n The British Museum has undertaken a major exhibition called A History of the World in 100 Objects, which has proven to be a great success. There is an accompanying series on BBC Radio 4 (www.bbc.co.uk/ ahistoryoftheworld), and museums throughout the UK have followed suit with their own best 100 objects. Could we summarise Ireland’s … Read more
O’FARRELL,Sr Genevieve (1923–2001), headmistress, was born Mary O’Farrell on 22March 1923 in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, fifth child and only daughter ofWilliam O’Farrell, farm manager, and his wife Catherine. Educatedlocally by the Sisters of Mercy, she was a bright but shy student. Herdecision to enter the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paulsurprised people, since … Read more
Ireland in the 1950s witnessed an often animated debate about television and how a native service should be structured and introduced to the nation. From the outset, looking to Britain and the United States, the state saw two models from which to choose. The first was a state-owned and state-financed public service, modelled on the … Read more
When I was growing up in the 1980s, my dad would bring me to the National Museum of Ireland every Easter to see the 1916 Exhibition, and we would then walk around Dublin to look at the various areas where the fighting took place. In particular I remember being told of the shelling of Dublin … Read more
Harry Clarke was the leading stained glass artist of his day. Mainly working on churches, most notably UCC’s Honan Chapel, he was also well known as a book illustrator. After W.T. Cosgrave, president of the Irish government, opened an exhibition in his Studios in North Frederick Street in 1925, Clarke was approached in 1926 to … Read more