You know, it was drawn rather forcibly to my attention the other day that the legendary showband era never really went away. We might associate it with the late 1950s and early ’60s, that simpler time before beat clubs, flower power, LSD, and taking trips (both self-induced and geographical) to Kathmandu in a Volkswagen bus. … Read more
It might not be so now, but Lent was a very serious event in the Ireland of days gone by, even if people in both city and countryside had enough to do without piling more penitential practices on top of an already frugal life. Cut out meat, have only one good meal a day? Oh, … Read more
HOTSPOT This week, we marked the 40th anniversary of the demise of a dictatorship at the hands of the historic People Power uprising. Prior to Feb. 22, 1986, the dictatorship was what’s legal. But in four days, the “constitutional authoritarianism” came to an end courtesy of a civilian-led revolt that, among others, protected mutinous soldiers … Read more
‘WHAT! All twenty-three of ‘em ?’ And so, the seeds were sown in early 1975 in the Coláiste Chríost Rí school staff room in Capwell by teacher Seamus Lankford, a camping veteran, who spun the idea of embarking on a groundbreaking camping trip around Europe with twenty-three students and five accompanying teachers. Fifty years on, … Read more
Mitchelstown native David O’Donoghue might be Ireland’s biggest penny pincher. Luckily, for the effervescent history and English teacher, this is something of a compliment. The 36-year-old, who has been living in Colombia with his wife Catalina since 2020, is a passionate numismatist. His impressive assortment of notes and coins- some of which date back as … Read more
Remember all the memories of Moore’s Hotel that poured in some weeks back? Well, now we have had some more marvellous recollections of Cork of the past, this time from Der Calnan. “I always enjoy reading Throwback Thursday, and it got me thinking of when I worked as a young fellow and part-time barman in … Read more
A couple of interesting queries were received this week, and we are hoping Throwback Thursday readers will be able to help answer them. Reader Jacqui Daly revived memories of a great old music venue familiar to many of you, the Ardmanning out in Togher. “I don’t know if you can help with my query on … Read more
GROWING up in Cork in the late ’50s and early ’60s was different. For us teenagers, the World War was mostly forgotten, and as we tried to figure out this embarrassing hormonal shift in our bodies, we were to experience a seismic change in our culture: the advent of Rock and Roll. It crept in … Read more
Over the years Bere Island has witnessed many incursions and invasions by foreign forces – from the vikings in the early 800s to an attempted French invasion of Bantry Bay in 1796 which led to a 300-year presence by the British military. However, it is perhaps the presence of the US Navy on the island … Read more
The remains of a soldier who fought in the First World War, discovered by Canadian Defence Forces, are believed to be a Cork man, Patrick Buckley. Private Buckley was among the 1,500 soldiers killed during an attempt to capture Hill 70, a strategic position on the northern approach to the coal-mining city of Lens, France, … Read more