The Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture goes on holiday

After twenty editions of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture, I've decided to send the carnival on a little sabbatical.  The 21st edition was in the works, but due to lack of publicity on my part and the busy lives of other bloggers, it neglected to get off the ground.  (Apologies to you, Jennifer, Frances and Geniaus!  Your stories will be highlighted in an upcoming edition.)

After going back and forth with the idea for awhile, I have decided that the carnival needs to go on a little holiday while I wait for my life to slow down a little bit.  I know that it will. The wee one who is taking up much of my time now is not my first (so I know he will grow up). Since he is not my first, his siblings are also keeping my life very busy (so blogging has been placed beyond the back burner lately).  I have hope that life will return to a slower pace in the very near future.

Please plan to join us when the carnival revives itself with the real 21st edition (not a false start!).  While you're waiting, take some time to read some back issues of the carnival, which began back in 2007 (read its birth announcement here).  Our annual St. Patrick's Day blog "parades" are a great place to get started reading. They include the largest variety of Irish heritage topics together in one edition.  You can find them here, here and here.

In the meantime, I'll be doing a little housekeeping here behind the scenes of this carnival and my family history blogs and I hope you'll be working on your Irish genealogy and taking time to celebrate some Irish culture in your life!

Thanks to Stowing Away for the "on sabbatical" photograph.

Upcoming 21st edition: Small-leaved Shamrock celebrates the gift of gab!

The 1st edition of our Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture, published at Small-leaved Shamrock on November 22, 2007, was entitled Everyone Loves a Good Irish Story.  That edition gave us an upside-down traffic light (with the green on the top of course), an Irish love story, paddy-whacking, Civil War regiments that flew the Irish flag for America, and more.  What fun we had starting out as a carnival!

Now, twenty editions later, we'll be revisiting that same theme: Irish Stories.  Everyone loves a good story. Got an Irish one that you can share with us for the carnival?  Show us that you've got the gift of gab - tell us a good story! Here are the details:

Of all of the colorful Irish characters that you've learned about throughout your search for family history or your study of Irish heritage in general, surely you've come across some good stories. Share your favorite one about an Irish ancestor or other Irishman or Irishwoman with us for the 21st edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture.

Deadline for submissions to the Irish Stories 21st edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture is Sunday, August 22, 2010. This edition will be published at Small-leaved Shamrock. See you there!

Upcoming 20th edition: "I Speak From Experience"

For the upcoming 20th edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture we will again dive back into genealogy.  This edition, entitled "I Speak From Experience" will focus on tips and suggestions for those of us researching our Irish ancestors. Here are the details:

The search for our Irish ancestors, like many a worthwhile pursuit, is made easier with experience.  For the 20th edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture, let's share tips and tricks that we've learned from our own experience in the genealogical search. 

Have a time-saving suggestion that helped you blaze ahead in your Irish research?  Let us know how you did it.  Have some personal failures you can share with us to save other researchers the same fate?  We'll be grateful to hear your story.  Want to recommend a particular type of record to shed insight on the Irish family tree?  A certain repository or library, or way to organize your research?  Let us know - tell us the tip and give us the story behind it. How did it help (or not help) you and why do you recommend (or not recommend) it?

Deadline for submissions to the "I Speak From Experience" 20th edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture is Sunday, June 27, 2010. This edition will be published at Small-leaved Shamrock.

Upcoming 19th edition: Small-leaved Shamrock Poetry Party

The upcoming 19th edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture, in honor of U.S. National Poetry Month 2010, will be a celebration of Irish verse.  Come join us for the Small-leaved Shamrock Poetry Party!  Here are the details:

The Irish have long been known for the "gift of gab".  They have a creative way with words that ranges from the beautifully touching ballad to the belly-laugh limerick.  In honor of U.S. National Poetry Month this April 2010, Small-leaved Shamrock will host a Poetry Party. 

Have a bit of Irish verse that has touched your soul? Know a hilarious limerick that you'd like to share (in good taste, of course)? How about your favorite Irish blessing? Share a poem in the Irish tradition on your blog, and submit it to the poetry carnival.  Can't find something that fits with the theme of your blog? Write a poem of your own and share it with us.

Deadline for submissions to the Small-leaved Shamrock Poetry Party edition of the carnival is Monday, April 26, 2010. This edition will be published at Small-leaved Shamrock on Poem in Your Pocket Day, Thursday, April 29, 2010.

U.S. National Poetry Month 2010 poster

Upcoming 18th Edition: Our 3rd annual St. Patrick's Day parade!

For the past two St. Patrick's Days (2008 and 2009) Small-leaved Shamrock has hosted a St. Patrick's Day parade - in the blogosphere, that is. Each one was great fun and we're planning to do it again.

As you probably know, March is Irish heritage month in many places, thanks to the March 17 celebration of the life of St. Patrick, beloved patron of Ireland. Our "parade", also the 18th edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture, will be open to anything and everything about Irish heritage, genealogy and culture. Articles about St. Patrick will be appreciated, but articles related to any meaningful aspect of Ireland's heritage are welcomed. Important note: No Irish heritage is required to participate!

The deadline is Sunday, March 14, 2009. Submit your parade entry here. Then come join us for the parade on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2009. On the feast of St. Patrick, everyone likes to be Irish, at least for one day. Hope to see you at the parade wearing your green!

17th edition: "Show and tell" - Irish genealogical treasures

The 17th edition of the carnival has been posted. You can find "Show and tell": Irish genealogical treasures over at Small-leaved Shamrock.

Don't forget to join us for the upcoming 18th edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture, also known as the 3rd annual Small-leaved Shamrock St. Patrick's Day Parade of Posts.  The topic is anything and everything Irish, so come join in the fun whether or not you have Irish roots! The deadline is Sunday, March 14, 2009. The carnival will be published on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. For more details, visit Upcoming 18th Edition: Our 3rd annual St. Patrick's Day parade! See you there!

Calling all "Irish genealogy treasure" carnival entries!

Several of us have experienced difficulty with the Blog Carnival website over the last few days.  If you have had similar trouble (or you are just plain late!), please email your submissions directly to me for inclusion in the carnival.  My email can be found on my profile page. 

Look for the 17th edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture to be posted this Thursday, January 7.  See you there!

Upcoming 17th edition: Genealogy treasure "show and tell"

The upcoming 17th edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture will be a Genealogy treasure "show and tell". Here are the details:

Genealogists are treasure hunters of a different kind. Instead of searching for riches, we dig for information. Instead of prizing gold, we value documents - the visual proof of the life stories of families that have passed before us.

Share with us the image of and the story behind a document (or documents) that have been valuable to you during your search for an Irish branch of your family. How and where did you find these documents? What are their significance to your research and/or why are they special to you? Here's your chance to show off some of your genealogical "loot" at our online "show and tell".

Deadline for submissions to the Genealogy treasure "show and tell" edition of the carnival is Sunday, January 3, 2010. This edition will be published at Small-leaved Shamrock on Thursday, January 7, 2010 .

Genealogists - get ready to show us your stuff at the upcoming show and tell carnival!