Lotteries, according to Voltaire, were ‘a tax on idiocy’. Judging by the recent media frenzy generated around the Irish winner of the Euro Millions lottery, it is an idiocy that shows no signs of abating. According to Rowena Dudley in The Irish lottery 1780–1801 (Four Courts Press, 166pp, €40 hb, ISBN 1851829164), lotteries have long … Read more
Michael Davitt Museum Straide, Co. Mayo Open all year 10am–6pm daily. 094-31022/31942. davitt-museum@eircom.net www.museumsofmayo.com/davitt by Carla King On 1 February 1880, in one of the set-pieces of the land war, Michael Davitt addressed a Land League demonstration from a platform erected over the site of the house from which his family had been evicted 30 … Read more
Haughey RTÉ 1, June–July 2005 Directed by Niamh Sammon Produced by Steve Carson and Miriam O’Callaghan By Eamon O’Flaherty The Haughey biography was one of the most controversial Irish television histories of recent years. One of the major participants, Desmond O’Malley, dissociated himself from the series as it was being broadcast, claiming that he had … Read more
KEOGH, Myles Walter (1840–76), soldier, was born 25 March 1840 at Orchard House, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, son of John Keogh, farmer, and Margaret Keogh (née Blancheville). Educated at the local school in Leighlinbridge, he left Ireland in 1860 to serve in the papal army. Commissioned second lieutenant in the Irish battalion in August 1860, he … Read more
Last October I was approached by an old friend in England, who asked whether I would be interested in purchasing the First World War uniforms and various pieces of equipment of a Major General Tudor. I was sent various photos of the collection, and at the time my only interest was in the strange-looking Brodie … Read more