Rebuilding Lives in Northern Ireland
Posted in Historical Facts on Jan 17th, 2015
Thomas Romney Robinson was a Dublin born astronomer and physicist who lived in the 19th Century. He was involved in interpreting the higher resolution views of the night sky in regard to the galaxies and nebulae. He also invented a device to measure wind speed, the ‘Robinson cup anemometer’. The Robinson crater on the moon […]
Posted in Historical Facts on Jan 7th, 2015
On New Years’ Eve 1603, Donal Cam O’Sullivan, after losing ‘The Seven Year’s War,’ set out with 1,000 followers on a 300 mile journey to Leitrim. The weather was fierce with freezing cold and snow; the way was treacherous. They were declared outlaws by the English President of Munster and their only hope of survival […]
Posted in Historical Facts on Dec 28th, 2014
The winter of 1338-39 was an especially brutal one for Ireland. The Liffey actually froze and the people held festivals on the ice. Herring were cooked over turf and wood fires.
Posted in Historical Facts on Dec 27th, 2014
Lazy Beds, a method of growing potatoes although not widely used, can still be seen in rural parts of Connemara and Antrim. Potatoes thrive on seaweed and manure. These were spread and then covered on both sides with sod and the potatoes planted in these ridges. This method provided 3 times higher yield than in […]
Posted in Historical Facts on Dec 24th, 2014
Alice Kyteler was the first woman to be tried as a witch in Ireland. In 1317 the Bishop of Osspry held a violent version of Christianity and terrorized the town with heresy trials. He became suspicious of Alice after her fourth husband died and charged her with the use of sorcery to harm others. She […]
Posted in Historical Facts on Dec 15th, 2014
Ireland’s only Amish-Mennonite community is located in Dunmore East, Co Waterford. It was founded in 1992 by American Wm. McGrath and consists of 75 members. They belong to a faction that is more open and adaptable than other Amish groups. They make use of I-pads and internet but are subject to guidelines.
Posted in Historical Facts on Dec 7th, 2014
In 1631, the colonists of New England were starving and a ship ‘The Lion’ was sent to Ireland for provisions. After many months, the ship arrived back at Nantucket and a day of thanks was declared. And in 1676 the Indian War with King Philip left the people starving and Ireland again came to their […]
Posted in Historical Facts on Nov 7th, 2014
Mt. Sandel, Derry, dates back to at least 7,000 BC. The excavations have shown how for the first time, the people lived. Fragments of burned bones, nuts and shells were found. Stones were heated in a fire before being put into a wood lined pit full of water. The fire heated the stones, bringing the […]
Posted in Historical Facts on Oct 3rd, 2014
During the 17 Century, a local landlord in Buncrana, Co Donegal, offered the near starving peasants a bowl of soup if they would attend Protestant services. However, the soup was only offered on Fridays (probably had meat in it) and it had to be consumed in public. Anyone taking the soup was then labeled by […]
Posted in Historical Facts on Sep 21st, 2014
Sept 21, 1170 — The Normans take Dublin, planting them securely in Ireland.
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