‘Hairy Iopas, that exploded volcano, the darling of all countries and the champion of his own’

FIELD, William (1843–1935), nationalist politician and businessman, was born in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, son of John Field, victualler, and Grace Field (née Byrne). He became politically active in the Amnesty […]

The battle for Fontenoy

The tiny village in Hainaut slumbers in the morning sun. Once a great battle was fought in Fontenoy. Thousands of soldiers died here on 11 May 1745. Some of the […]

Eoin (‘Pope’) O’Mahony

When Eoin O’Mahony died in February 1970 at the age of 65 The Times said that he was the outstanding Irish talker of his time and remarked that if he […]

The nightmare of history

Ireland will find it difficult to escape the nightmare of history this centennial June, with a series of events slated to explore history in several invented states.   Historians and […]

Castle Hill and Vinegar Hill: the Australian Rising of 1804

While Dublin Castle anticipated a revival of United Irish activity in Leinster 200 years ago, it was in New South Wales, Australia, that the republican organisation made its last show […]