Few people today would have an inkling of how to measure the earth’s circumference and then diameter. Yet Eratosthenes did just that with astonishing accuracy more than two thousand, two hundred and thirty-six years ago.
Earth Measurement
John McCullagh
Linenhall Ghosts
I read with interest the
Patrick Rankin
Patrick Rankin was the only Newry man to take part in the 1916 Rising in Dublin. He was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
The local drive to reorganise came from Newry, where the Centre (the man charged with organising and coordinating between groups and individuals) for the County was Robert Kelly of the town. Other County Down members in Newry then included George Cahill, Frank Patterson, James Morgan and Edward McCann. Henry Murphy of Castlewellan was also in the IRB. Newry man John Southwell was the Centre for Armagh. Southwell from Dominic Street joined the IRB in 1910 and was to become the Secretary of the Ulster Council and one of the principal organisers in Ulster. He played a leading role in establishing the Irish Volunteers in the Newry area. Under the initiative of Bulmer Hobson and Dublin republican, the Ớ Raghalliagh the Irish Volunteers were formed in 1913 with Eoin Mac N
Currach Championship Newry
The Irish International Currach Association are holding their championship in Newry from 9-11th June. Friday was based at Camlough Lake with Saturday and Sundays events at the Albert Basin, in front of the Quays Shopping Centre.
If you get a chance you should pop down on Sunday afternoon.
Here are a few photos from Saturday at the Albert Basin.
Ghost ‘broke wine’
Pat Brannon was an old man who lived alone in a two-roomed cottage in the townland of Federagh. The house consisted of the kitchen and the room. Pat lived in the kitchen and never used the room. Sure he didn’t need it, didn’t he have all he required in the kitchen?
Annamar: fun times too!
At
Moleskin Joe
I remember as a youth hearing of tramps of the district that had no particular fear of prison. Indeed there were a few could better cope with incarceration than freedom and who would deliberately commit some minor offence to guarantee their return to their preferred lifestyle. Like many of my age I could – but will not – name a few. There are probably still a number of people in the same position. Just how far have we failed as a society for such a situation to prevail?
Patrick MacGill of Donegal was a talented writer and the author of a number of books. Like a long-gone relative of my own, gambling was his downfall (as indeed it was of my favourite all-time novelist Dostoyevsky!).
Patrick wrote:
‘I tramped through the country despised by everyone and hating all men. I was angry at my plight. A few gave me food, some cursed me from their doors and a great number mocked me as I passed.’
He found it extremely difficult to escape from this lifestyle and return to normal society. Where does one begin, with no home, job or money and just ragged clothes? He told of Moleskin Joe:
‘My name’s Moleskin Joe. I don’t mind havin’ seen my father or mother. (‘I have no memory of ..’) and I was bred in a workhouse. I’m forty years of age, more or less, and I started work when I was seven.
I’ve been in a workhouse, a reformatory, prison and church.
When times were bad and I couldn’t get a mouthful of food outside, I went to prison of my own free will.
But it was always against my will that I went to church’.
Who has made society – and especially churches – less palatable than prison? Is the political philosophy of the ‘short, sharp shock’ always the right answer?
Harp that once thru Tara’s halls
The Harp that once through
The soul of music shed
Now hangs as mute on
Job applicants?
Our client, a leading multi-national company has commissioned the services of our esteemed firm of solicitors, Bea Hartless, Sue Daly & Robin Fleezia ……….