The Irish Yinzer

The Irish Yinzer Native Pittsburgher & Fáilte Ireland National Tour Guide, who lived & traveled extensively in Ireland

It’s graduation season and the Class of 2026 will be heading off to start their first year of university next Fall! Did ...
05/29/2026

It’s graduation season and the Class of 2026 will be heading off to start their first year of university next Fall! Did you know that several universities in Pittsburgh and PA have Irish roots? ☘️🏫

Mercyhurst University in Erie was founded by the Sisters of Mercy from Dublin and today the University also has an academic center in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford-Erie’s sister city.

Another PA university founded by the Sisters of Mercy is Gwynedd Mercy University. They maintain their Irish ties with Service Trips to Ireland, as well as study abroad opportunities at the University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College in Co. Limerick.

Villanova University in Philadelphia was founded by Irish Augustinian Friars and they maintain their strong connection to Ireland through their Center for Irish Studies, an exchange program with the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and study abroad opportunities with the University of Galway.

Here in Pittsburgh, Carlow University was also founded by a group of Sisters of Mercy that set sail from Co. Carlow. The University created a documentary last year about the story of their founding, called “Walking into the Chaos of Others”, and has maintained study abroad opportunities in Ireland, including at Carlow College, St. Patrick’s in Co. Carlow.

The Spiritans who founded Duquesne University have a strong presence in Dublin, with the Congregation of the Holy Spirit operating numerous boys’ schools there. One of those is St. Michael’s College and Duquesne had its own campus at the beautiful St. Michael’s House until 2023. Today, students can study in Ireland for a semester at University College Dublin or through summer programs.

Although they might not have Irish roots, both University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University have strong ties to Ireland, too. Pitt offers several different opportunities to study in Dublin, Limerick or Queen’s University Belfast, in addition to maintaining their famous Irish Nationality Room and offering a dedicated Irish Minor. And at CMU, the History Department has been a hub for Irish studies and students have the opportunity to study abroad at UCD or Trinity College Dublin.

Congratulations to this year’s graduates and be sure to take the opportunity to study abroad wherever you go! It is life-changing!! 🎓

✈️WANDERING WEDNESDAY✈️Happy 90th anniversary to Aer Lingus, Ireland’s National Airline!! 🎉 In 1936, the Irish airline t...
05/27/2026

✈️WANDERING WEDNESDAY✈️

Happy 90th anniversary to Aer Lingus, Ireland’s National Airline!! 🎉 In 1936, the Irish airline took its first flight from Dublin to Bristol, UK in about 2 hours and 40 minutes (today the journey can be made in around 1 hour and 10 minutes). The de Havilland Dragon aircraft was registered as “Iolar” (“iller” or “uller”), the Irish word for eagle. The aircraft had six seats, five for passengers.

This morning, the restored Iolar made the same journey from Dublin Airport to mark the anniversary. From that first commercial flight in 1936, Aer Lingus has grown to over 100 routes between Europe and North America, and has partnerships with leading airlines like British Airways, American Airlines and United, among others.

Aer Lingus also formed a partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 and launched their newest route from Pittsburgh International Airport this past Monday. This not only offers our Steel City direct flights to Ireland, it gives us access to new destinations in Italy, France, Spain and beyond!!

With the “unofficial” start to summer this past weekend, the long, hot days are not far away and in Ireland they’re alre...
05/26/2026

With the “unofficial” start to summer this past weekend, the long, hot days are not far away and in Ireland they’re already seeing them. The next few days could see highs up to 80 which is very hot for Ireland…especially when most homes don’t have air conditioning! ☀️

The hot weather will give a good excuse, though, to get out and enjoy one of the most delicious treats in the country-Murphy’s Ice Cream. Started in the gorgeous port town of Di**le, Co. Kerry in 2000, Murphys Ice Cream now has additional shops in Killarney, Dublin, Galway and Cork.

With flavors that include Irish Brown Bread, Di**le Sea Salt, Chocolate Whiskey and more, you’re sure to get a delicious and unique treat made with local ingredients. They even share some of their recipes on the website; but, keep in mind if you try to make it, you’ll likely be lacking the most important ingredient of all-milk from the rare, indigenous breed of Kerry cow. This special breed produces a milk that is much easier to digest so, even if you typically can’t enjoy an ice cream, you may want to give this a try!

**le

05/25/2026

Today is the day at Pittsburgh International Airport!! Finally, Pittsburgh ➡️ Dublin Nonstop with Aer Lingus!! ❤️☘️✈️

05/24/2026

Starting tomorrow from Pittsburgh International Airport!!!
🖤💛🛫💚🤍🧡 Aer Lingus

When I lived in Ireland, people used to ask me how I could stand it with all the rain. I give you Pittsburgh in May vs. ...
05/22/2026

When I lived in Ireland, people used to ask me how I could stand it with all the rain. I give you Pittsburgh in May vs. Dublin in May. 😂

And if you need any more convincing that you should be visiting, here are a few snapshots of Ireland in May. 😍 Reach out and let’s start planning your trip!! ☘️ [email protected] or DM

🚗WANDERING WEDNESDAY🚌One of the best times to visit Northern Ireland is in May, because you can expect some of the dries...
05/20/2026

🚗WANDERING WEDNESDAY🚌

One of the best times to visit Northern Ireland is in May, because you can expect some of the driest, sunniest weather and vibrant wildflowers. And one of the most epic places to see those wildflowers growing is at the Giant’s Causeway. The Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim is part of the National Trust and was formed just under 60 million years ago!

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Causeway is made up of over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns rising from the sea. A product of intense volcanic activity in the area, the cooling lava created the pillarlike structures that can be seen today.

It gets its name from a legend that the Causeway was built by the Irish giant, Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool), who did it after a challenge from a Scottish giant, Benandonner (Scotland is just 12 miles across the sea and there is a similar structure on that side). To hear the full story of their meeting, you’ll have to pay a visit to the Causeway; but, just know that it was so dreadful, that Benandonner helped to create the structure we see today when he tore up chunks of the Causeway as he ran all the way back to Scotland! 😉🏃‍♂️

This is a must-see stop on a trip to Northern Ireland or it can be done as a great day trip from Dublin! Discover Northern Ireland

This past Sunday was the National Famine Commemoration Day in Ireland. Always marked on the third Sunday of May, this ye...
05/19/2026

This past Sunday was the National Famine Commemoration Day in Ireland. Always marked on the third Sunday of May, this year’s commemoration took place at the Irish Workhouse Centre - Portumna, Co. Galway. It featured official military honors, a wreath-laying ceremony and an address by the Taoiseach (“tee-shuck”), Micheál Martin, who described the famine as the “most traumatic event in Irish history”.

An Gorta Mór, or “the Great Hunger”, as it’s called in Ireland, lasted from 1845-1852 and the population of Ireland was reduced from 8 million to 6.5 million, with 1.5 million lost to death or immigration. It also contributed significantly to the decline of the Irish language, a change in the landscape with the disappearance of Botháns (“baw-huns”, cottages) where so many lived, and an overall shift in the Irish psyche which is still felt today. Although there was a blight on the potatoes, devastating Ireland’s main food source at that time, the real tragedy was that Ireland remained a net exporter of food during those years to British and foreign markets.

There are many places you can visit in Ireland today to commemorate and learn more about the famine, including the National Famine Memorial in Murrisk, Co. Mayo, the nearby Doolough Famine Memorial, and the Slievemore Deserted Village on Achill Island. Other important spots to visit include the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park in Co. Roscommon, where you can also start the National Famine Way and trace the footsteps of 1,490 famine emigrants who left there in 1847, and Doagh Famine Village in Co. Donegal. Also, check out the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship in Dublin, one of the few famine-era ships that never lost a single passenger or crew member.

It’s National Museum Day in Ireland and I have to mention the one I tell everyone not to miss when they visit Dublin: EP...
05/19/2026

It’s National Museum Day in Ireland and I have to mention the one I tell everyone not to miss when they visit Dublin: EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. EPIC turned 10 years old this year, and what a successful first decade! It was voted Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction three years in a row, had over 1,000,000 visitors, including various heads of state, and just completed a €2 million upgrade that includes an “Isle of Senses” Sensory experience, an interactive LED floor and extended galleries.

I have visited this fantastic museum several times and I always discover something new! It’s unlike any other museum, with interactive, themed rooms that keep visitors of all ages engaged throughout. There’s truly something for everyone so don’t miss it on your next trip over!

10 days till takes off from !!! ☘️🛫😃
05/16/2026

10 days till takes off from !!! ☘️🛫😃

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