Interesting Things with JC #438: "Samhuinn & Hallows' Eve" - You can find the roots of Halloween in the Celtic Samhain festival in Ireland.

Interesting Things with JC #431: Marconi starts the first commercial "Wireless Telegraph Service" across the Atlantic Ocean, linking Nova Scotia and Ireland.

Interesting Things with JC #330: "Orangemen's Day"-William of Orange and James II fought in Ireland in July 1690. It was the last fight between the crowned kings of England, Scotland, and Ireland. William of Orange won and dominated Ireland for years. It is a public holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador, so most schools and businesses are closed and most people have the day off. By the end of the 1800s, Orangemen's parades were a regular thing in many Newfoundland towns.

The four leaf clover is one of the most common good luck symbols of the Western world. An independent study carried out by Swiss researchers looked at 5.7 million clovers and found that the likelihood of finding one four-leaf clover was one in 5,076.

Ireland has a unique, and beautiful national symbol and it’s the harp. It is the only country in the world that uses a musical instrument as its symbol. The traditional instrument is featured on Irish coins, the Presidential Seal, the Irish passport and the Irish coat of arms. Scholars have found that the Irish harp’s popularity with the Irish people dates back to the 1500’s. Ireland’s national emblem is actually based on the Brian Boru Harp. Irish legend says Brian Boru played the harp the night before the Battle of Clontarf.

The Hungry Tree is located on the grounds of the King's Inns in Dublin Ireland. Its believed to be between 80 and 100 years old. Its a London Plane tree that’s currently in the process of devouring a cast iron bench! It cannot be stopped, the Hungry Tree does what it wants.

On January 1, 1892, Annie Moore, a 17 year old girl from County Cork, Ireland, made headlines as the first immigrant to be processed at Ellis Island. She is honored by statues on both sides of the Atlantic at Ellis Island National Monument, New York Harbor and at the Cobh Heritage Centre, County Cork, Ireland.

After you enjoy this podcast, please visit AnnieMoore.net to learn more.