Our history is full of untold and almost unknown lives. Twenty-five years ago, while researching a book on the Royal Irish Constabulary, I first got to know something about Tom Hughes (b. February 1, 1891). He was one of the constables in Listowel barracks in June 1920 when the British government declared Munster to be…
In his brief life Donal Walsh came to the attention of the nation through an appearance on The Saturday Night Show. Donal was, as he said himself, a sports mad Kerry boy, who was struck by cancer, not once but twice, the second time mortally. He was quite a normal boy, so one is not…
I was reading a book in Eason’s one day some years ago when I got the distinct impression the words were familiar to me. After a few minutes I realised why. They were my own ones. But someone else’s name was on the cover. Plagiarism is as rampant in the music business as in literature.…
After covering some contentious issues in the last few weeks, I’m back on a positive trail this week. There have been some good news stories. On Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1, Tuesday) Aaron McElroy reported from the ordination of young priest Fr Stephen Sherry in Monaghan. An increase of interest in vocations was noted along…
Michael Collins will be a familiar figure to readers. For many years he was an important commentator for international television services on events and personalities in Rome. He brings all that experience to bear in this new biography of Pope Leo XIV. This is the second biography of the Pope to come to hand recently,…
Brendan McManus will be known to readers for his writings on the Camino and for the trilogy of books that make up the Mess series of books, dealing with the spiritual state of the world today. These have all been widely read. But here is a very different book. It appeals to stillness and to…
The centenary of Sir David Attenborough has been marked with tributes around the globe, wherever indeed his various full-colour television series on the natural world since 1979 have been shown. These have done a great deal to arouse in many people a passionate interest in the world around us. The tributes were certainly well deserved.…
The Story of Us: Independent Ireland and 1926 Census, Edited by Orlaith McBride and John Gibney (Irish Academic Press, €24.99 / £22.99) This book, prepared to accompany the release of the forms from the Irish Free State Census in 1926, is surely misnamed. What in fact is the communal collective of the title intended to…
Daily Wisdom – Léann an Lae: Irish Proverbs and Sayings for Each Day of the Year, by John Quinn (Red Stripe Press, €14.99 / £17.50) Author John Quinn died on New Years Day at the age of 84. This book was originally published some six years ago by the now defunct Veritas Publication, whose disappearance was a…
here is no lack of hot button issues. As soon as one is discussed and fades, another lands to take its place. It’s a queue of controversies. Last week RTÉ seemed to be throwing its weight behind moves to progress surrogacy legislation. No fewer than three speakers in favour were interviewed last Wednesday morning, while…
Peter Costello
Aubrey Malone
Brendan O’Regan