By John Bruton

In 2016, there will be extensive commemoration of the centenary of the Rising in Dublin in 1916.

No comparable commemoration is planned for an earlier centenary, that of 18 September 2014, the 100^th anniversary of the passage into law of Home Rule for Ireland.

The events of Easter 1916 inaugurated an armed…

This is part four in a series of articles on "Searching for Your Irish Ancestors" written by Ireland-based professional genealogist Nicola Morris of Timeline Genealogy. You can find the other installments of this series…

Unionists Increasing Calculated Pressure on the Agreement

John McDonagh (JM) and Sandy Boyer (SB) interview via telephone journalist Ed Moloney, (EM) who authored the book "A Secret History of the IRA" and directed the Belfast Project, about the Twelfth of July in Ireland. Thanks…

Ireland emerged slowly from the death grip of the last ice-age around 10,000 years ago. The land bridges which connected it with its nearest neighbors, England and Scotland, vanished as the vast…

Bernardo O'Higgins

DEARDAOIN -- On August 17, 1778,…

Where does red hair come from?  There is a lengthy and complex discussion of the red hair genetics here. Be sure and read the comments (everybody has an opinion and is an expert!) Within this…

Wife and I are traveling to Ireland in October. Will be in Dublin, Killkenny, Klearney and Galway. Any suggestions on things to see and do? Also good pubs for food and music.

Ger, a chara...Just for you:

Long ago when the Tuatha De Danaan lived in Ireland there was a great King called Lir. He had four children--Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiacra, and Conn. Fionnuala was the eldest and she was as beautiful as sunshine in blossomed branches;…

Ladies and Gents,

Good day to you all. Late joiner to the party here but none-the-less hopefully bringing an important message to you all. 

Fort Patrick Kelly is named for the famed leader of the Irish Brigade,…

He glides across the smooth lakes’ surface,

but she is nowhere in sight.

Stately he moves on ever through the night.

A moonbeam beckons to a hidden place,

where once they did dwell.

Fasted now! Maybe she lays there

and love again might they share.

But no earthly sign now, only pain.

Mute and no sound…

There was no punctuation until the 15th century. This explains A LOT!

On the afternoon of Wednesday, 6 August, 2014, our own Ryan O'Rourke had the opportunity to visit the site of the old White O'Morn Cottage in Tiernakill, Maumm, County Galway.  This old site, which now lies in ruins, is better known to the world as "The Quiet Man Cottage."  The…

Kate Nash and Vincent Coyle Interviewed On Radio Free Eireann

Sandy Boyer (SB) and John McDonagh (JM) interview via telephone from Doire (Derry) Kate Nash (KN), the sister of William Nash who was killed by the British Army on Bloody Sunday, and Vincent Coyle (VC), who…

The Enchantress is the last poem in a trilogy. "The Hill" is the first one followed by "The Solstice."

The Enchantress

They used to…

The Annual Connemara Pony Festival takes place in Clifden, County Galway from Sunday the 27th through Sunday the 24th of August. The highlight of the festival is the Connemara Pony Show on Thursday and Friday. To mark this important annual event, I'd like to offer this brief primer…

Iveagh Gardens

Clonmel Street, Dublin 2, Ireland



The Iveagh Gardens are amoung the finest and least known of Dublin's parks and gardens. They were designed by Ninian Niven, in 1865, as an intermediate design between the 'French Formal' and the 'English Landscape' styles. They demonstrated the artisitc skills of the landscape architect of the mid 19th century and display…

Irish composer Patrick Cassidy wrote a magnificent choral/orchestral work based on the Celtic legend - The Children of Lir.  It is available on iTunes and beyond.  The first North American tour (1995) of…

Stone Journey

What is it, Anu?

This water pouring across the plain

 Of Desmond to the sea.

Down the limestone steps of karsted hills.

Through furrowed fields and into the wild Atlantic’s…

Professor James J. Ryan II was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1903.  In a most literal sense, Professor James Ryan earned his nickname. A professor in the University of Minnesota’s mechanical engineering department from…

Ultonia Regiment of the Spanish army, toy soldiers by "The Warrior Irish."

LUAIN -- On August 11, 1744, during the…