Hello and welcome
to Ireland’s Own.

Welcome to another issue of Ireland’s Own, and what a treat we have in store for you this week! We launch our annual short story writing competition, with full details inside. And who better to celebrate stories, and songs, than this week’s cover story guests…the Dublin City Ramblers.

Famous for giving us one of the country’s most loved ballads, Dublin in the Rare Ould Times, Seán Creedon meets two of the founding members of the group who first took to the road fifty years ago.

Alison Martin tells the story of Kathleen O’Connell who became famous as Eamon de Valera’s Personal Secretary, while Eamon O Buadhachain recalls various ‘Shannon Airport Hijackings’. Terry Corrigan explains why ‘Jungle Book’ author Rudyard Kipling changed his view on Irishmen after his son joined the Irish Guards in World War One.

David E. Norris charts the life of the Irishman who set up the first Barnardos home for children 150 years ago, and Billy O’Riordan tells us how it has been 75 years since Lord Haw Haw’s treason charge.

Ninety years since the death of Arthur Conan Doyle, Gerry Breen asks is Sherlock Holmes the world’s greatest detective, and finds that the author had some interesting Irish links.

Liam Nolan tells the story behind Willie Nelson’s classic song ‘Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain’, and also has the next instalment in his ‘Famous Irish Plays’ series, ‘Waiting for Godot’. We remember George Bernard Shaw’s first radio broadcast, and Geraldine Du Berry profiles Betsy Ross, who designed the Stars and Stripes flag. In his GAA greats series, Aidan Grennan remembers the career of Mick O’Connell.

Our columnists Mary Kennedy and Michael Lyster return, as does Eddie Lenihan with some stories from Famine times. Thomas Myler takes a look at Wimbledon sensation, Boris Becker.

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside your regular favourites including Miss Flanagan, Kitty the Hare, Cassidy Says, Dan Conway, Stranger Than Fiction, Catch the Criminal, Marjorie’s Kitchen, short stories, songs, jokes, puzzles, memories, pen pals and much much more. Enjoy the read, keep safe, and I will look forward to talking to you all again next week.

                                                                                                         Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own