Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin By Muirne Lyons Rathfarnham Castle is a sixteenth-century semi-fortified house with an eighteenth-century Georgian interior. It was built in 1583 by Adam Loftus (c. 1533–1605), who came to Ireland in 1560 and quickly rose to a number of prestigious positions, including archbishop of Dublin and lord chancellor of Ireland. As archbishop, Loftus … Read more
RTÉ1, 10 June 2019 Directed by Maurice Sweeney By Brian Hanley Angst has been expressed by some commentators regarding the difficulties that the forthcoming centenary of the Irish Civil War will present. I Dolours is a timely reminder that the most contentious anniversaries will actually be those of the more recent Irish conflict. The continuing … Read more
In this ‘decade of commemorations’, it is worth reflecting on Ireland’s long, contentious yet colourful history of commemorations and the role that flags and emblems have played throughout it. By Stan Zamyatin Flags, emblems and commemorations have represented the aspirations of Irish people over centuries, reflecting the political movements that have taken place on all … Read more
1–2 Hill Street, Monaghan monaghan.ie/museum By Tony Canavan Monaghan County Museum is located in a substantial nineteenth-century building in the heart of the town. The fabric of the building has been respected, meaning that the museum’s exhibits are divided over a number of rooms on different floors. Far from being a hindrance, this adds to … Read more
John Stahl’s Parnell (1937). By Tony Tracy Prior to Michael Collins (1996), one has to go back over half a century to find a Hollywood-funded drama dealing with an Irish political figure: the MGM production Parnell (1937), a lavishly produced bio-pic covering the period between Charles Stewart Parnell’s visit to the US in early 1880 … Read more