Hello and welcome
to this week’s edition of Ireland’s Own

This week’s cover story is entitled – ‘Where Nelson Once Stood’. It is sixty years since the controversial Pillar’s end on March 8th, 1966, a blast toppled the statue of Admiral Nelson from his pillar on Dublin’s O’Connell Street, leaving a jagged 70‑foot stump. Six days later, the Army demolished the rest in a controlled explosion as crowds looked on. Seán Creedon remembers the historical day in Dublin’s city centre. 

Sheila O’Kelly pays tribute to the talented uileann piper and tin whistle player, Liam O’Flynn. In our ‘Supernatural Writers of Ireland’ series. Cornelius Clarke writes a  profile of Lafcadio Hearn. Mary Angland continues her ‘Literary Trail Through Ireland’. This week Mary profiles the Anglo-Irish poet and novelist, Oliver Goldsmith.

In this week’s Classic Miss Flanagan story, you can read about ‘Her Finest Hour’. The Benford sleuth regales the Bishop with tales of her success … or does she? Con McGrath returns with more from his ‘Role of the Irish in WW2’ series. This week Con features Chaplain Charles Hussey of Cork, who alone carried eight wounded men from the battlefield.

What was the difference between the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries? Even today, many people conflate the two, erroneously lumping them together under the handy moniker of ‘Black and Tans’. Pat Poland explains the difference between the two. In ‘Buachaillí Bána’ Denis J. Hickey recalls the activities of the ‘Whiteboys’ that were famous throughout Ireland in the late 1700s and early 1800s, and recalls a famous case involving Daniel O’Connell.

In ‘More Old Measures’, Nicky Rossiter explains the origins of some everyday words relating to measurement. This week’s original short story is ‘Granny’s Helper’ by Wynn Cave. Paddy Ryan has more ‘Poems We Learned At School’. This week Paddy analyses ‘To Daffodils’ by Robert Herrick.

In ‘The Witness Statements’ Eamonn Duggan continues his analysis of Michael Brennan’s statement to the Bureau of Military History. And don’t forget to check out our 12-page Owen’s Club section with more fun and games, features and fascinating facts for our younger readers.

We have all of this for you to enjoy alongside regular favourites Cassidy Says, Stranger Than Fiction, What’s In A Name?, Dan Conway, Pete’s Pets, Marjorie’s Kitchen, Song Words, Classic Films – Rebecca, Reflective Perspective, Irish Folklore with Eugene Daly, A Fine Spring Morning by Patrick O’Sullivan, Readers’ Memories, Classic US TV Favourites – The Roy Rogers Show, A Little Bit of Ireland Elsewhere – Dublin, Georgia, Lilt of Irish Laughter, Pen Friends, Irish Wildlife – Common Mussel and much more. 

I hope that you enjoy this week’s issue and I will look forward to catching up with you all again next when we bring you this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Annual. Until then, take care. 

Best regards, Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own