Hello and welcome
to Ireland’s Own.

Welcome to this year’s Ireland’s Own GAA Annual. It’s a very different Irish summer this year, with no All-Ireland Senior Hurling or Football Finals to enjoy but that won’t stop us sharing some great sporting memories with you. Our team of writers have served up some glorious GAA memories for you to enjoy and in our cover story, Seán Creedon pays tribute to the life and career of legendary commentator, Micheál O’Hehir who was born 100 years ago. 

One hundred and fifty years ago, in August 1870, General John O’Neill delivered a speech in Chicago, part of which read, “I was not the originator of the scheme of freeing Ireland by an invasion of Canada, though I have been one of its warmest supporters.” As Eugene Dunphy explains in his piece ‘When the Irish Invaded Canada’, this ‘scheme’ is now considered as one of the most important events in Irish, Canadian, and American history.

Cian Manning tells how hurling influenced the game of ice hockey, and Sean Creedon writes about Liz Howard, the first female Sunday Game analyst. Patrick O’Neill tells the Story of the Capitol Theatre ‘at 100’.

In an extract from his book ‘It Had to be Said’, Fr. Brian D’Arcy shares memories of Jimmy Magee’s All Stars GAA matches in which the popular priest played as a left-half back! Fr. Brian also pays tribute to his friend.

John Williams has an eerie story for us in ‘The All Fall Down’ mystery of 40 years ago – when children and adults mysteriously fell to the ground in their hundreds…

Our columnists Mary Kennedy and Michael Lyster return, as does storyteller Eddie Lenihan with more thoughts on how tough Famine times were in Ireland. Allen Foster has another ghostly story for us, while Kitty the Hare returns with the chilling tale of ‘The Black Wedding Dress’.

June McDonnell has another round-up of the latest happenings in on the Irish music scene, including a chance to win the new album by Susan McCann. Thomas Myler profiles Vivien Leigh in his ‘Great Movie Stars’ series.

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside your regular favourites such as Miss Flanagan Investigates, Cassidy Says, Don Conway’s Corner, Great Irish Lighthouses, Classic Westerns, the films of Alfred Hitchcock, jokes, songs, puzzles, memories, Marjorie’s Kitchen and much much more. Enjoy the read and I will look forward to talking to you all again next week, all being well. Take care of yourselves, and each other.

                                                                                                         Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own