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Saint Patrick was born into a well-to-do British family, perhaps in what now is the North-Western English county of Cubmria. His father was a local government official and the family language was probably a version of Latin. As a youth he was captured by Irish pirates and taken into…

Pádraig Pearse (Patrick Henry Pearse) is one only a handful of men who have  enjoyed the dubious honour of becoming an iconic status in Irish History  books based on his role in the 1916 Easter Rising.  He was born in Great Brunswick Street in Dublin and had a  brother,…

A few days before St. Patrick's Day in 2003, I purchased a beautiful six-piece dessert set of fine bone china from a local shop. As the shop owner carefully packed it up, I read the bottom of one of the tea cups: "Royal Tara-fine bone china-made in Ireland."

I bought the set because it was gorgeous. But knowing it came from Ireland made it even more special to me. At the time, I'd never been to Ireland and my father, Edwin, who died in 2001, had never been to Ireland either. But he…

I am hosting a one week all-inclusive women's writing retreat on an island in Casco Bay,Maine in mid-June, 2015.  Enrollment is limited to 10.  Retreat includes professional/published writers/editors.  This retreat is open to all genres. interests and levels.  Your enquiries for…

Bert Cunningham, historian of the 69^th Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard, spoke about the history of the Fighting 69^th at the March 11, 2015 meeting of the Irish Cultural Society at…

Michael Collins was the youngest son of a farmer, born in the west of the County of  Cork, Ireland, in 1890. The Collins were relatively prosperous, as poor farmers go: his father held 90 acres, which his grandfather had in turn also…

The "Great Day" is approaching again.

On St. Patrick's Day all around the world, the Irish and those who love all things Irish will be…

ÓGRA, a Gaelic word meaning youth, is Ireland’s only full range of cosmetic products that uses peat from raised bogs as the integral ingredient in its range. Since time immemorial, nature has held the secrets to youth, beauty and vitality. Deep in the valleys of Ireland, we have uncovered this secret. 

ÓGRA was…

Israeli citizens are poised to go to the polls March 17th to vote in an election that will determine who will be the next Prime Minister.  According to yesterday's New York Times front page story headlined,…

Michael Mallin was born in 1874 in the Liberty tenements Dublin.  He was a son of a carpenter, but his early days living in Dublin elude historians.  It is, therefore, his teenage years that are the focus of this biopic.

At the age of fourteen years he joined the British…

“The song is ended (but the melody lingers on.)” – Irving Berlin

It was spring; although the season did not represent itself well, a hard chill dusted the evening air as I ascended the steps to a large Huguenot doorway. My appointment was for seven o’clock, but my watch read sixteen minutes past, I snorted under my breath frustrated at my…

In December of 2014, the Irish traditional fiddle and guitar duo of Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill joined sarod player Matthew Noone on a tour of India to play several shows as well as meet and collaborate with a host of famous Indian traditional musicians.  Myles O’Reilly…

In days gone by, there was a popular Irish…

 Childhood memories if School . In Ireland school days commenced at the age five years . I was born in the January – so I was five and a half years old when I started school/ I followed my older sister Ronnie [Veronica] and brother Pat [Patrick or Watser- his nick name] who also attended St Patricks National School Bray Co Wicklow . Pat however had been transferred up to St Cronins School boy’s school before I started school. My mam ; aunts and uncles all attended St. Patricks R.C School…

Hello M.J Neary ; thank you for your comments on the 1916 Easter  Rising . I started to do the blogs about the Leaders; as it is coming up to their Centenary 2016 . 

I was amazed and quite frankly ashamed that there were so many of them that I knew absolutely  nothing about . It was certainly a challenge for me and quite a learning experience as well . Tears were flowing as i was typeing in the text. 

The Book - That's just how It Was - I have written it as a tribute to my…

In A.D. 451, the new Byzantine Emperor Marcian, an orthodox Christian, ordered a new Ecumenical council be convened to establish once and for all, the belief that Christ was and is both God and Man. Pope Leo 1 called for it to be held in Italy but Marcian insisted it be…

Europe, in the middle of the 5^th century A.D., was in darkness and fear was dominant. The Master (the druid) sensed fundamental change. The Roman legions were advancing rapidly and had already crossed the Rhine. A new religion was upon him and his people.

In the…

Sean Connolly was born in Sandymount, Dublin in 1883.  His family had been driven off their land during the Land League era.  Connolly and all his siblings were steeped in nationalism and all that Fenianism stood for.  When his father, a sailor, left his seafaring job, he…