Nick Maxwell John Henry (Harry) Spackman was born on March 15th 1890 in Fyfield, Wiltshire. He was one of nine children all of whom were born before 1901 and all of whom were still living at the time of the 1911 census. Harry Spackman joined the Army in June 1907. He enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire … Read more
As a young Air Corps pilot in August 1972, I was on Search and Rescue standby duty with my two Alouette 111 helicopter crew at our base in Baldonnel, near Dublin. It was a nice summer’s day, I recall, and we were looking forward to watching the All- Ireland Semi Final on TV later that … Read more
Benjamin granted Mt Lucas by CromwellOrdered by the lord protector to“put to the sword every man and boy of an area inIreland that had resisted the English invasion”Benjamin replied“I will not be his Highness’ butcher”Cromwell relented and spared the peopleTHE LUCAS/BALL CONNECTIONElizabeth Lucas heiress and daughter of John Lucas and Elizabeth Wakeley married Benjamin Manly … Read more
Life in rural west Tyrone in the years immediately following the Second World War was simple when compared to the present. Homes were small, usually just two or three rooms, whitewashed and thatched. Hearth fires provided heat and cooking facilities and candles or oil lamps were used for light. The countryside at night was dark … Read more
Irish immigrants to American during An Gorta Mor may have found much more than they bargained when they were caught up on the battlefields of the American Civil War. Into their new nation’s internecine struggle stepped two Irish soldiers who left Ireland in 1849 with their parents, Thomas Sarsfield and Winifred (nee McGrath) Real, and … Read more