The famous British Army surgeon was actually an Irish woman. ℘℘℘ Dr. James Barry was born in County Cork as Margaret Anne Bulkley, the daughter of Jeremiah and Mary-Ann (neé Barry). Accounts vary on the year of her birth but whether it was 1789 or 1795, women were denied a formal education. Her father was a feckless grocer who lost his business, landed in debtors’ prison and … [Read more...] about Wild Irish Women: Dr. James Barry
Issues
The Upside of Having YourLife Turned Upside Down
Karen Duffy writes about living with chronic pain. ℘℘℘ There is pain that hurts you and pain that changes you. Pain is a survival mechanism; it’s a signal that you need to pay attention to what is causing you harm – pull your hand away from the hot stove; jump back from the prickly cactus. Acute pain is usually caused by tissue damage and will resolve in a period of three … [Read more...] about The Upside of Having YourLife Turned Upside Down
The Irish Nightingale of the Civil War
"The Irish-American Florence Nightingale" of the Civil War – Sister Mary Anthony. The name of this Civil War medical pioneer has unjustly slipped between history’s proverbial cracks. Still, her legacy flourishes: “Her innovative triage techniques remain standard practices in every theater of war where American troops fight.” Those words come from a 2003 Pentagon report. They … [Read more...] about The Irish Nightingale of the Civil War
Rome, Italy: Retracing the Footsteps of Hugh O’Neill one of the Last Gaelic Kings
Why it's time to reclaim the last days and figureheads of the old Gaelic world. Stories matter, so here’s a good one. Four hundred and ten years ago this November the last two living Gaelic lords of Ulster arrived in Rome, uncertain of their welcome and feeling physically spent. They were Rory O’Donnell former King of Tír Conaill, now the Earl of Tyrconnell, (with his brother … [Read more...] about Rome, Italy: Retracing the Footsteps of Hugh O’Neill one of the Last Gaelic Kings
Roots: The Mahoney Clan
The surname Mahoney originally designated the descendants of Mathghamhain, an Irishman of the early 11th century who was killed in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. He was the son of Cian mac Máelmuaid and his wife Sadhbh, who was the daughter of the High King Brian Boru, a member of the Eóganacht Raithlind dynastic line descending from Eoghan Mor, a 2nd-century King of Munster. … [Read more...] about Roots: The Mahoney Clan