Nick Maxwell The object that became a museum. By Jim Kelleher This 90-ton diving-bell, built in 1866 in Drogheda, was designed by Bindon Blood Stoney, who was a port engineer from 1856 to 1898. A diving-bell is open at the bottom and allows six workmen to descend down a funnel through an airlock to work … Read more
By Joseph E.A. Connell Jr In 1895 the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company ordered four steamers for Royal Mail service, named for the four provinces of Ireland: RMS Leinster, Munster, Connaught and Ulster. These four were commonly referred to as ‘the provinces’. The Leinster was a 2,640-ton packet steamship with a service speed of … Read more
Sir,—Catriona Crowe (HI 26.2, March/April 2018, Platform) says that in the light of the Ryan and McAleese Reports, and the Mother and Baby Homes Commission, Irish Catholic institutions have in general not been forthcoming enough regarding their records, which she considers should all be accessible to those who wish to see them. She refers to … Read more
The Wexford Traveller and horse-dealer John Cash was a celebrated piper in the late nineteenth century, and descendants of his—particularly the two Doran brothers, Johnny (d. 1950) and Felix (d. 1972)—achieved celebrity status as pipers in the twentieth century. Johnny and Felix played in very different styles; while Felix’s could be related to that of … Read more
Irish pipers and makers abroad, including O’Farrell, Courtney and Michael Egan, have made valuable contributions to the tradition. The post-Famine emigration brought players and makers to the United States, and Irish communities in America produced many superb pipers, including Barney Delaney, Mike Carney and Patsy Touhey. The last named played a set of pipes made … Read more