Hello and welcome
to this week’s edition of Ireland’s Own

In this week’s cover story Henry Wymbs remembers Ireland’s original ‘Queen of Country & Western’ Maisie McDaniel, who gained international fame in the sixties, and recalls conversations he had with her about her life growing up and her career.

In our ‘Supernatural Writers of Ireland’ series Cornelius Clarke features Bram Stoker. Our Literary Trail Through Ireland continues as this week Mary Angland profiles Leitrim-born writer and novelist, John McGahern. In ‘The Mystery of Flannan Light’, Bill McStay recalls a 125 year-old tragedy of the sea.

Sheila O’Kelly pays tribute to the country’s leading puppeteer and one of its most popular entertainers, Eugene Lambert … Wanderly Wagon, anybody? Con McGrath returns with another instalment in his Role of the Irish in WW2 series, this week featuring Mayo-born Brigadier-General William O’Dwyer, who served as Mayor of New York City from 1946-50.

In her piece ‘The Talbots of Belgard Castle’, Rosa Fox recalls a family that once defended The Pale. Harry Warren profiles the man who was Archbishop of Dublin during the take-over of Ireland by the Normans – St. Laurence O’Toole . Phelim Drew, son of the late Ronnie Drew, tells Maxi about the songs that he says make the soundtrack to his life. 

David Jones profiles the author of The Old Bog Road, Teresa Brayton, known as the ‘Poet of the Irish Exile’. This week’s original short story is ‘The Letter’ by James Stapleton. In his series ‘Poems We Learned At School’, Paddy Ryan analyses ‘The Daffodils’ by William Wordsworth. Eamonn Duggan continues his analysis of Michael Brennan’s statement to the Bureau of Military History in ‘The Witness Statements’.

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside regular favourites Cassidy Says, Stranger Than Fiction, What’s In A Name?, Dan Conway, Pete’s Pets, Marjorie’s Kitchen, Songwords, Classic Films – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Reflective Perspective, Irish Folklore with Eugene Daly, Things to Like About Spring by Patrick O’Sullivan, Readers’ Memories, Classic US TV Favourites – Revenge, A Little Bit of Ireland Elsewhere – Emmet or Emmett, scattered over USA, Lilt of Irish Laughter, Pen Friends, Irish Wildlife – Grey Heron and much more. 

I hope that you enjoy this week’s issue, and I will look forward to catching up with you again next week. Until then, take care.

Best regards, Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own