Editor's Welcome

Hello and welcome
to this year’s Ireland’s Own Saint Patrick’s Day Annual.

And what a jam-packed issue full of interesting articles, interviews, features and memories we have for you this year!

What better way to begin this year’s Annual than going behind the classic Irish film, ‘My Left Foot’. John Scally looks back on the making of Jim Sheridan’s hugely successful film, starring Oscar-winners Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker, about the life of the Dublin man born with cerebral palsy who could only control his left foot.

Maolsheachlann O Ceallaigh was honoured to represent Ireland’s Own and attend the launch of President Higgins’ Machnamh 100 series – read all about his day at the Áras. We have stories and songs about Saint Patrick, including a lesser known story by Paddy Ryan about the saint’s goat.

Born during the Irish Civil War to a mother whose brother wrote our National Anthem, his country’s history would define Brendan Behan’s literary legacy. Hannah Huxley recalls the life of one of Ireland’s greatest writers on the sixtieth anniversary of his death.

Marconi’s station in the west was reputed to have sent radio signals for the British Army to London after the telegraph wires were cut, and the Black and Tans entered the town the following day, St Patrick’s Day, going on a burning and terrorising rampage of the town, writes Daniel Sammon in hs piece ‘Jameson, Marconi and the Clifden Connection’.

We have lots of tales of Irish emigrants and in one feature Henry Wymbs chats to ninety-year-old Kilkenny man, Michael Quirke, who was just one of countless Irish people who crossed the ‘Pond’ many years ago to make a new life for himself in England.

Paul Clarke and Thomas Myler share special memories of the Irish at Cheltenham – read all about the great Dawn Run and Captain Christy, plus the day Thomas met legendary racing star Tommy Carberry. As Ireland prepare to take on England in the Six Nations, Seán Creedon remembers that unforgettable day for Irish rugby on March 21st, 2009.

Francis K. Beirne continues his new series on Irish showbands, this week featuring bands with the names of jobs or professions in their titles. Aidan Grennan pays tribute to GAA great, Jack O’Shea.

Regular columnists Mary Kennedy, Michael Lyster and Maxi return with their monthly musings. In ‘The High Kings of Ireland’ Maxi meets four highly successful Irish musicians who are selling out venues all over the world and with family members that are well known to Ireland’s Own readers – she also chats to Lyric FM’s Lorcan Murray about the songs he would consider to be the soundtrack to his life.

Read about The Napper Tandy, the Fenian rebel and friend of the U.S. President, Thomas Devin Reilly. Plus we have regular favourites such as Cassidy Says, Dan Conway’s Corner, June McDonnell’s Irish Music Diary, Stranger Than Fiction, Catch the Criminal, Miss Flanagan Investigates, Kitty the Hare, the monthly health and sports columns, The Clint Eastwood Season, a new series on Ireland’s Wild Geese, Just A Memory, rock ‘n’ roll stars, short stories, songs, jokes, puzzles, quizzes, competitions and much much more. 

I really hope that you enjoy this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Annual, and I will look forward to talking to you again next week. Until then, Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! Enjoy.

 

Best wishes, Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own

 
Inside this week's issue