A window dedicated to the women of Cumann na mBan. By Margaret Ryan In Mountjoy Prison, hidden from the view of the general public, is a stained-glass three-light window, designed by Richard King, manager of the Harry Clarke studios, depicting the icon of the Mother of Perpetual Succour, donated by a former prisoner and member … Read more
An event that encapsulates the intricacies of conflict during the War of Independence. By Aisling Gallagher In the period 1919–21, Offaly seemed relatively quiet when compared with hotbeds of rebellious activity such as Cork, Tipperary or Kerry. In fact, there were consequential attacks and ambushes carried out by not one but two Offaly IRA brigades, … Read more
The exact number of victims is impossible to ascertain. By Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc The phenomenon of what international human rights law terms ‘forced disappearances’ has been documented in conflicts worldwide for decades. During the Spanish Civil War over 140,000 people were ‘disappeared’, while Amnesty International estimates that there have been 75,000 forced … Read more
A colourful public figure who deserves more than consignment to historical obscurity. By Jack McGarry Events commemorating the first sitting of Dáil Éireann rightly celebrated the seminal importance of that historic day. Sinn Féin’s landslide victory heralded a momentous change in Irish society. An imperfect yet independent and democratically elected government had been formed in … Read more
In recent years, Tom Kettle has featured prominently in public discourse as an exemplar of the ‘forgotten’ Irish who died in the Great War. But what did he stand for? By Niamh Reilly After he was killed in the Battle of the Somme, Tom Kettle (1880–1916) was widely and effusively eulogised as ‘the most brilliant … Read more