Eibhlin O'Neill's blog

Archaeologists discover part of hidden 12 Century Dublin

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of nine 12 Century houses during work being undertaken at Dean Street in the Coombe area of Dublin, Ireland's capital city. The dig is being undertaken ahead of the construction of a 234-bed hotel. The five dwellings and four outhouses would have originally been outside the old city walls of Dublin. They were preserved beneath the floors of later buildings on the site. An number of late Viking and medieval periods artefacts have been discovered, including a very well preserved drawing on slate of a man riding a horse.

Greetings on St Patrick's Day 17th March

Saint Patrick is the primary patron saint of Ireland and Saint Patrick's Day is observed on 17 March, which is said to be the date of his death. Celebrated inside and outside Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday, it is also a celebration of Ireland and all things Irish. Patrick was a 5th Century missionary, who came from Roman Britain and first arrived in Ireland as a slave. Patrick tells us he came from an area called Bannevam Taburniae.

Ireland's enchanting underworld of the Marble Arch Caves

The Marble Arch Caves are a series of natural limestone caves located near the village of Florencecourt (Irish: Mullach na Seangánin) in County Fermanagh  (Contae Fhear Manach) in the north of Ireland. They are close to a natural limestone arch called Marble Arch, under which the Cladagh River flows and from where the caves get their name. The caves are formed from three rivers draining off the northern slopes of Cuilcagh mountain, which combine underground to form the Cladagh.

Today marks 170 years since Irish tricolour was first flown publicly

Today marks 170 years since the Irish tricolour was first flown publicly. Thomas Francis Meagher raised what would later become the national flag at the Wolfe Tone Confederate Club at 33 The Mall in Waterford city in 1848. The flag was presented to Thomas Francis Meagher (August 3 1823 – July 1 1867) when in France by a group who were sympathetic to Irish aspirations for independence. He was a founder member of the Irish Confederation, an Irish nationalist independence movement formed in 1847.  

Annie Maunder: A pioneer of solar astronomy to be remembered in 150th anniversary celebrations

Sometimes described as the "woman forgotten by science", Annie Russell Maunder (14 April 1868 – 15 September 1947) will be remembered in a series of events on the anniversary of her birth. As reported by BBC Northern Ireland (Irish: BBC Thuaisceart Éireann) her story will be told in the town of her birth Strabane, County Tyrone (Irish: An Srath Bán, Contae Thír Eoghainas) in the north of Ireland. 

New Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald calls for doubling of party membership

At a special Ard Fheis held in Dublin today and attended by around 1,500 party delegates, Mary Lou McDonald has been formally elected as President of Sinn Féin. Mary Lou McDonald is a TD (a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the Irish Parliament) for Dublin Central. She was the only contender for the position and has been president-elect of the party since the beginning of this year.

Irish parliament's vote to ban offshore oil drilling gets the approval of Cher

The Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) Climate Emergency Measures Bill 2018 was debated in the Dáil on Wednesday and secured the backing of 78 TDs, with 48 opposing it. Dáil Éireann (Assembly of Ireland) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature).

The Celtic Feast of Imbolg February 1st

Imbolg, observed on the first day of February, is the second of the four ancient yearly Celtic Festivals, representing the advent of the traditional agricultural year. There are four great Feast Days of the Celtic Year:

Samhain - the Celtic New Year (Halloween) celebrated on November 1st

Imbolg - the Feast of the Goddess Brigit on February 1st

Beltane – festival honouring the beginning of summer

Lughnasadh - the harvest festival and last feast day in the year which falls on August 1st

Keeping the shake in Cork's Daly's Bridge

The River Lee (Irish: An Laoi) rises in the Shehy Mountains (Cnoic na Síofra) in the west of County Cork (Contae Chorcaí). It flows eastwards where it splits in two for a short distance, creating an island on which Cork's city centre is built. The river then enters into the Celtic Sea at Cork Harbour. Cork was said to have originally been founded as a monastic settlement by Saint Finbarr in the 6th century. He is patron saint of the city and of the Diocese of Cork and his feast day is September 25. Between 915 and 922 the Vikings developed Cork it into a significant trading port.

New leadership for Irish political party Sinn Féin

Retiring Sinn Féin party president Gerry Adams is scheduled to be formally replaced by Mary Lou McDonald at a special Ard Fheis (party conference) on February 10, 2018. She is a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Central constituency. Michelle O'Neill, leader of Sinn Féin in the Northern Ireland Assembly and a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Mid Ulster will become the new deputy leader of Sinn Féin.

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