Leon Uris

Leon Uris (1924 – 2003) was a wonderful American novelist, whose two best selling books were Exodus (1958) and Trinity (1976). Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he started writing after his WWII service, and was intensely interested in both Israel and Ireland. Exodus was made in to a feature film starring Paul Newman in 1960. Trinity was an epic work about Ireland’s struggle for independence. It’s always been a favourite in the Murphy family as much is set in and around Derry and Inishowen, where my mother grew up. In fact many people referenced in the book were known by and related to her family, the McIvors, and it was a compulsory read in our house growing up.

It was with great surprise and pride that we were asked to send Mr Uris one of our wonderful flannel Grandad Style nightshirts , to his home on Shelter Island. Unfortunately, Mr Uris wasn’t so well at this time, but one of our colleagues, John Alexander, who was very good to my mother, took it upon himself to locate a first edition of Trinity and send it to Mr Uris, explaining how much the book meant to her. Mr Uris, in turn, not only signed the book, but wrote my mother a lovely letter. Given how little time he had left, I expect it’s one of, and possibly the last copy he ever signed. The book, the letter and the nightshirt (which was kindly returned to us) all take pride of place in Ballybofey.

Dress like a Movie Star for less

Dress like a Movie Star for less

Staying with the movie theme, I noticed Bonhams recently held a large sale of movie costumes in Knightsbridge, London. One of the more expensive items sold was a suit worn by Irish James Bond Pierce Brosnan, in the movie Goldeneye (1996). Tweed featured prominently, including the sale of a Tweed Jacket worn by Sean Connery in the movie Cuba (1979) and, speaking of James Bond, David Niven’s brown and green checked Tweed Jacket from Casino Royale (1967)

Amongst my personal favourites were a tweed suit and hat worn by Sean Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and a brown herringbone tweed suit worn by Donald Sutherland during The Eye of the Needle (1981).

On the accessory front, a tweed hat worn by Peter Sellers in two Pink Panther movies also fetched several thousand pounds (ours are a little less expensive), and even Tweed Waistcoats (with matching trousers) made an impression, with two worn by Scottish actor & comedian Billy Connolly in Mrs Brown (1997).

Needlessly to say, you can create your own movie star image with a little help from Murphy of Ireland’s Tweed Jackets and Donegal tweed caps . We have even, on occasion, made tweed suits to fulfill special requests from customers

Bullet Proof Tweed !

A Tweed Jacket can save a President’s Life
Another great story, and perhaps on of the bravest speeches ever given, concerned Teddy Roosevelt. The story goes that in 1912, in Milwaukee, he was getting ready to give a speech as part of his presidential campaign. As he stepped on the platform, he was shot by a man who’d been stalking him for weeks. The speech was in the breast pocket of his tweed jacket and the combination of the paper and tweed took enough energy out of the bullet to save his life. Having felt like the wind had been knocked out of him, he apparently continued on and gave the speech – remarkable!

If you need a Donegal Tweed Jacket to save your life too, we’d be only too happy to oblige…

Movie Stars

The best gift one Movie Star can give another is a much coveted Tweed Jacket

There is a great story about Katherine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole from when they were filming The Lion in Winter. Apparently, she was worried about the effect his lifestyle was having on his health, so she gave him a bicycle to cycle to and from the studio. He, in return, was so grateful that he gave her his Donegal Tweed Jacket, which she had coveted and which she apparently kept for the rest of her days. I often wonder if he got himself another one to replace it – Ah, well, he knows where to find us.

As for you romantics out there – we’d be only too happy to lend a hand if you need one too…Donegal Tweed Jackets

Donegal Summer 07

Donegal, the home county of Murphys of Ballybofey is a busy place in the summer. Its a holiday destination for families from all over Ireland, the UK and beyond. Many people own second homes or caravans in areas like Port Noo, Marble Hill, Downings, Ballyshannon and many others. From resorts like those you can enjoy the beaches, the Atlantic ocean and sun bathe or walk for miles - whatever takes your fancy.
Golf features highly in Donegal's range of things to do. Most of the courses are "links" courses - just beside the coast, usually woven around the extensive sand dunes that, along with cliffs, are a feature of the Donegal coastline.
The fishing, either river or sea, is superb. Rivers offer the chance to land a salmon, and sea fishing trips will be guaranteed to see you arriving home with enough mackerel for not just your barbeque, but the neighbours as well! If you're more ambitious, you can catch much bigger fish - sharks are relatively common, and recently a record breaking bluefin tuna was landed off the coast of Donegal.
Then theres always the shopping. Donegal is famous for its arts and crafts, and towns like Letterkenny, Donegal and Ballybofey offer an interesting alternative to the shopping mall experience that is becoming all to common these days.
Then again if you're too busy on the beach or the golf course why not just get your Irish Gift online at MurphyofIreland!

For a full list of whats on in Donegal this summer, have a look here http://www.dochara.com/play/events/byregion.php

Spring is here (and there)

The weather is always a good topic of conversation!
April 16 was interesting - in New York the US office of Murphy of Ireland reported a really heavy rainstorm, which affected the NE of the USA with floods and wreaked havoc with traffic and power supplies. Meanwhile in Ballybofey it was a mild day with little rainfall at all.
In fact the last 6 weeks in Ireland have been unusually dry and mild - at times it has felt like summer.
Its interesting that Ireland and the UK are quite a bit further north than you would imagine, but get a much milder climate than countries on the same latitude. Ballybofey (latitude 54.8 degrees north) in Donegal is further north than anywhere in the USA, further north than Mongolia, and in the southern hemisphere sea ice can extend to 55 degress south! Despite being 15 degrees further north the Ballybofey office never gets the extremes of weather that Murphy of Ireland office gets in New York.
Its all down to the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic, which keeps western Europe warm and wet.

This poses big problems for transatalantic travellers. What clothing could you pack that would be just right for two such different climates. The answer is an Aran Sweater! Its warm, when you need it, but breathes when your body warms up, and most importantly the lanoline in the wool will help to keep you dry.

Check them out in our store! Aran Sweaters

Sporting theme continues!

The chance to give a shout for Ireland continues, but not where you'd expect it! Ireland has never (and I mean never) been renowned as a great cricketing nation, but the team's recent success in the Cricket World Cup is the biggest news since they beat the West Indies in 1969.
If you interested you can see footage of that historic match here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lpxft-zWts

At the moment Ireland have reached the final 8 (the super 8), knocking out Pakistan on the way. Pakistan would have been expected to easily reach the final stages. In the super 8 Ireland have lost their first match (to England), but it was by no means a walk over.

At Murphy of Ireland, we will soon be stocking a range of Ireland themed sportswear in the Irish Gift section. Watch out here and we'll let you know when we have them in stock.