RTE news : Hopes remains in Belgium are those of Irish war hero

http://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2025/0131/1493941-patrick-sarsfield/

The Limerick Chronicle newspaper first reported the deadliest bog disaster in Ireland in 1792. Two hundred thirty years later, the Limerick Leader, which owns the Limerick Chronicle, published my summary of this poorly understood event. I hope one day to write part two and try to find more information about the disaster, including the identities of those who died and the locations of the destroyed houses. Only one family affected by the event is known, and that surname is Collins. I’m hoping the stories of the two Collins sons (who might be named Timothy and James) who survived have been passed down through generations. If anyone knows any Collins family members who had ancestors in the areas of Castlegarde and Gortavalla, I would greatly appreciate your assistance.

You can read the article here:

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/columns-opinion/1680321/uncovering-one-of-irelands-deadliest-bog-disasters-in-county-limerick.html

Last night I found a document online that writes about the history of Hannahstown in West Belfast. The document mentions that the area had alot of activity during the 1798 rebellion and that there is about 4 massrocks in the area from the times of the penal laws.

It also mentions a family who arrived in the area during the Ulster plantation and built two large houses. It also talks about a place named "Englishtown" where the planters and the British redcoats lived. It also states that the area was more populated in the 18th century than it is today because of the linen industry.

It also mentions that Hannahstown was inhabited by the native Irish and they face threats of violence and real violence from Orangemen in the 1700-1800s.

But I was curious about this as many of the areas in this pat of Belfast such as Poleglass, Twinbrook, Lenadoon etc are all built up with social housing now. But during the time of the Ulster plantation were there small towns in these areas giving its proximity to Lisburn and if so what happened to them.

I thought that during the plantation of Ulster they began building towns to house the settlers, so is it possible the areas of modern day Poleglass, Falls road, Hannahstown, Lenadoon etc were all settled during the plantation of Ulster but I have often been in these areas and there doesn't seem to be any remnants of old towns which makes me think that it was likely destroyed to make way for the housing estates.

However, my grandparents do talk about "old mills" in parts of Belfast that they remember that were later removed, so it does seem that people did live in these areas and it wasn't all just rural countryside.

Where would you recommend to attend the Easter rising commemoration in Ireland? Dublin, Galway, Belfast, Derry, cork? Any recommendations would be grateful

Thanks in advance

Hi there! I'm doing some dramaturgical research for the play, The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth, which takes place in Armagh, with some characters from Belfast, set during the Troubles. Specifically, 1981. Right during the ending days of the hunger strikes at HM Prison Maze. At one point, the character Shane is describing the state the city of Belfast is currently in, and he says,

"SHANE: Have you any idea what it's like in town at the moment? The Brits are lifting whole areas. Streaking in, the Black Saracens. Busting the streetlights. Shooting dogs. Stripping Gran down to her girdle in the streets. In The Bricklayers. Everyone up against the wall. The fuckin' Paras going along the top shelf, cartons of cigs in the old flag jacket."

My question is in regards to "The Bricklayers". I can't tell what that is referring to. Is it a neighborhood in Belfast that I cannot find? Is it the industrial district? Or is it a brick foundry, maybe? It's specifically capitalized, which confuses me. Google searching doesn't turn up much. If any more context from the play is needed, I can help provide it. Let me know what you guys might think.

UPDATE: Of course it’s probably a pub. That’s so obvious.

Basically I’m looking for help. All I can find on my great grandfather is his regiment number, and that he received a medal. I have a photo of him in his uniform, however, that’s all I can find. Is there anywhere I can find out more info on what he did in the army, battles etc.

Any help appreciated.

Can provide more info if needed.

Headline:

15% benefited more than suffered | 44% suffered more than benefited

By 2024 general election vote:

Conservative: 39% | 16%

Labour: 20% | 40%

Liberal Democrat: 20% | 40%

SNP: 4% | 69%

By 2016 EU referendum vote:

Remain: 14% | 46%

Leave: 24% | 32%

By 2014 independence referendum vote:

Yes: 7% | 57%

No: 25% | 33%

Source.

Attended a talk on the life and death of Sir Henry Wilson MP last night and wanted to know any thoughts on some threads that came through the presentation.

1. Henry Wilson rose to the Chief of Staff for the British Army and in turn the British Empire at its height, leading the army through war and insurgency. He attended events such as the army representative at Versailles in signing of the treaty, opening of the Ulster Tower, and countless memorials throughout Britain to the war dead.

2. His death, arguably ordered by Collins, actually ended up being an 'own goal', resulting in the security of Northern Ireland and setting the course of the Irish Civil War.

3. Ironically it was two men born in England, war veterans, that killed him, so it was two English men killing a proud Irishman in the name of Ireland. He supposedly charged the attackers with his ceremonial sword (he was dressed to unveil a war memorial at Liverpool Street Station).

Any other thoughts/facts that people want to share?

Any good books recommended to read more on the life of Sir Henry Wilson.

A painting I did inspired by 1798 Rising and Roddy McCorley.

Long story short, I'm making a couple visual aids for a presentation and i want to demonstrate some of the arts. any info at all would be much appreciated, thanks!

I'm looking for a good read on Irish history from the late 1940's through the 1950s (specific biography is also great too).

Asking because the idea of Michael Collins and Winston Churchill talking to each is fascinating to me

Thanks!

Any reputable academic articles or research on the topic of Seven sons as healers and how they came to be seen as such in Ireland?

Not at all making a judgement on them, just it is interesting that so many people even of my parents generation still swore by them.

I've often seen the claim that during the partition of Ireland all of the six counties were majority unionist and wanted to stay under British rule, but I've seen maps that claim Fermanagh wasn't. If Fermanagh wasn't majority unionist why was it taken into Northern Ireland rather than say Monaghan?