Dia Duit!

Walking In Ireland

Walking in the Irish Countryside   I am delighted to share my favorite walks throughout Ireland with you, what you'll need to know, and the resources to plan your walking trip. I may even recommend some great Biddy Murphy goods and gifts to take with you on your trek.  Let's get started!  Ireland has many walking and hiking trails and this is a fantastic way to experience the stunning countrysides on foot.  You need to know that most walking is done off-road in Ireland. You will rely on the guided signposts, such as the one here. These posts are clearly marked...

Halloween, Irish Style

Did You Know Halloween Started in Ireland?  Yes. It originated more than 2,000 years ago with the Festival of Samhain, marking the end of the bright half of the year (summer) and the beginning of the dark half (winter). Samhain was a time to honor those who had died as well as gods using pagan rituals.   When Christianity spread throughout Europe, the Samhain rituals faded, and Halloween became the celebrated festival.  Trick or Treat This ritual started in Ireland and did not involve candy as it does today. According to our Chief Experience Officer, Ward Gahan, "We would 'Sing or...

Irish Homes-An Interesting Experience

As part of our Home Collection, we thought we’d share a delightful story about homes in Ireland from our Chief Experience Officer, Ward Gahan. Enjoy!  Ward's Irish Home Experience I stayed in a thatched cottage in Donegal one time in January. We got it on AirBnB and drove up from Dublin Airport stopping several times on the way and I may mention it was getting dark.  The GPS coordinates took us to a farmhouse under construction on the side of a hill. The owner who lived in Belfast wasn't answering the phone and couldn't give us any assistance. We went into town to...

• Irish Hallmarking
• Purity

Is Your Jewelry Authentic?

My Jewelry is Real, Right?  That's a great question. How do you know if your jewelry authentic?  At Biddy Murphy, you can rest assured that the precious metal pieces you are getting from us are indeed genuine.  We can say that with the utmost confidence because each piece of jewelry (precious metals) receives the hallmark stamp from the Assay Office in Dublin, which is actually in the Castle Dublin. In fact, our Chief Experience Officer, Ward Gahan, received his Certificate of Excellence from the Federation Of Jewellry Manufactures of Ireland. He completed this highly regarded accreditation program as a member...

College Life in Ireland and The United States

    It’s back to school for many colleges and universities this month. While pursuing your education is important, no matter where you are, we thought it would fun to highlight some of the differences between collegiate life in Ireland and the United States.    Grading Grades are pretty much the main focus of a college student. From all-nighters to study groups, private tutors and the like, grades represent how students are faring in their coursework. Irish colleges and universities grading scale are slightly ‘lower’ number wise when it comes to grading. For example, 75% in the Irish collegiate grading...