https://ancientclans.org/heritage-site/the-battle-of-benburb/ By John Gibney Given the ongoing behemoth that is the ‘decade of centenaries’, one could be forgiven for thinking that Ireland had no history beyond the second decade of the twentieth century. While it is good to see resources being lavished on history at all, the decade seems to have become the centre of … Read more
BY AODHÁN CREALEY NOVEMBER 05/1881 Robert Mallet (71), engineer and seismologist, died. Early in his career Mallet turned his father’s Dublin foundry into one of the biggest engineering companies on these islands, supplying the ironwork for the expanding railway network, the construction of the Fasnet Lighthouse (1848–9) and much more, such as the railings surrounding … Read more
National Gallery of Ireland until 8 January 2023 By Niamh MacNally This exhibition, dedicated to the Irish artist Estella Solomons (1882–1968), comprises eighteen artworks, with loans drawn from public and private collections across the island of Ireland. It also includes items from the Estella Solomons and Seumas O’Sullivan archive, housed in the Library of Trinity … Read more
As we enter the home stretch of the ‘decade of centenaries’, another anniversary heaves in sight—the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next year. It will hardly be a celebration. At the time of writing we still don’t have a functioning power-sharing executive, and that’s been the norm for all but two of the … Read more
By James K. Meighan Convicted of sabotage and conspiracy at the Rivonia trials in South Africa, on 20 April 1964 Nelson Mandela, while awaiting a potential sentence of death, proclaimed from the dock his respect for and belief in the Magna Carta by observing that the charter was ‘held in veneration by democrats’ worldwide. The … Read more