Boston’s 4th Annual Irish Pub Challenge is back, and bigger than ever!  This year, we’ve planned for 4000 people in 30 pubs stretching all across Boston.  Best of all, we’ve added the option to create and captain your own team!  Join the best St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl in Boston! #BostonIrishPubChallenge @IrishPubChllnge

.

The Northern Lights, as seen in Irish skies this week.

Pic: Adam Porter

Pic: Brendan Alexander

Pic: Ronan Newman

Pic: Adam Porter

Pic: Ronan Newman

Pic: Brendan Alexander

Pic: Adam Porter

.

.

Courtesy of RTÉ

Irish food is a direct reflection of the temperate climate of Ireland.   Further, Irish food had to be hearty to feed the hard working farmers.  So, when you see the names, descriptions and ingredients of most Ireland food, keep that in mind.  If you’re planning an Ireland food tour, while the food in Ireland has changed dramatically in recent years, we’ve put together our crash course on the most traditional items you would have not been introduced to in the U.S..

Breads and Starches
Potatoes didn’t actually come to Ireland until the mid 16th century.  Before that, oats and barely were common. Containing lots of vital nutrients, you can survive on potatoes alone.  In fact, fish, meat and other vegetables were just used as flavoring for the potatoes in the past, not a main ingredient of the Irish food.

Potato dishes you may  have never heard of include boxty, champ and colcannon.  Don’t be alarmed by the cabbage or kale in your colcannon.  On your Irish food tour, see if you can notice different tastes in the authentic Ireland cuisine.

Barmbrack, soda bread, or wheaten bread.   Barmbrack is a sweet bread, typically made with the yeast skimmed from the top of beer.  It will contain raisins.  Soda bread, also called wheaten bread, uses baking soda as leavening instead of yeast.  It’s crumbly.  Blaa are white, doughy rolls, usually best at lunch time.

Vegetables
Irish food can’t be complete without cabbage… or can it?  Cabbage grows very well in the temperate climate and is normally thought of to be a staple in Irish dishes to most tourists.  Irish food also may use kale, a hearty green, curly leafed veggie.  Look for carrots, of course.   Those comprise authentic Ireland.  With a temperate climate, root vegetables that can be planted in mild weather and keep long periods of time, would always be on the top of the list for Irish food.

Remember the Great Irish Famine? People resorted to eating anything they could get their hands on.  Carrageen moss and dulse are two types of red algae you may seen or used in Irish food seafood dishes.

Meat in Ireland Food
Pork tops the list of Irish food.  Mutton or lamb is also popular.  Coddle is one unique Irish dish you may have never heard of.  It is pork sausage, back bacon, potatoes and onions.  Crubeens means pig trotters, or feet, so careful not to order those around the faint of stomach.  Skirts and kidneys is a kind of pork stew.  You guess the ingredients.

Corned beef and cabbage is not as abundant in Ireland as you may think.  Something you may see served a lot is Guinness and Lamb stew, yummm, definitely worth a taste!

You may also notice head cheese and black pudding as part of Irish food (no, this isn’t the pudding you’re used to).  Both are made from pig offal.  They are simply a part of European culture you won’t often see in the U.S.  In other cultures, very little of the animal was allowed to go to waste. Before modern transport, there wasn’t food to spare.  Authentic Ireland food tours mean you should try most of the above, you may like it, you may not.

Seafood
Irish food equals fish and chips, right?  Don’t confuse your chips with crisps (potato chips).   Also, try some Dublin bay prawns or a Dublin Lawyer (lobster in whiskey and cream).  Salmon and cod are the two most popular fish and served in various ways.

If you’re curious about the meals themselves, many farmers ate hearty breakfasts.  That’s where the full Irish breakfast would have originated from consisting normally of some combination of eggs, sausage, black pudding, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns, and tomato.  Also, the main meal was eaten in the middle of the day.

As modern food goes, you’ll find a lot more fast food in Irish food these days.   If you’re looking for some local grub and hot spots our number one tip, don’t be afraid to ask!  The Irish are known as some of the most friendly people around the world for a reason.  Hotel receptionists, hosts at your Irish bed and breakfasts, locals at the pub.. try and ask them all, we know you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Blarney castle is one of the most iconic images of Ireland.   Located in County Cork, it’s come to be recognized throughout the world.   If you’re planning a tour of Ireland, you may have this on your wish list.  Peruse these fun facts to keep yourself adequately amused whilst waiting to kiss the Blarney stone.

1. Blarney means persuasive eloquence.  Talk that aims to charm, pleasantly flatter, or persuade.
2. Blarney comes from Bhlarna, or little field.  We think number one’s meaning is better.  Let’s just go with that.
3. The Blarney stone powers were reportedly thanks to a witch.  She cast a spell on the stone to thank a king who saved her from drowning.  Kissing the Blarney stone is said to give “The Gift of Eloquence” or as some simply put it, “The Gift of Gab”  (see point 1).  We vote every man on earth be required to kiss the Blarney stone.
4. Blarney is a little village, dominated by ‘the Square,’  a patch of grass surrounded by walls.
5. Blarney castle is hidden from Blarney village in woodlands … even though it’s only a few hundred yards from the little town.  You can’t see me!
6. The blarney stone is situated 85 feet up, on the east wall of the battlement.  From the top of the castle wall, you have to bend backwards while holding a railing.  Tip: Do not do this if someone who doesn’t like you is nearby.
7. Try to find the Witch’s Kitchen and Wishing Steps on the grounds … they are names of rock formations. A dolmen is also on the Blarney castle grounds.  That’s a prehistoric grave.  Spooky.
8. The McCarthy Dynasty built Blarney Castle.  You’ll have to read about castles for a history lesson … these are fun facts.
9. The Blarney castle walls are 18 feet thick in places.  They afforded lots of protection from invaders during battle.
10. Blarney Village is actually one of the last estate villages that remains standing in Ireland.  It was built by an eighteenth century landlord so the castle workers had somewhere to live.  Isn’t that nice?

Of course, Blarney castle and Blarney village have a much more in depth history than we’ve provided here.   Ireland is a land of legend and folklore.   These fun facts are just meant to get you started and keep you guessing.  Slainte!

Guinness, to be fair, is the most distinct brand of stout world wide.  There are any number of interesting points we could make about Guinness.  Above all, it is an icon of Ireland, were it was founded, and continues to be brewed today.  If you’ve done some Irish travel, maybe you’ll recognize these fun facts.

1. Guinness is a stout.  Stout is a kind of ale.  This gets very confusing.
2. The distinct dark, rich color of Guinness comes from roasted barley and malt.  Hops was not native to Ireland and had to be imported from England for beer brewing.
3. The Guinness sign to the right says ‘Guinness is good for you.’  More importantly, beer, thought to prevent diseases, was a huge part of the culture in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
4. Sir Walter Hugh, the Managing Director of Guinness Brewery in 1951, developed the Guinness Book of World Records.   He had a question he wanted answered: what was Europe’s fastest game bird?
5. Guinness won’t confirm this, but the distinctive ‘burnt’ flavor of Guinness beer used to come from mixing the aged brew with fresh brewed beer.
6. Arthur Guinness, founder of Guinness, was only 27 when he laid the foundations for the Guinness brewery.  In 1757 that was considered middle age.
7. A harp, a symbol of Ireland, appears on the label of Guinness.  Ireland boasted some of the best harpists in the world, with a new playing style and traditional training … until Elizabeth I had them all executed and the instruments destroyed.  Harp, a popular Irish beer, was also founded and perfected by the Guinness brewery.
8. Join the Guinness storehouse for the little known Arthur’s Day, a day solely dedicated to the founder and beer legend, Arthur Guinness.
9. In the 1930s, Guinness was the seventh largest company in the world.  Today, it is one of the most notable beer brands world wide, sold in over 100 countries and brewed in 50 countries.  The Guinness storehouse, since opening its doors in 2000, is the number one attraction in Ireland.
10. Why animals in Guinness advertising?  The Guinness family did not want a campaign that equated with beer, but they did want to emphasize Guinness’s strength and goodness.   In 1935, the advertising agency of S.H. Benson came up with the Toucan, the first in a long series of animal Guinness icons.

Guinness fun facts are as much a part of Irish culture as the limerick.   As you tour Ireland, everywhere you go, you’ll be presented with opportunities to appreciate Guinness.   It’s truly remarkable that one brand of Irish beer can evoke so much success from such a little country, isn’t it?

The Irish coat of arms, or family crest, is a design worn by the members of a Irish family or clan to represent their pride in their sept.   If you need to apply it to modern day concepts, you may consider it the way you would gang colors or gang symbols.  While the loyalty of families protecting their territory was similar, the Irish coat of arms held a deeper meaning.  Just as a gang will defend it’s territory, honor and respect, the Irish family crest was meant to represent all things the warrior held near and dear.  It answered, “What are we fighting for?” during times of war or hardship.

The Irish coat of arms was typically sewn onto a tunic type vest and worn over a suit of armor.  You would also see an Irish coat of arms on flags or other paraphernalia where a family lived.  Not a single element of the family crest didn’t have deeper meaning.  The key to remember is that while general, assumptive guesses can be taken at the choice of a family crest, deeper historical meaning may apply.  The Irish coat of arms to one family, may mean something entirely different to another family.  (Yes, two families could have the same family crest.  Also, two families with the same Irish surname could have a different family crest. ) To establish the heraldry of an Irish coat of arms, let’s look at the elements that make up the highly significant family crest.  

Colors Used in the Family Crest
It’s no surprise that the colors on an Irish coat of arms are important.  Just as royalty often wears purple, you’ll note colors are carefully chosen to represent a family.  Don’t be confined by primary colors, either.  An Irish coat of arms could have maroon or gold, too.

Animals including Beasts and Birds
Animals, and multiple animals, were almost always used on a family crest.  Keep in mind here that the Irish were historically pagan.  Their spirituality was rooted in nature.  Therefore, a boar, perhaps meaning fierce fighter on an English coat of arms, was also a prized meat for the pagan Gods.   So an Irish coat of arms can have a different meaning by English interpretations.  Make sense?

Use of lines
Lines in an Irish coat of arms showed the air, sky or water.   Again, some interpretation would be required but you can understand many warriors would fight at all costs to defend their homes.   However, a seafaring family may use more representations of water in their family crest than one living off the land in central Ireland.

Shield shape representations
The most obvious shield shapes in a coat of arms would be a cross (horizontal and vertical) for a Christian warrior.  St. Andrews Cross (on an axis) represented peace or resolution.  You can see how an Irish coat of arms might be more likely to use other symbols, like a triangle pointed upwards, a ‘house’ or protection.

Plants or Nature on the Family Crest
Again, pay attention to family crests which may have Christian meaning (fleur-de-lis) versus those like primrose which would have been a pagan sign of a good Spring.    An Irish coat of arms, as in most heraldry, contained numerous plants draping the shield.

Other significant Irish coat of arms symbols
Arms, shells, crowns or ships would all be part of an Irish coat of arms.  You’ll note many symbols of status, like a castle for grandeur.   It was possible to have a family crest be different for a prestigious member of the family, as well.  Pay attention to those meaning eighth son or the like.  What would your secret Irish coat of arms symbol have been?

If you take a trip to Ireland, you’re sure to see quite a bit of heraldry.  Perhaps, though, you’re just tracing your Irish genealogy for personal reasons.   Best of luck interpreting what each element of the Irish coat of arms meant to your family.

It’s easy to help families and children in need this Christmas… as easy as just clicking one button!

For every new “Like” on Facebook by December 25th, Tenon Tours will donate $1 to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.  Click below to visit our page:

Need a last minute gift? Does that someone special LOVE to travel?

Tenon Tours travel gift certificates are a great idea for any special event or simply to reward someone special with a gift that will be truly appreciated and remembered.  Simply tell us who it is for, how much you wish to give and we will present you with a personalized voucher to proudly reward that special person! Whether it’s Valentines Day, Christmas, a birthday, an anniversary, graduation or just a special celebration, there’s one gift that’s guaranteed to please.

SPECIAL OFFER, ends 12/25: Buy any gift certificate, and we’ll match the amount, up to $150!

To order a gift certificate, call us at 855.GO.TENON or email travel@tenontours.com.

It’s true that the Irish are famed story tellers.  In the case of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, the legend has been passed down so many times its hard to tell the man from the myth.  Yup, even though there may be a St. Patrick’s parade in cities and towns all over the world, little is discussed about the man himself.  Tenon Tours happily presents, 10 facts about St. Patrick.  As an Ireland travel company, we assure you we only made up a wee little bit o’ the facts … or did we?

1. St. Patrick wasn’t actually Irish.  He was born to wealthy parents in Britain, of all places.
2. St. Patrick was kidnapped at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland.
3. His captors forced him to tend sheep in the mountainous Irish countryside.  As you take an Ireland tour, just imagine how desolate and lonely it must have been for him. Remember, he was only 16 years old and used to a life of British wealth. (Cue violin.)
4. At about 22 or 23 years old, St. Patrick returns to Britain.  Legend says he escaped on a pirate ship.  Don’t worry, you most likely won’t encounter any pirates during your Ireland travel… unless maybe you imbibe a little too much in the top 10 drinks in Ireland?
5. After reuniting with his family, St. Patrick decides to dedicate himself to Christianity.  He became a priest, a vigorous 16 years of study.
6. St. Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christians.  You will see notes that a ‘voice in his head’ told him to convert the people of Ireland.   As with many patron saints, he was apparently spoken to by God.
7. He’s responsible for the Celtic cross, one of the symbols of Ireland.   Familiar with the Irish culture, incorporating the sun, a powerful pagan symbol, into the Christian cross, helped the Irish adopt it.
8. He used the clover leaf, with 3 leaves, to explain the holy trinity (another popular Irish symbol).  In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit, during your Irish tour, try to pick at least a few shamrocks.
9. St. Patrick didn’t drive literal snakes out of Ireland.  He drove away the symbolic serpents representing evil in Christianity.  Ireland never had any snakes; it’s too cold.  If any Ireland tour offers to take you snake hunting, they are just ‘taking the piss’ (recognize that saying form our Irish phrases lesson?).
10. Until the 1970s, St. Patrick’s Day was a minor celebration of the patron saint of Ireland.  Now, it’s a par-tay … and you should travel to Ireland and join in on the fun of the St. Patrick’s festival.

Whatever you’ve heard about St. Patrick, you won’t be surprised that a lot of the malarchy over the patron saint of Ireland mixes a healthy dose of man with myth.  It’s the Irish way to create legends from well told stories.  While you’re imbibing on your Irish travel, you’ll see how, quite possibly, you too will start to believe everything you’re told … or will you?