Ireland… land of myth and mystery. Renowned as a land that has nurtured poets, playwrights, and musicians. Birthing place of a people known for their artistry and craftsmanship, their love of the spoken and written word, and imbued with both a love of the natural world and the spiritual (not to mention whiskey).
The Diaspora of the Irish peoples during the 17th through 20th centuries reached its peak during the years of the potato famine in the mid 1800’s. An estimated 80 million people across the globe can now claim Irish ancestry. Bits and pieces of the Irish culture traveled with them, and since the mid 1980’s, a resurgence of interest in the Celtic heritage has manifested around the world.
The instruments created for the “Irish Connection” collection have their origins in the Emerald Isle. Our Irish Bog Oak ranges from 1500 to 7000 years old, with certain pieces carrying radio-carbon dated documentation that ties them to the timeframe of St Patrick. Hawthorne was a material with spiritual significance to the early Celts, and a small supply from county Cork has been acquired. As a result of its fine working properties, Irish Walnut is a prized material for family heirlooms. We are continually looking for additional raw materials with a touch of Ireland, appropriate for inclusion in this line.
Erin Go Braugh
