That Easter Monday, 1916, seventy-five years ago this month, was a sleepy one in Dublin. Most of the sporting set, high society and many common folk had gone to the Fairyhouse races, where the Irish Grand National was the star attraction. My own grandfather, from County Sligo, had taken the train to the races, the biggest meeting of the year. Years later he would relate how it … [Read more...] about First Word: Birth of a Nation

