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On the clock — Frank McNally on the challenges of getting to and from Strasbourg

On the clock — Frank McNally on the challenges of getting to and from Strasbourg

City’s famous clock is a multifaceted tour de force of science and religion

Tue Feb 06 2024 - 18:59
Patty’s Day Parade — Frank McNally on Patty Hearst, the Hibernia Bank and the ‘Singing O’Sullivans’

Patty’s Day Parade — Frank McNally on Patty Hearst, the Hibernia Bank and the ‘Singing O’Sullivans’

An early example of “Stockholm Syndrome”

Fri Feb 02 2024 - 18:59
Foreign missions — Frank McNally on Irish culture’s long reach, via Paris, Rome, and California

Foreign missions — Frank McNally on Irish culture’s long reach, via Paris, Rome, and California

A day to remember for many devout followers of culture

Thu Feb 01 2024 - 18:59
Beam me up — Frank McNally on the roof of St Patrick’s Cathedral, where some of the oak beams are 750 years old

Beam me up — Frank McNally on the roof of St Patrick’s Cathedral, where some of the oak beams are 750 years old

A €9.4 million refurbishment has secured the cathedral’s future

Wed Jan 31 2024 - 18:59
Reluctant rebel  — Frank McNally on America’s ‘first modern’ painter, Maurice Prendergast

Reluctant rebel — Frank McNally on America’s ‘first modern’ painter, Maurice Prendergast

An easy-going personality with a radical reputation

Tue Jan 30 2024 - 18:59
New year revolution — Frank McNally on doing yoga, playing poker, and keeping everything in balance

New year revolution — Frank McNally on doing yoga, playing poker, and keeping everything in balance

Mindfulness is a winning technique, apparently

Fri Jan 26 2024 - 18:59
Words of war — Frank McNally on the fighting Irish origins of the word ‘slogan’

Words of war — Frank McNally on the fighting Irish origins of the word ‘slogan’

The old war cries became mere verbal decorations in the end

Thu Jan 25 2024 - 19:30
What the Krapp? — Frank McNally on phones in the theatre, Beckett’s lost love, and a technology ahead of its time

What the Krapp? — Frank McNally on phones in the theatre, Beckett’s lost love, and a technology ahead of its time

An impromptu play within a play

Wed Jan 24 2024 - 18:59
Tower of song — Frank McNally on a musically inspiring Kilkenny castle

Tower of song — Frank McNally on a musically inspiring Kilkenny castle

Thomas Moore’s The Last Rose of Summer may have been a victim of its own success for a while

Fri Jan 19 2024 - 18:59
The original ‘Bunga Bunga’  — Frank McNally on an eccentric Corkman’s notorious prank

The original ‘Bunga Bunga’ — Frank McNally on an eccentric Corkman’s notorious prank

Horace de Vere Cole’s band of pranksters included Virginia Woolf

Thu Jan 18 2024 - 18:59
Storm front — Frank McNally on the dubious fame of Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Storm front — Frank McNally on the dubious fame of Edward Bulwer-Lytton

“It was a dark and stormy night . . ."

Wed Jan 17 2024 - 18:59
Fiscal force tradition — Frank McNally on taxation ballads, alcohol-free bars, and the struggle to make a living from music

Fiscal force tradition — Frank McNally on taxation ballads, alcohol-free bars, and the struggle to make a living from music

The turnover of pub identities in Dublin these days is dizzying

Tue Jan 16 2024 - 18:59
Up in smoke — Frank McNally on the once-thriving Irish tobacco industry

Up in smoke — Frank McNally on the once-thriving Irish tobacco industry

During the American and Napoleonic wars, Ireland supplied most of the product used in British tobacco factories

Thu Jan 11 2024 - 18:59
Millstone milestone — Frank McNally on the 225th anniversary of a ‘temporary’ tax

Millstone milestone — Frank McNally on the 225th anniversary of a ‘temporary’ tax

It was only in 1972 that Ireland finally made the ‘temporary’ income tax arrangement permanent

Wed Jan 10 2024 - 18:59
Pane management  — Frank McNally on the sad story of a Harry Clarke masterwork

Pane management — Frank McNally on the sad story of a Harry Clarke masterwork

Clarke’s magnificent work was caught up in the repressed politics of the fledgling Free State

Tue Jan 09 2024 - 19:38
Auld Slang’s Time — Frank McNally on an old but now numerically apt American expression: ‘23 skidoo’

Auld Slang’s Time — Frank McNally on an old but now numerically apt American expression: ‘23 skidoo’

The number 23 has many claims to fame

Fri Dec 29 2023 - 18:59
Absence-of-light entertainment - Frank McNally on Irish words for dusk, the Celtic Twilight, and the original Monsieur Silhouette

Absence-of-light entertainment - Frank McNally on Irish words for dusk, the Celtic Twilight, and the original Monsieur Silhouette

A trick of the light

Thu Dec 28 2023 - 18:59
Dark Secret – Frank McNally on a Christmas Night visit to Dowth

Dark Secret – Frank McNally on a Christmas Night visit to Dowth

A journey through megalithic Meath

Wed Dec 27 2023 - 18:59
Daly Star – Frank McNally on the origins of Ally Daly, Betty Martin and other etymological mysteries

Daly Star – Frank McNally on the origins of Ally Daly, Betty Martin and other etymological mysteries

A synonym for nonsense, a mark of excellence and a guarantor of authenticity

Fri Dec 22 2023 - 19:36
Many unhappy returns: Frank McNally on Christmas as a ‘feast of failure’

Many unhappy returns: Frank McNally on Christmas as a ‘feast of failure’

Deck the halls with broken friendships, lost loves and all the other ghosts of the past

Thu Dec 21 2023 - 19:24
Tidings of discomfort and Joyce - Frank McNally on recreating a famous Christmas dinner row

Tidings of discomfort and Joyce - Frank McNally on recreating a famous Christmas dinner row

I had the privilege of seeing a group of actors recreate the scene, with spine-tingling effect, in the place where it happened

Wed Dec 20 2023 - 19:00
A life’s cycle – Frank McNally on the death of Olympian Willie Dunne

A life’s cycle – Frank McNally on the death of Olympian Willie Dunne

The passing of Willie coincided with the passing of former Irish Times picture editor, Peter Thursfield

Tue Dec 19 2023 - 19:00
Picture this: Frank McNally on commemorating departed friends

Picture this: Frank McNally on commemorating departed friends

Photographs, memories and a few re-enactments

Fri Dec 15 2023 - 19:11
Picture post - Frank McNally on Cork nuances, the late Colm Ó Briain, and a photo exhibition in Rathmines

Picture post - Frank McNally on Cork nuances, the late Colm Ó Briain, and a photo exhibition in Rathmines

Himself and yer man, from Cork to Dublin

Wed Dec 13 2023 - 19:00
Long day’s journey into Nenagh - Frank McNally on the stress of covering celebrity funerals

Long day’s journey into Nenagh - Frank McNally on the stress of covering celebrity funerals

Deadlines, from filing copy to car park closures, leave this journalist late to the party

Tue Dec 12 2023 - 19:00
Shane MacGowan bows out as thousands line streets on a rainy day in Nenagh

Shane MacGowan bows out as thousands line streets on a rainy day in Nenagh

Town turns out to welcome singer home for the last time as wife Victoria Mary Clarke delivers eulogy

Fri Dec 08 2023 - 21:31
Wired Up  — Frank McNally on the ambiguities of a classic by The Pogues

Wired Up — Frank McNally on the ambiguities of a classic by The Pogues

A transatlantic ballad on the life and death of a man called Big Jim Dwyer

Thu Dec 07 2023 - 18:59
Rizz kids — Frank McNally on the mystery of why Irish people are suddenly so good-looking

Rizz kids — Frank McNally on the mystery of why Irish people are suddenly so good-looking

Oxford University Press has just declared 'rizz' to be the word of the year

Wed Dec 06 2023 - 18:59
Rising Champ – Frank McNally on a jockey’s quiet comeback and the 90th anniversary of a famous literary ruling

Rising Champ – Frank McNally on a jockey’s quiet comeback and the 90th anniversary of a famous literary ruling

A noisy Mansion House was silenced by a brave man who speaks in whispers

Tue Dec 05 2023 - 18:59
Field Studies — Frank McNally on GAA pitches, gaps of danger, and the decline of the liquid lunch

Field Studies — Frank McNally on GAA pitches, gaps of danger, and the decline of the liquid lunch

Sober analysis

Fri Dec 01 2023 - 18:59
Mad Cow Roundabout – Frank McNally on the rise and fall of the Dublin Cattle Run

Mad Cow Roundabout – Frank McNally on the rise and fall of the Dublin Cattle Run

At its 1957 height, the Dublin Cattle Market was Europe’s biggest

Thu Nov 30 2023 - 18:59
‘Death had marvellously improved him’ – Frank McNally on the Irish doctors who had the last word on Napoleon

‘Death had marvellously improved him’ – Frank McNally on the Irish doctors who had the last word on Napoleon

The man behind the mask

Wed Nov 29 2023 - 18:59
Frank McNally: The French are right. Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is a travesty

Frank McNally: The French are right. Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is a travesty

The best thing about the movie is Josephine, as played by Vanessa Kirby

Tue Nov 28 2023 - 18:59
Running riot — Frank McNally on a manic night in Dublin

Running riot — Frank McNally on a manic night in Dublin

My eyes stung for no apparent reason, until I guessed it was pepper-spray floating on the breeze

Fri Nov 24 2023 - 18:59
Bonaparte at the seams — Frank McNally on Napoleon, Wolfe Tone, and the O’Meara dynasty

Bonaparte at the seams — Frank McNally on Napoleon, Wolfe Tone, and the O’Meara dynasty

A brush with history

Thu Nov 23 2023 - 18:59
Strong Language – Frank McNally on ‘moithered’, ‘míle murder’, and the lesser-spotted ‘hecatomb’

Strong Language – Frank McNally on ‘moithered’, ‘míle murder’, and the lesser-spotted ‘hecatomb’

Expanding vocabulary

Wed Nov 22 2023 - 18:59
Fast Forward — Frank McNally on the forgotten mass hunger strike of 1923

Fast Forward — Frank McNally on the forgotten mass hunger strike of 1923

Free State authorities kept publicity for the Anti-Treaty protest to a minimum

Tue Nov 21 2023 - 18:59
An exorcism ‘sent shivers up my spine’: Offaly faith healer who treats people at his pub

An exorcism ‘sent shivers up my spine’: Offaly faith healer who treats people at his pub

In the heart of Co Offaly, Joe Gallagher treats people for ailments such as eczema, ringworm and once an ‘evil spirit’

Sun Nov 12 2023 - 07:00
Martin Market – Frank McNally on the joys and pains of Martinmas

Martin Market – Frank McNally on the joys and pains of Martinmas

The continued association of the date with eating and drinking

Fri Nov 10 2023 - 18:59
A poet’s last stand – Frank McNally on the death of Dylan Thomas, 70 years ago

A poet’s last stand – Frank McNally on the death of Dylan Thomas, 70 years ago

Even if the 18 whiskeys never happened, Thomas must certainly have set a few drinking records in his short life

Wed Nov 08 2023 - 18:59
Multiple Joyce – Frank McNally on how the author is general, all over Ireland

Multiple Joyce – Frank McNally on how the author is general, all over Ireland

A phantom engagement of sorts

Tue Nov 07 2023 - 18:59
Ogs and Ends - Frank McNally on Michael Collins’s other nickname, the Liffey on film and a Dublin dialect dysfunction

Ogs and Ends - Frank McNally on Michael Collins’s other nickname, the Liffey on film and a Dublin dialect dysfunction

It appears the Big Fellow had a funny accent – even by Cork standards

Fri Nov 03 2023 - 19:10
“Want flowers, love?” - Frank McNally on the distinctive sounds of Dublin

“Want flowers, love?” - Frank McNally on the distinctive sounds of Dublin

The ould triangle going jingle jangle/All along the banks of Temple Bar

Thu Nov 02 2023 - 19:00
The Greatest Escape? Frank McNally on one man’s mission to make a movie about the Catalpa Rescue

The Greatest Escape? Frank McNally on one man’s mission to make a movie about the Catalpa Rescue

Rollicking true story has been made into a screenplay ahead of its 150th anniversary in 2026

Wed Nov 01 2023 - 19:30
All That Glit – Frank McNally on the ancient origins of a slippery word

All That Glit – Frank McNally on the ancient origins of a slippery word

Patrick Kavanagh may not have used the word in his poetry, but Seamus Heaney did

Tue Oct 31 2023 - 19:36
Why is it so hard to find the source of the river Liffey?

Why is it so hard to find the source of the river Liffey?

As part of a new feature series, Frank McNally boldly fails where many experts have failed before

Sat Oct 28 2023 - 06:00
Cliffhanger from Cooneen - Frank McNally on the only Irish ghost that ever emigrated

Cliffhanger from Cooneen - Frank McNally on the only Irish ghost that ever emigrated

Ireland and Scotland should have patented Halloween before it went corporate

Fri Oct 27 2023 - 19:24
Balladeer Diary - Frank McNally on the Dubliners, ‘Tonehenge’ and sculptor Edward Delaney

Balladeer Diary - Frank McNally on the Dubliners, ‘Tonehenge’ and sculptor Edward Delaney

And a lesser controversy, still also lingering, about the lyrics in the third verse of Raglan Road

Thu Oct 26 2023 - 19:28
Time waits for Naumann – Frank McNally on a buried tragedy in Joyce’s Ulysses

Time waits for Naumann – Frank McNally on a buried tragedy in Joyce’s Ulysses

Investigating a possible allusion to a man not yet deceased

Wed Oct 25 2023 - 19:37
Fighting Talk – Frank McNally on the perilous pubs and less-than-mean streets of Dublin

Fighting Talk – Frank McNally on the perilous pubs and less-than-mean streets of Dublin

Enjoying an oasis of calm in the early hours of Saturday

Tue Oct 24 2023 - 19:30
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