A Short History of Irish Gold

A Short History of Irish Gold

There is gold in Irish hills, as evidenced by recent finds on the Armagh-Monaghan border and the Sperrins Mountains of County Tyrone. Ireland’s rapport with gold actually began about 4,000 years ago when the Bell-Beaker people arrived in from Europe, heralding the...
Ronnie Delany –  Gold Medal Hero of the 1956 Olympics

Ronnie Delany – Gold Medal Hero of the 1956 Olympics

‘One of my proudest moments was when my son said to me, later in my life, “Dad, I never knew that you were a famous sports person until I was about 10 years of age”. I thought that was beautiful. To him I was just Dad. I wasn’t Ronnie Delany the iconic athlete.’...
The Big Snow & Freeze-Up in West Wicklow, 1963, by Michael O’Brien

The Big Snow & Freeze-Up in West Wicklow, 1963, by Michael O’Brien

“The heavens scowled, the huskies howled and an ice wind began to blow” – The Cremation of Sam McGee, Robert Service. I had never heard of the poet of the Yukon, Robert Service, until New Year’s Day in 1963. The narrator was my neighbour, Jim, and his muse...
Rise & Fall of the Knights Templar – The Irish Experience

Rise & Fall of the Knights Templar – The Irish Experience

The Knights Templar have captivated people’s imagination ever since the Order was founded in 1119. One of the most powerful forces in Europe for almost 200 years, their initial purpose was to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land. In Ireland, they had manors and banking...