The GPO It was the headquarters of the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916 and since then it has been an important part of national identity ever since. The General Post Office, or the GPO as it is known, is back in the news again amid concerns over its future. Indeed, just this very week questions have been raised in Dail Eireann about plans for the historic site. Back in 1935, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Risin...
The Battle of the Somme It was fought 109 years ago today, 1 July, and one was one of the bloodiest battles and prolonged conflicts in modern warfare. The Battle of Somme also cost thousands of Irish lives as they were amongst the first to ‘go over the top’ on that July morning. A major part of the Great War, the Somme offensive was fought by the British and French against the Germans and lasted from July to November 19...
‘The nation holds its breath’ One of the really interesting aspects of browsing the Irish Newspaper Archive is to examine the headlines and full page spreads on significant and historic dates in Irish history. When a particular event dominates most of the page it is even more interesting. Take for example this day 35 years ago when news of the Republic of Ireland’s victory over Romania in the World Cup (Italia 90)...
Robert Dudley Edwards: how his biographer made use of newspaper archives The biography of historian and archivist Robert Dudley Edwards, Professor of Modern Irish History at University College Dublin is published this month, drawing repeatedly on newspapers within the Irish News Archive. Telling the Truth is Dangerous is to be launched on 26 and 27 June, and interested parties are welcome to attend (see details below). Th...
Spancil Hill If you know your Irish ballads, you will know that today – 23rd June – is ‘the day before the fair’, a reference to the great annual fair which was held annually on the 24th June in the county Clare village. It was made famous by the ballad ‘Spancil Hill’ which starts: ''Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by My mind been bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly I stepped on...
The late Henry Mountcharles The death of Henry Mountcharles today, aged 74 today rekindles memories of both election bids and the hosting of several international musicians at concerts at Slane Castle since the 1980s. Mountcharles has been described today by the President of Ireland as holding a unique place in the live music scene in the country. The success of Slane Castle as a music venue and now as a major tourist at...
The Great Leviathan Have you heard of the Great Leviathan of Birr? Well in the middle of the 19th century Birr in county Offaly was at the centre of world science and astronomy. Why? Because the inventor of the then largest telescope in the world was William Parsons, third earl of Rosse. He was born on this day, 225 years ago! This feat was celebrated 50 years ago on television as the Irish Examiner newspaper records: ...
James Joyce Bloomsday is a commemoration and celebration of the life of Irish writer James Joyce, observed annually in Dublin and elsewhere on 16 June. It marks the day in which Joyce’s legendary Ulysses was set in 1904. However, have you ever heard of how Joyce died in Switzerland during war time Europe? His death and burial in Zurich was attended by view and barely reported on in Irish newspapers. Here some examples fro...
Alcock and Brown The Irish War of Independence had commenced, although it had not reached its most dangerous phase, when two men, Alcock and Brown landed in Ireland from the skies making history in the process. What was so historic about what they achieved? Well it was a significant moment in aviation history and the British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight. They ...
Ernie O’Malley It is a somewhat ‘grainy’ photograph from the front cover of the Irish Press newspaper in March 1957 but it tells a lot about the respect in which the man was held. O’Malley was one of the most important and enduring figures of the Irish revolution and the same newspapers coverage of his death provides an interesting outline of his life (although later records probably superseded what was publishe...