A journeyman sea captain made exceptional picture-charts of Irish harbours almost 400 years ago. By Arnold Horner A little-noticed survey of many of Ireland’s harbours, made in the 1630s, offers some unique views of Dublin (p. 27) and other harbours at the time when Thomas Wentworth, earl of Strafford, ruled as the king’s deputy. … Read more
A new calendar of documents, commissioned by the Irish Jesuits for the bicentenary of the order’s restoration in 1814. By Vera Moynes An anti-clerical edict proclaimed by the president and council of Munster on 18 August 1604 contained the following description: ‘[the] Jesuittes, Seminaries and massinge priestes have bene … so much harkned unto and … Read more
A complex, sophisticated instrument that can deliver a unique form of traditional music. By Terry Moylan In early December 2017, at their general assembly in South Korea, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) inscribed uilleann piping in their Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It joins an extensive list … Read more
It is widely believed that Captain William Bligh of the Royal Navy designed the North Bull Wall of the Liffey channel, causing the development of the North Bull Island. But do the facts support this? By Rob Goodbody and Richard Nairn The biggest problem to face the port of Dublin over the centuries … Read more
An innovative, tenacious pioneer, Nano Nagle transcended the narrowly prescribed boundaries of her time. By Gillian O’Brien and Jessie Castle Between the early 1750s and her death in 1784 Nano Nagle established schools in Cork to educate poor Catholic children, brought the Ursuline Sisters to Ireland and founded her own religious order, the Presentation Sisters, … Read more