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

There are very few things that evoke the memory of an Irish home like the Sacred Heart picture with the eternal lamp. In this week’s cover story, Liam Nolan takes a look at the iconic image, charting its history and explaining how it became a much-adored feature in homes around Ireland.

Paddy Ryan recalls some of the ways in which we express ourselves through the medium of idioms; Joseph O’Neill tells the story of Elizabeth Prout also known as Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus, who was the founder of the religious congregation of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion.

The Dun Emer Press was an Irish private press founded in 1902 by Evelyn Gleeson, Elizabeth Yeats, and her brother, William Butler Yeats, as part of the Celtic Revival. It was named after Emer, wife of the legendary Cú Chulainn, and evolved into the Cuala Press, writes Sheila O’Kelly.

In her Irish Myths and Legends series, Gemma Grant tells the story of Fintan Mac Bochra and the settling of Tara, while Con McGrath tells the story of Sligo-man Dermod Kirwan who worked for the British Admiralty as a Radio Operator intercepting naval signals on German ships and U-Boats, in his Role of the Irish in WWII series.

In ‘The Ballad Sheet’, Eugene Dunphy features popular ballad The Rose of Arranmore, while in her gardening section Aileen Atcheson explains why your garden is at its best during the month of June. John Wright explores the world of Wicklow’s Elizabeth Hawkins-Whitshed who confounded Victorian rules of gentility for women by being a mountaineer.

Mary Angland continues her series on famous battles that helped shape the country, this week featuring ‘Victory for Gaelic Ireland at Clontibret’.

In ‘The Galveston Giant Fighting in Ireland?’ Cian Manning looks at the attempts Limerick-man Tom Flanagan took to stage a bout with the world champion in Ireland.

Eamonn Duggan reflects on the first General Election held since the establishment of the Irish Free State 100 years ago, and one in which women over the age of 21 got the chance to vote for the first time.

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside regular favourites such as Cassidy Says, Dan Conway’s Corner, What’s In Your Name?, Pete’s Pets, jokes, songs, puzzles, Just A Memory, Showband Scrapbook, Marjorie’s Kitchen, Owen’s Club, Classic TV & Films, Catch the Criminal, Stranger Than Fiction, Irish Wildlife and much much more.

I really hope that you enjoy this week’s issue and I will look forward to next week when we bring you our Summer Special. Until then, take care.

                                                                                                         Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own