Historical Happenings

On June 24th 1976 a strange craft, made of ox hides stretched over a wooden frame, was sighted off the coast of the Faroe Islands. Two square sails, painted with Celtic crosses, billowed above The Brendan, a replica of the craft in which Irish monks had first sailed this way. Historian and Explorer, Tim Severin, built her from the description of his craft in the writings of St. Brendan the Navigator, regarding his sixth century journey to America. From the Faroes, Severin set out for Reykjavík, Iceland and ultimately Newfoundland following the route of St. Brendan in an effort to prove that … [Read more...] about West Virginia Petroglyph

Once upon a time there was a beautiful mansion of 32 rooms, divided into four wings. The family that owned the mansion allowed its use as a monastery – a center for scholarship. Great artistic treasures were made there and all its neighbors benefitted, for the family willingly shared its learning. One day, a neighboring tribe raided the mansion and took possession of all its property. They halted the learning and stole all the treasures. The family that had been the former owners were enslaved as servants to the invaders. Servitude became a way of life for the former owners, they were … [Read more...] about An Irish Tale for April

Welcome to the month of Saint Patrick, a time of joyous celebration among the Irish around the world. And why do we celebrate? Because we’re Irish. It’s been said that the Irish passion for their heritage gets stronger, the further they are from the Emerald Isle, and that may partially explain the popularity of this day, for whether or not they were poor in material possessions, the Irish always managed to carry with them, their unique culture, traditions, and religion. And Saint Patrick is part of all three. As a result of the Diaspora of the Irish throughout the world, no one in the entire … [Read more...] about A Great Day for the Irish

Frank Stagg, of Hollymount, County Mayo, came from a long line of Irish republicans. His father had fought in both the War of Independence and the Civil War. In the 1970s, Frank emigrated to England, where he worked as a bus conductor in North London. He joined Sinn Féin in 1972 and shortly thereafter joined the IRA. In April 1973, he was arrested in Coventry and charged under ancient Conspiracy Laws, which were often used to convict IRA members when there was not enough concrete evidence. Frank Stagg, Father Patrick Fell, and five others were convicted of conspiracy to commit arson and given … [Read more...] about A Promise Fulfilled

In 1798, the United Irishmen attempted to free their native land. Upon the stage of that rebellion, several characters played out their parts little knowing that they would meet again, with different results. The successful start to the rebellion took place in Wexford, but was brutally crushed by British forces. Theobold Wolfe Tone, one of the primary leaders of the United Irishmen, had secured the promise of French aid, but the French forces, under General Humbert, arrived too late, and too far north to help poor Wexford. Their landing in Mayo however, rekindled the fire of rebellion, and … [Read more...] about Spirit of the Occasion