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

In this week’s cover story we are thrilled to feature the one and only, Pat Jennings. The Irish goalkeeping legend turned 80 this month and he talks to Seán Creedon about his magnificent career with Spurs, Arsenal and Northern Ireland.

In his piece the ‘Last Will and Testament of George Bernard Shaw’, Gerry Moran writes about how Shaw ordered that his assets were to pay for reform of the English alphabet into a phonetic version of forty letters. The bi-centenary of the birth of the Bard of the Lee, John Fitzgerald, is marked by Pauline Murphy.

In her ‘Irish Myths and Legends’ series, Gemma Grant begins a new seven-part series called ‘Naoise and the Faery Druids’, while in his ‘Role of the Irish in WW2’ series, Con McGrath features Derry-born Harry Callan, one of ‘Hitler’s Irish Slaves’ who was forced to work on a massive submarine bunker in Germany.

Our ‘MISS FLANAGAN SUMMER SERIAL’ continues with part two of ‘Secrets of the Past’. Miss Flanagan has arrived in Boston on a mission to find out why her father mysteriously resigned from the police force before moving back to Ireland and never speaking about it again. Her cousin, Sister Seán Marie, has arranged a meeting with a retired cop who might have some answers to their questions …

In her article ‘Jack Tyrrell and Asgard ll’, Nuala Holloway recalls the life and career of the Arklow master boat builder. Fanatical sports supporter Breda Nathan swaps the terrace for the couch but still retains her passion for all sports. This week’s original short story is ‘Private and Confidential’ by Patsy Collins. The GAA Year of 2020 is reviewed by Aidan Grennan. Joe Cushnan recalls Patrick Campbell, 3rd Baron Glenavy, who was a team captain on the popular TV show ‘Call My Bluff’.

In ‘The Witness Statements’ we bring you part eight of the series on ‘Ernest Blythe’. Eamonn Duggan continues his analysis of the statement given by Ernest Blythe to the Bureau of Military History.

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, Song Words, Classic Films – Kramer Vs Kramer, Reflective Perspective, Irish Folklore with Eugene Daly, Readers’ Memories, Classic US TV Favourites – Smallville, Waterways of Ireland – The Royal Canal, Part 14, Lilt of Irish Laughter, Pen Friends, Irish Wildlife – The Stinging Nettle and much more.

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

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