Six ways to connect with Ireland today
Written by Ciaran on Feb. 17, 2026 | 0 Comments
Depending on who you ask, there are between 50 and 80 million people worldwide who identify as having Irish heritage. This is an incredibly large number when you consider that the island's current population, North and South, is just 7 million.
Our small green island, shaped like a teddy bear, as seen from space.
Photo Credit: NASA Earth Observatory (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A growing club
With the advent of DNA tests like ancestry.com or 23andMe, it’s likely that we can expect to welcome more to that impressive number! To any newly minted Irish, let me be the first to say Fáilte, welcome!
How to connect with Ireland?
So, what is the best way for newcomers and those with longstanding ties to connect with Ireland today? This is a tricky one to answer as the best way is unique to each individual; ultimately, it’s the one that works for you. But here are a few ideas to get you going if you’re unsure of where to start.
1. Connect to your own family heritage.
A great place to start is with your family name. If you have an Irish surname to go on you can learn quite a bit about your heritage using resources like the National Archives, The National Library, IrishGenealogy.ie, askaboutireland.ie, and databases.dublincity.ie. Or, if you would like some help, the not-for-profit Ireland reaching out.
It’s easy to see why Dr Edward McLysaght, an expert in Irish surnames, is confident that "one’s surname is one’s most important family heirloom."
2. Connect with Irish Language
Perhaps you just want a few words, a cúpla focail, of Gaelic to use on St. Patrick’s Day? Or maybe you have a deeper grá or love for the Irish language and would like to learn more? You could start by taking a look at our blog, which has tips and resources to help you begin.
Some, even in Ireland, might say that learning the language isn’t necessary or useful, given that almost all Irish citizens speak English. But it certainly gives insight into the country, its place names, history, and culture, offering a connection with Ireland, both present and past, that is hard to top. Best of all, it sounds beautiful, too! The stunning Irish language film "An Cailín Ciún" The Quiet Girl, is well worth a watch and a listen if you haven't seen it yet.
While you are studying up on your Irish, you may also want to check out our own unique hiberno-english - It is english certainly, but with Irish adaptations that can leave the uninitiated a little lost! Handy to know that if an Irish person tells you “I will, yeah,” you can be absolutely certain that they definitely won’t. Or why it’s good to have a “flaithiúlach” (overly generous) friend that is up for the “craic” (up for fun) and a "hooley"(party) rather than an “eejit” (a reckless fool) that will “plámas” (flatter to decieve) you!
3. Connect with Ireland on screen
A familiarity with Irish and Hiberno-English will certainly help with our next tip. As evidenced by the sucess of An Cailín Ciún, Irish cinema and Irish actors have been going from strength to strength of late. So the list of Irish movies worth a look is growing, too. Cinema is a unique way to immerse yourself in Ireland, both past and present.
For real Irish stories, documentaries like His & Hers, the Irish Pub, or Older than Ireland are all charming and well worth a look.
If it isn’t just the Irish people you want but some of our beautiful scenery too, there are plenty of movies set in Ireland that deliver in spades. Dublin streets take center stage in Once, Belfast in Belfast, the lush green landscapes of Co. Cork in The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Enniscorthy and Curracloe Beach in the ironically titled Brooklyn, or the wild and beautiful islands of Inishmore and Achill in the Banshees of Inisherin.
And if you are looking for something to watch with the family, Wolfwalkers is a gorgeously animated story that connects with the myth and magic of Irish folklore. Sing street, set in 1980’s Dublin is a treat for older kids. And of course there is always the old faithful, Darby O’Gill and the Little People. But be warned, the Banshee scene has scared the wits out of generations of children here in Ireland and around the world!
4. Connect with Irish Food
Whenever we share recipes here on our blog we are always blown away by the response. Whether it’s gur cake to keep you going, barmbrack for Samhain, or even a humble crisp sandwich, there’s no taste like home.
Gur cake, also known as gudge or chester cake, a popular cake in Irish cities with a pastry "wrapper."
A fry-up for breakfast with a nice cup of tea, a hearty soup or stew with soda bread for lunch, or colcannon or coddle for dinner will have you feeling full, but hopefully also a little closer to our island home.
5. Connect with Irish Dance
Riverdance brought it to a global audience, but dancing held a special place in Irish people's hearts long before that first spectacular performance of the iconic show back in 1994.
Here at My Irish Jeweler, we are lucky enough to have Danny, who was once a professional Irish dancer, on our team to teach us a few steps and give an insider's view of this global Irish cultural phenomenon.
Our own Danny backstage with Irish dancing legend, Michael Flatley
Photo Credit: D. Lewin
If you fancy being able to dance a few steps the next time you hear a reel start up there are plenty of spots to learn on YouTube. Or you could follow Danny’s lead and teach yourself the steps from Riverdance!
6. Connect with Irish Sport
If Irish dancing isn’t your speed, there are plenty of other ways to get some exercise in and connect with Ireland! With the honor of being the fastest field sport in the world and a skill level to match, hurling, overseen by the GAA, might be an intimidating place to start. But as one of Ireland’s oldest traditions, dating back thousands of years, hurling holds a unique significance in Irish society.
And you needn’t take to the field yourself if that looks a little too hectic! You could always watch a match in your local Irish Pub, or a live game at your local GAA club. Both Irish Pubs and GAA clubs pop up in a surprising number of places - there is even a GAA club inside the Arctic Circle! If all else fails, big matches are often streamed online.
Your Irish Story
This already seems like a lot to be getting on with, and we haven’t got to Irish music, customs, or literature! We might take that up in a “Part II” if there is an appetite for it! Do let us know in the comments below if you have any other avenues you want to share!
For now, we hope this is a useful jumping off point for your Irish story: a journey of celebration, discovery, and finding a connection with Ireland that makes sense for you.
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day
And, of course, for those with no discernable Irish ancestry or heritage, If you feel a strong connection with Ireland, that’s all that really matters. After all, as they say, “Everyone is Irish on Saint Patrick's Day.”
Connect with Irish Jewelry
We hear from many of our customers that owning a piece of our fine Irish jewelry is another way to feel a connection with Ireland. Pieces from our Connemara Marble range are set with a unique piece of the emerald isle to keep with you wherever you go. Our Ogham range features the first alphabet of the Irish language, and our family crest range showcases the heraldry of your ancestors, both deeply personal and prefect for those looking to connect with Ireland.
Get In Touch
Have a question or something you're not entirely sure about when browsing our pieces? Please reach out. You can send us a note or give us a call—the Dublin workshop is here to make sure that you have a perfect experience from start to finish with My Irish Jeweler.
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Ciaran
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
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