Hello and welcome this week’s Ireland’s Own. We have a special treat for all you history lovers this week, as Cian Manning takes us on a historical trip around Waterford City. From Viking settlement to Crystal City, Waterford can trace its history from Vikings through to Victorians and its story encompasses English Kings and Irish rebels, from religious scholars to soccer players, writes Cian.

Galway is this year’s European Capital of Culture, and Ita Marguet visits the City of the Tribes. ‘Marian’ was an influential voice in Irish radio, writes Brian McCabe as he reflects on the career of presenter Marian Finucane who died on 2nd of January.

The most spectacular victim of love: John Rutter Carden’s Abduction of Eleanor Arbuthnot. Victorian society was scandalised in 1854 when the most extraordinary romantic abduction of the century took place in Tipperary. Bernadette Lowry tells us a very interesting ‘love’ story.

Con McGrath continues his Role of the Irish in WW2 series and this week he writes about seaman Samuel Thompson of Co. Down, who was machine-gunned by a Nazis plane, whilst clinging to wreckage off the coast of Co. Waterford.

Our Ireland’s Favourite Cars series returns. David Mullen casts an eye over the mighty Mini’s big brother, the Austin/Morris 1100. In her Castles of Ireland series, Gemma Grant is off to Birr Castle, Co. Offaly.

In ‘Clairvoyant Arachinds’, Shane Cochrane spins the extraordinary tale of the spiders who could tell the future! This week’s original short story is The Love Letter, by Evan Raftery. And in the Wonders of the World’s Museums Series, Cathal Coyle visits the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside your weekly favourites including Cassidy Says, Dan Conway’s Corner, Marjorie’s Kitchen, Just A Memory, Stranger Than Fiction, jokes, songs, puzzles, pen pals and much much more. Enjoy the read and I will look forward to talking to you all again next week.

                                                                                                         Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own