Hello and welcome to this week’s issue of Ireland’s Own. This week’s cover story  is ‘Hollywood Marriages and Mirages’. Movie stars’ mania for weddings down through the years has bordered on neurotic profligacy, observes Tom McParland, and it doesn’t show much sign of changing anytime soon.

Jim Rees has a special piece from America called ‘Crazy Horse and the Irony of Ironies’.
Edmund Ignatius Rice, the founder of the Irish Christian Brothers, died 175 years ago. Ray Cleere recalls the life and career of an extraordinary missionary and educationalist.

In his Role of the Irish in WW2 series, Con McGrath features Colonel Mike Murphy, the ‘Flying Irishman’ who led more than 400 gliders on D-Day.

Our Ireland’s Favourite Cars series continues, and this week the focus is on The Renault 4. David Mullen takes a fond look at a French car, beloved of many, from the Irish postman to the Argentinian Pope.

In her Castles of Ireland series, Gemma Grant tells the history of Carrickfergus Castle, Co. Antrim.

In our book club, the book under review this month is East West Street by Phillipe Sands. Our original short story is A Memory of Sunshine, by Rebecca Mansell.

Paula Redmond recalls the ‘Summer of ‘69’ and Woodstock, a music festival that became a cultural and historical symbol of the era.

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside your regular favourites including Cassidy Says, Dan Conway’s Corner, Stranger Than Fiction, Pete’s Pets, Marjorie’s Kitchen, In the Garden, Catch the Criminal, Seamus Cahill, jokes, songs, puzzles and much much more.

We hope you enjoy this week’s issue, and I look forward to talking to you all again next week.

                                                                                                         Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own