Nick Maxwell Sir,—I am currently undertaking research for a forthcoming book, 1928: A coinage for Ireland. It focuses on the Irish Free State coinage and will have a similar format to my book When Britain went decimal: the coinage of 1971 (Royal Mint/Spink, 2021). History Ireland has published two related articles: my ‘The coin that never was—the … Read more
Sir,—The piece in ‘On This Day’ in the last issue (HI 31.4, July/August 2023) regarding the train crash at Cherryville junction near Kildare Station on 22 August 1983 is incorrect on one point. It was not a ‘head-on crash’ but that of a train crashing into the rear of another that had broken down.—Yours etc., … Read more
Sir,—Oliver Doyle’s interesting ‘Artefacts’ contribution in the last issue (HI 31.4, July/August 2023, p. 35) revealed just how significant the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage has been, and is to this day, adding the significant aspect of transport and how the railway company acknowledged its service, and no doubt profits, by the presentation of a chalice and … Read more
BY DONAL FALLON A MUSEUM FOR HARRY CLARKE Good news for Dublin’s Parnell Square: Dublin City Council is proposing a museum to stained-glass artist Harry Clarke. Just around the corner from the site of his studio on North Frederick Street, the museum would be located in the same building as the Chapter One restaurant. Clarke’s … Read more
BY JOHN GIBNEY SEPTEMBER 19/1880 The nationalist leader and MP Charles Stewart Parnell gave a speech in Ennis, Co. Clare, that ultimately led to the addition of a new word to the English language. Parnell asked his listeners: ‘What are you to do to a tenant who bids for a farm from which another tenant … Read more