A Night by the Fire

If you come to Ár mBréacha you are a welcome guest. We welcome you as the Irish people have always done. You are an honoured guest at our house. You are entertained to a cup of tea and something to eat, and you are in particular very welcome to tell your story, sing your song and tell of your country, and from wherever you come, you are a welcome guest. Ireland has been known for its hospitality. In the 10th Century, when the Vikings came to Ireland, they wanted to imitate the building of roads and crossroads where people met in Ireland and throughout the Irish history, even through the painful times of poverty; anyone who came was honoured, respected and made welcome. Therefore at Ár mBréacha there is no cover charge.

“In some parts of Ireland there is a custom of putting an extra portion into the pot for dinner. This was called the Pilgrims Portion”

You are a welcome guest to tell your story and to be blessed with our hospitality. There are deep in the Irish psyche different traditions that have always borne this out, i.e. in some parts of Ireland there is a custom of putting an extra portion into the pot for dinner. This was called the Pilgrims Portion. It was that somebody may be coming by and may call for something to eat and they were a welcome guest at table.

Ár mBréacha believes in bringing what is good from the past into the future, what has been best practice for humanity into the future as part of our culture.

Fireside

The fireplace has always played a very important part in Irish society; it was the heart of the home. There was always a big fireplace, as you will see at Ár mBréacha. People sat around the fire and they told stories of what was happening and what was taking place.