The Gra for Gaeilge

When Pádraig Pearse wrote ‘Tir gan teanga ‘s tir gan anam’ - A country without a language is a country without a soul, he was likely paraphrasing his hero Thomas Davis who said ‘A people without a language of its own is only half a nation.’

You may think they both went a little over the top. But even 175 years on from Davis and 102 years on from Pearse, the Irish language, Gaeilge, remains an emotive topic in Ireland. And as it is Seachtain na gaeilge (Irish Language Week) we thought we would get our cúpla focail (few words) out!

More than cúpla focail

It seems a good time to show our gra or love for Irish given that 2018 is The Year of Irish. Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 is a celebration that marks the 125th anniversary of the Irish language movement that was born with the founding of Conradh na Gaeilge. And we have good reason to celebrate our language. Irish is the oldest surviving Celtic language in the world, and at last count, has more people able to speak and write Irish today than in the previous 150 years!

And you can now hear Irish whenever you like on TV and radio stations such as Ráidió na Gaeltachta, and Ráidió na Life. and Teilifís na Gaeilge. And even in English you are likely to hear a smattering of Irish - galore, hooligan, phoney, loch, glen, slew, smithereens, and of course whiskey all trace their origins to Gaeilge!

Irish Culture at the Heart of Our Jewelry

And it is this lovely and ancient language that has inspired our range of Gaelic Rings and Jewelry featuring beautiful Irish phrases. With the earliest written forms of the language engraved in Ogham on standing stones, we continue this tradition today, crafting lovely Irish phrases in sterling silver and gold.

This striking sterling silver Ogham ingot has been engraved with a Newgrange spiral and the word ‘HOME’ in Ogham. And we liked this so much we used it as our logo!

Mo Anam Cara - My Soul Mate or My Soul Friend

The ancient Celts believed in a soul that radiated about the body. They believed that when two individuals formed a deep and lasting bond that their souls would mingle.

Grá Go Deo - Love Forever

Eternity is an important theme in Celtic mythology and is captured elegantly in this phrase.

Grá, Dílseacht, Cairdeas - Love, Loyalty & Friendship

These three virtues are celebrated in the heart, hands and crown of Ireland’s famous Claddagh Ring.

Better Than Clever English?

There is an old Irish proverb that says Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste - Broken Irish is better than clever English!So what better way to say Happy St Patrick's Day this Saturday than in the Irish language itself - Beannachtaí na Féile Padraig Ort

Whatever you get up to this St. Patrick’s Day we hope you have been inspired to give your cúpla focail a try!