Remembering Ballinspittle and the moving statue
On one feast day alone, it was reckoned more than 15,000 people came to the grotto
An Irish Diary
An Irish Diary
‘They would not venture out that day’: Why Galway fishermen dread foxes
Before the captain had a chance to revisit the island, he went down in a shipwreck
Behind Enemy Lines - Frank McNally on a little piece of Cork that is forever Tipperary
Although a first-class cricketer in his prime, he was probably never much of a hurling fan
July Jeopardy - Frank McNally on this month’s ominous reputation
Men were at risk of attacks by rabid dogs and the wantonness of women, according to ancient philosophers
Publican Cause - Frank McNally on the Spanish celebrity of Paddy O’Connell
Soon afterwards, the Dubliner – born close to what is now Croke Park - was captaining Manchester United
Live Aid spurred me into becoming a GOAL volunteer on the ground in Africa
Despite the appalling heat and mosquitos, Khartoum had a certain other worldly charm
The unsung Irishman behind Live Aid. Not Bono, not Bob, but Paddy
Co Down man Paddy Coulter briefed reporter who broadcast original Ethiopian famine story
Spanish Steps – Frank McNally on a sweaty tour of Alicante and Valencia
The visit turned out to be anything but quick
Culture Clash of the Ash – Frank McNally on watching the hurling in Barcelona
I sought asylum in the nearest Irish pub
Surreal-Life Experience - Frank McNally on Salvador Dali, cosmogonic ecstasy, and the far-right government of Perpignan
Somehow, the doors of perception failed to open for me
My French trip had no shortage of Beckett-style waiting, with Marseille Airport at 2.30am about as lively as Knock
You wouldn’t start from Marseille to get to Spain
Never employ a cat. They are ‘unreliable, capricious and liable to absenteeism’
People were outraged at harnessing cats to do the work of humans
My search for the perfect pain au chocolat is over. It was in the most obvious of places
It was, of course, the French who came up with the notion of a breakfast dessert
Where would rock and roll be today without Henry Mount Charles?
Thin Lizzy, Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones were among the many bands who played at Slane
As a Labrador swam by me out to sea his owner said ‘I hope he doesn’t meet a seal’. I later learned why
He seems to have an irrepressible urge to shepherd his owner back to shore
De Valera’s acrimonious relationship with US President Roosevelt’s man in Dublin during Second World War
Gray had no sympathy for Ireland’s neutral stance
The lost millionaire – the mystery of Glenveagh Castle’s missing owner.
An inquest was later held in Falcarragh, the first of its kind in Ireland without a body presen
Erik Satie: The eccentric 20th century French composer who coined the idea of ambient or background music
If his topics were strange, then his life in Paris was unconventional in the extreme
Alison Healy: On discovering what the rebels ate during the Easter Rising
But Mrs Callender was not a woman to scare easily
Poor Mouth, Rich Reputation – Frank McNally on fellow Flannorak and pioneering publican, Mick Gleeson
He bought the pub for a mere £58,000
A Hill to Die On - Frank McNally on celebrating the summer solstice at Tara
Some had been there since dawn, or earlier
Manhattan Transfer – Frank McNally on Skin-the-Goat Fitzharris in New York
Although in his late 60s by then, he was back in the job market
Cathy Dillon: A reporter remembers the Air India Disaster of June 23rd, 1985
Amid the throng, I spied Nell McCafferty, small in stature but definitely not in personality
Paul Clements on Forrest Reid, a 20th century author who is coming back into vogue
The novelist developed lifelong friendships with illustrious figures in the literary world
Scotch Broth – Frank McNally on Michael Cusack’s frustrated hope for a pan-Celtic sports alliance
In fact, like others in the book, the character was a composite of different people
Voice from the Grave – Frank McNally on a debut poetry collection from Niall Montgomery, 38 years after his death.
A man of many talents he was not only an architect, but a newspaper columnist as well
Frank McNally on the Bloomsday fitness progamme (and why Virginia Woolf will never be as popular as Joyce)
As readers of Ulysses will know, Bloom had a bit of a belly
Ray Burke on a landmark pub in Oranmore, Galway that played host to many well-known artistes
The Thatch pub counted actor Mia Farrow and musicians Seamus Ennis and Planxty among its guests
Alison Healy on a woman who became one of the world’s first and most fearless aviators
Clara Adams helped to popularise air travel with the masses.
Resurrected Reverend – Frank McNally on the Irish priest who “did a Reggie Perrin”
Almost a century earlier, a Catholic priest from Sligo had resorted to the same thing
Passage from India – Frank McNally on a Delhi journalist and Joyce fanatic in Dublin for Bloomsday
The heat was already oppressive
Epistolics Anonymous – Frank McNally on a Joycean mystery wrapped in an enigma
He is now tramping around Dublin with two lawbooks under his oxter
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
The GlossOpens in new window
Read the digital edition of The Gloss magazine now
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices