The struggle over Cromwell’s legacy came to a head in the 1890s with the plans to erect a statue on the grounds of the British parliament at Westminster. The governing Liberal Party strongly supported the proposal in the hope of consolidating the nonconformingfe in England and by all accounts detested the place. Neither man could … Read more
The Irishman who took a bullet for Bolívar The uniform of Colonel William Owen Ferguson, 1800–28 Lar Joye of the National Museum of Ireland kicks off a new regular series on historical artefacts and the stories behind them. The National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts and History’s permanent exhibition Soldiers and Chiefs: The Irish at … Read more
On May Eve 1858 a fierce storm blew across the west coast of Ireland. On Sunday 2 May, some boys cutting through Drumcliff graveyard, about a mile and a half outside Ennis, Co. Clare, made a shocking discovery—a grave had been excavated, and a coffin that had been buried 7ft deep had been forced open. … Read more
Ralph Westropp Brereton had died on Tuesday 23 March 1858, at the age of 60, in Clonroad House, Ennis. Born into a family with a small estate at Ballyadams, Co. Laois, Brereton had served in the navy from 1813 to 1818, retiring after inheriting his father’s estate upon his elder brother’s death. In 1826 he … Read more
Latin America in Irish museums by Tony Canavan Despite the long association of Ireland with Latin America, there isn’t a particular museum here dedicated to the topic. Neither is there much in the way of museum exhibits or artefacts. Nevertheless, there is Latin American-related material on display in a number of museums around the country … Read more