyptian Pharaohs are credited with being the first to use a ring to symbolize a union and eternity. They regarded the symbol and design of a circle as a reminder that life, happiness and love should have no beginning or end.
Through history, the ring has been given as a symbol of matrimony and represented the covenant between husband and wife. Early rings were crafted from iron, with gold rings introduced in the second century.
Kerry County Airport
Located in the heart of Kerry County, approximately one hour driving time from the city of Limerick, is the Kerry County Airport, otherwise known as the Aerphort Chiarrai. It serves as a direct access route to national road networks, making is very accessible for air travelers.
Kerry County Airport now hosts a Wi-Fi area, money exchange, gift shop, bars, and restaurants to cater to travelers. Parents with small children have access to a baby changing station, as well. Long term and short term airport parking is provided within easy reach of the main terminal.
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The Perfect Gift For A Child’s Communion or Confirmation
Celtic jewelry is a perfect choice to highlight a child’s communion, confirmation, or any other religious event. From crucifixes to crosses, Celtic jewelry is well known for its craftsmanship and affordability. Trinity knots, a symbol of love and time, are also a popular choice. Not only worn for their cultural significance, they also incorporate the sign of the Holy Trinity. Whatever the occasion, Celtic jewelry can provide a beautiful and meaningful celebratory gift. By ordering a piece from an Irish jeweler, you will be certain to give the best and most genuine gift you can find.
Choosing Irish Baby Names
Irish names are usually rich with cultural history. If you are seeking a traditional Irish name, there is an unspoken code for doing so, which will result in bringing honor to your ancestors. However, if you are seeking an Irish name without following the naming trend, there are many beautiful names to choose from. Deirdre, Niamh, and Eileen are among the most common Gaelic names for girls, with Connor, Liam, and Aidan among the most popular boy’s names. It is a good idea to have a native Irish speaker pronounce the name correctly before you choose it. Read More.. »
Chuck Ward’s Death Saddens Irish Americans
The globe mourns at the loss of an icon who helped shape some of Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s most prominent civic institutions.
Chuck Ward, 54, died November 5, 2010, from mucosal melanoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Over a span stretching across three decades, Ward was involved in the Irish Fest, the Brewers, Summerfest, and the county parks in Milwaukee. He was elected president of the Irish Fest last year and planned to run for re-election this year. He had made nine trips to Ireland and was planning his tenth when his illness progressed, causing that trip to be canceled.
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Celtic Colours International Festival – October 8th to 16th 2010
Celtic Colours International Festival has many acts to share with fest goers this upcoming October 8th to 16th. Taking place on Cape Breton Island, many favorite performers are slated to perform during the 2010 edition including Natalie MacMaster, Bruce Guthro, Irish fiddler Liz Doherty and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser.Now in its 14th year the festival will have many acts to showcase keeping the lineup pack full of old faces and new.
Other performers include: Scottish guitarist Tony McManus, Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant, Irish flute player and Gaelic singer Nuala Kennedy and Irish-American guitarist-singer-songwriter John Doyle.
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KVMR Celtic Festival – October 2nd and 3rd, 2010
The 14th Annual KVMR Celtic Festival is on its way, ready to bring to festival goers a great mix of Celtic culture through music, jams, dance, pageantry, living history, falconry, athletics, storytelling and shopping. The outdoor event is planned to be held in Grass Valley, CA on the Nevada County Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday, October 2 & 3.
For the festival weekend, the Nevada County Fairgrounds is transformed into a Celtic Village where Celtic/Folk, Pipe, Interceltic, Irish/Scottish, Highland Games, Dance, Music, Fiddle, and a Parade/Procession held over nine stages and presented by the world’s best in Celtic music can be heard and enjoyed.
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Fredericksburg Welsh festival – September 25th, 2010
Coming up soon is the 21st Annual Fredericksburg, VA Welsh Festival. This fest celebrates al things Welsh and is presented by the James Monroe Museum & the Welsh Society of Fredericksburg. This event is to take place this upcoming September 25th in front of the James Monroe Museum from Noon – 5pm in historic Old Towne Fredericksburg.
This festival is to have music, games, vendors, food and much more to participate in. Storytelling, dancing, and singing will be some of the many events to take place here. A small donation of $5.00 at the door would be much appreciated.
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Celtic Classic- Highland Games & Festival September 24, 25, 26
This upcoming 23rd Annual Celtic Classic is to be held on the weekend of the 24th through the 26th is to be a festival jam packed with many competitive events. From the haggis eating competition, to traditional singing, dancing and the highland games there’s something from everyone with both a competitive and Celtic spirit!
Held by the Celtic Cultural Alliance, this event is to be hosting (for free; shuttle access though requires paid passes) these events:
The Celtic Classic Invitational Pipe Band Competition
US National Highland Athletic Championships
The “Showing of the Tartan” Parade
The 14th Annual Celtic Classic Fiddle Competition
Also there will be a diverse marketplace of Celtic crafts, merchandise and collectibles and more.
Take me to this festival: Celtic Classic- Highland Games & Festival – September 24, 25, 26 2010 >>
U2′s ‘Spider-Man’ to hit Broadway in December
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark is finally after loads of drama and paper work hitting Broadway November 14 and open on December 21. The musical fronted by U2 front man Bono and guitarist The Edge will mark the first time duo have written a score for the stage. Both cite West Side Story and The Music Man as influential to the upcoming musical.
The show will feature spectacular aerial battles, web spinning and wall climbing. Acrobatic circus feats and unbelievable action sequences will be throughout the show with a reported $50 million budget (the money was the many reason for the production’s delays).
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The Wee Craic Festival in New York now in it’s 12th year
New York City’s one-night only festival the Wee Craic gives goers a full night of the best of Irish short films and live music. The festival (now in its 12th year) is planned for tomorrow September 17, will be held at the Tribeca Cinema and Lounge.
One can expect a night of 10 cutting edge Irish films and world-class Irish music (often becoming a celebrity filled live music after party) for the price of a cab fare or $20. You may bump into up and coming Irish performers like Mundy, Laura Izibor, Mark Geary and Brendan O’Shea – or even A-list Irish movie stars like Colin Farrell or Cillian Murphy.
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“The Pipe” shown at Toronto Film Fest
Another Irish film is making the rounds this international film season. “The Pipe”, directed by Risteard Ó Domhnaill is a story of big company versus small town as the town of Rossport finds itself pitted against big company Shell.
Shell discovered an undersea natural gas field off Ireland’s west coast and planned on building a giant, high-pressure pipe to transport raw gas through the town of Rossport to an inland refinery. But the town of Rossport was not consulted; the town of Irish farmers and fishermen rise up against the build seeing it as a threat to their way of life.
5 Tips For Choosing the Right Engagement Ring
Choosing an engagement ring can be a very stressful decision, the first of many along the line for those planning a wedding in the future. Simplifying ones choice among the countless different cuts to styles, to budget constraints (if any), simply to picking where to even purchase it can make a simple purchase take much thought.
But if you start out with these five tips that taxing struggle can be halved if down right narrowed down with ease:
Your price range/budget.
The type of jewelry she wears normally.
The right diamond (which should be the bulk of you budget).
A reputable and specialized jeweler.
Covering your purchase – i.e. Make sure your ring comes with a warranty and insurance.
"The Runway" a feel good film based on real life events
Irish films up until recent tended to deal with the shadow of Irish political struggles. But a trend has many movies moving into Irish family dynamics; "The Runway", is not exception. This film though unlike many that focus on dysfunctional family dynamics is more of a feel-good film; it is inspired by the true events of a South American pilot crash lands his plane in a tiny Co. Cork field in 1983. The small town rallies together and tries against all odds to help to build a runway for the pilot so he can get back up into the air and back home.
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Low budget documentary ‘Twas a morning in July’ wins in New York
Another Irish film on the rise 'Twas a morning in July’ started as the project of Tipperary photographer John Cash and his trip there to boost his county's tourism profile. After taking photographs of local beauty spots in his region the idea expanded. What resulted is a documentary (with filmmaker Brendan Kerins directing) that while made on a shoe string budget, had become a record of his travel there and a testament to the area’s natural beauty.
The film has won two awards at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival: Best Directorial Debut in the feature documentary category and Best International Geographical Documentary in New York. It also came second in the Feature Documentary 'Audience Choice' section.
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The Aran Islands
The Aran islands are a group of three islands named from the Irish word ARA (meaning “a kidney”). The biggest island is Inishmore and the smallest Inisheer. Irish is the main language of the islands though most speak both it and English. Many famous writers have been inspired by these islands including Liam O’Flaherty.
Along with other noteworthy persons like filmmaker Robert O’Flaherty, the islands also are of archeological interest to the many that visit. Settlement activity has been found on the islands as early as 1500 BC. Also the islands are known for their world famous Aran sweaters.
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Bono’s clothing brand breaks down and moves manufacturing to China
Five year and around $20 million invested, Bono and his wife Ali Hewson’s fair trade clothing line Edun is steadily tanking. The line was originally carried by hundreds of global stores but figures show the financial losses is bad as last years figures were down to just 67.
Last year, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton bought 49 percent of the company from the couple, allowing the couple to recruit new management and a new designer. Ali admits that, "We focused too much on the mission in the beginning. It's the clothes; it's the product. It's a fashion company. That needs to be first and foremost."
The couple did not want to manufacture in China finding that would send a contrary message to their free trade stance but currently 15% of the company’s products are manufactured in Africa, while 70% of the overall production is now created in Asia.
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Celebrating Infamous Irish American bootlegger Jack “Legs” Diamond
New York bootleggers are being celebrated this month in the small town of Cairo, New York a once hotbed of illicit bootlegging activity. Cairo, a village with a population of 1,500 was home to one infamous Irish American gangster Jack "Legs" Diamond a man whose legend spans farther than his rap sheet.
Known to the public as Gentleman Jack, his legend was so tall due to him living so long on the run, avoiding near death numerous times. A gangster, assassin, playboy, flamboyant dance, bootlegger, and over all outlaw, Diamond lived under the radar skirting the Prohibition laws for most of his adult life.
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Irish woman continuously pregnant for 25 years
People having large families did not start with the Dougars or the Gosslins – Mary Frances Doherty of the Doherty has since the age of 17 till 42 has a child every year after their wedding. Every 13 or 15 months during their marriage she gave birth to a child – a grand total of 19 children.
This couple is also the owners of the Moville Clothing Company, one of Donegal’s oldest companies. Their brood spanned 11 daughters and eight sons which provided enough offspring to run the family business. The family initially lived in a three bedroom council house but never considered family planning.
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Three Celtic CDs to pick up
For those into the Celtic music scene here are three CDs that may entertain your ears: ‘Side by Side’ by the Kane Sisters, ‘Dance’ by Lissa Schneckenburger, and ‘Altan: 25th Anniversary Celebration’. These three CDs are great examples of various traditions and styles utilizing the fiddle. For example the ‘Side by Side’ CD showcases fiddling that is based in the Sligo style — the lively, well-ornamented variety most people in the United States think of when asked about Irish fiddle. ‘Dance’ offers New England dance tunes, from hornpipes to reels to jigs to waltzes, while ‘Altan’ offers a condensed version of their blend of folk and classical that spans their 21 year career.
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Myths about the Irish
Sigmund Freud once said that the Irish were “one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever.” The Irish are full of myths: that they’re fighters, they’re stupid, they’re belligerent, or that they never forget. But as any other batch of myths and sayings no one person can seriously fit each to a tee.
But myths still persist like that the Irish are always friendly, or are highly religious to a fault, or are ready at a moments notice to go off into a sad, sad song. Some of these can apply to some, but again not every person is lock in step with each saying.
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Surprising facts about the Irish and sex.
The Irish are full of various statistical facts and historical anecdotes. But nothing grabs attention like sex. Like every other culture and people, the Irish are not exempt from its pull. Curiously there are many facts that have both sex and the Irish intercepting.
For one, the previously mentioned Brehon Laws actually provided women full equality with men. Woman could own land and sell it, and could leave marriage if it was not satisfactory. It was only when Queen Elizabeth stamped them out for a more English approved system were the laws put down.
That’s only one thing of note. If you include the famous romances both bad and good, to what outsiders thought of Irish attitudes, to religious conflicts, to women’s rights, the Irish have many interesting facts about their sexual history.
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