Search Results for 'Merrion Press'

Knowledge of how to read the sea is a rare gift. Patrick Oliver, one the last of the Claddagh fishermen, who once had a fleet of 200 boats in the bay, carries on the family tradition successfully catching lobster and crab. Patrick knows the local coastal waters like few others. When on Thursday morning August 13 2020, he heard that the two young women, Sara Feeney (23) and Ellen Glynn (17), who had set out from Furbo beach on their inflatable paddle boards the evening before, were still missing, he phoned his brother Dave who had been out all night on the Galway lifeboat searching.

On a wet and windy night off the coast of Mayo, the big Search and Rescue 116, Sikorsky S92 helicopter, was preparing to land at Blacksod lighthouse to refuel. It was Monday evening March 13 2017.

In the summer of 1840 two of London’s most prolific writers and journalists, Mr and Mrs S C Hall, set out from London for an ambitious tour of Ireland. They would later publish their journey and observations in Ireland - its Scenery and Character, a best selling three volume snap-shot of Ireland, sumptuously illustrated by engravings created by the best artists of its time*. It is a treasured collector’s item today.

Even though it was in the furthermost parish of Archbishop MacHale’s large Tuam archdiocese, once he realised the permanency and the extent of the Protestant settlement on Achill Island (built and directed by the fervent Rev Edward Nangle in the 1830s),* the archbishop was consumed with fury. He waged a belated but rather terrifying campaign to have it scorned and ignored by the island’s 6,000 residents.

A sort of panic obsessed the Archbishop of Tuam, John MacHale, when he realised the extent of the foothold gained by the uncompromising Church of Ireland evangelist Edward Nangle. Achill Island after all, was the very backyard of his immense diocese.

On the eve of the Great Famine there was a terrible scandal in Kinvara, Co Galway. William Burke, who had served as a Catholic priest for 13 years, announced to his congregation that he was leaving the church and becoming Protestant. The people were so angry that about 2,000 pursued his carriage and hurled abuse at him. Two other clergymen and police protection were required to keep him safe.

DRUID THEATRE Co's Garry Hynes, Galway based singer-songwriter Steven Sharpe, along with other Galwegians, feature in a new book about LGBT Irish lives and the impact of the Yes vote in the marriage equality referendum.