Name Shame – Frank McNally on the continuing tragedy of the forename “Kevin” and a bad night for “Shamrock” in London
A dramatic decline in a name’s prestige
Kiss of Death? – Frank McNally on the rise and fall of mistletoe
The plant and its associated kissing custom continue to be rare here
O Holy Fright – Frank McNally on an ‘uplifting’ carol service
The world premiere of David Stifter’s hymn, set to music by Ryan Molloy, was a triumph
Keeping it lit – Frank McNally on attending the global premiere of Gloomsday
The chronological aphelion of Bloomsday
Decayed Centenary - Frank McNally on the history of Irish brain rot
A rather uninspired choice as Oxford University Press word of the year? Maybe not
The Eyes Have It - Frank McNally on the feast day of St Lucy
The name Lucy shares its origins with the word lux, Latin for light, so it’s no coincidence her feast day coincides with the darkest time of the year
No Bloom at the Inn – Frank McNally on the delayed debut of a new (and old) Dublin pub
I just hope the ghost of Burton’s most famous non-customer has not entered an objection
Leap in the dark — Frank McNally on the obscure origins of an Irish religious insult
Religious ‘jumpers’ seem to have been largely associated with the far west of Ireland
Prose and Con — Frank McNally on the rise and fall of a famous local newspaper
In its brief existence, The Taxpayers’ News achieved the distinction of giving John B Keane his print debut
Souper imposed - Frank McNally on Famine insults and Flann O’Brien’s debt to Con Houlihan
Under the influence
Pint of order – Frank McNally on getting to the ballot box
At 9.30pm, mid-pint – and mid-point too – I tore myself away to vote
Swift justice – Frank McNally on the height of the Drapier’s Letters controversy
Jonathan Swift also fanned the flames with songs and poems written for a popular audience
Parallel projection – Frank McNally on watching Gladiator II and Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat back-to-back
Extreme violence and European imperialism
When hospitality begins at home – Frank McNally on having a great welcome for yourself
The great self-extended welcome seems relatively modern