Limerick
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In the spring of 1919, as the Irish War of Independence was beginning to spread across the island, an extraordinary and largely anomalous episode in revolutionary history unfolded in the mid-west of Ireland. For two weeks, from 14 to 27 April, Limerick was effectively governed not by the British authorities or the newly established Dáil…
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(Originally posted November 2016) On the morning of October 3rd, 1975, Dr. Tiede Herrema was driving from his home in Castletroy, County Limerick, to a meeting at the Ferenka steel plant in Annacotty when he was abducted by two Irish republicans, Marion Coyle and Eddie Gallagher. Herrema had been sent by the parent company in…
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Three decades danced in sun and rain,Through joy and sorrow, loss and gain.With every year, our roots grew deep,In memories that time will keep. From whispered dreams to laughter loud,We’ve walked this path so strong, so proud.A love that’s weathered all and more—Still holding hands, like days before. So here’s to us, our bond, our…
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I interviewed Limerick based author Seosamh Ó Cuinneagáin. Though long settled in Limerick, Ó Cuinneagáin’s journey began in Co. Kilkenny, rooted in childhood stories told by Paddy Stapleton, a veteran of the Somme. Stapleton’s tales of German precision planted the seed of a lifelong obsession. Decades later, that curiosity manifested in twenty consecutive summers spent…
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First of all, let me explain the term “neck of the woods,” and what it means for those of you who have never heard it. Basically, it is the place or area where someone lives or originates from. I was born in the Dutch province of Limburg, but now, I live in Limerick—hence the title.…
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I had a chat a few days ago with a friend. We were talking about the Holocaust, and we both agreed that the Germans, specifically the German Nazis, were the main instigators and culprits of the world’s biggest crime. Without them, there may not have been a Holocaust or at least not on the scale.…
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“MacArthur Park” is one of the most polarizing and memorable songs in the history of pop music. Written by Jimmy Webb and first recorded by Limerick born actor and singer Richard Harris in 1968, it was released on May 11, 1968. The song blends orchestral grandeur with emotionally charged, often cryptic lyrics. Its seven-and-a-half-minute runtime,…
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Morning spills gently over Limerick town,A soft gold light where the River Shannon runs down,Whispering past bridges, calm and wide,Carrying the hush of the turning tide. The sky wears blue like it means to stay,Not a cloud to trouble the tender day,And blossoms wake in quiet delight,Petals catching the newborn light. Along the paths where…
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A while ago, I discovered a Jewish Cemetery in Limerick. It was across from a landmark pub in the city called the The Hurlers Pub. There was a small laneway across from Hurlers leading to the small cemetery. One of the graves was of Simon Gewurz. He was originally from Bratislava in Slovakia and moved…
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At the turn of the twentieth century, Ireland was still under British rule, and Irish political life was dominated by questions of nationalism, land reform, and identity. The Jewish population in Ireland was small—numbering only a few thousand nationwide—and largely composed of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from Eastern Europe, particularly the Russian Empire. Many…
History of Sorts 