A pub in Ireland

4 Most Popular Irish Things in the World

From beer, dance moves, and coffee—Ireland only has the best!

Whether you’ve just discovered your Irish family heritage or want to celebrate your Irish ancestry more, we’ve got you covered! Let’s check out these signature things Ireland has gifted the world:

Guinness Beer

It wouldn’t be very patriotic if we didn’t start the list with Guinness! Also known as the “black stuff” over in Ireland, this beer has become one of the most popular alcohols in the world.

Arthur Guinness’ brewery started making this dry stout beer in 1759. On your cultural tour in Ireland, you can also visit the Guinness Storehouse to get a first-hand experience of how the legendary drink is made.

The Irish Jig

This dance move is one of the most popular ones in the world. The origins of this dance form date back to Celtic times, when the fiddle music produced was called a “jig,” slowly transforming to represent the dance itself.

The dance is fairly simple, consisting of steps and hops on a repetitive beat that happens 6-8 times. You’re required to move back and forth during the music, and it’s best experienced with shoes that make noises, like tap shoes!

The Shamrock

This is the national flower of Ireland, consisting of a three-leaf clover. The flower became a symbol associated with luck, which is also where the phrase “luck of the Irish” comes from. Local culture states that back in Celtic times, the symbol became a charm for warding off evil.

Oscar Wilde

The famous playwright and poet’s works are timeless, and anyone who’s a literature enthusiast knows the beauty of his writings!

Some of his most famous works include “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” and “The Importance of Being Ernest.” The Oscar Wilde Centre of Trinity College in Ireland was built over his birthplace.

The Cliffs of Moher in Clare, Ireland

Find Out More About Your Irish Ancestry with My Irish Family Heritage!

To explore your Irish roots, get in touch with My Irish Family Heritage. We’re the only ones in Ireland who provide in-house genealogy tours and family heritage tours in Ireland. Our genealogy experts and tour guides will help you explore your Irish heritage and revel in the beauty of our country! Contact us now to learn more about our tours and services.

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Customised Genealogy & Historical Tour

Review of My Ireland Heritage Tours Presented on Trip adviser Oct 2024 By • Family TomBarron2013 New York City, NY2

Once in a lifetime experience

Oct 2024 • Family

We highly recommend My Ireland Heritage for anyone who wants to learn and be guided to their Irish “roots” and much, much more. Sean Quinn and Ian Darragh of My Ireland Family Heritage have deep knowledge or the areas we wanted to visit in Meath, Sligo and Kilkenny. While we knew about one side of the family history back to 1690, there was nothing known about the other that arrived in the US in the 1870s.

Ian, Sean, and Nicola did thorough research on our localities and locations from which our ancestors left for America in 1849 and later. In addition, Ian and Sean did separate day-long “recons” in advance of our time with them, seeking out local people and the specific properties with maps and whatever records still available. Their results were absolutely outstanding! In both our cases, they found and took us to our still-existing cottages and shops from the early 1820s.

It was so enjoyable to be with Ian for three days and for a special day with Sean. Whether it was the Newgrange World Heritage sites 5,500 years old , the Battle of the Boyne 1690 , or the local cemeteries and churches of our ancestors. Ian was especially attentive to my wife throughout the travels after she twisted her ankle in a rain-soaked old cemetery.

Throughout the process of trip preparation over months to giving us the final, wonderful books of Meath and Sligo, Aisling was highly professional and responsive with all the many details. The bound books she prepared are treasures! Thanks to all for truly exceptional experiences.

Newgrange World Unesco Site 5500 years old
Battle of the Boyne 1690 AD
Customised Historical Tours Trim Castle
Entrance stone at Newgrange

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Review of My Ireland Heritage Tours Presented on Trip adviser by Shelley L @ sjlively

Exceptional in every way!

Over the last few months of preparing for our trip, every single detail was meticulously attended, not only professionally, but helpfully, and in such a friendly manner, that I felt as if I knew Sean, Aisling and Ian before I even stepped off the plane.

The amount of work these wonderful people put into our personal history is mindboggling. My mother was an avid amateur genealogist, and had worked for decades to bring to light the trail our family took, but our resources are limited.

Sean knows exactly where to look, and was able to fill in so many gaps that had eluded us for generations. Some of the information he found, unbeknownst even to him, actually solidified the findings we had amassed over the years. Ours was a family in coal mining – I only found on our tour that they had originated from a mining area, and their arrival on the  border coincided exactly with the decline in the mining industry in County Wicklow.

I would have been overjoyed simply with the knowledge of why they left when they did, about 12 years before the famine. Breaking through our brick wall of great grandparents even farther back on the family tree was a dream come true, but to be able to set foot on not only the area they lived, and find that the house is still there was overwhelming. Seeing the family church and cemetery where our ancestors and extended family still rest is a truly moving experience.

The care taken by this company in each and every aspect of the journey cannot be overstated. Only about 2 weeks prior to my trip, Sean contacted me to let me know that he had also stumbled across some of my husband’s family name in the process and included them as well in his research. How often can anyone say that they not only got what they paid for, but more than they ever imagined? I can say that. They were even kind enough to answer a few follow-up questions after my return home, as I was so stunned on my tour with Ian that I didn’t think ask at the time.If you have the opportunity to make the trip to Ireland, contact My Ireland Family Heritage before you go.

If your family was there, Sean will go above and beyond to find them. Even without family, contact them anyway. Ian is a walking encyclopedia of history, and so fun to talk to. Aisling will make sure every “I” is dotted, and every “T” is crossed.  Thank you so much for the trip of a lifetime, and the opportunity to pass on everything we have discovered to future generations

The Consultation at Hotel / Office or by Phone opens all doors
Genealogy gets you off the Beaten Track to see the Real Ireland

Unique to Every Address with My Ireland Family Research