David Condon Finds

Introduction – A Changing Country Ireland has changed an awful lot in a very short space of time. Anyone who grew up here in the 1980s or 1990s can see it clearly. The country feels different, the towns feel different, and in many ways the sense of national identity that once felt obvious has become harder to define. That doesn’t necessarily mean change is always bad. Countries evolve, societies move forward and new people arrive with new ideas and experiences. Ireland itself has a long history of people leaving and settling in other parts of the world, building lives far from the island where they were born. Many, never to return again. But even allowing for that, many people quietly ask the same question today: What does it actually mean to be Irish anymore? It’s not a question that gets discussed very often in polite conversation, yet it sits just beneath the surface of many debates about culture, language and the direction our country is taking. The Ireland Many of Us Grew Up ...

Ireland — and County Kerry in particular — is one of the most beautiful places in the world when the sun shines. But thanks to our spot on the edge of Europe, right out in the wild Atlantic, we also get more than our fair share of rain and famously unpredictable weather. If you happen to be visiting in August, you might enjoy my post Puck Fair in Killorglin – Ireland’s Oldest Festival , which gives a look at what makes this famous Kerry event so special (even when it rains!). We’d love nothing more than to guarantee you perfect blue skies to match the stunning scenery — but that’s not something even the Irish can promise. As the Irish comedian Pat Shortt once joked: “ It would be a lovely little country if you could only roof it. ” The good news is that rainy days don’t have to ruin your plans. Kerry is packed with great indoor activities, hidden gems, and local experiences that make the most of a drizzly day. Whether you're looking for things to do in Tralee when it rains, ...

When people talk about Covid’s impact on small businesses, it’s usually reduced to statistics, closures, and government supports. Percentages. Graphs. Headlines. But behind every “small business affected” story was a person trying to hold something together while the ground shifted beneath them. Mine was one of them. For a long time, I wanted to write about the real impact Covid had on my business. Until I created David Condon Finds, I didn’t really have the right outlet for a post like this. My main website focuses on woodturning and products. This story is different. It’s about survival. Before Covid – The Build Years My business didn’t exist before July 2015. For about a year prior, I was returning to woodcraft after working in other industries for 5 years. To say I was rusty was an understatement. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed returning to my roots and often found myself still working after normal business hours ended. I did not watch the clock anymore like I did when I worked for a ...