"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" was written in 1912 by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff Jr., with music by Ernest Ball, for the American stage show "The Isle O' Dreams." Despite being composed in America rather than Ireland, it quickly became a cultural touchstone for Irish-Americans. Olcott, an Irish-American tenor...
Camlin Castle, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh
Camlin Castle was a prominent estate near Belleek straddling the Donegal-Fermanagh border. The mansion stood from the early 1700s until its demolition in the late 1940s. The estate's history spans over two centuries of the Tredennick family's residence in Ireland. Origins and Early History The Tredennick family, originally from St....
Rosturk Castle, Mulranny, Co. Mayo
Rosturk Castle is situated on the Corraun peninsula in Clew Bay, County Mayo, Ireland, offering panoramic views of the islet-studded bay and its mountainous backdrop. The original structure was a sporting lodge erected by Lieutenant-Colonel John Francis Vaughan of Courtfield, Hertfordshire. The castle was significantly enlarged and extended in the...
Ross Castle, Co. Galway
Ross Castle is situated 9 miles from Galway City at Roscahill, bordering Connemara. The property stands on the shores of Ross Lake facing Croagh Keenan mountain. The estate encompasses sixteen acres of front lawn, extensive forests with trails, and contains what is now one of the largest walled gardens in...
Oughterlin Mass Rock, Rathmullan, Co. Donegal
The Penal Laws (1695-1756) restricted Catholic religious practice in Ireland. During this period, Catholic worship moved to outdoor locations, with natural rock formations and boulders serving as altars for Mass. Site Description The Oughterlin Mass Rock is located in County Donegal, situated past Oughterlin Chapel on the road to Kerrykeel....