Blacksod Point lighthouse, Co. Mayo

The parish of Kilmore-Erris, in the north-west of County Mayo, boasts four lighthouses, three of which—Eagle Island (1836), Broadhaven or Ballyglass (1853–5) and Black Rock (1858–62)—are attributable to George Halpin Senior (1776–1854), inspector of works and lighthouses, or his son, George Halpin Junior (1804–69). Each is a whitewashed tapering tower with a lantern encircled by … Read more

Patriotism, pedagogy and profit: Galbraith and Haughton’s Mathematical Series (1851–91)

One of the consequences of the Crimean War (1854–6) was the abolition by parliament of access to military commissions by privilege and its replacement by public examinations, particularly for the more technical branches, artillery and engineers. The new system was also adopted by the Indian Civil Service (ICS). The change required an educational revolution at … Read more

Leonard MacNally— the most disreputable barrister to have ever practised at the Irish bar?

‘Informer! A horror to be understood fully only by the Irish mind . . . Good God! An informer is the great danger’. (Liam O’Flaherty, The Informer) Probably one of the most notorious informers in Irish history was Leonard MacNally, and he is unusual in that his role was not exposed during his life and … Read more