Restoring an orchard
The lawing front of the house where I live was once an orchard. Locals tell of getting bags of apples from people like the late Canon Bill Murphy. Unfortunately, one …
Charming Gougane Barra of St. Finbarr
There are few places in Ireland as enchanting as Gougane Barra – the out-of-the-way but picturesque spot which is associated with Cork’s patron saint, Finbarr. It was once a secluded …
Denis Lehane RIP – a natural kind of West Cork man
From my earliest years at home in Drimoleague my brothers and I slept under a ceiling of gloss-painted ceiling boards. That part of the house was added on in the …
Centenary of Hayes and O’Sullivan links
On this date one hundred years ago, 25-year-old Margaret Hayes left from the house I was reared in at Clashduve, Drimoleague, and was taken by horse and cart to St. …
Religious haven’t gone away!
People who devoted their lives wholly to service of God and the church have taken something of a hammering in Irish society in recent decades. This in of the reasons …
In the shadow of sculptor John Hogan
I had an opportunity a few days ago to visit Dublin with a couple of friends. Part of the treat was to follow the trail of a nineteenth century sculptor …
My 40 years journey since JPII
It’s 40 years since Pope John Paul II set foot in Ireland. And it’s 40 years since I first left Ireland to set foot in Spain. And it’s been some …
Nephew and godson Gearóid’s graduation from post-primary school
The Grads/Debs Ball for pupils of Clonakilty Community College was on yesterday and of the Graduating former pupils is my nephew and Godson, Gearóid O’Donovan, youngest son of my sister …