Come all ye Martins

Sir,—I have been researching the history of the Martin/Martyn family ofGalway, Ireland for over two years now, detailing as much as ispossible of our nine-hundred year history. The real surprise of my workwas that after some very detailed and painstaking research—neveragain!—I have been able to draw up/revise/up-date over a dozen familypedigrees, most of whom can … Read more

Ireland and the Olympic Games

Sir,—I found it curious that Patrick O’Sullivan’s article ‘Ireland and the Olympic Games’ in HI Spring 1998 should fail to mention John Mary Pius Boland (1870-1958). Boland, a Dubliner, won two Olympic gold medals for tennis in the 1896 games in Athens, becoming the first Irishman to win an Olympic honour.—Yours etc., KEVIN O’SULLIVAN Letterkenny … Read more

Forced Landings

Sir,—I have been commissioned to produce a record of the forcedlandings and crashes of belligerent aircraft—British, German andAmerican—which occurred in neutral Ireland during World War II.Official records show 163 incidents, but there appears to have beenover 200, including those aircraft which fell into territorial waters. I am anxious to obtain personal reminiscences of as many … Read more