Hello and welcome to this week’s issue of Ireland’s Own.

This week’s cover story features a man of many talents, Patrick Bergin. The actor, musician and writer shares highlights of his career and tells Kay Doyle about his newly released song The Tipperary Waltz in which he pays homage to his great-uncle who fought in WWI.

Nellie Bly, the pioneer of modern investigative journalism is remembered by Sian Thewlis Duggan. Our gardening expert, Aileen Atcheson, has more tips for keeping your garden beautiful in May.

Tyrone Power, the matinee idol of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, is profiled by Anthony Costelloe while in his Role of the Irish in WW2 series, Con McGrath tells the story of Mother Lawrence McCarthy – sentenced to death by the Nazis, this Cork Lady was to suffer a fate, perhaps more horrifying than execution.

In his Memories of the ‘Merry Month’ article, John Corbett returns with a selection of people and events associated with the month of May.

Noah Webster, American lexicographer, remembered now almost solely as the compiler of a continuously successful dictionary, was for half a century among the more influential literary men in the United States, writes Jim Rees.

Francis Kaye recalls a healthy, cheap and innocent pastime of the 1950s called ‘Boulie Races’.

Our original short story is Coming Home by Fergus Caulfield, and in his ‘The Witness Statements’ series, Eamonn Duggan tells how the Kilkenny Republicans prepared for conflict (Part 2).

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside your weekly favourites. Enjoy the read and I will look forward to catching up with you all again next week.

                                                                                                    Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own