Ireland
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The Dutch word for superstition is bijgeloof and, in a literal sense, translates into side belief or side religion. This sort of religion was the cause of the murder of Bridget Cleary on 15 March 1895. Bridget Cleary was an Irish woman who was murdered by her husband. She was either burned alive or immediately…
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The Limerick Soviet, which existed for a brief period in April 1919, stands as one of the more intriguing yet often overlooked episodes in Irish labor history. It was a striking instance of workers asserting direct control over their city in response to both political and economic pressures, reflecting the global currents of labor militancy…
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The Republic of Ireland was and still is a neutral country but during WWII there were many Irish volunteers who fought with the allies against the Axis power.Like The first RAF bomber pilot to be shot down and killed in 1939 was Willie Murphy from Cork. His navigator, Larry Slattery, from Thurles, became the longest-serving ‘British’…
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I pride myself to be a bit of a movie buff, but to my amazement I had never heard of this Oscar nominated and ‘Photo Play-Medal of Honor’ winner. Today marks his 140th birthday. He has been credited for directing at least 124 movies and shorts, which is an amazing feat by any measure. Herbert…
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I am a fan of the Netflix series The Last Kingdom, which presents a dramatized portrayal of the life of Uhtred of Bamburgh, a figure rooted in early medieval England. The events depicted in the series coincide with significant historical occurrences, such as the St. Brice’s Day Massacre, which took place around the same period.…
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Many people view Halloween as a festival centered on the eerie and frightening, where people dress up in scary costumes to give others a good scare. What I find even more curious is the tradition of “trick-or-treating.” On any other day, we warn our children not to take candy from strangers, but on October 31,…
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It’s October, which means it’s time once again for the annual Rocktober festivities! This year, I’m kicking things off with a touch of the risqué—something to please both the eyes and the ears. For the first episode, we’ll be celebrating two of Ireland’s greatest rock legends: Gary Moore and Phil Lynott. Sadly, both were taken…
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I never got the whole Jane Austen hype. I find her stories boring and there is nothing I can identify with. However the fact that there is a Limerick connection to her I do find intriguing. And I believe if she had lived in Limerick her stories may have been a lot more exiting, but…
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World War II officially started on 3 September 1939. The Nazis wasted very little time in committing their first mass murder during the war. It was only hours after the war was declared. The S.S. Athenia was commanded by Captain James Cook. He left Glasgow for Montreal via Liverpool and Belfast. She carried 1,103 passengers,…
History of Sorts 