Depending on who you ask, there are between 50 and 100 million people worldwide who identify as having Irish heritage. This is a whopping number when you consider that the island's current population, North and South, is around 7 million!

With the advent of DNA tests like ancestry.com or 23andMe, it’s likely that we can expect to welcome more to our number! To any newly minted Irish, let me be the first to say Fáilte, welcome!

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 Irish 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, databases.dublincity.ie, and nidirect.gov.uk/proni. 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!

While you are at it, you may want to read up on our own unique hiberno-english - English certainly, but with lots of 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 they definitely won’t, or why it’s good to have a “flaithiúlach” friend that is up for the “craic” rather than an “eejit” that will “plámas” you!

3. Connect with Ireland on screen

A familiarity with Gaelic and Hiberno-English will certainly help with our next tip. 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 of the past and present.

If you want to see 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, there are plenty of movies set in Ireland that deliver in spades. Dublin streets take centre stage in Once, 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.

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.

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.

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, and four of the five ideas above can work for you. After all, as they say, “Everyone's a little Irish on Saint Patrick's Day.”