Tailored Talk

Hunger Strike, Self Sacrifice, Propaganda and the making of a Martyr  Over the last number of years I have worked with a variety of people and events researching, writing and talking about Ireland's revolutionary decade. Commemoration of the decade of centenaries began with the Lock-out of 1913 and will culminate at the end of the Civil War in 1923 incapsulating a huge array of persons, events, uprisings, attacks, atrocities and curfews. With so many moments of history to engage with it, pinpointing pivotal key happenings that affected real significant change is difficult at best and controversial at worst. Yet today the 25th of October 2020 is the most important event of Irelands revolutionary past. This is the centenary of the day Terence MacSwiney died. Vigil held outside Brixton prison   Not only is he the most significant hero of Irish Independence to remember but the events which led to his hunger strike and the legacy and propaganda generated after his passing, posi...

More than wellies to talk about.. Wellies on Rathlin Island in the County of Antrim in Northern Ireland.  Wellies suggest waterproofing is required and certainly walking anywhere through-out Ireland necessitates a little forethought about the weather and some good gear to protect against the elements. Standing on Slieve Laig in County Donegal in 80km winds will certainly blow the cobwebs away and engage the fallible torso with the relenting elements.  Arriving at the Cliffs of Moher in 100km winds with storm Eileen definitely warrants a good laugh from the unenthusiastic Italians not in good gear here for  a walking tour! Standing on the Shankhill road in the snow sound biting the Troubles while locals eavesdrop eager to correct, heckle, shame or counter-point whilst the group are oblivious to the local tension of a southern girl talking about their northern story. Dublin in a day with a group of Hasidic Jews looking for a history of Judaism in Ireland certainly leaves ro...