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Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts

Celtic Proverbs: Recent Grief

“Recent grief is the heaviest” is an Irish Proverb. It talks about how the more recent a grief is, the heavier it is to carry. Anyone who has ever been through any kind of grief knows this to be very true.

Grief is one of the heaviest, if not THE heaviest, emotions to carry. It has been said that grief is just feeling love that has nowhere to go. What a privilege it is to love someone so much, and to have them love you in return, that it is so incredibly painful to live without them. The days following the loss of a loved one are the hardest days we face.

While we learn to carry the grief and can go on to lead fulfilling lives, there are days when the grief will still sneak in. Grief is a cycle, after all. You may think you are healed, and something will remind you of your loved one and bring back feelings of grief all over again. In these moments, it is important to give yourself grace. You are likely doing better than you feel.

As someone who has lost a number of loved ones throughout the years, including my mom, I know firsthand that recent grief is the hardest and heaviest thing to carry. The first birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries are excruciatingly painful. However, as time has gone on, it has become manageable. Obviously, I still feel the grief, and some days are harder than others even years later. However, I have learned to live with the grief so I can live the full life my loved ones would want me to live.  

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Celtic Proverbs: Who Suffers Not

 

“Who suffers not gets no ease” is an Irish Proverb. Those who do not suffer do not get the ease that follows a period of suffering.

There is a similar saying that says that there is no light without darkness. We need the contrast to be able to see the hard times and the ease that comes after we have been suffering. “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” as one proverb says. We need the difficult times to help us learn and grow.

Living an easy life seems like it would be a great existence, but no one learns or grows from an easy life. It can be so easy to be jealous of those who seemingly have it so much easier than we do. However, it is important to look to see how much we are growing and experiencing through the difficult times we face. These tough times make us stronger and more interesting. We become more empathetic because we can understand what suffering feels like, so we want to help others in a similar situation.

Even when we suffer, we get the satisfaction of a period of ease and rest afterward. When we have to struggle, this ease feels so much better than if it was a constant thing. We learn to appreciate the easy times so much more after we struggle through something than if ease was our constant.

A life without struggle would be boring, so it is better to have at least some difficulty so we can grow and expand. Otherwise, we never learn anything. Those who have had the most difficult lives are some of the most interesting and empathetic people around. These people have great strength and compassion for sharing their struggles and lessons with the world around them.

Personally, I strive to be someone who learns from difficulty and does not fear it. Many people become cynical, but I aim to use my difficult situations to learn and then help those in similar situations. It is so easy to become hardened by struggles, but it takes strength and courage to learn and then help others.

Related Articles:

-Celtic Proverbs: Plough a Field: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2026/09/celtic-proverbs-plough-field.html 


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Would You Rather: Live In Ireland Vs. Never Visit

(Question Source: "Would You Rather? St. Paddy's Edition: Irish Magic and Celtic Wonders!" by Jolly Press)
 

“Would you rather live in Ireland for two years or never visit?” is a question that is featured in the book, "Would You Rather? St. Paddy's Edition: Irish Magic and Celtic Wonders!" by Jolly Press. For me, this is an easy question.

As someone whose main trip that I am saving for is to go to Ireland, I would rather live there for two years than never visit at all. I feel like a trip that is only a week or two long would not be enough, so living there for two years would give me a great opportunity to not only see the more “touristy” spots, but it would let me connect with local spots and people on a deeper level than I would over a short trip.

Never being able to visit Ireland would really dampen my life. A huge goal of mine is to go to Ireland, and not being able to go would take away a huge focus of my life. For me, having this goal is a motivator to keep working hard, and not having it would take away a huge purpose from my life.

Since high school, getting dual citizenship with Ireland has been a goal of mine. I do not have all of the details about how taxes would work while having citizenship in two countries. Living in Ireland for a couple of years is a requirement for citizenship for those who do not have a pathway through their grandparents (my lineage is a few generations beyond the requirement, unfortunately).

I would love to know your thoughts if you have a different opinion, or a different mentality of the same opinion!

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Celtic Proverbs: Plough a Field

 

“You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind” is an Irish proverb. Literally, the proverb means that the plough will not be ploughed just by thinking of it. Sure, it is good to have a strategy for how to approach things, but it is important to actually go out and do the task.

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Celtic Snack Review: Keogh's Truffle and Irish Butter Chips

Keogh’s makes chips (crisps) in a variety of flavors. I recently tried their Truffle and Irish Butter flavor. My specific bag of chips was made in a field called “The Ward” using the Kiebitz variety. According to the map on the bag, the field where my chips are from is in Cork, Ireland. It was cooked by Eriks on May 12, 2026.                 

I tried to scan the QR code to find out more about the chips and the people who made them. I do not know if it was a phone error or a QR code error, but I could not get the code to scan for me. I tried multiple times. I even tried a different QR code to see if it was a phone issue, but the other QR code scanned just fine.

The chips had a distinct smell when I opened the bag. It was not bad, but it was intense right off the bat. However, the smell is not a completely accurate depiction of the taste, but they are a bit similar.

This flavor is more of a savory chip flavor that had a bit of an aftertaste. If you love this flavor, this will be enjoyable. Those on the fence about whether or not they like it may not like the aftertaste as much. It was definitely not my favorite thing.

Overall, this flavor was decent, but not the best I have ever had from Keogh’s. It definitely would not be my first choice to get again. The one thing I do love about Keogh’s is that the chips are made by real people and you can see this on the bag. 

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Celtic Proverbs: Pup Until He Hunts

“Every hound is a pup until he hunts.” Irish Proverb
“Every hound is a pup until he hunts.” Irish Proverb

“Every hound is a pup until he hunts” is an Irish proverb. On a literal level, this proverb means that a pup becomes a hound when he goes on a hunt. Until then, he is still just a pup. This has a deeper interpretation behind this proverb as well that has to do with the things we experience throughout life.

People often want to be good at things before they do them. They expect to be able to be experts right away without any learning or practice, and then are upset when they are not as good as those who have put in the time and effort. You do not become an expert in something automatically. It takes a lot of work, practice, and experience to learn.

There are also people who want to grow and be mature, but they do not want to experience any hardship or difficulties. In order to become wise, we have to go through difficult experiences and learn from mistakes and hardship. These things are not always comfortable, but they teach us about ourselves and our world. As such, we grow in wisdom and gain valuable experience that we can pass on to others to help them in their journeys.

These things are not to say that people are behind in life because of things they have or have not experienced. We all have different lifestyles and upbringings. As such, we have different perspectives on things. These are all valid experiences and pearls of wisdom. Other people may look at us and feel the same comparison that we feel about them. It is important to look back and see how far we ourselves have grown and matured over the years.

It can be easy to compare ourselves to others. We may feel less experienced and compare ourselves to others because of this. However, it is important to take note of what the other person does and take action to do the same. This way, you are taking steps to become the people you wish to be like. Doing so is more productive than sitting around, comparing yourself to others, and feeling bad about yourself. 

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Celtic Crafts: Embroidered Celtic Hat

I taught myself how to embroider a couple of years ago, but I never thought I would be able to make a hat. I made a hat of my favorite band, and I thought I would try making myself an “Irish” hat. This hat can be made into any of the Celtic nations, or any other nationality as well. I am so proud of how it turned out and have even gotten compliments that it looks store-bought.

1. Gather your supplies.

Supplies I used include a hat (adult-sized for me), thread of the colors of the Irish flag, a needle, and a pencil.

2. Outline the word you want to use.

I did “Irish,” but other options may include “Scottish,” “Welsh,” “Manx,” “Cornish,” and others. Outlining the word in pencil allows you to see how it will look on your hat. If you make a mistake, you can erase it, and when you do the embroidery, you will not be able to see the pencil marks.

3. Outline the word in thread.

After using pencil, outline the letters using thread. This will allow you to see the outline more clearly. I outlined in the color I planned to use for that letter, but I also would have outlined the letters in black to make them pop.

4. Fill in the letters.

Use thread to fill in the letters. This part was a lot of fun as it felt like I was just coloring with thread. It was so satisfying to see the letters become full of color.

5. Ta da! You’re all done!

Wear the hat and enjoy! I plan on wearing mine to Celtic festivals and other related events!

Learn from me:

I outlined the letters in the color I planned to use for the letter, but I feel like black would have made them pop a bit more. I freehanded the letters in pencil, but I wish I had used a stencil. 


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Celtic Throughlines: "John Ryan's Polka"

Photo by Eugene Bolshem: https://www.pexels.com/photo/live-irish-music-performance-outdoors-with-band-33284931/

“John Ryan’s Polka” is a tune that has shown up in my life a lot recently. My first introduction to the song was the “Party in Third Class” scene in the “Titanic” movie. I was in elementary school when I watched the movie for the first time and did not have any connection to the song. I remember loving the music of that scene, though.

In 2024, we were watching “Bluey” at work, as I work with kids. The “Faeries” episode came on, and “John Ryan’s Polka” played throughout the episode. It sounded so familiar, but I could not place it. At one point in the episode, Bandit, Bluey and Bingo’s dad, was dancing to the song and said, “I am the lord of the dance.” This made me think that it was either in “Lord of the Dance” or “Riverdance.”  When the shift was done, I stopped at a café in the lobby of my job, and while waiting in line, I looked the song up. I think I typed in something along the lines of “Bluey Faeries song,” and “John Ryan’s Polka” was the answer I was looking for.

When I went to a local Irish festival for St. Patrick’s Day weekend in 2025, I saw the band Na’bodach. I really enjoyed their performance and was getting into the music. Suddenly, in a medley of their songs entitled “Hornpipe, Retreat, and Polka,” a familiar tune came up. It was “John Ryan’s Polka”! I got so excited and immediately told my friend how much I loved that song. It was so cool to hear the song out in the wild and to be able to know it.

At Glenside’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in 2026, there was a float that featured Raymond Coleman and other Irish and Celtic musicians. While Coleman typically sings, the musicians on the float were playing an instrumental tune. I got so excited when I realized that it was “John Ryan’s Polka.” It was great to once again recognize a song that I love out in the wild.

Later in 2026, I saw “Titanic” again in theaters. Being able to revisit the “Party in Third Class” scene with a love of “John Ryan’s Polka” brought me so much joy. I remember feeling so happy to know the song and be able to fully appreciate it. I also loved knowing so much about the Titanic disaster itself since I had done some research for an article before seeing the movie again.” 

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Celtic Throughlines: My Name (Ashley)

I have always been proud of my name, Ashley. People always say how lovely my name is, and  I love when I get to meet other Ashleys. However, in recent years, I have become even more proud of my name, especially in light of finding out that there is an Irish spelling of it. 

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Shepherd's Pie Review: American Star Diner

 

On July 30, 2026, American Star Diner in North Wales, Pennsylvania, had shepherd’s pie on their specials menu for lunch and dinner. This dish is typically served in Irish pubs, but I have seen it in a variety of diners as well.

Their recipe included the typical beef, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. What set this version apart was the fact that they put gravy on top of the mashed potatoes. This added extra moisture to the potatoes, beef, and vegetables.

Another unique aspect of this version was the dish it was served in. Typically, shepherd’s pie is served in an oval-shaped dish. I have seen very few instances where it is a circular dish, and the American Star Diner is one of these instances. The dish was deep, allowing for more of the shepherd’s pie to be served.

The value of the dish was excellent. The shepherd’s pie cost $16.99 for the lunch portion and it included a cup of soup (I chose cream of potato, and it was delicious). For the amount of shepherd’s pie that was served, it was an excellent value, especially in relation to other places I have gotten this dish from. I have ordered shepherd’s pie at Irish pubs where they did not serve anything with it and it was more expensive. This is not just at pubs in New York City or Philadelphia.

The shepherd’s pie tasted really flavorful. The beef was a bit on the drier side, but it was not as bad as other versions I have tasted. The gravy on top, while unconventional, helped add some moisture to the dish. Even the mashed potatoes were bursting with flavor, which can be a difficult thing to do.

Overall, American Star Diner’s version of shepherd’s pie was a great recipe. While it is unconventional to have gravy on the mashed potatoes, it added to the recipe. It was a great value when you consider the cost and how much you got. The dish was flavorful and delicious overall. I hope the American Star Diner regularly has this on their specials menu and that people get a chance to try it. 

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Tara Mór To Host First Fully Irish Festival in New York City

Mór Fest
Mór Fest 2026

Mór Fest 2026, which is Manhattan’s first fully Irish festival, is set to take place from August 19 to 23, 2026. It is being hosted by Tara Mór, an Irish pub located a block from Madison Square Garden.

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Celtic Throughlines: My Story

I have always known that I have Irish ancestry. It is something that was brought up when I asked about my ancestry in relation to school projects. I am working on my family history, but AncestryDNA says my family has connections to Munster, specifically Limerick and Cork.

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Irish Pub Review: McCarthy's

McCarthy's in Times Square
McCarthy's in Times Square

McCarthy’s Pub is a traditional Irish pub located in Times Square on West 46th Street in New York City. They offer a variety of food and drink options, including traditional and authentic Irish dishes and beverages.
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Pub Review: Connolly's Irish Pub and Restaurant

Connolly's Irish Pub and Restaurant
Connolly's Irish Pub and Restaurant

Connolly’s Irish Pub and Restaurant is located on West 45th Street in New York City, New York. The pub features a wide menu, featuring pub fare and traditional Irish dishes. It is a family-owned restaurant in Times Square.

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Celtic Crafts: Celtic Charm Bracelet

Celtic Charm Bracelet
Celtic Charm Bracelet

Charm bracelets are a fun way to showcase something or various things that mean a lot to the person wearing the bracelet. There are a variety of charm options out there, so finding ways to make a charm bracelet unique is easy and fun. One way to make a themed bracelet is to find charms having to do with Celtic music, whether it means general song titles or song titles of a specific band. This particular charm bracelet features charms that correlate to High Kings songs, but many of these songs are traditional Celtic songs.

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Celtic Crafts: Junk Journal

Junk journaling has become popular over the past few years. People use it to gather things like movie tickets and other things that would normally get thrown away, and put them in a notebook or journal. I decided to use it as a way to gather things pertaining to the Celtic world. I have included things like tags with sayings, concert tickets, movie tickets, news articles, and more.

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Celtic Events: June 2026

Celtic Events: June 2026
Celtic Events: June 2026

From highland gatherings to literary celebrations and everything in between, there is something for everyone this month, whether you want to embrace your own Celtic roots or learn more about Celtic culture. If you know of any upcoming events, either in June or otherwise, please reach out!
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Celtic Throughlines: "Rakes of Mallow"

Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Anyone who knows me knows that I grew up listening to Celtic music from a young age. From the Irish Tenors to the Chieftains, Celtic music has had a huge impact on my life. However, one of my earliest memories includes a random song, “Rakes of Mallow,” that has made its way into my life throughout the years.

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My Celtic Pet Peeves

 

As a lover of Celtic culture and someone who has Irish ancestry, there are things that people say and do that irk me. They may seem insignificant, but they get on my nerves when people do or say them, as they come from a place of ignorance that can be changed.

Thinking “Zombie” by the Cranberries is a Halloween song

I remember the first time I heard “Zombie” on the radio on Halloween. I did not know the entire history of the song, but I did know enough that it was actually a serious song about a tragic event that happened. Hearing it played as I now know the full meaning, and even thinking back to that first time makes me mad. I did not hear it on Halloween in 2025, but it was a part of a radio contest where the radio host either played it really quickly or played it in reverse. When he gave the clue, he mentioned that the title was “Halloween vibes,” which is not the best, but it was still better than calling it a full-on Halloween song.

Celtic concerts are concentrated in March or September

I am a huge fan of Celtic music. From Celtic Thunder to the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and many, many other bands, I love seeing these musicians live in concert. However, a lot of Celtic music gets condensed to March for St. Patrick’s Day, even if they are a Scottish band, or for September to celebrate halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.  This leaves me craving this music the rest of the year for the most part. When these months do come, I am often left with having to spend a huge amount of money and having to decide who I feel is worth seeing as schedules overlap.

Lack of Irish pubs in my small town

I live in a small town outside of Philadelphia. There used to be a pub in a neighboring town and another a bit further out. Now, I have to go more than half an hour away if I want to go to an authentic Irish pub. In the meantime, several sit-down restaurants near me are closing and are being bought out for things like gas stations and dentist offices. If I had the means to make my own pub, I would. Unfortunately, I do not have the knowledge or the resources to make this, nor do I know anyone who does.

“Fake” Irish Pubs

Not only are there no Irish or Celtic pubs near me, but the ones that claim to be Irish pubs are not authentic. There is one about half an hour from me that I have yet to go to that seems genuine, but it is further away than the inauthentic pubs. These “fake” pubs don’t have any authentic music playing or food to offer. They put a few Irish-like decorations on the wall and call it a day without aiming for real authenticity.

Those who have been to Ireland (or any other Celtic nation) before me and without me

I have been longing to go to the Celtic nations since I was a kid. When I was a child, I distinctly remember having a dream that I was in Ireland, and as I stood at the bottom of a hill, a whole herd of sheep came running towards me. Most kids would have been afraid, but I was unafraid. If anything, it made me want to visit Ireland more. However, I know of family members and friends who know this about me and went without me. Of course, this gives me a chance to ask their advice on what to see and do when I do get there someday, and I am thrilled they got to experience it, but I can’t help but be a bit jealous at the same time. 


Related Articles

-New Hope's Dubliner on the Delaware To Close: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/11/new-hopes-dubliner-on-delaware-to-close.html

-Concert Review: Red Hot Chilli Pipers: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/09/concert-review-red-hot-chilli-pipers.html

-Irish Pub Review: Harrigan's: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/08/irish-pub-review-harrigans.html

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Celtic Events: May 2026

Celtic Events May 2026
Celtic Events May 2026

From film festivals to hikes and everything in between, there is something for everyone to do this month, whether you want to embrace your own Celtic roots or learn more about Celtic culture. If you know of any upcoming events, either in May or otherwise, please reach out!

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