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

As the excitement for this year’s Oscars’ ceremony gathers momentum (and we have a strong Irish interest in proceedings) this week’s cover story is about ‘The Irish on the Hollywood Walk of Fame’. Many Irish-born performers earned stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking their contributions from the silent‑film era to modern television, writes Joe Cushnan.

Cornelius Clarke continues his ‘Supernatural Writers of Ireland’ series, this week profiling the life of Charlotte Riddell. In her ‘Literary Trail Through Ireland’ adventures, Mary Angland writes about Limerick-born writer and novelist Kate O’Brien. In ‘Ireland’s Darkest Days Part 2’, Pat Poland recalls a submarine explosion in Cork Harbour, February 1905.

Con McGrath returns with his ‘Role of the Irish in WW2’ series and this week features General Sir Charles Jones, recipient of the Military Cross during the Dunkirk evacuation, who later accepted the surrender of the Japanese in Malaya. In ‘Paperback Writer’, John Scally chats to best-selling author Cathy Kelly about her life and career as she launches her latest novel ‘The Island Retreat’.

Anne Delaney details how Harry Boland received four jewels from a Russian envoy in April 1920 as collateral for a $20,000 loan to the Russians on behalf of the Irish Government. Under the agreement, the jewels would be returned when the loan was repaid.

Saint John Henry Newman, the 19th-century’s most important English-speaking Catholic, was a priest, popular preacher, writer, and eminent theologian, writes Harry Warren. while in ‘Max-Trax’ Maxi recalls her conversation with Seán Ó Sé. Before he passed away in January of this year the man who will always be associated with ‘An Poc Ar Buile’ shared memories of the tunes that made a big difference in his life.

Ivor Casey profiles the noted Irish comic actress and singer of stage and film, Maureen Delaney, while this week’s original short story is ‘Tommy and Pip’ by John Holohan. In the ‘Poems We Learned At School’, Paddy Ryan analyses ‘The Village Blacksmith’ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Eamonn Duggan continues his analysis of Michael Brennan’s statement to the Bureau of Military History.

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside Cassidy Says, Stranger Than Fiction, What’s In A Name?, Dan Conway, Pete’s Pets, Marjorie’s Kitchen, Song Words, Classic Films – Rocky, Reflective Perspective, Irish Folklore with Eugene Daly, Through the Kitchen Window by Patrick O’Sullivan, Readers’ Memories, Classic US TV Favourites – Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, A Little Bit of Ireland Elsewhere – O’Neill, Nebraska, Lilt of Irish Laughter, Pen Friends, Irish Wildlife – Ants and more.

I hope that you enjoy this week’s issue, and I will look forward to catching up with you again next week. Until then, take care.

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