From the files of the DIB…‘A Catholic heart, a rationalist head, and a Protestant stomach’

McNABB, Vincent (1868–1943), Catholic controversialist, was born Joseph McNabb on 8 July 1868 in Portaferry, Co. Down, tenth child of James McNabb, master mariner, and his wife Ann (née Shields) of Rathmullan, Co. Donegal. Joseph was educated at St Malachy’s College, Belfast, where he won several scholarships, and St Cuthbert’s Grammar School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In November … Read more

Release the 1926 Census!

As Catríona Crowe of the National Archives explained in the May/June 2008 issue of History Ireland, the 1901 and 1911 census returns for the entire island of Ireland have been available for public research for over 40 years. In outlining the National Archives programme for the digitisation of the 1911 census, Catríona detailed the type … Read more

A stitch in time: the Stokes Tapestry

On display in the ‘Soldiers and Chiefs’ exhibition in the National Museum at Collins Barracks is a large table-cover, measuring 8ft by 4ft, called the Stokes Tapestry. This large pictorial work featuring 250 figures was made by Stephen Stokes between 1833 and 1853 and illustrates his experiences in the British Army in Ireland and subsequently … Read more