Sidelines

One of history’s great mysteries came closer to being solved with the discovery of a shipwreck in the Canadian Arctic. John Franklin’s 1845 expedition to find the North-West Passage ended in disaster, with his two ships, Erebus and Terror, sinking and all 128 crewmen dying. Exactly what happened and what became of the ships was … Read more

In praise of John Bruton

Let’s hear it for John Bruton, whose recent pronouncements (negative) on the 1916 Rising and (positive) on the enactment (subsequently suspended) of Home Rule on 18 September 1914 have stimulated a lively and long-overdue public debate on the nature of the Irish Revolution, its relationship to the First World War and the origins of the … Read more

Events

November 4 Tues 8.30pm Kilmacanogue History Society, Glenview Hotel, Glen of the Downs, Delgany, Co. Wicklow. Wicklow’s Irish ANZACS, Jeff Kildea. Adm. ?3. 5 Wed 6.30pm Old Dublin Society, Dublin City Library and Archive conference room, 138–144 Pearse St. Swift and Dublin: controversial dean, patriot Drapier and inventor of micro-credit, Brendan Twomey. 5 Wed 8pm … Read more