Hello and welcome
to Ireland’s Own.

In this week’s cover story Eugene Dunphy pays tribute to the author Brian Ó Nualláin, who lived a life in satire. This month marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Brian, the hugely talented satirist who brought us Flann O’Brien and Myles Na gCopaleen, writes Eugene.

In her Pioneering Women series, Mary Angland looks at the life of Nora Herlihy, ‘The Pioneering Woman from Kingwilliamstown’. David Mullen continues his tour of Irish islands, this week getting winched onto Rockall, the disputed rock that’s Irish to its core. Or is it?

Minoru Yamasaki, the Architect blamed by some for the collapse of the Twin Towers, is profiled by Liam Nolan, while in his Role of the Irish in WW2 series, Con McGrath profiles Co. Sligo native Fr. Gerard Jordan, who experienced four years of German occupation in Louvain, Belgium.

In part 30 of his Ballad Sheet series, Eugene Dunphy charts the history of a County Louth classic, ‘The Turfman from Ardee’. Sonny Liston was ‘scary in the ring, unreadable in private life’. In part one of a two-part feature, Liam Nolan recalls the life and career of one of the meanest heavyweight fighters of all time.

Michael J Heney was ‘The Irish Prince of the Iron Rails’. Paula Redmond profiles the man who brought the railroad to Alaska and opened up the Klondike gold field. This week’s original short story is ‘Another Day Over’, by Susan Carlin.

John Keegan Casey, the man who gave us ‘The Rising of the Moon’, is profiled by Denis Hickey, while in ‘The Witness Statements’, Eamonn Duggan writes about Oscar Traynor – Republican Fighter and Visionary Politician. This is part two of a three-part feature on the role he played in the struggle for Irish freedom as outlined by the participant himself in written statements to the Bureau of Military History.

We have all this for you to enjoy alongside your regular favourites including Cassidy, Dan Conway, Marjorie’s Kitchen, Pete’s Pets, Stranger Than Fiction, songs, jokes, puzzles, memories and much more. Enjoy, and I will look forward to talking to you all again next week, please God.

                                                                                                         Best wishes,

Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own