To understand futility, hope, dashed hopes, what does this say about an author. Colm Tóibín is remarkable in Brooklyn, where he speaks as a young Irish girl of the 50s who finds herself in America as if by accident. How will she answer when Ireland calls her back?

Though there's much brouhaha over New York's Paddy's Day Parade, a marvel the world over to be sure, the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin touches "a Yank" deep to the core.

Easter is the holiest time of the liturgical year. The Dublin Archbishop, Diarmuid Martin, in his Easter address, offered a sincere apology for his Church, and in doing so, did much to bring Easter back to Ireland.

The Celtic Cross, a powerful symbol of Christianity in Ireland, is seen in churchyards and by roadsides, but curiously enough, these ancient symbols predate Christianity.

Irish traditional music has never gone out of style. It enjoys a great following of ardent fans who are "Mad for Trad." Not just for St. Patrick's Day, Irish music is played every day in venues high and low around the globe.

Many readers have asked for the recipe for Irish Brown Bread. It´s not so long ago that I would not have been able to help them, as the flour was hard to get outside of Ireland. Now it´s easily acquired in the U.S. This is the Brown Bread of the Irish Country Breakfast...appetizers, tea, anytime!

Corned beef and cabbage is classic St. Patrick's Day food. Come to think of it, it's a fine meal any day of the year.

Irish Christmas Cake is a cherished tradition indeed, but it's a delicious treat to offer family and guests any time of the year. A bit of Christmas Cake at Easter will bring cheers. No time to bake? Try Tea Time Express's Handmade Irish Christmas Cake from FoodIreland.com. It's superb.

St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers. His relic in the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin is a draw to the romantically inclined every February 14th.

"Ireland Online" is the newsletter for the Irish Culture Site. Here you´ll receive details of new additions to the site and other interesting information about Ireland and the culture of the Irish people.