Feb 5, 2022
Perhaps inevitably, the traditions of Irish storytelling survived much longer on the country’s off-shore islands than anywhere on the mainland. Mary’s grandmother was raised on Long Island off the coast of West Cork. Likewise, her mother grew up on Hare Island off...
Jan 30, 2022
See here for more stories from Vanishing Ireland On his mantelpiece stands the letter of congratulation he received from President McAleese on 23 June 2002, surmounted by the four Centenarians coins presented on each subsequent birthday. At the age of 104, Bill...
Jan 30, 2022
Arguably the greatest greyhound trainer in Irish history, Ger maintained that the two greatest nights of his life were winning the three Texaco Awards and winning the Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park in Cork City with his three sons by his side. He won all four of the...
Jan 30, 2022
In a letter I received in March 2007, former Timahoe publican John Headen told me of a carman or coal carrier called Jimmy Bolger who he knew as a young man. The story of his homeward voyage from the pub with his horses is so beautiful that I transcribe the tale here....
Jan 28, 2022
The eldest of thirteen children, Mick Cronin was eight years old when John Grayson Duckworth opened the Naas Cotton Mills in 1938. A group of weavers from Lancashire came to train the Naas locals in the skills of mechanised textile work. Eight years later, Mick took...
