One day in the late 1970s, the natural curiosity of childhood led me to my parents’ sitting room in Co. Roscommon and a press full of books, papers and assorted trinkets. Two objects attracted my young eye. One was an old book with a signature dated 1857 concerning the biblical story of Adam and Eve … Read more
I could never have imagined that a shopping trip to the market of Antibes in Southern France could have triggered dormant memories of my childhood days in the village of Blanchardstown in the 1950’s. Specifically, I remembered a summer holiday spent as a companion to the son of the Master of St Vincent’s Hospital on … Read more
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