One hundred years ago this month, Ireland found that it had to deal with former comrades fighting and killing each other. Continue reading
Filed under Irish politics …
Sixty Years of Ireland
One of Ireland’s best-known writers and his take on the years since he was born in 1958 Continue reading
St Patrick’s Day in South Australia
From the beginning of European settlement, St Patrick’s Day in South Australia has been commemorated annually as a rallying call to express Irish identity in a new land. Continue reading
Bloody Sunday: 50 years on
It was a sunny afternoon when 10,000 – 15,000 people joined together to take part in the march. The march began in the housing estate of Creggan and then made its way down the Bogside, which is the largely Catholic area just outside of Derry’s Old City walls. Continue reading
The Treaty: 100 Years on
It may help to know that the book is written by an Australian-born journalist, now living in Dublin. She comes to the story as a neutral outsider, unburdened by the many educational and social experiences that an Irish writer would carry. Continue reading
Northern Ireland identity
With 83% of those surveyed expressing a sense of belonging to Northern Ireland, the rise in a Northern Irish identity is more a reflection of an attachment to one’s homeplace, than a political statement. Continue reading
A Tribute to the Irish poet Máire Mhac an tSaoi (1922-2021)
Tá racht agus tnúth ann, agus ní cheiltear an chollaíocht.
Her voice is the voice of a young woman who did not hide her sexuality. Continue reading
Belfast, a review
The film is at its best when we follow young Buddy as he navigates the grown-up world. Through his experiences we glimpse the apparent contradictions in adult life that is intent on perpetuating difference. Your religion can be identified by the name you go by, but not always Continue reading
‘A very jolly spree’: Irish Contraceptive Laws in the 70s
I have never smuggled anything over borders before or since and I was extremely nervous, but our car was not searched on the way over. The return trip was a different matter. Continue reading
The ‘Contraceptive Train’ and Dr Caroline De Costa
This brave act of defiance, with Caroline as part of the group, paved the way for discussions about access to contraception in the ROI and particularly highlighted the need to start exploratory discussions on the provision of contraception for Irish women living there. Continue reading
Tinteán 