Before I tell my fireside stories in O'Connor's bar in Salthill, I start by lighting the turf fire, using some 'cipins' (small wooden sticks) and peat briquettes, and slowly adding the bigger sods of turf as the fire begins to catch. The turf fire and the smell of burning peat has been a ubiquitous sensory reminder of growing up in, or visiting Ireland. That sweet smoky scent is onomatopoeic, instantly transporting one to a country farmhouse or a welcoming pub in Ireland. However the turf fire is under threat and will soon be just a memory as our government moves ahead with plans to ban all burning of fossil fuels such as turf or peat in Ireland. There was nothing more satisfying than looking out on the turf stacked, drying in the field by the bog, ready to be brought home to the turf shed, a year's supply to keep the fire lit, the bread baked, the kettle boiled, the clothes dried, the children, the dog and the cat warm, and the house a home!

I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family.

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill' because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

You can find more of my stories on my website blog www.galwaywalks.com or on Facebook @walkingtoursofgalway and twitter/instagram @galwaywalks

Fifty years ago this month, Ireland adopted its very own currency for the first time, the Irish Punt, breaking the link to the Pound Sterling, and essentially going it alone, forging our new independent identity as a democratic republic, with our own central bank and our own money. Since that we have scrapped the new punt currency, abandoning it for the Euro currency, tied to the European Central Bank. Anyone over the age of sixty in this country is actually a mathematical genius! 

I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family.

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill' because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

You can find more of my stories on my website blog www.galwaywalks.com or on Facebook @walkingtoursofgalway and twitter/instagram @galwaywalks

O'Connors Famous Pub in Salthill, Galway, Ireland, is one of my favourite places for a pint, a friendly chat, and to listen to some live Irish music, but that's not the only boost for us all in this popular Salthill hostelry. Here in this story, I tell how in 1942, Thomas O'Connor, Snr, the Don of the O'Connor family, survived the crisis that was WWII, (we called it 'The Emergency'), and thrived in its aftermath. 

Take heart if you own a business that is closed these days because of the Covid restrictions. There are better days ahead.

I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family.

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill' because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

You can find more of my stories on my website blog www.galwaywalks.com or on Facebook @walkingtoursofgalway and twitter/instagram @galwaywalks

Are you losing your head over the Covid_19 lockdown restrictions? Spare a thought for poor King Charles I who really lost his head, in 1649. And there is a Galway connection, of course! 

I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family. You can find more of my stories on this podcast, and on my website blog www.galwaywalks.com or on Facebook @walkingtoursofgalway and twitter/instagram @galwaywalks

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill', because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

The story of Saint Brendan, or Brendan the Navigator, is fascinating and probably mostly true. He was a holy man from Dingle, in Kerry, who possibly was the first European to visit America and come back to tell the tale. And all this happened in 531 AD! 

Think of Marco Polo, the first European to visit the Chinese court, and return! Well Brendan was anothe rsuch explorer. He was a pioneering monk, a great man for one man!

I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family. 

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill' because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

I am Brian Nolan, and usually I can be found as @Galwaywalks or 'Walking Tours of Galway'.

Check out www.galwaywalks.com or @galwaywalks on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

#Brendan #Clonfert #Irish #Ireland #OConnorsbar

In Ireland February 2nd is Candlemas day, and February 3rd is St. Blaise day. Both are related to the arrival of Spring, the lengthening of the daylight hours, and the traditions surrounding having blessed candles in the house, not just for light, but for all sorts of celebrations and traditions. 

I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family.

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill' because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

You can find more of my stories on my website blog www.galwaywalks.com or on Facebook @walkingtoursofgalway and twitter/instagram @galwaywalks 

So many Irish left these shores with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and through their sacrifice, hard work and selflessness, provided a platform for their children and grand-children and generations more, to survive, to succeed, and to thrive. Tom Brady is one such beneficiary, carrying a rich mixture of resilient, nimble, clever Irish genes from the Lally, Coyne, Walsh, Buckley, Moore and of course Brady families from whom he is descended. Their decision to leave Ireland in the 19th century and seek a better life in America is specifically why today Tom Brady has a record 7 winning Superbowl rings! So many other's got their foot on the ladder to happiness because of people like Tom Brady's ancestors, including President Biden's ancestors, took that brave first step, and boarded a ship, destination unknown. Today, especially today, I salute all those who have gone before us, making our journey that much easier. 

I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family.

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill' because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

You can find more of my stories on my website blog www.galwaywalks.com or on Facebook @walkingtoursofgalway and twitter/instagram @galwaywalks

Brian Nolan, Galway Walks

#TomBrady #Superbowl #Winner #Irish #Emigration #Success 

Truth is often stranger than fiction. Four men left Galway in their Hooker, to catch some herring. They ended up in New York, 3,000 miles away, were presumed dead, and eventually made their way home, penniless to Galway. The year was 1876. One of the men, Michael Moran had served in the Union Army and fought at Shenandoah, before returning to the Claddagh, vowing never to return... but the sea had other ideas!

"Psalm 107 : 23-31

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

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I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family.

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill' because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

You can find more of my stories on my website blog www.galwaywalks.com or on Facebook @walkingtoursofgalway and twitter/instagram @galwaywalks

In this story I talk about Ireland's female patron saint and how her feast day came to be the 1st of February. It's really a Celtic story of strong women.

I hope you are enjoying these stories, oh, and if you are, do please share them with your friends and family.

I record these stories with Tom O'Connor of O'Connor's Bar, in Salthill, more commonly known as 'O'Connor's Famous Bar, Salthill' because of its unique atmosphere, friendly welcome and amazing music each night!

You can find more of my stories on my website blog www.galwaywalks.com or on Facebook @walkingtoursofgalway and twitter/instagram @galwaywalks