The History of The Irish...Worldwide
Brian Nolan's Blog (31)
Quid Pro Quo - It's a Question of Money
I came across this old election poster from the mid-1950's lately. I was born in 1956, so it resonated a bit. Political comparisons aside, I had totally forgotten how the 'old prices' were written and this poster, with it's comparison chart of commonly purchased items brought back floods of childhood memories to me.
For instance the 1954 price tag of 2/4 for Cigarettes…
ContinueAdded by Brian Nolan on June 13, 2014 at 6:30am — 6 Comments
Easter Eggs -- A County Galway Tale
With nine million chocolate Easter eggs being eaten in Ireland over Easter, I wondered if our children have any idea what life was like for our parents and grand-parents.
My grandfather, Michael Brody, operated a general store, grocery, hardware,…
Added by Brian Nolan on April 22, 2014 at 5:30am — 1 Comment
Erin's Lament - Galway's Gain
Eugene Daly was dreaming, in a deep sleep. In the dream, he was playing his uileann pipes to a rapturous audience of dancers in the ship's sumptuous main ballroom. He played like a man possessed, jigs and reels, in perfect pitch. The audience were thrilled. All of a sudden he panicked and woke. He had woken up to the sound of water lapping under his bunk. Unused to…
ContinueAdded by Brian Nolan on April 14, 2014 at 8:00pm — 6 Comments
The Unquiet Grave
A tale of love and loss, a poem, a tradition, a ballad, a folk-song, forever in our hearts.
Can you imagine how hard life was in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th century here in…
ContinueAdded by Brian Nolan on January 31, 2014 at 10:30am — 2 Comments
A Tenner for a Tenor
So you have always told your wide-eyed, disbelieving grand-children that those scratchy 78's you have carefully stored in the attic would some day be worth money, y'know, the ones that you have been collecting for years at 'garage sales' and storage-lot auctions? Well they just got…
Added by Brian Nolan on January 29, 2014 at 7:00am — 6 Comments
Epiphany
She looked up from her chair by the window, as though she’d just awoken from a pleasant dreamless nap when I walked into her room overlooking the lake. She was fully dressed, her hair washed, looking radiant. At 91, she still cut a dash. ‘Happy New Year’ she beamed, drawing me into a warm, heart-felt hug, surprising me by…
Added by Brian Nolan on January 6, 2014 at 4:30am — 12 Comments
John O'Donohue's Celtic Blessing - A Clare-man with a painter's pen, his 6th anniversary is today, 4th Jan.
Added by Brian Nolan on January 4, 2014 at 8:19am — No Comments
The Night of the Big Wind - St. Stephen's Day 2013
'Oiche na Gaoithe Moire' - The night of the big wind! That phrase usually refers to one of the most devastating hurricanes that ever hit Ireland, which made land during the night of Little Christmas, on the 6th of January 1839, almost 174 years ago, just before the outbreak of the…
Added by Brian Nolan on December 27, 2013 at 7:00am — 16 Comments
Yule and Mairgead Mór
Over most of Western Europe, particularly in those areas connected with the ancient Celts, December 21, the shortest day of the year fell during the Druidic festival of 'Yule'. Today it is better known as the festival of the ‘Winter Solstice’.
‘Thoul’, an ancient word for…
ContinueAdded by Brian Nolan on December 18, 2013 at 11:30am — 2 Comments
Snuff at a Wake and Other Pipe Dreams
While yet a teenager, I collected most of these clay pipes around Loughrea, in county Galway, some from the lake shore, some from under the water using a snorkel and mask, the smallest ones from the bottom of a hole I was digging in Elephant and Castle, while working as a student in…
ContinueAdded by Brian Nolan on December 16, 2013 at 6:00pm — 3 Comments
Who Really Discovered America?
On the Galway's Horrible Histories Walk, I weave the Brendan Voyage tale into the stories I tell, explaining how in 929 AD the Vikings raided the Priory Abbey of Annaghdown, 4 miles up the Corrib River from Galway city, which was founded by St. Brendan for his sister, Briga, and where he died in 577 AD.…
ContinueAdded by Brian Nolan on November 27, 2013 at 8:30am — 4 Comments
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