An Irish Diary

Two-day event gathered outstanding makers from a variety of practices across the world

Women have played a significant role in the Cork Public Museum since its earliest days

It is amazing what a healthy dose of sibling rivalry can do to inspire you

It is the smallest of the Australian states, with a population of just under 600,000

I had no togs as we happened upon a beach, but there was no resisting a dip in the nip

One hundred years on from his birth, all the late former taoiseach’s biographers have speculated on the impact of his impoverished childhood

He saw an opportunity in early 19th century for cheap transport services linking rural towns

This same legend turned up on the Dublin City Marathon medal two years ago

A full-blown bibliophile, the deceased was said to have had up to 100,000 volumes

Three team members following in footsteps of many others, albeit men, in international rugby

When I got a word in edgeways, finally, I wondered why Dublin’s rapacious seagulls never came near him

Washington Irving was a native New Yorker who had no known connection with Kilkenny

More than 3,400 dissectologists taking part, with two dozen entrants from Ireland

Charles Barrington’s guides were reluctant to follow his chosen route, so he set out on his own for the western flank

A friend from south Dublin suggested I write something about a church billboard where Foster Avenue meets the Stillorgan dual carriageway

The Countess of Cork and Orrery was notorious for purloining items and smuggling them in her hand muff

As with tour guides inventing stories, here’s hoping the phenomenon is not on the rise

If you go down to the woods: Frank McNally on a long, dark night of no soul in Stradbally

A long-time fan of William Morris on the enduring appeal of his floral designs

Appreciating life, time and travel, with or without a magic bus

I began to feel some Swiftian indignation on the part of the innocent Americans who were listening to the tour guide’s claim

Philanthropist Katharine McCormick used her riches to help the cause of women’s rights

Remembering an eventful trip to Dursey Island many years ago

Signed first American edition of Tarry Flynn is dedicated to ‘poet and painter’ Brendan Behan

One of Shane McGowan’s best-loved songs has been covered by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Lisa O’Neill, Nick Cave and more

Teacher-come-celebrated writer was light on homework, which was fine by his pupils

A garda arrived immediately to cordon off a crater in the field, then the Army was called in

I am no wiser as to where the bicycle spent its long, lost weekend

Who knows how ragwort will evolve with the benefit of a few years in university? It might lose the latter part of its name, Jacobaea vulgaris, for a start

This strange incident came about because of another surprising phenomenon little remembered today

Sometime later, to the delight of my neighbour, it popped up on her side of the wall

This quickly became the cause of some anxiety, not for me, but for the poor patients

Tom Waits seems to have moved the scene to 20th century America

My namesake and anti-Treaty grandfather may have been among the Monaghan supporters scarred for life

He was in no doubt about where the blame for such bad taste lay

The loveliness of the setting is matched by that of the village of Slane itself

The playwright Seán O’Casey was the first person that Ó Briain spoke Irish with

The most prolific actor was Owen Moore who made an estimated 279 movies

Tom believed the material was the important thing, not his personal appearances

I was nevertheless baffled at the turn of events