Irish culture, from the inside out
Essays on Irish identity, language, place, and the people making the culture, sent every two weeks from Inis Meáin.
Hi, I'm Eímear!
I live on Inis Meáin, the middle Aran Island, which is a Gaeltacht community with deep roots and a relationship with language and land that I don't think exists quite the same way anywhere else.
It shapes what I notice and what I think is worth writing about.
I have a degree in Irish literature, I wanted to share Irish culture with as many people as possible, and The Tapestry is where I do that.
about
what this is:
Irish culture is having an undeniable international moment right now, but the coverage tends to follow the same narrow focus.
The Tapestry is interested in the wider culture. I want to ask questions about how we got here, and what’s coming next.
Identity
What does it mean to be Irish?
Place
Nature, biodiversity, food, physical and experienced Irish culture
Language
Irish as a living cultural force
Voices
Irish people, makers, artists, and business owners whose stories deserve to be told
how it works:
01
Long-form essays
Every two weeks, on Substack and YouTube, I take a topic relating to Irish culture and analyse it.
02
What’s on the Loom
A fortnightly roundup of what's happening in Irish film, literature, music, and all things Irish culture, with my take on why it matters.
RECENT ESSAYS
start here
01
Don’t be getting above yourself
A deep dive on why Irish people are obsessed with being humble
02
Why Irish butter is basically a religion
What Kerrygold tells us about land, identity, and genius marketing.
03
Is Ireland actually friendly - or just polite?
Why tourists love Ireland but people who move here long-term often still feel like they're on the outside looking in.
04
The sauna and the teach allais
On wellness tourism, Irish sweat houses, and what it means to discover that what you thought was new, was actually very old.
“It’s such a breath of fresh air to hear someone speak frankly about these things”
FREE TO READ
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