Historical Tours Ireland - We provide tours around Scotland and Ireland

Myles Dungan and guests - Marie Coleman, Mary McAuliffe, Tomás Mac Conmara, Ailbhe Rogers and Lindie Naughton - discuss the experience of women during the Irish War of Independence. Broadcast on 13 October 2019, the show hears about the vital role they played in the conflict and how Cumann na Mban served as the eyes and ears of the republican campaign. We’ll also discuss the physical and mental trauma of the war, and the gendered violence, perpetrated by both the IRA and the Crown Forces. Myles is joined by Marie Coleman, Senior Lecturer in history at Queen’s University Belfast, Mary McAuliffe, an historian with University College Dublin, Tomás Mac Conmara, an oral historian and author, and Ailbhe Rogers, an historian and a PHD candidate at Maynooth University. In a report from Colette Kinsella, the show hearsr from Lindie Naughton on the experience of Countess Constance Markievicz during the war. Lindie is the author of two books on the Countess, including last year's volu...

The Colleen Bawn (1911) Irish Silent Films on the Internet: A film Restoration Project of Irish Film & TV Research Online, Trinity College Dublin

This short film on the crash-landing of the Leonardo da Vinci at Clooneyogan, Moy in May, 1934 has been released on Youtube. The airplane was on a first attempt to fly directly from New York to Rome, but crash-landed on Hennessy’s farm in Clooneyogan, Moy, County Clare. The pilots - Lieutenant Cesare Sabelli and Captain George Pond – were feted in Lahinch, Ennis, and later in Dublin. An account of the landing by Colin Hennessy can be found on Clare County Library’s website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/hennessy/political_life.htm

When it comes to sailing holidays, Scotland has an unforgettable voyage for every sailor. Cast your mind to swirling blue seas, far-flung islands and nautical adventures aplenty. From the rugged shores of Skye and the untamed charms of Jura on the west coast to the glorious wildlife of the Moray Firth on the east coast, sailing in Scotland is one of the best ways to discover our varied coastline and islands. You may find yourself relaxing on a scenic cruise along the Crinan Canal, passing an iconic modern marvel at the Falkirk Wheel, or relishing the tranquil beauty of Loch Lomond. And, there are some wonderful places to drop anchor. Oban is a gateway to several island adventures and it offers some delicious dining options, or stop off at Tarbert whilst sailing through Loch Fyne and enjoy this picturesque harbour town. Several pristine beaches await too, including the seafaring haven of North Berwick and the blissfully chilled out coastal retreat of Crail in Fife. With all ...

In Irish folk tradition, the calendar is principally split into ‘Quarter Days’, so called as they divide the year into each of its four seasons of summer (May Day / Bealtaine), autumn (Lammas / Lúnasa), winter (Halloween / Samhain) and, of course, spring (St. Brigid’s Day / Imbolc), which falls on the 1st of February. Jonny Dillon, folklorist, tells us of her cultural significance.  St. Brigid’s Day is dedicated to the saint nicknamed Muire na nGael or the ‘Mary of the Irish’, a designation given to her on account of the adoration and high regard in which she has long been held by the people of this island. The special position attributed to her is reflected even in the name Brigid, which means ‘high’, ‘lofty’, ‘elevated’, or ‘exalted’ one. To come to a full understanding and appreciation of her feast however, we must examine the Pre-Christian roots, not just of the celebration, but of the figure of Brigid herself. Prior to any veneration of the earl...