Hello and welcome to this week’s issue of Ireland’s Own. This week’s cover story features Ireland’s best-loved blues performer, Don Baker. Kay Doyle chatted ot the well-known musican who tells of his remarkable rise from troubled youth to one of the country’s best known performers.

In ‘The Night of the Edmond’, Mae Leonard recalls a terrible tragedy off the Clare coast in November 1850 when 11 men, 47 women and 30 children lost their lives.

Gay Byrne – ‘In death, as in life, he remains a legend’, writes Mary Sheerin as she pays tribute to the iconic broadcaster who died on November 4th.

The Great Mario Lanza –  Pat Poland recalls the unexpected passing, 60 years ago, of the much-loved American tenor. In his ‘Role of the Irish in WW2’ series, Con McGrath tells the story of Major Browne of Sligo, a prisoner of the Japanese, who worked on the ‘Railway of Death’.

In our Ireland’s Favourite Cars Series, David Mullen examines the Hillman Avenger and the demise of a car-making giant. Our Castles of Ireland also continues – this week Gemma Grant is off to Lough Eske Hotel, Co. Donegal.

Our book club choice this week is ‘The Patient Assassin’ by Anita Anand, while our original short story is ‘The Little Corner Shop’, by Maureen McHugh.

P. L.Travers – the author of Mary Poppins had strong links with Ireland, writes Verdun Ball and in ‘Let There be Light!’, the story of Thomas Edison, who switched on the first electric light 140 years ago on October 21st. 1879, is told by June McDonnell.

The Witness Statements – War of Independence series continues. And in part two of ‘Tipperary Republicans lead the Way’, you can read Eamonn Duggan’s examination of the role played by volunteers from the Premier County in helping to secure Ireland’s freedom from British rule.

Enjoy the read and I will look forward to catching up with you all again next week.

                                                                                                         Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own