Northern Ireland turns 100 today. On 03 May 2021 it legally came into being, ending years of civil war when it separated from the rest of the island of Ireland. The six counties of Fermanagh, Armagh, Tyrone, Londonderry, Antrim and Down broke away from the other twenty-six to become part of a United Kingdom alongContinue reading “Happy Birthday Northern Ireland”
Tag Archives: history
Happy/Unhappy 12th July
Good Morning from Northern Ireland. Happy 12th July. Or Unhappy 12th July. You see, it depends on what part of the community you originate from in this fair land that I call home. Anyway, it’s a big deal whatever way you look at it. For this day 330 years ago the Protestant army of KingContinue reading “Happy/Unhappy 12th July”
R.I.P The Flowers of Manchester
Remembering today the 23 souls who died in the Munich Air Disaster on 06 February 1958. The dead included 11 players and staff of the famous Manchester United football team, who were returning from a European Cup quarter final in Belgrade. Nicknamed the ‘Busby Babes’ after their manager, Sir Matt Busby, who survived the crash,Continue reading “R.I.P The Flowers of Manchester”
Stuff I See On My Lunch Break
Yesterday’s lunchtime run took me out of the city and through the Titanic Quarter to H.M.S. Caroline. Caroline was a British battle cruiser which fought at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 during the 1st World War. It is the last survivor of Jutland but also operated as the H.M. Naval base in Belfast duringContinue reading “Stuff I See On My Lunch Break”
My Current Read
Yes, shock, horror it’s a book about the Battle of Waterloo. I’m about 100 pages, the author focusing on the accounts of the men (and women) from both sides who were present just outside a little known Belgian village called Waterloo on 18 June 2015. The carnage which followed reshaped the map of Europe andContinue reading “My Current Read”
Happy 4th July America
Happy 4th July to all our American followers! A long time ago there was a war after some tea got poured into a harbour. The redcoats got a bit of a pasting. Some men in wigs signed a bit of parchment. I wrote a dissertation about Earl Cornwallis and his dodgy military tactics in theContinue reading “Happy 4th July America”
What Makes A Good Writer?
I wrote yesterday that I’m taking a mini blogging hiatus over the next few days as I focus on completing the third draft of my novel. I’m happy to report that progress is being made as I now have the first 14 chapters, roughly 12000 words, in a coherent running order. Yesterday was the firstContinue reading “What Makes A Good Writer?”
12th Of July Parades – Aghalee
A taste of the 12th of July celebrations which are being held in our village this year. Feel free to ask questions. It’s all about history and culture and stuff…. What do you know about the 12th July parades in Northern Ireland? Is this what you expected?
Northern Ireland – A Potted History
Well that was an exciting St. Patrick’s Day. Ireland defeated England 24-15 to win the Six Nations Rugby Championship and the Grand Slam in the process. This is a massive deal over here as the country is rugby mad. And it’s always satisfying to beat the English at anything. Ireland are now ranked second inContinue reading “Northern Ireland – A Potted History”
The New World
We visited the Ulster-American Folk Park this week which is just outside my home town of Omagh, County Tyrone. It is a largely outdoor living museum which tells the story of Irish emigrants who left Ireland during the Great Famine of the 1840’s to seek a better life in America. This was right up myContinue reading “The New World “
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