Rebuilding Lives in Northern Ireland
Posted in Did You Know? on Sep 8th, 2010
A retired federal agent has uncovered records which show that the first female cop in the U.S. was Irish born Marie Owen. She started in office in 1890 and was pictured in the Chicago Daily Tribune in 1904 as the “only woman police sergeant in the world.”
Mervyn Kirkhead, 65, from Lisburn, Co. Antrim, has crossed the [...]
Posted in Did You Know? on Aug 18th, 2010
In Celtic mythology, the salmon is the most important fish.
Pierce Brosnan was born in Navan, Co Meath.
The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia, Co Galway.
Ireland’s smallest church is located in Portbradden, Co Antrim. It is
10 ft. x 6 ft. and ironically it is dedicated to St. Gobhnan, the patron saint of builders.
Tara was the [...]
Posted in Did You Know? on Jul 23rd, 2010
That the megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange, Co. Meath was built around 3200 BC? It is estimated that it would have taken a workforce of 300 at least 20 years to complete.
That a “caubeen” in Irish means hat?
Posted in Did You Know? on Jul 5th, 2010
The game of hurling is as old as the history of Ireland, well before early Christian time. Reference was made to the game in old Gaelic laws. The sport was said to be played by the ancient Gaelic hero, Cuchulainn, the son of the gods Lugh and Deichtine. From the time of Cuchulainn to the [...]
Posted in Did You Know? on Jul 3rd, 2010
On July 12, 1862 President Abraham Lincoln approved legislation authorizing the production of 2000 “Medals of Honor” to be presented in the name of Congress to such non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier-like qualities. Thirty-three countries are listed as birthplaces of medal recipients. Ireland [...]
Posted in Did You Know? on Jul 1st, 2010
There is written evidence that horse racing dates back at least to the 3rd Century. Chariot races were held on land that is now known as “The Curragh” in Co. Kildare.
Omagh is the cloudiest place in Ireland.
One of the propellers of the “Lusitania” which sunk off the coast of Kinsale in 1915 was melted down and [...]
Posted in Did You Know? on Jun 24th, 2010
Brian Kennedy, a Belfast native and renowned singer (“You Light Up My Life”) songwriter and author (“The Arrival of Fergal Flynn”) has been awarded the Meteor Award for Lifetime Achievement. He has been performing for 20 years and won a Eurovision song contest for “Every Song Is A Cry for Love.” He has performed with [...]
Posted in Did You Know? on Jun 17th, 2010
Canadian writer, Will Ferguson, has received the 2010 “Stephen Leacock Medal of Humour” for his travel book, “Beyond Belfast” (subtitled: A 560 mile walk around Northern Ireland on sore feet). He tells of his walk along the Ulster Way — narrowly surviving death by lorry, drowning, mugging, death by a wayward bull, but a frenzied [...]
Posted in Did You Know? on Jun 14th, 2010
The Irish hare is unique to the island and is the country’s oldest surviving mammal. It has been present on the island since before the ice age which ended around 10,000 years ago. It has been revered and celebrated in Celtic lore for centuries. The lunar hare is seen as carrying an egg, heralding the new [...]
Posted in Did You Know? on Jun 7th, 2010
The steeplechase originated in Ireland. It is said it was the result of a wager in 1752 between two men racing four miles cross-country in Co. Cork.
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