History & Folklore

It’s very difficult to change a perception of anything once it becomes established in popular culture. It always seems to me that Irish people like that we have some link and heritage with the Vikings. They come from an era that was pre Anglo-Norman, who of course became the permanent […]

Following on from last month’s issue, Kieran Doyle reflects further on a road trip in the USA.  In the previous issue, I explored my perception of American patriotism, which was very much aligned to their military past and indeed present. Their role as kingmakers in the foreign policy of other […]

It is surprising the number of phrases, which were once used only in nautical situations, that have been adopted into everyday speech. Many nautical terms derive from the ‘Age of Sail’, the period of time between the 16th and 19th centuries, when masted ships ruled the seas. Ahoy – This […]

Our ancestors believed that there is only a very thin veil between this world of mortals and the Otherworld. This veil disappears completely twice a year, at ‘Bealtaine’ (May Eve and May Day) and ‘Samhain’ (November 1).  On these pivotal dates the spirits of the Otherworld intermingled with mortals. Supernatural […]

The academic philosopher Julian Baggini claims the ‘fundamental basis of reasoning about matters of fact is empirical – based on observation and experience’. Simply put, observing the evidence for yourself. Once we undertook a decision to travel to the States, we undertook a historical road trip, observing, the great pillars […]