Stair na hÉireann/History of Ireland

Irish History, Culture, Heritage, Language, Mythology

‘Prayers in a Foreign Field’ © Joe Canning 2019. All Rights Reserved.

12/01/2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

‘Prayers in a Foreign Field’ © Joe Canning 2019. All Rights Reserved. Joe Canning ‘ A look at Ireland in verse’ The bells rang out at 6am, at noon and six at night, To still the lands and living rooms for just a little while. As eighteen times the hammer struck, The old folk stood […]

#OTD in 1972 – Death of Longford poet and playwright, Padraic Colum. He was one of the leading figures of the Irish Literary Revival.

11/01/2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

Padraic Colum was an Irish poet, novelist, dramatist, biographer and collector of folklore. He was one of the leading figures of the Celtic Revival. Colum wrote and met a number of the leading Irish writers of the time, including W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory and Æ. He also joined the Gaelic League and was a […]

‘A Walk Among Snowdrops’ © Joe Canning 2019. All Rights Reserved.

05/01/2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

‘A Walk Among Snowdrops’ © Joe Canning 2019. All Rights Reserved. Joe Canning ‘ A look at Ireland in verse’ My warm breath creates a brief mist, The crisp fallen leaf and twig crackles underfoot. My heavy boots rustle the natural compost. The earthen floor is soft, cushioning, comforting. The alert squirrel darts […]

#OTD in 1957 – Birth of musician and singer, Shane MacGowan.

25/12/2018.Reading time 1 minute.

Shane MacGowan was born in Pembury, Kent, to Irish parents. MacGowan spent his early childhood in Tipperary before his family moved back to England when he was six and a half. He lived in many parts of the south-east, including Brighton and London. Drawn to the punk music scene, he formed the folk-punk band the […]

‘Winter’ by Tommy Makem

22/12/2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

WINTER, a sharp bitter day the robin turns plump against the cold the sun is weak silver faded from gold he is late in his coming and short in his stay Man, beast, bird and air all purging, all cleansing, earth already purified awaits the rite of spring Her bridal gown a virgin snow and […]

‘A Childhood Christmas’ by Patrick Kavanagh

16/12/2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

One side of the potato‑pits was white with frost— How wonderful that was, how wonderful! And when we put our ears to the paling‑post The music that came out was magical. The light between the ricks of hay and straw Was a hole in Heaven’s gable. An apple tree With its December‑glinting fruit we saw […]

#OTD in 1987 – ‘Fairytale of New York’ by the Pogues and Kirsty McColl reaches no. 2 in the UK charts.

16/12/2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

#OTD in 1939 – Bernard Noël ‘Banjo Barney’ McKenna of the Dubliners is born.

16/12/2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Barney McKenna was the last surviving founding member of the Irish folk group the Dubliners. While Ronnie Drew’s gravelly voice gave the band its memorable vocal sound, it was McKenna’s playing of the tenor banjo, coupled with John Sheahan’s fiddle, that gave the Dubliners their original instrumental quality. In the process, McKenna redefined the role […]

‘My Fair Irish Maid’ by Michael Walsh

15/12/2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

‘My Fair Irish Maid’ by Michael Walsh Ma Vourneen is language of, A sweet land called Desire, From glens of Donegal to Cork, She sets the heart on fire, There’s beauty in a colleen Blue eyes and auburn hair, Or hair in flame, or Saxon blonde, Much more than heart can bear. There’s a beauty […]

#OTD in 2009 – Death of actor and folk singer, Liam Clancy, from Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary.

04/12/2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

‘The best ballad singer I ever heard in my life’ was Bob Dylan’s verdict on Liam Clancy, who died at age 74 on this date. He was the last remaining member of the best-known of all Irish folk groups, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, who made an impression that was strong enough for them […]