Books, The Sims & Real Life Roots
There’s something about Ireland that feels like magic — not the loud, sparkly kind… but the quiet, lingering kind. The kind that settles into rainy mornings, rolling green hills, and stories that feel like they’ve been passed down through generations.
St Patrick’s Day has always felt less about big celebrations for me, and more about leaning into that feeling — the cosy, slightly nostalgic, storytelling kind of magic.
And when I really think about it, Ireland shows up in so many parts of my life… through the books I read, the worlds I build in The Sims, and the little pieces of heritage and tradition that stay with me.
📚 Irish Magic in Books
There’s just something about books set in Ireland (or inspired by it) that hit differently. The atmosphere always feels richer — like you can almost hear the rain against the windows or imagine the quiet hum of a small village.
But for me, one of the biggest things?
You can hear the accents in your head while reading.
And somehow, that makes everything feel more real… more immersive… like the characters step right off the page and settle somewhere in your heart.
Irish-set stories always seem to bring:
- cosy countryside settings
- strong community vibes
- a touch of folklore or quiet magic
- and characters that feel deeply rooted in place
They’re the kind of books you don’t just read… you feel them.
🍀 Romance Reads with Irish Magic
Boys of Tommen Series — Chloe Walsh
This series completely pulled me in from the start. I’ve read the first two books (and honestly loved them), though I paused on book three as it didn’t quite click for me. What I adored most was how immersive it felt — even down to the little details like a glossary explaining Irish slang and how to pronounce it. It made the world feel so authentic, like you were truly there with the characters.
Devil of Dublin Series — B.B. Easton (TBR)
This one is firmly on my TBR and gives off those darker, more intense Irish romance vibes. From what I’ve seen, it leans into a gritty, emotional storyline set against an Irish backdrop — the kind of story that feels like it will stay with you long after finishing.
The Irish Goodbye — Amy Ewing (TBR)
This one feels like the perfect mix of emotional and escapist. It follows a grieving New York photographer who heads to Ireland for the summer and ends up clashing with a recently heartbroken Irish chef on Inishmore. With that hate-at-first-sight tension, island setting, and themes of grief, food, and finding where you belong, it feels like one of those stories that blends romance with that really vivid sense of place.
The Deverill Chronicles — Santa Montefiore
A series I actually dipped into years ago without realising it was a full series at the time (classic me). I read books two and three in my early twenties, and looking back now, it makes so much sense why they stayed with me. This series leans more historical, with sweeping Irish settings, family ties, and that deep sense of place that just pulls you in.
Go Luck Yourself — Sara Raasch (TBR)
An MM romance that instantly caught my attention — it feels fun, a little magical, and still rooted in Irish-inspired themes. It’s one of those reads I know I’ll reach for when I want something a bit lighter but still full of charm.
Even when a book isn’t explicitly set in Ireland, sometimes it still carries that same feeling — soft, grounded, a little bit wild in the best way.
And that’s the kind of magic I always find myself coming back to.
to working side by side as a kitchen team — and it just works.
🎮 Irish Vibes in The Sims
If you know me, you know I love recreating feelings and atmospheres in The Sims just as much as I love reading them.
And while I’ve always leaned towards countryside-style worlds for that cosy, storybook feeling… I recently discovered something that made it all feel even more magical.
Innisgreen — from The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature — is actually heavily inspired by Ireland.
And once you know that… you can’t unsee it.
The entire world feels like stepping into a softer, slightly enchanted version of the Irish countryside:
- lush green hills that seem to go on forever
- rocky coastlines that echo places like the Giant’s Causeway
- a quiet, almost mystical atmosphere that feels rooted in folklore
Even the name itself carries meaning — Innis comes from the Irish word Inis, meaning “island,” which just adds to that sense of it being its own little magical pocket of the world.
🌿 Exploring Innisgreen
Each neighbourhood has its own little personality, and honestly… they all feel like they’ve been pulled straight from a storybook.
Coast of Adhmor
A seaside village full of charm, with brightly painted homes that feel inspired by places like Kinsale or Cobh. It’s colourful, cosy, and full of life.
Sprucederry Grove
A lush, green area with ivy-covered homes and woodland surroundings. Even the name nods to Irish roots — Derry meaning oak grove.
Everdew
A deeper, more mystical forest space — quieter, more magical, and perfect for storytelling moments that lean into folklore vibes.
What I love most is how this world feels like a blend of real landscapes and folklore — it’s grounded, but still a little bit magical.
It’s the kind of place where:
- you build small cottages tucked into greenery
- your Sims live slower, more intentional lives
- and storytelling feels softer, almost dreamlike
And while I’ve always loved worlds like Henford-on-Bagley for that cosy countryside gameplay, it’s interesting to realise that one leans more into the English countryside — whereas Innisgreen carries that distinct Irish inspiration.
Which just makes it feel even more special.
Sometimes I’ll load into a save, let the world just exist around my Sim, and soak it all in — and honestly, it feels like stepping into that same quiet Irish magic I find in books and real life.
I’m becoming her, in all the ways that matter.
🌿 My Life & Irish Roots
Ireland isn’t just something I experience through books or games — it’s something that quietly exists in my real life too.
My family has actually been tracing our ancestry for years — it started with my dad when I was a teenager, and then my grandma took over (honestly, I still wouldn’t have a clue where to even begin with it myself).
But what they found made everything feel even more meaningful.
Both sides of my family trace back to Ireland.
On my mum’s side, we come from County Galway, before moving into Liverpool.
On my dad’s side, it’s County Donegal, before settling in Manchester — and eventually, both sides made their way to the Midlands.
And even now, we still have some second cousins on my dad’s side living in Donegal, which just makes that connection feel a little bit closer, a little bit more real.
What’s always stayed with me most is how strong that Irish pride has been — especially on my dad’s side of the family.
My grandad carried it in such a natural, quiet way… and it’s something I’ve found myself passing on to my own boys (or at least trying to 😅).
🍲 Little Traditions That Stick
Every St Patrick’s Day, I make coddle with fresh baked soda bread — and honestly, it’s pure comfort in a bowl.
It’s one of those meals that feels like more than just food… it’s tradition, it’s connection, it’s something that brings everything together.
And sometimes (depending on what day it falls on 👀), I’ll have a Guinness alongside it — but only if it lands on a Friday or Saturday… because school nights are very much still a thing in this house.
I was also gifted an Irish cookbook, which feels like the perfect excuse to start exploring even more recipes and maybe build on those traditions a little bit more each year.
Because for me, that’s what it’s really about — not big gestures or big celebrations, but the small, meaningful things that keep that connection alive.
✨ Why Ireland Feels Like Magic to Me
When I really think about it, the reason Ireland feels so magical isn’t because of big, dramatic moments.
It’s because of the quiet ones.
It’s in:
- the stories that feel lived in
- the worlds that feel like home
- the moments that feel slow and intentional
It’s the way everything feels just a little bit softer, a little bit warmer, a little bit more meaningful.
And somehow, whether it’s through a book, a Sims save, or real life… that feeling always finds its way back.
💬 Come Chat With Me
Do you have a favourite book that gives you Irish vibes?
Or a Sims world that feels like home to you?
And if you celebrate St Patrick’s Day — are you all about the big celebrations, or do you lean into the cosy side like me?
I’d love to know 🍀✨
Between the Pages & Pixels 