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

We are pleased to bring you the story of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty as this week’s cover story. Sir Alfred Chester Beatty was a very generous man on every level who in his will bequeathed his library and its contents, in trust, “for the use and enjoyment of the public”. As a token of recognition for his distinguished service to the Irish nation, he became the first honorary citizen of Ireland, writes Paddy Ryan.

Liam Nolan continues to bring us ‘The Magic of the Musicals’, this week relaying the story of ‘Wonderful Town’. Timothy Dexter was an illiterate – but very fortunate – tycoon as we find out in Mike Webster’s profile.

Katherine Hughes, is known as the ‘Woman who Organised the Irish World’. The granddaughter of Irish emigrants, Hughes was an organiser for the Irish independence movement, writes Steven Egan.

In his popular ‘Role of the Irish in WW2’ series, Con McGrath tells us about Illustrator and author John R.
McDermott, a wartime sketch artist in the Pacific War. In ‘The Most Lamentable Burning of the Cittie of Corke in 1622’, Pat Poland outlines the dramatic events surrounding the catastrophic fire that engulfed the city 400 years ago.

Remember the catchphrase ‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name’? Well, 40 years after it first aired on NBC, Nolene McLoughlin remembers the long-running hit comedy ‘Cheers’.

In this month’s book club, the book under review this month is ‘Small Things Like These’ by Claire Keegan.
Our original short story is ‘A Train Journey’, by Anne Frehill.

Eamonn Duggan continues his series on The Civil War, as the fighting intensifies across the country. The month of August was to be particularly tragic because of the sudden death of Arthur Griffith the leader of the Provisional Government and, of course, Michael Collins, who was shot dead in an ambush at Béal na mBláth, writes Eamonn. 

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside your regular favourites including Cassidy Says, Dan Conway’s Corner, Pete’s Pets, gardening advice, Marjorie’s Kitchen, Just A Memory, jokes, songs, rivers, films, What’s In Your Name and much much more.

Take care, and I will look forward to talking to you all again next week.

                                                                                                        Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own