Monthly Archives: May 2015

Marching season is right around the corner, and PSNI is already warning that it’s going to be “challenging”, due to budget cuts. Hmm. Budget cuts to PSNI or no, it was bound to be challenging anyway, because Orange Order marches … Continue reading →

Matty was an Aran islander, a fisherman by trade in his younger years, and a rebel his entire life. I was introduced to him by a friend back in the 90’s. He was small in stature and elderly, but at … Continue reading →

Insomnia is a terrible thing. I’ve suffered from it my entire life, as well as nightmares, night sweats, night terrors, and sleepwalking. Somnambulism (walking in one’s sleep) is of course, the most dangerous of the above mentioned afflictions. The first … Continue reading →

It was tempting to write a blow-by-blow account of Prince Charles’ visit to Ireland last week, but there was little point in doing so; the mainstream media coverage was so overwhelming that you couldn’t escape it if you wanted to. … Continue reading →

The Republic of Ireland has made a monumental decision to allow constitutionally backed same sex marriages–actual marriages, as opposed to “civil unions.” Well done, and it’s about time. For those who voted “no”, I have no disrespect for your views, … Continue reading →

Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland The third of the resolutely determined IRA Volunteers to join the H-Block hunger strike for political status was twenty-four-year-old Raymond McCreesh, from Camlough in South Armagh: a quiet, shy and good-humoured republican, who … Continue reading →

Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland On the morning of 17 May 1974, four cars are stolen in Belfast. That evening, they would explode without warning in Dublin and Monaghan resulting in the deaths of 34 civilians and injuries … Continue reading →

Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland In 484 Saint Brendan was born in Ciarraighe Luachra near the port of Tralee, in Co Kerry, in the province of Munster, in the South West of Ireland. He was baptised at Tubrid, … Continue reading →

In Ireland, but more commonly in North America, there exist two particular phrases referring to two economic classes of Irish people. They are “lace curtain Irish” and “shanty Irish.” The former refers to Irish people who have attained some degree … Continue reading →

Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland The death of Francis Hughes at the age of 25 after a 59 day hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. Hughes was such an effective guerrilla fighter that British authorities at … Continue reading →